How do I find someone I think is in prison?

If you wish to trace someone who you believe is in prison custody, who may have been there for more than a few days, but whose exact whereabouts you do not know, the Find a Prisoner Service can help you.

To apply, you’ll need:

• the prisoner’s name (or any other name they may have used)
• the prisoner’s date of birth or age - if you know it
• their prisoner number - if you have it

Bear in mind that prisoners can usually make a phone call within the first 24 hours of arriving at a prison, but it can sometimes take up to 72 hours (three days). If you receive a phone call, ask for their prisoner number and which prison they are in. You will need these details to book a visit or send them money.

The Service cannot tell you where a prisoner is being held without their permission. After your initial enquiry, your details will be passed to the prisoner and permission sought to inform you of their location. If the prisoner does not want the person making the enquiry to know where they are being held, then they can refuse permission. 

You can also contact the Find a Prisoner Service by email at [email protected] or in writing at:

Find a Prisoner Service 
PO Box 17594 
Birmingham 
B2 2QP 

The enquiry should include the following information: 

• Your full name 
• Your date of birth 
• Your full address, including postcode  
• Reason for enquiry 
• Full name of the person you want to contact 
• Any other name/s by which they may have been known 
• Their date of birth 
• Their prisoner number

The Find a Prisoner service does not provide any information by telephone and can only be contacted using the details above. 

If you are trying to find a prisoner in Scotland, visit the Scottish Prison Service website for further information.

How do I find a prisoner after a court sentence?

If your loved one has been taken into custody following a court sentence, their solicitor may be able to tell you which prison they are being taken to. If you were not in court, you can contact the court and ask to speak to the cells. They may be able to confirm which prison your loved one has been sent to. If they cannot give you this information, they should at least be able to tell you which prisons people are usually sent to from that court.

How do I find a prisoner after a prison transfer?

Prisoners at a new establishment will get a short phone call they can make to a loved one once the registration process has been completed. This is usually within 72 hours but can sometimes take up to 1 week. Prisoners are not allowed mobile phones, so please bear in mind that if they have not written down or memorised their stored phone numbers, they may not be able to get in touch straight away. Once in prison, the prisoner has to pay for telephone calls, so they will not be able to call until they have money in their account.

If your loved one has been transferred and you don't know where they are, you can write a letter to the prisoner and send it to their previous prison, and your letter should be passed on to the new establishment.

How do I find a prisoner after a recall to prison?

If your loved one has been recalled to prison, you can try contacting their Community Offender Manager (Probation) to see if they can tell you where they were sent. 

Page last reviewed: 17 July 2024

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