Find Federal Inmates, Custody Status and Booking Records Through Official Sources
The Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator is the primary official search for people who have been in BOP custody from 1982 to the present. It can show a federal Register Number, age, race, sex, projected or past release date and custody location. It is not a public nationwide mugshot gallery.
Records Search
Court, Criminal, Marriage, Divorce, Property
Which Federal Record Should You Search?
The phrase “federal inmate mugshots” combines several different record types. A BOP inmate locator result, U.S. Marshals detention record, booking photograph and federal criminal-court docket answer different questions.
Need to locate a federal inmate?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator for people in BOP custody from 1982 to the present.
Looking specifically for a mugshot?
Do not expect the BOP locator to function like a county mugshot roster. Federal prisoner photographs are generally not routinely released by the U.S. Marshals Service.
Need charges, filings or the judgment?
Use PACER. The nationwide PACER Case Locator can help identify the federal court and case number when you do not already know them.
Need information beyond the locator?
BOP says information that is not publicly available through the locator may be requested under FOIA, subject to privacy rules and exemptions.
Need a pre-1982 inmate record?
BOP directs researchers to the National Archives for many older federal inmate records because not every pre-1982 inmate was entered into the modern locator system.
No federal result?
A person arrested by local or state authorities usually belongs in a county jail or state Department of Corrections search rather than the BOP locator.
How the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator Works
The BOP locator covers federal inmate records from 1982 to the present. The Bureau states that the public locator data comes from its main inmate database and is updated on the website daily.
Search by federal inmate number when possible
A number search is usually more precise than a name search. The BOP Register Number is displayed in the locator even when another supported identifier was used for the search. The standard BOP Register Number format is five digits, a hyphen and three digits, such as 12345-678.
Search by name when you do not have a number
The BOP locator allows searches by first, middle and last name, with optional identifying filters. BOP specifically warns that exact spelling matters. A search for one spelling will not automatically return a different spelling of the name.
Open the official BOP Inmate Locator
Use the .gov locator rather than a commercial federal-inmate directory.
Search by Register Number if you have it
A verified federal inmate number is the most direct way to distinguish people with similar names.
Otherwise search the full name
Enter the first and last name accurately. Use a middle name or initial and available age, race or sex filters to narrow common-name matches.
Compare the result carefully
Check the Register Number, age, location and release information rather than assuming a matching name identifies the correct person.
Move to PACER when the legal outcome matters
The BOP locator answers custody questions. The federal court docket is the better source for indictments, filings, judgments and other case information.
Does the Federal Inmate Locator Show Mugshots?
No. The public BOP Inmate Locator should not be treated as a federal mugshot gallery. Its public results focus on inmate identity and custody information rather than publishing a booking photograph as a standard search field.
Why federal booking photographs are different
County sheriffs often have their own local rules for publishing booking photographs. Federal prisoner photographs operate under a different system. U.S. Marshals guidance states that prisoner photographs and personal histories are not ordinarily disclosed to the public.
The Marshals Service also has a specific booking-photograph disclosure policy. Outside situations where releasing a photograph serves a law-enforcement purpose, such as locating a fugitive, booking-photo requests are handled under FOIA and are generally subject to significant privacy restrictions.
| Source | What it normally provides | Mugshot expectation |
|---|---|---|
| BOP Inmate Locator | Name, Register Number, age, race, sex, release date and location. | Not a public mugshot gallery. |
| U.S. Marshals Service | Federal prisoner and fugitive-related functions. | Booking photos are generally not released routinely to the public. |
| PACER | Federal court docket entries and filed documents. | Not an inmate-photo search system. |
| Local jail holding a federal detainee | Facility-specific custody information where the local agency publishes it. | Depends entirely on the local facility’s law and publication policy. |
What BOP Location and Release Status Mean
The location field is more nuanced than a simple prison name. BOP explains several special status labels that can appear in public results.
