Where to Find Nevada Inmate Records

Nevada inmate records contain the incarceration histories of offenders who have been in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections (NDOC) or sheriff offices in the State of Nevada. Upon sentencing by the courts, the agencies create these records to document inmates’ activities within state prisons or county jails. Inmate records contain the identifying, criminal, booking, admission, sentencing, release details of inmates, and are accessible to the public in most cases.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in Nevada?

Yes, incarceration records are available to the public in Nevada. Administrative Regulation (AR) 569 of the NDOC outlines inmate information that can be disclosed and parties who can access these records. Other than the public, AR 569 (4) lists eligible persons, including, but not limited to:

• The Governor and staff
• The Attorney General and staff
• The Secretary of State and staff
• Employees of the Department
• Government entities permitted by state/federal law
• The State Archives
• Law enforcement agencies

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 Nevada Inmate Record?

According to NDOC’s AR 569 (5), a publicly accessible inmate record contains the following information:

• Inmate’s name at the time of conviction
• NDOC identification number
• Criminal conviction(s)
• Incarceration date
• Sentence information
• Pending criminal court actions (if available)
• Current NDOC facility location (excluding boarder and safe keeper (SK) inmates)
• Estimated date of release or release on parole
• Parole board actions

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in Nevada?

Anyone can look up an inmate in the custody of the Nevada Department of Corrections or sheriff offices using the following means:

• Remotely via Inmate Search for an inmate held by the NDOC or using inmate locator tools provided by sheriff offices
• Contacting the relevant correctional facility where the inmate is located in the inmate’s location is known, or Department of Family and Community Services if the inmate’s location is not known (only for inmates incarcerated in state prisons)
• Contacting the sheriff’s office in the county of incarceration (only for inmates located in jails)

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in Nevada?

The Inmate Search may be used to find an inmate or offender located in a Nevada prison facility. By entering an offender’s ID number or first/last name, information such as the inmate’s name, charges, sentence, and other incarceration data can be obtained. Alternatively, if searching for more inmate information and the location of an inmate is known, the specific NDOC facility may be contacted directly. For information on an inmate’s status or classification, it is preferable to ask the Associate Warden or Caseworker III in the facility. Individuals who do not have an inmate’s location may contact the Department of Family and Community Services by email, phone (775) 977–5707, fax (775) 977–5721, or mail to:

ATTN: Family and Community Services
Nevada Department of Corrections
PO Box 7011
Carson City, Nevada 89702

Details of inmates housed in county jails may be obtained from inmate search and information tools provided on the websites of sheriff offices or requested directly from the relevant sheriff office. Generally, to use any of these tools, an inmate’s name, ID, or case number must be entered into search boxes.

Paper copies of publicly-available inmate records are disseminated to the public by NDOC in accordance with the Nevada Public Records Law. Interested persons may inspect or copy these records by written request. Public record requests for copies are processed within five business days of receipt. Record inspections occur within the Department’s regular working hours: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

When requesting copies, individuals are advised to include specific information about the record, as well as their contact information. Per NRS 239.052, a fee of 15 cents/page must be paid to obtain paper copies of any record. The Public Information Office of the NDOC receives inquiries for information on obtaining these records on (775) 887–3309.

Although inmate information that is non-disclosable and confidential, for example, an inmate’s medical record, is typically withheld from the public, a person can access these confidential records with an inmate’s permission. When an inmate submits a completed and signed Consent for the Disclosure of Institutional File Records (DOC 2021), it allows the NDOC to release the inmate’s personal or confidential information to a third-party.

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in Nevada?

In Nevada, the location of an inmate can be obtained at no cost with the statewide Inmate Search, county inmate search and information tools, or by contacting a local sheriff’s office or state correctional facility. Basically, all online inmate search tools are free. It is only when paper copies of an inmate’s records are requested that the state’s correctional institutions charge a fee.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in Nevada

Old inmate records are the historical records of individuals who have been released from the jurisdiction of correctional institutions. Under the law, the NDOC keeps inmate records for 25 years, after which these records are transferred to the Nevada State Library, Archives and Public Records (NSLAPR). Inmate records from 1863 to 1991 are accessible by contacting the NSLAPR. Requests can be made by mail, email, or fax. There is no fee assessed for requests where the copies are less than thirty in number. Every copy thereafter costs 10 cents per page. Copies of these records can also be scanned and uploaded to a flash drive for an additional $5. However, persons who bring their scanners or cameras to make copies are not charged. Copy fees are payable in cash or check only. Attainable inmate information includes:

• Mugshots
• Conviction information
• Fingerprint cards
• Amended court orders
• Classification reports
• Statement of facts by the District Attorney
• Formal certificates of discharges, conditional pardons, paroles, citizenship restoration, sentence reductions

It should be noted that inmate records under the care of the NSLAPR may contain only some, not all, of the above information.

For older inmate records of persons previously housed in county jails, members of the public may query a local sheriff’s office in the county of incarceration, as the NSLAPR only maintains records of offenders who served time in prison facilities.

How do I Find Inmate Death Records in Nevada?

The Nevada Department of Corrections publishes records of inmates who have died while serving sentences in a Nevada penal institution on its Offender Mortality Statistics page. These records have been released every year since 2007. It is possible to view inmate deaths in a particular year by navigating to the bottom half of the page and clicking on the relevant year. The following information is provided:

• Inmate’s name
• NDOC ID number
• Location and time of death
• Age at death
• Date of death
• Gender
• Admission date
• County of commitment
• Ethnic origins
• Press release: In addition to some of the information listed above, this document contains an inmate’s charges, sentence(s), county of death, inmate’s mugshot/photograph, and a note on if the next of kin have been notified

The health information of a deceased inmate is confidential and cannot be issued to the public. Individuals who want to find out details on an inmate’s cause of death may contact the coroner’s office in the county where the death occurred.

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator provides information on offenders who are physically located in federal prisons, beginning from 1982 to date. Inputting an offender’s name or BOP/FBI/INS/DCDC number into search boxes yields the following results about an inmate:

• Name
• BOP register number
• Age
• Gender
• Race
• Projected date of release
• Inmate’s current address

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

Nevada’s Department of Corrections does not specify when the Inmate Search is updated upon an inmate’s incarceration or how frequently. An interested party may contact the Department for more information. Locators maintained by sheriff offices have varying times of update. Again, the sheriff offices may be contacted for inquiries. Some sheriffs, however, have this information on their official websites.