Saturday, July 2, 2011

Methods To Do An NYS Inmate Lookup

By John V. Lamb


Figuring out how to do an NYS inmate lookup can be useful for a number of reasons. People with interest in helping inmates, those looking for old acquaintances or family and friends of inmates all can use this tool. Starting off with the right tools will help speed up the process, and the web is full of them these days.

The actual Department of Correctional Services site offers a plethora of information on the people in its custody. According to New York State law, inmate records are public. So, anyone can browse the database online. These reach back to the early seventies and continue to the present and all records are searchable.

Having the person's DIN, or Department Identification Number, will allow quick access to the records. This might be the most direct way to look someone up. However, a full name and a birth date should be just as accurate. If, for whatever reason, you only have a last name, it still works. But, you have to realize that searching this way will turn up all the different people who share that last name. This can take a little more time.

In terms of youthful or juvenile offenders, records are kept off the site. This is in compliance with New York law. Those who were convicted between sixteen and eighteen fall into this category. The database also leaves out some other records.

One of the main groups not on the site is non-violent offenders who have not reoffended within the last five years. A recent law allows for their records to be removed, but they are added again in the case of a later conviction. Also, registered sex offenders are slated to be on the site indefinitely. The same goes for those convicted of violent felonies. If, however, the conviction is reversed, the Department of Correctional Services takes the entry down.

But the search goes well beyond just listing names. People can find out when someone was admitted and their future or past release date. Also, they can see where the inmate was convicted and for what. In fact, information about the exact crime is stored on the database as well. For family members and friends, it can be especially helpful to have current information about when a prisoner is up for parole, for example. This can be a useful tracking tool.

Other sites offer similar services. Some do it for free and attempt to compliment the Department of Correctional Services site. Others ask for fees for certain services. Make sure to check the reputation and reliability of a site before you hand over any money. Also, make sure that you are requesting information about the correct jurisdiction or nothing will turn up.

Of the many things the Internet has changed in our lives, an NYS inmate lookup is most likely not the most pleasant. However, it is certainly useful. At least on that level, it makes some of the tedious bureaucracy a little easier to get through.




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