Washington DC Inmate Search
Washington DC inmate records provide necessary information about persons incarcerated in the correctional and detention centers in Washington DC. Most of these records are available to the public either online or upon request, per the Freedom of Information Act. Generally, information on these records includes inmate biodata, arresting agency details, inmate custody status, inmate booking information, and expected release date.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
Meanwhile, the state Department of Corrections records office is the official government source for obtaining Washington DC inmate records. Records seekers can find someone in jail as well as Washington DC inmate mugshots by reviewing the DOC inmate records.
Are Washington DC Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes. In Washington DC, inmate records are considered public information under the state Freedom of Information Act. However, under the state privacy rule, an inmate’s Protected Health Information (PHI) is not made public.
How to Find Someone in Jail in Washington, DC
Those who want to know how to find someone in jail in Washington, DC can do so by contacting the D.C. Department of Correction Records Office at (202) 523-7060. Inquirers can also find out what jail someone is in and find out why someone is in jail by contacting the D.C. DOC record office.
Additionally, if the inquirer is a victim of crime and knows certain details about the inmate, they can register with Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE) by calling (877) 329-7894. Interested parties must provide an inmate's full name, their DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) ID number, their Metropolitan Police Department Identification Number (PDID), or a court case number in order to register on VINE. By registering with VINE, inquirers can receive automated alerts about a specific inmate movement. VINE is maintained as a tool for public safety to aid in protecting crime victims from offenders.
How to Perform a Washington DC Jail Inmate Search
The DC DOC maintains the records of all inmates incarcerated in the correctional facilities and housed in the private halfway houses listed above. Therefore, anyone who wants to perform a Washington DC prison inmate search must contact the Department's Records Office at (202) 523-7060. In addition, individuals who have been crime victims can perform an inmate lookup using VINE (Victim Information & Notification every day). The following information is required to search the VINELink:
- Inmate ID Number
- Metropolitan Police Department identification number (PDID)
- Inmate's full name
- Court case number
The public can also perform a free inmate search by name on VINE by calling (877) 329-7894 and providing the information listed above.
Facilities Operated by the Washington DC Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation
Washington DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) is under the Deputy City Administrator/Deputy Mayor for Public Safety and Justice. The agency operates a municipal jail system that comprises of two primary correctional facilities:
- The Central Detention Facility (also called DC Jail)
- The Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF)
The DC DOC does not provide a prison lookup tool for the public to find a person in jail in these facilities, but interested persons may search through VINE. Users of VINE can sign up to get regular updates on incarcerated individuals' whereabouts.
As one of the nation's most prominent municipal correctional authorities, the DC DOC manages an average daily population of 1,700 inmates. The DC Jail only houses adult male offenders, while female and male offenders and juveniles are adjudicated as adults and serve time at the CTF. In addition to these facilities, DC DOC has contracts with three privately operated halfway houses. These independent halfway houses are used for community placement of inmates and offer several educational opportunities and programming services. Halfway houses on contract with DC DOC include:
- Extended House, Inc.
- Fairview
- Hope Village
The majority of felons who are incarcerated, as well as those who are serving life sentences, are typically housed in facilities run by the federal Bureau of Prisons. These facilities are spread across surrounding states and in other regions of the country.
The addresses and contact information of prisons and correctional facilities in Washington DC are as follows:
How to Send Money to Inmates in Washington DC Prisons
The DC DOC sets up an account for each inmate during the intake process. This account holds funds found in the inmate's possession at the time of arrest and the funds earned from work details. Also, family and friends can deposit funds in inmates' accounts. The DC DOC provides the following options for funding inmates' accounts:
- Western Union
- Offender Connect
Visitors to the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF) at 1901 East Street, SE, Washington, DC 20003 can deposit funds into inmates' accounts at the Inmate Connector Kiosk in the facility lobby.
There are three ways to send money to a DC inmate through Western Union: online, telephone, or walk-in visit to a Western Union agent.
Make a Western Union telephone deposit by calling (800) 634-3422. To make a walk-in cash payment via Western Union, find an agent nearby by calling (800) 325-6000 or visiting the Western Union website. Phone and walk-in deposits are accepted when sending money to inmates through Offender Connect. When making this deposit, fill out the information below to complete the blue Quick Collection Form:
Pay To: DCDC DOC
Code City: DC GOV
State: DC
Sender's Account #: Include inmate# and inmate last name
Offender Connect allows friends and family to fund inmates' phone accounts and commissary accounts. This payment processor also accepts money order deposits via mail. Visitors to the jail can also make cash and card deposits by using the Offender Connect Kiosk in the facility's waiting area. Denominations accepted for cash deposits include $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100, while Mastercard and Visa are accepted for credit/debit card payments. Note that payment by credit card may attract an additional cash advance fee by the card issuer. For further information about using the Offender Connect services, contact customer care by calling (877) 650-4249.
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in DC Prisons and Jails
Family and friends of inmates can schedule video visits online or by calling (888) 906-6394 or (202) 442-6155 (Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.). The DC DOC Video Visitation Center (VVC) handles all video visits. Alternatively, the visitor may go to the visitation center at the DC. General Hospital Complex, which is adjacent to the jail.
