Find Idaho Inmate Records

When an offender is detained or sentenced in the justice system, he/she will spend time in a correctional facility in Idaho. The Sheriff has custody of detainees and inmates in the county jail and maintains relevant records on inmates. The Idaho Department of Corrections (IDOC) is the administrative supervisor of county jails and state prisons. It maintains a publicly available database for this effect. The custody of the Department of Corrections, however, does not extend to federal inmates. Federal inmates are under the jurisdiction of the Federal Bureau of Prisons, which also maintains inmate records.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Idaho?

Yes. In line with state and federal laws on government transparency, these custodians maintain inmate records that members of the public can access (Idaho Code § 74–102).

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching more straightforward, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the document or person involved.

Third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party websites may vary.

What Information is Contained in an Idaho Inmate Record?

An inmate record will typically contain the following information:

• Mugshot
• Full legal name
• Age
• Inmate ID number
• Offense Information
• Sentence information
• Facility of incarceration
• Status (inmate, parole, discharged, or fugitive)

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Idaho?

Generally, the three ways to find an inmate in Idaho are:

• Online search
• In-person request
• Mail request

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Idaho?

The steps for finding an inmate in Idaho are quite straightforward if the requester has the necessary details.

• In-person request:

First, the requester must identify the facility of incarceration or detainment. If this is known, then he/she may contact or schedule a visit to the facility to find information on the inmate of interest. A useful rule of thumb is to confirm an inmate’s incarceration or detainment before contacting the facility.

Some jails allow members of the public to call to find information on an inmate. Thus, scheduling a visit with the jail administrator is unnecessary in this case. The Idaho Department of Corrections also maintains a directory of correctional facilities and visitation rules. County jails often have specific rules, and it is useful to know these rules before visiting.

• Online search:

For local jails, the Sheriff’s website is the best resource for finding inmate information. For example, Ada County Sheriff maintains a jail roster and Bonneville County Sheriff regularly updates an inmate list.

If the individual is looking for inmates in multiple counties or is not sure of the facility of incarceration, then the IDOC Offender Search is a useful tool. The central repository pools inmate information from county and state correctional facilities. To use the Offender Search, the individual must query the database with the inmate’s full name or I. D. Click on the IDOC number for inmate information, including booking photos and personal information.

• Mail requests

If a requester needs additional information unlisted on the public online database, he/she may submit a public record request citing Section § 74–102 of the Idaho Code (Public Records Act).

Most records are available under the Act, but statutory provisions exempt confidential records from public disclosure, even with consent from the inmate. Generally, the Idaho Department of Corrections provides an online form for this purpose.

Alternatively, a requester may submit a written request detailing the requester’s contact information and a statement requesting the records under the Idaho Public Records Act. The requester must also include a detailed description of the records sought. Then, the requester must enclose the request in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail it to:

1299 North Orchard Street, Suite 110
Boise, ID 83706
Phone: (208) 658–2000

The Public Records Act mandates that record custodians respond to a public request within three (3) business days. However, if the request requires extensive research, the Department has leeway to respond within ten (10) business days. Furthermore, paragraph 10 of the Act grants the Department the ability to charge nominal fees for reproducing the records sought. In some cases, the record custodian may waive the associated fees or allow the requester to copy for free. If the Department does charge for processing a request, the Department will estimate associated costs and only process the record request after confirming payment.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Idaho?

Petition the record custodian for a fee waiver stating how providing free access to inmate information serves the public best interests. The appeal must also show that the requester needs the inmate information for non-commercial purposes. Otherwise, the requester must bear the cost of searching, reproducing, and certifying the inmate record requested.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Idaho

The information on discharged inmates is not available online. Ergo, a requester must contact the Department of Corrections by mail or using this online questionnaire. If the inmate is under probation or parole, send a public information request to the Commission of Pardons and Parole at paroleweb@idoc.idaho.gov.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Idaho?

Send a public information request to the Department of Corrections. If the inmate death record contains non-confidential information and is not subject to an active investigation, the Department shall provide a copy. Likewise, eligible persons, i.e., surviving family members of the inmate, may also request death records from the Idaho Department of Health.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Federal prisons house offenders convicted of federal crimes and depending on the severity of the crime, offenders are held in minimum or maximum-security facilities. All federal prisons in Idaho are under the administration of the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP). To find an inmate at the prison, use the BOP Inmate locator. BOP allows searchers to find information on inmates incarcerated as far back as 1982. To achieve this, the searcher may use the offender’s unique BOP number or full name.

Furthermore, providing additional information such as race, age, and sex helps narrow down the search from thousands of results. Bear in mind that records on inmates incarcerated before 1982 are only available on the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA) website. There, the searcher will have access to a database of inmate information from 1870 to 1981.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in Idaho Inmate Locator?

It depends. The availability of inmate information on the inmate locator from jail systems depends on several factors. Some of these include when administrative staff completes the booking process, level of technology integrations, and technical staff availability.