Where to Find North Dakota Inmate Records

Inmate records in North Dakota are official accounts that chronicle activities of persons under confinement in state incarceration facilities. These facilities are state-managed and local-managed. The former is under the North Dakota Department of Corrections’ watch and houses state prisoners serving time because of a conviction. County or city-based facilities are jails that hold persons awaiting or undergoing trial. They also have persons serving time for misdemeanors. At the point of the arrest, the facility fills out extensive paperwork, and the authorities monitor the progress of the inmate and update their records accordingly.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in North Dakota?

Incarceration records are open to the public under the Public Record Law. However, records of case histories are exempt from public access. The same goes for documents under the health record exemptions and all records under seal. Juvenile incarceration records are closed from public access.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

What Information is Contained in a North Dakota Inmate Record?

Inmate records contain basic identifying information and details of the charges and convictions arrogated to the inmate. Others include:

• Date of admission into the facility;
• Rehabilitation programs underwent by the inmate;
• Period of the sentence;
• Projected date of release, or parole where applicable;
• Progress reports;
• Disciplinary actions of the authorities imposed on a violating inmate;
• Certifications and achievements earned while in confinement.

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in North Dakota?

North Dakota residents and any interested persons may begin searching for an inmate by locating the court of jurisdiction on the case. The case files of the inmate contain the sentence and the location of the facility. They are available to view, provided there are no court or statutory restrictions on access.

The law enforcement agencies also keep records of arrests and incarceration. In an arrest case, the records of the Sheriff or Police Department should state if the arrestee is in custody.

If the location of the jail/prison is unknown, track the address through the relevant database. For state prisons, use the “look up a resident” tab to track the offender’s location. For jails, go to the official city or county website and follow the address of the inmate.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in North Dakota?

Before starting any search in North Dakota, have readied the full names of the inmate. Contact the jail officer through the provided telephone number on the county or city website. An example is Cass County. Usually, the inmate gets incarcerated in the jail facility of the town where they got arrested. The same applies to persons confined during the trial: the court shares the exact location where the offender is under incarceration. If there are exceptions to the rule, the law enforcement agency with the arrest warrant can give directions. For state prisons, contact the address below:

3100 Railroad Avenue

PO Box 1898

Bismarck ND 58502

Telephone: (701) 328–6390

Fax: (701) 328–6651

Getting physical copies of inmate records is in two ways. The first is to go to the North Dakota Department of Corrections Website and search for the resident. Searches require only the first three letters of the inmate’s name. A search will return a mugshot image, the inmate’s full name, date of birth, expected date of release, and the facility’s name. Print out this page if the information is sufficient. If it is not, or a certified copy is necessary, parties can request what is needed in person or writing. Charges may apply for physician copies.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in North Dakota?

Viewing physical records or electronic access to them all happen at no cost in North Dakota. The cost of logistics such as transport or mail delivery and the labor of producing copies as charged by the custodian agency all represent charges involved in copying prison records.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in North Dakota

The State Historical Society of North Dakota maintains archived file copies of inmate information. Although the agency welcomes requests from interested parties, it is better to route the request through the NDDOC. The address is as follows:

612 East Boulevard Ave.

Bismarck ND 58505

Individuals can call (701) 328–2666 or send an email to contact the NDDOC.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in North Dakota?

North Dakota abolished the death penalty as capital punishment in 1973. Records of earlier executions still exist with the facility where the event occurred. Because of the grave nature of the execution, it is public information accessible through third-party websites. It is, however, essential to verify the details provided by them.

The NDDOC files all cases of deaths during imprisonment among inmates to the state’s vital records office while holding primary documents of the same information. If the details of the inmate are available, contact the facility where the event occurred.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Locating a federal inmate in the US is achievable using the Inmate Locator on the Bureau of Prisons website. There are two ways to search for an inmate here: by name and by number. Number searches return more accurate results because each inmate identification number is unique to the individual assigned to it. Four federal agencies assign these numbers:

• The Federal Bureau of Investigation
• The Bureau of Prisons
• Immigration and Naturalization Service
• DC Department of Corrections

Data of persons who have served sentences are available up to 100 years ago.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate’s Information to Be Published in North Dakota Inmate Locator?

Booking after an arrest is a straightforward process, usually only two hours. The inmate database gets updated any moment from then. The commitment of a convict to serve a sentence is much more complicated. It takes weeks, sometimes months, to complete the admission process book for the inmate. Some processes involved are extensive health and mental assessments, determining the custody level, and an inmate’s orientation exercise.