Video visitations are conducted from Wednesday through Sunday, beginning from 11:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m. The last visitation session for each day starts at 9:00 p.m. Visitors must arrive no later than fifteen minutes before the commencement of their scheduled visits.
Each inmate is allowed two social visitations, taking up no more than 45 minutes each per week. Only one adult and up to two minors below 18 years of age can enter the video visitation room per visit. Children are always required to visit under the supervision of adults.
Besides the VVC, the DC DOC also has four satellite locations for video visitations. Listed below are the contact addresses and visitation schedules for these locations:
Anacostia Library
1800 Good Hope Road Southeast
Washington, DC 20020
Visits are conducted on Thursdays and Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Bald Eagle Recreation Center
100 Joliet Street Southwest
Washington, DC 20032
Visits are conducted Wednesday, Friday, and Saturday from 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Martin Luther King Library
901 G Street Northwest
Washington, DC 20001
Visits are conducted on Thursdays from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and Fridays/Sundays from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Capitol View Neighborhood Library
5001 Central Avenue Southeast
Washington, DC 20019
As an incentive for good behavior, the DC DOC allows face-to-face visits for eligible inmates. This new development began on June 22, 2015. Please refer to the visitation schedule dates on the agency's webpage to determine the next face-to-face visiting day.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Washington DC
According to the U.S Census Bureau, Washington DC does not contain any county. Hence, there are no county inmate rosters in the state. However, Inquirers may be able to get a correctional facility's inmate roster by requesting it from the facility administrator. If the roster is unavailable, interested parties can always contact the state's Department of Correction records office to inspect an inmate record in Washington DC.
DC Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
Washington DC's state prisons and county jails are responsible for incarcerating offenders convicted of crimes committed within the District. The Department of Corrections (DOC) is responsible for the operation of the state prison system, while the Department of Youth Rehabilitation Services (DYRS) oversees juvenile detention facilities. There are also several privately operated correctional facilities within the District.
The DOC operates three adult correctional facilities: the Central Detention Facility (CDF), the Lorton Correctional Complex (LCC), and the Correctional Treatment Facility (CTF). The CDF is located in Southeast Washington and houses approximately 1,700 inmates. The LCC, which is located in Fairfax County, Virginia, houses around 2,400 inmates. The CTF is a privately operated facility that houses about 1,200 inmates.
The DYRS operates two juvenile detention facilities: the New Beginnings Youth Center (NBYC) and the Oak Hill Youth Center (OHYC). The NBYC is located in Southeast Washington and houses approximately 60 juveniles. The OHYC is located in Prince George's County, Maryland, and houses around 40 juveniles.
In addition to the DOC and DYRS-operated facilities, there are also several privately operated correctional facilities within the District. These include the GEO Group-operated Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) halfway house and three other privately run halfway houses. There are also two private prison facilities within the District: the Corrections Corporation of America-operated D.C. Jail and the GEO Group-operated Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC).
How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?
The public can confirm an inmate's release date from a DC facility by calling VINE on (877) 329-7894. Alternatively, interested persons can contact the Department's Records Office at (202) 523-7060. Researchers will obtain complete information on inmates, including conviction and sentencing details and potential release dates.
the Oak Hill Youth Center (OHYC). The NBYC is located in Southeast Washington and houses approximately 60 juveniles. The OHYC is located in Prince George's County, Maryland, and houses around 40 juveniles.
In addition to the DOC and DYRS-operated facilities, there are also several privately operated correctional facilities within the District. These include the GEO Group-operated Corrections Corporation of America (CCA) halfway house and three other privately run halfway houses. There are also two private prison facilities within the District: the Corrections Corporation of America-operated D.C. Jail and the GEO Group-operated Metropolitan Correctional Center (MCC).
How to Perform a Washington DC Prison Inmate Search
The DC DOC maintains the records of all inmates incarcerated in the correctional facilities and housed in private halfway houses listed above. Therefore, anyone who wants to perform a Washington DC prison inmate search must contact the Department's Records Office at (202) 523-7060. In addition, individuals who have been crime victims can perform an inmate lookup using VINE (Victim Information & Notification Everyday). The following information is required to search the VINELink:
- Inmate ID Number
- Metropolitan Police Department identification number (PDID)
- Inmate's full name
- Court case number
The public can also perform a free inmate search by name on VINE by calling (877) 329-7894 and providing the information listed above. Inquirers can utilize the federal inmate search portal operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons to look up and locate incarcerated individuals held in federal prisons. The federal inmate search portal offers two alternatives for searching for federal inmates. Searches can be done either by name or an inmate’s Department of Correction number.
How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?
The public can confirm an inmate's release date from a DC facility by calling VINE at (877) 329-7894. Alternatively, interested persons can contact the Department's Records Office at (202) 523-7060. Researchers will obtain complete information on inmates, including conviction and sentencing details and potential release dates.
