New Hampshire Inmate Search

inmate records are public information, and the Freedom of Information Act grants the public free access to that information. Note that there is no national or universal database of inmate records. Different entities keep inmate records depending on the type of facility, the type of court, and the arresting law enforcement agency. 

The New Hampshire Penal System 

Before conducting an inmate search, you first need to know how the New Hampshire penal system works. Criminals in New Hampshire are taken to federal prisons, state prisons or county jails. Many confuse prisons and jails, but they refer to different entities of the New Hampshire penal system. Prisons are bigger in size and house inmates serving long sentences. On the other hand, jails are short-term facilities that primarily house inmates with sentences of less than one year and those awaiting trial or sentencing. They also differ in management. The county sheriffs manage jails in New Hampshire. The New Hampshire Department of Corrections manages state prisons, and the federal bureau of prisons administers federal prisons. 

How to Conduct an Inmate Search in New Hampshire? 

Now that there is some clarity about the New Hampshire penal system, this section will elaborate on how to conduct an inmate search in federal prisons, state prisons and county jails. 

Federal Prisons  

If an inmate is incarcerated in the Federal Correctional Institution Berlin, you can access their records through the federal bureau of prisons. The Federal Bureau of Prisons provides inmate information through an offender locator on its website. The locator has information on current and past inmates dating back to 1982. There are two ways to search for an inmate on the locator, which includes the following 

• Using the offender's BOP registration number 
• Using the offender's name. 

State Prisons 

If inmates are not in federal prisons, they are likely in state prisons. State prisons house offenders serving longer sentences of one year or more. To locate an inmate in a state facility, use the New Hampshire Department of Corrections. The department gives access to inmate records online. Visit the department's website and look for an inmate search tool on the homepage. The inmate locator provides information on incarcerated inmates, those on parole and probation, and those in residential community programs. To search, enter the inmate's name or DOC number. You can use other details such as age, race, gender, height, weight, and hair colour to filter the results. 

County jails 

If an inmate is in county jail, the sheriff's office and the court clerk are the two places to seek information. The county sheriff's office provides the public with inmate information through different mediums. Some offices maintain an online database of inmates housed in their facilities. The online database contains inmate information such as the inmate's name, race, gender, booking date, charges, and potential release date. If the office does not have an online database, the next step is to go to the office and request access to the inmate data. You can also call them and request the records. 

The county court clerk also has access to every criminal record in the county. One can access the information by getting in touch with the clerk's office. Before making the call, ensure you have the inmate's name and birthdate.