Where to Find Vermont Inmate Records

In the State of Vermont, offender or inmate records refer to any information generated, compiled, or kept by the Vermont Department of Corrections (VT DOC) concerning convicted offenders sentenced to a term of imprisonment by the courts. Typically, inmate records have the personal history, booking details, release date, sentence information, probation/parole information of offenders, and are maintained in paper, electronic, and other media forms. The Vermont Department of Corrections maintains records of offenders confined in state prison facilities or jails. The local law enforcement agencies (sheriff and police departments) also handle records of individuals housed in jails.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Vermont?

Per the Vermont Public Records Act, 28 VSA § 107(b), incarceration records, or inmate records are not considered public information in Vermont. Although this law directs that these records be kept confidential, the Department of Corrections is authorized to maintain a Public Use File (a part of the inmate record) that is open to any interested person. As a result, members of the public can obtain some information from an inmate’s record.

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 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 Vermont Inmate Record?

As stated above, inmate records are closed to the public in Vermont. However, the “Public Use File” that can be released to any person contains the following inmate information:

• Personally identifiable information: name (first/middle/last), aliases (if known), age, race, sex, and the town of residence
• Admission/booking date
• Current location
• Minimum and maximum date of release
• Date released (if applicable)
• Probation and parole officer
• Corrections Service Specialist
• Legal status
• Charge status
• Description of charges
• Bail amount
• Sentence(s)

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Vermont?

Inmates incarcerated in Vermont may be found using the following methods:

• Online via the VT DOC Offender Locator
• Submitting an FOIA (freedom of information act) a written request to the VT DOC
• Contacting the VT DOC, correctional facility, or relevant local law enforcement agency

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Vermont?

The Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) provides both remote access and direct request methods for finding inmates. Remote access to inmate information is provided through the Offender Locator. With this search tool, current and released inmates can be located by entering the offender’s last and first name into the search query. At a glance, searchers can view an inmate’s complete name, booking date, release date (if applicable), jacket/ID number, and facility of incarceration. By selecting “view more,” additional information can be obtained, including:

• Charge(s) and charge(s) code
• Court date
• Court type
• Booking status (sentenced, detained, or hold)
• Offense date
• Arrest date
• Arresting agency
• Case number
• Bond type and amount
• Inmate’s current age
• Booking time
• Race
• Sex
• Aliases
• Parole officer
• Caseworker
• Minimum and maximum release date

Under the Vermont Public Records Act, 1 VSA 315 et seq, questions about an inmate’s whereabouts can also be submitted directly to the VT DOC. The contact information for public record requests may be found at the VT DOC’s website’s footer. The Department may assess a request fee according to the uniform charges schedule.

Also, friends, family members, and other interested persons may use the DOC Online Portal Form to obtain information on an inmate or place an inmate-related inquiry. Requesters may enter their personal information such as first and last names, title (for persons writing for professional reasons), phone number/email, contact preferences, and the following offender information:

• First and last name
• Gender
• ID/Jacket number
• Location
• Specific correctional facility
• Offender status

The form also allows interested persons to specify the reason(s) for their inquiry, including medical, facility case management, field supervision, programming, inmate property, legal issues, staff conduct, inmate phone system, and other general inquiries.

Offenders serving sentences in the jails may be found using the above methods as the Vermont correctional facilities double as jails. However, the sheriff’s office or police department responsible for an individual’s apprehension may be able to provide information on an offender. The contact information of any law enforcement agency is typically available on the specific agency’s website.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Vermont?

The remote-access inmate locator provided by the Vermont Department of Corrections assists members of the public in finding or looking up an inmate’s location in the state. Also provided are the offender’s status, identifying data, and sentencing details, and more. Persons using this service are not required to pay any fee to obtain this information.

Inmates confined in jails may be located for free by contacting the law enforcement agencies or the applicable correctional facility/jail.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Vermont

No explicit information is provided on accessing or obtaining old inmate records in Vermont. Members of the public who want to inquire about these records may contact the Vermont Department of Corrections or relevant local law enforcement agencies for further information.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Vermont?

In Vermont, there is no publicly-available instruction on finding inmate death records. Interested persons may contact the correctional facility where the death occurred for this information. However, it should be noted that Vermont law does not ordinarily permit public access to inmate records, except for the information contained in the Public Use File, as explained above, or information that is published on the VT DOC’s inmate locator. Therefore, access to an inmate’s death records may be restricted to the public.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

Interested persons may find federal inmates through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator with an inmate’s name or BOP/FBI/INS/DCDC number. This search tool provides information on offenders imprisoned from 1982 to the present:

• Personal details: name, sex, race, and age
• Present location
• BOP registration number
• Expected release date

Older federal inmate records are also obtainable, but not from the BOP. Inmate records dating back from 1982 are accessible through the National Archives and Records Administration. Ordering instructions for these records are available on the How to Obtain Copies of Records page.

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

The Vermont Department of Corrections does not outrightly state the length of time between an offender’s commitment and an update on the Vermont Inmate Locator. However, these inquiries may be directed to the Department at (802) 241–2442.