Living in an incarceration can be stressful because the inmates have to be away from their loved ones, including their family members and friends. If you are one of the family members or friends of an inmate, you are encouraged to visit them as often as possible to maintain connections and to support them during difficult times.
Talking about visiting an inmate, you may want to find out who has visited an inmate for various reasons, such as for personal, legal, or administrative purposes. To be able to do that, you need to understand the protocols and procedures that have been established by the correctional facilities. Keep reading to know the details.
Read also: List of Things Felons Can’t Do
Reasons Finding Out Who Visited an Inmate
There are a few reasons why you may want to know who visited an inmate, such as:
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- You want to make sure that your loved one who is currently incarcerated is safe. Therefore, you need to know everyone who has visited them.
- You are just curious who has visited your loved one in the correctional facility.
- You suspect that your loved one is hiding something from you. For example, they cheat on you.
- Etc.
Finding Out Who Visited an Inmate
For anyone who is wondering how to find out who visited an inmate, there are a few ways that you can try, as follows:
Method 1: Check with the prison or jail where the inmate is incarcerated
The first thing that you can try to find out who visited an inmate is to reach out to the correctional facility where the inmate is incarcerated, such as a local jail, prison, or detention center. Usually, there is an administrative office or department that is in charge of visitation matters in almost every facility.
When you are at the correctional facility when the inmate is held, you can try to ask the staff about accessing visitor logs of information about recent visits to the inmate. Make sure to do it politely. During the process, you may be asked to provide the full name of the name and some other information. Besides, it is also possible for them to ask you about your personal information and your relation with the inmate. Usually, accessing visitor logs requires authorization. That’s why before visiting the place, you are suggested to prepare a legitimate reason for your request, such as personal interest, concerns about security, or legal representation.
Method 2: Use the Federal of Prisons (BOP) inmate locator
If the inmate is in federal prison, there is a tool called the Federal Bureau of Prisons or BOP inmate locator that you can use. By using this one, you will be able to find out a lot of information about the inmate, including the time when the inmate is or was expected to be released. It is worth noting that this tool can provide basic information, such as the name of the inmate, their register number, their age, their sex, and their release date.
Method 3: Submit a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) request
For those who want to get the detailed information about a certain inmate, you can consider submitting a thing called the Freedom of Information Act or FOIA request to the BOP. It has been known that the FOIA requests can provide extra information more than release dates, which include visitation logs and the identities of the visitor.
Method 4: Complete Form DOJ-361
If an inmate wants to obtain their prison records, they can do it by completing and submitting Form DOJ-361. This one should be submitted to verify their identity in order to prevent the private records from spreading among the public.
Aside from the Form DOJ-361, anyone who wants to obtain their own record also has to complete and submit their Freedom of Information Act or FOIA request. In the request, they need to include the information about themselves, including their full name, date of birth or appropriate age at the time of incarceration, race, and approximate dates of their time in prison.
Method 4: Contact the inmate directly
The best way to find out who visited an inmate is to contact the inmate directly. This one is considered the best because you do not have to go through the process of requesting or completing the form. All that you have to do is to ask the inmate about any individuals that have visited them at the correctional facility. However, this method is not the right one if you want to find out who visited an inmate without the concerns of the inmate themselves.
Bottom Line
In conclusion, keeping in touch with loved ones who are currently in the correctional facility is essential for their well-being and rehabilitation. In case you as their family member or friend have or want to find out who visited them, make sure to navigate the process with respect and patience. Do not forget to also follow the procedures. By following the guide, you will be able to get the information that you are looking for while upholding privacy and standards.
