Idaho Inmate Search

Are Idaho Inmate Records Public Information?

Yes, Idaho inmate records are considered public information per the Idaho Public Records Act, which grants every individual the right to examine and/or obtain a copy of any public record of the state. Members of the public who seek records can send a request to obtain records of inmates in Idaho.

Inmate records contain information relating to persons incarcerated in Idaho prisons and corrections facilities. In compliance with the Idaho Public Records Act, the Idaho Public Records Law Manual, and other relevant regulations, these documents are open to the public. A typical Idaho inmate record will contain the inmate’s personal information, the Idaho inmate's mugshot, and sentence information. One can also find out who’s in custody or find someone in jail.

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 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 the state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.

How to Find Someone in Jail in Idaho.

Members of the public seeking to find an individual who has been incarcerated in jail in Idaho can check the online database maintained by the Department of Correction Idaho, providing the full name of the subject of the data. One can also obtain information from third-party sites that provide this service. Another option would be to call the office of the sheriff or visit in person to access the jail roster. One can find out what jail someone is in and also find out why someone is in jail.

How to Perform Idaho Jail Inmate Search

Most county Sheriff’s Offices provide information and guidelines on how to find out if someone is in jail. Generally, this information is available on the specific county’s Sheriff’s webpage or the online jail roster and varies with county. For instance, the Ada County Sheriff maintains a jail roster where interested persons may find a person in jail by providing the first letter of the inmate’s last name. On the other hand, the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office only maintains an alphabetical list of inmates in the county jail and updates this list once a day. However, many counties do not provide these tools or lists, and interested persons must call or visit the Sheriff’s Office to perform an inmate search in Idaho.

Facilities Operated by the Idaho Department of Correction

The Idaho Department of Correction (IDOC) has administrative powers over inmates incarcerated in prisons, jails, community reentry centers, and out-of-state facilities with which the state has a contract. It also monitors the 37 county jails in Idaho and one private prison.

How Do I Send Money to an Inmate in Idaho Prisons or Jails?

The IDOC uses the account management system Access Corrections, which provides real-time management of inmate trust accounts. Any interested person may deposit money into the inmate trust account by phone, online, or through an authorized retailer. Access Corrections accepts cashier’s checks, money orders, cash, personal checks, and credit and debit card deposits from Mastercard and Visa (the daily limit for cards is $300.00). Charges apply depending on the method used.

To deposit money through walk-in sites, find locations and enroll Dollar General CashPayToday.com (call (844) 340-2274 to find a location) AceCashExpress.com (call (877) 223-2274 to find a location). If sending by mail, send inmate deposit to:

Secure Deposits-Idaho DOC
P.O. Box 12486,
St. Louis, MO 63132

Deposits may be sent to a Community-Based Offender through the

Secure Deposits-Idaho DOC P&P
P.O. Box 12486 St. Louis,
MO 63132

Community-based offenders may receive money from Kiosks in main IDOC Probation & Parole District Offices.

The mail-in option is free. For information about applicable charges for all other options, the interested person may contact Access Corrections on their website or by phone at (866) 345-1884. Any interested person may also contact JPay to deposit money into an inmate’s Jpay media account online or contact them by phone at (800) 574-5729.

How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in Idaho Prisons and Jails

The IDOC is very strict in the application of its visiting rules and regulations. Any interested visitor is required to familiarize themselves and acknowledge that they have read and understood the IDOC visitation rules and regulations. Intending visitors must also complete the application for visitation forms that may be provided by the inmate or downloaded on the IDOC website. Before visiting a new inmate, the intended visitor must wait until the inmate has been processed and housed in the facility where the court sentenced the inmate to serve time. The process for visiting an inmate in Idaho corrections facilities, including out-of-state facilities, goes thus:

Use the prison lookup tool to confirm that the inmate is housed at the facility or contact the jail administrative staff on the phone to confirm.
Download or have the inmate send the application forms and the booklet outlining visiting rules.
Complete the forms and provide all required information, such as name, date of birth, ID number, hair color, weight, and height, and tick the boxes at the bottom of the form for a background check.
Address and mail the application form or deliver it in person to the specific facility in which the inmate is being housed, stating the offender’s full name and IDOC number.

