Massachusetts Inmate Search

The Massachusetts prison system comprises 15 correctional facilities, which the Massachusetts Department of Corrections manages. These facilities incarcerate all offenders, from minimum to maximum security levels. They have a population of around 8,100 inmates.  

To find a prisoner detained in one of the MADOC institutions, utilize the VINELink website or phone number. Please be aware that the Massachusetts VINE program only counts Essex County and the Massachusetts Department of Correction as participants. 

You must first register with the Mass VINE and get a profile. You can provide the name of the offender you wish to find on the profile. On the other hand, since MDOC does not have its own inmate search engine, you can locate any inmate you want to find using their names or incarceration number provided by the MDOC. 

Please be aware that the Department of Correction does not manage the website, and in case you have an issue with the inmate database, you should contact VINELink directly for support by phone at (866) 277-7477. 

How to find county jail inmates 

You can also find inmates in the Massachusetts county jail system managed by the local law enforcement agencies, primarily the county sheriff's department. There are 19 county jails across 14 counties with a combined population of around 10,000 inmates.  

To locate your inmate in a county jail, you can find them using the following methods: 

• Locate them via the inmate roster 
• Contact the county jail administration or sheriff's department 
• Visit the county jail or the sheriff's office in person 

The sheriff's department keeps all inmate records in the county prisons, as the Massachusetts Freedom of Information requires. In addition, they make these records accessible to the public. Therefore, to access the county jail, you need to visit the prison or sheriff's office website. The inmate roster may be a list of inmates in the county jail or a search system that provides access to the county jail inmates' records.  

You can find your inmate by their; 

• Official full names 
• Date of arrest if the sheriff's department arrested them 
• Date of incarceration if they were transferred to the jail from a city jail or another jail or were sentenced to serve time in the jail by the court.  

How to Find Federal Inmates in Massachusetts 

You can find inmates in one federal Massachusetts prison run by the Northeast Regional Office of the Bureau of Prisons. Note that the prison only incarcerates male offenders requiring specialized or long-term mental or medical health care—the state contracts with other states to house their other federal inmates.  

You can utilize the inmate locator system on the official BOP website to find any federal inmates or anyone charged and incarcerated for violating federal laws. This system allows the searcher to locate their inmate of interest using the inmate's first and last name or incarceration number. However, to have accurate search results, they need to type in the correct form of a number, which usually is FBI, DCDC, INS, or BOP-register number.