| BOP result | What it means | What not to assume |
|---|---|---|
| Named BOP facility | The person is shown at that BOP location. | Do not assume the assignment can never change. |
| IN TRANSIT | BOP says the person has been moved from a BOP facility and may or may not return. | It does not identify the transfer destination. |
| Regional Office | BOP says this can indicate an inmate serving a concurrent state sentence in a state prison. | It does not necessarily mean the person is physically housed in the regional office. |
| Community Corrections Management | The inmate can be in a contract halfway-house arrangement overseen by CCM. | The person is not necessarily physically located inside the CCM office. |
| RELEASED | The person is no longer in BOP custody. | It does not prove every form of supervision or other custody has ended. |
| UNKNOWN release date | The confinement term has not been determined. | Do not invent a release date or assume an indefinite sentence. |
Projected release dates can change
BOP currently warns that sentences are being reviewed and recalculated in connection with First Step Act Federal Time Credit changes. A future release date shown by the locator should therefore be treated as the current BOP projection rather than a permanent guarantee.
“Released” does not always mean completely free of supervision
BOP states that a person shown as released or no longer in BOP custody may still be on parole or supervised release, may be held by another criminal-justice system, or may otherwise remain subject to legal supervision.
Use PACER to Check the Federal Criminal Case
The BOP locator answers where a federal inmate is or whether the person has left BOP custody. PACER answers a different question: what happened in the federal court case.
Search the specific court
If you know the district where the criminal case was filed, PACER lets registered users search that court directly.
Use PACER Case Locator
The nationwide index is useful when you know the defendant’s name but do not know which federal district has the case.
PACER registration and current fees
Anyone can register for a PACER account. Registration itself is free, but accessing search results and documents can generate charges.
Search by case number when you know it
PACER advises that searching by case number can be more efficient than searching a common party name. A nationwide name search can generate multiple pages of results and corresponding search charges.
How to Request Additional Federal Inmate Records
The Bureau of Prisons states that information beyond what appears in the public locator may be requested under the Freedom of Information Act. Disclosure still depends on the type of record, privacy rules and applicable FOIA exemptions.
Start by checking whether the information is already public
BOP specifically says an inmate’s location can be checked through the public locator without filing a FOIA request. Use FOIA for records that are not otherwise available through BOP’s public resources.
Requesting your own BOP records
A person requesting records about themselves must verify identity. BOP says a self-request should include the requester’s full name, current address, date and place of birth and, for a current or former inmate, the federal Register Number.
Requesting information about another person
Third-party inmate records can contain protected personal information. A FOIA request does not guarantee disclosure of every document, photograph or personal detail. Privacy exemptions can limit what the agency releases.
Federal Bureau of Prisons FOIA
BOP operates a decentralized FOIA program. Requests are assigned to the office best positioned to locate responsive records.
FOIA fees
BOP says FOIA processing fees may apply. Its current guidance states that submitting a request includes agreement to pay up to $25 unless otherwise specified; if estimated fees exceed $25, the agency will notify the requester.
How to Find Federal Inmate Records From Before 1982
The BOP locator is not a complete historical archive for pre-1982 federal incarceration. BOP explains that not all people in custody before 1982 were entered into its modern inmate-management system and that many older records are held by the National Archives and Records Administration.
Information to provide for an older-record search
- Full inmate name, including a middle name or initial if known.
- Date of birth or approximate age during incarceration.
- Race, where known and relevant to identifying the historical file.
- Approximate dates of federal incarceration.
- Federal institution or geographic location, if known.
Why a Federal Inmate Search May Return No Result
A missing BOP result does not by itself prove that a person was never arrested, detained or prosecuted federally. Start by identifying the custody system and timeline.
| Problem | Possible explanation | Best next step |
|---|---|---|
| Name search returns nothing | The spelling may not match BOP’s record exactly. | Check spelling, middle name and identifying information; use the Register Number if available. |
| Federal arrest but no BOP result | The person may still be in U.S. Marshals or local contract detention and may not yet appear as expected in BOP custody. | Check the federal court docket and responsible detention authority. |
| State or county prisoner not found | BOP primarily covers federal inmates, not ordinary state or county custody. | Use the state Department of Corrections or county jail system. |
| Very old federal incarceration missing | The incarceration may predate the BOP locator’s reliable 1982 coverage. | Search National Archives federal prison records. |
| Result says IN TRANSIT | The person has moved from a BOP facility and the final location may not yet be shown. | Recheck the locator rather than guessing the destination. |
| Result says RELEASED | BOP custody has ended. | Check PACER or supervision records if you need to know whether supervised release, parole or another custody status continues. |
| No federal mugshot appears | The BOP locator does not operate as a public mugshot database and federal booking photos are generally restricted. | Use custody and court records instead; do not substitute an unverified commercial image. |
Federal Prison, Federal Detention and County Jail Are Not the Same
A person facing a federal case can pass through several custody systems. Someone may be arrested by a federal agency, held for the U.S. Marshals Service in a local contract jail, detained in a federal detention center and later transferred into a BOP prison after sentencing.