Applications for visiting inmates at an out-of-state facility must be addressed to the following:

DW Higgins, IDOC
Attn: Visiting Applications
1299 North Orchard Street, Suite 110
Boise, ID 83706

Information on the names and addresses of the prisons under the IDOC’s administration is available on the section for prison locations on the IDOC website.

Wait for 2 to 4 weeks for application processing and background checks. The facility will provide an update or notify the intending visitor on the status of whether the application has been approved or denied.
Confirm visiting days and schedules by clicking on the Visiting Hours link on the IDOC website or contacting the facility. Each facility has its own schedule.
On visiting day, visitors over the age of 16 are required to present valid photo identification and abide by all the applicable rules and regulations, such as no electronics such as mobile phones or laptops, only coins allowed, no bills, no tobacco, no gifts, or other items for inmates, and others listed in the visiting rules.
Visiting applications apply after one year. Intending visitors are required to reapply.

Note: The IDOC facilities abide by a strict dress code, and it’s possible to be turned back for not meeting the dress code standards. It is advisable to comply with the dress code provided in the rules and/or bring along extra pieces of clothing to change into if needed.

How to Find a County Inmate Roster in Idaho

Individuals seeking to find a county inmate roster can access it on the website maintained by the office of the sheriff. Members of the public can find out who’s in jail or find jail roster mugshots. The website provides a platform that allows for Idaho inmate lookup. One would need to provide a full name to conduct an Idaho inmate search. Please note that the custody status of an Idaho inmate can only be confirmed by phone call or by visiting in person to make inquiries. Some third-party sites provide free Idaho inmate lookups where one can carry out an Idaho inmate search.

A county inmate roster in Idaho contains the full names of inmates, the offense committed, and a mugshot.

How to Perform Idaho Prison Inmate Search

Interested persons perform an Idaho prison inmate search via the Department of Corrections inmate search portal. Any interested person may use the inmate lookup tool to perform a free inmate search by name or use the inmate’s IDOC number. Generally, the first three letters of the inmate’s name or the first three numbers of their IDOC number will suffice. The information available on the offender search usually includes the name, IDOC number, and status of the inmate.

Information about discharged persons or persons who have served their term will appear, but not the charges for which they were incarcerated. There is no link for further information attached to their IDOC number. Information provided about persons who are current inmates of correctional facilities in Idaho may include the case number, date of sentence satisfaction, charges, and sentencing county. All requests for records must be in writing in Idaho. If an interested person requires more information than is available on the offender search page or would like copies of a particular offender’s records, it is advisable that they send a formal request to:

Records Bureau
Idaho Department of Correction
1299 N. Orchard Street, Suite 110
Boise, ID 83706

Idaho State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference

Idaho state prisons and county jails are operated by the Idaho Department of Correction. There are a total of eight state prisons and 20 county jails in Idaho. The largest state prison is the Boise Correctional Center, which can house up to 2,000 inmates. The smallest state prison is the North Idaho Correctional Institution, which can accommodate up to 250 inmates.

County jails in Idaho typically have a capacity of between 50 and 100 inmates. The Ada County Jail is the largest county jail in Idaho, with a capacity of 1,200 inmates. The Canyon County Jail is the second-largest county jail, with a capacity of 800 inmates.

The average daily population of all state prisons and county jails in Idaho is approximately 9,500 inmates. For state prisons, the average population is approximately 6,700 inmates, while county jails house approximately 2,800 inmates daily.

The recidivism rate for offenders who are released from Idaho state prisons and county jails is between 30% and 33%. However, the average length of stay for an inmate in Idaho is two years.

Approximately 85% of all inmates in Idaho state prisons are male, and 15% are female. The racial makeup of Idaho state prisons is approximately 70% white, 20% Hispanic, and 10% other.

How Do I Find Out an Inmate Release Date?

Concerned persons who wish to know an inmate’s release date may look up the date on the IDOC offender search portal. Information on a current inmate’s release date is in the “Sentence Satisfaction Date” column under sentence information. For released inmates, the portal will display the inmate’s discharge date in the “Status” column under search results.