The Michigan Department of Corrections (MDOC) “has a mission to create a safer Michigan by holding offenders accountable while promoting their success. Their vision is to remain committed to the protection of the public, safety of our staff and security of offenders.”
If you are looking for an inmate in Michigan, the Department of Corrections is the first place to search. They offer an Offender Tracking Information System (OTIS) where you can look up information on current inmates.
Michigan Department of Correction Offender Search
The Michigan Department of Corrections manages and operates all the state prison in Michigan. With the OTIS inmate lookup, you can search for an inmate by first, middle, and last name, or the inmate’s MDOC number.
Through the Michigan Department of Corrections inmate look up, you can also search inmates by sex, race, age, offender status, and even marks, scars, or tattoos.
Find an Inmate Search Engine
The Federal Bureau of Prison’s Find an Inmate search engine is another website you can use to find inmates serving time in Michigan. This website provides records of all inmates who have been incarcerated from 1982 to present day.
To find an inmate, you can either search by the inmate’s name or the inmate’s number (You will need the inmate’s DCDC number, FBI number, INS number, or BOP register number in order to find him or her).
It is important to note that this search gives results for inmates sent to federal prisons only. Inmates convicted of violating Federal laws are sent to Federal prisons.
Inmate Records Online Search
Through this Michigan inmate lookup, you can find inmates, mugshots, records, and contact information for inmates through law enforcement agencies and courthouses.
To use this resource, you need to search the inmate’s first and last name, and click on “Michigan.” Once the search is complete, you will be asked to set up a free account to view the full report on the inmate you searched for.
VINELink
VINELink is the online portal to VINE, and is another way to search to search for inmates in Michigan. You will need to create a free account in order to use VINELink’s services. In addition to the website, you can also contact VINELink by calling toll-free 1-800-247-9763.
Providing the most current and reliable information regarding inmate custody status changes and criminal case information, VINELink has recently added new user-friendly features that will benefit loved ones of inmates and anyone else wishing to use this service.
The VINE service, which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week, and 365 days a year, offers information by phone, email, and text message,
Search Specific Jails in Michigan
Another way you can search for inmates is to do a Michigan prison inmate locator which searches specific jails and prisons in Michigan.
Each jail has a website, and each website has a jail roster, so you can find out who’s in jail by searching the jail roster. Go here to search specific jails in Michigan, and search for the jail roster for the inmate you are looking for.
Search Prisons by Types
You can also find out who’s in jail in Michigan by doing an inmate search for the type of prison or jail that he is she serving time in. There are three general types:
- City Jail
A city jail is for inmates who are serving short sentences after conviction of a misdemeanor.
- County Jail
A county jail serves inmates who are awaiting trial or those convicted of minor crimes —These inmates usually stay in a county jail for a year or less.
- State prison
A state prison is a prison operated and maintained by a state and used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. Most inmates who are sentenced to prisons are sentenced for a year or more.
When you are looking at a specific jail or prison, go to the inmate search page on the website and search for the inmate, using his or her first and last name. You will usually see the inmate’s name, mugshot, birthdate, charges, and other information.
Bottom Line
The bottom line is that the Michigan Department of Corrections provides several useful ways to search for inmates in Michigan. If you do not find the inmate you are looking for using one search, then try another one. With these resources, you are sure to find the inmate you are looking for.