U.S. Marshals Service
The Marshals Service is heavily involved in federal prisoner custody, transport and detention before or during federal court proceedings.
Federal Bureau of Prisons
BOP operates federal correctional institutions and maintains the national public inmate locator for federal custody records from 1982 forward.
U.S. District Court / PACER
The court docket contains the legal proceedings. It is separate from the correctional locator.
Use Federal Inmate and Mugshot Information Carefully
A custody record does not tell the entire legal history. BOP itself notes that a person can appear in its records even if the person was detained pretrial and charges were dismissed, held as a material witness or held for civil contempt.
Before publishing or relying on information about a specific person, verify identity with the federal Register Number and other official identifiers, then use the federal court docket for the legal outcome.
USA-Mugshots.com is an independent information guide. It is not the Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Marshals Service, Department of Justice, Administrative Office of the U.S. Courts or PACER. This site does not control federal custody records, booking photographs or court documents.
Do not use inmate or arrest information for harassment, stalking, threats, doxxing or unlawful discrimination. Employment, housing, lending and other regulated background-check decisions can involve separate legal requirements.
Federal Inmate Mugshots and BOP Search FAQs
Where can I search federal inmates officially?
Use the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator at BOP.gov. It covers federal inmate records from 1982 to the present.
Does the BOP Inmate Locator show mugshots?
No. The public BOP locator is an inmate identity and custody search, not a public federal mugshot gallery.
How often is the BOP inmate locator updated?
BOP states that data is extracted from its main inmate database and updated on the public website daily.
What information does a BOP inmate search show?
Public results can show the inmate’s name, BOP Register Number, age, race, sex, release date and location.
What format is a BOP Register Number?
The standard BOP Register Number format displayed by the locator is five digits, a hyphen and three digits, such as 12345-678.
Why can’t I find someone who was federally arrested?
The person may not yet be in BOP custody, may be held for the U.S. Marshals Service in another facility, may belong to a state or local custody system, may have been in the federal system before 1982, or the search information may not match BOP’s record exactly.
What does IN TRANSIT mean in the BOP locator?
BOP says IN TRANSIT means the inmate has moved from a BOP facility and may or may not return. The public status does not identify a final destination.
What does RELEASED mean in a federal inmate search?
It means the person is no longer in BOP custody. BOP cautions that the individual could still be on parole or supervised release or in another criminal-justice system.
How do I find a federal criminal court case?
Use PACER. If you know the federal court, search that court directly. If you do not know the court, use the nationwide PACER Case Locator.
Can I request a federal inmate mugshot through FOIA?
You can submit a FOIA request for federal records, but a request does not guarantee release of a booking photograph. Federal prisoner photographs are generally subject to significant privacy restrictions, and U.S. Marshals booking photographs are ordinarily not publicly released absent an applicable basis for disclosure.
How do I find a federal inmate from before 1982?
BOP directs researchers to the National Archives for many pre-1982 federal inmate records because the modern locator does not contain every older inmate.
Official Sources for Federal Inmate and Court Records
These official sources were reviewed in October 2026. Federal custody information, projected release dates, fees and agency procedures can change, so verify current instructions on the responsible .gov website before relying on a time-sensitive detail.
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — About Inmate Locator Records
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Federal Inmates
- Federal Bureau of Prisons — Freedom of Information Act
- U.S. Marshals Service — Prisoner Photographs
- PACER — Find a Federal Court Case
- PACER — Nationwide Case Locator
- National Archives — Federal Prison Records