Connecticut Inmate Records

Connecticut is one of the few states that operates an integrated system that combines jails and prisons. With an average of 9,719 inmates incarcerated in state-run prisons and local jails and another estimated 840 in federal prisons, the state's incarceration rate stands at 170 per 100,000 residents. Connecticut ranks as one of the states with the lowest imprisonment rate, and its incarceration rate is significantly lower than the national average of 355 per 100,000 United States.

The numerous prisons and jails in Connecticut operate under the supervision of certain government agencies at the local, state, and federal levels. Each of these agencies is responsible for keeping accurate records of all offenders sentenced by the court to serve time in their prison or jail facilities. Connecticut inmate records are usually maintained and available in various forms, including digital and paper formats.

In Connecticut, any typical inmate record will include the following details:

• Personal Information - An inmate's personal information, as outlined in their record, includes their name, age, gender, date of birth, inmate number, height, eye color, weight, and hair color.
• Incarceration Details - These include the location of incarceration, status, last admission date, date of sentence, maximum sentence, bond amount, and controlling offense.
• Arrest Details - These include the time and date of the arrest, the location of the arrest, information about the arresting agency, the arrest warrant, and charges filed.
• Release and Parole Information - This includes the inmate's eligibility for parole, special parole end date (if applicable), the estimated release date, and the maximum release date.
• Court Case Information - This includes court dates, trial details, orders, and the court's judgment.

Are Inmate Records Public in Connecticut?

Yes. Information regarding inmates incarcerated in correctional facilities in Connecticut is considered public information and may be accessed by anyone in the interest of public safety. According to the state's Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), any information or document recorded by a public agency is a public record, and this includes inmate records, either typed, handwritten, printed, tape-recorded, or recorded by any other means.

Unless otherwise provided by any state statute or federal law, all inmate records in Connecticut are open records, and everyone has a right to inspect them or make copies. Nevertheless, sealed or expunged inmate records in the state are exempt from public disclosure unless disclosure is ordered by a court of competent jurisdiction. Similarly, some pieces of information in Connecticut inmate records are typically restricted from public access to protect privacy. These include Social Security numbers, medical records, financial information, records containing details of contacts between inmates and law enforcement officers, and any other information whose disclosure may result in a safety risk.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Connecticut?

Listed below are the major government agencies that oversee Connecticut correctional facilities and maintain up-to-date records of all inmates incarcerated within the state's prison system:

• The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) - The Connecticut Department of Correction (DOC) supervises the activity of 20 state-run correctional facilities and maintains accurate records of all offenders incarcerated there. State-run correctional facilities include correctional institutions (CI) and correctional centers (CC). The DOC's correctional institutions (CI) hold sentenced inmates, while correctional centers (CC) are primarily jails for accused offenders. Although there are 20 state-operated prisons and jails statewide, about 5 are currently closed as a result of a 20-plus-year low in the inmate population.
• Police Departments - While none of the local police departments in Connecticut operate a correctional facility, they keep all records of arrests executed in their jurisdiction. These records are found in typical inmate records for individuals arrested, convicted, and sentenced to prison or jail.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - The only federal prison in Connecticut is overseen by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), a federal government agency that also keeps records of individuals convicted of federal crimes and sentenced to incarceration in the state.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in Connecticut

Anyone considering looking up an inmate's information in Connecticut must first locate the prison or jail facility where they are incarcerated.

Find an inmate in the Connecticut State Prisons

Records of inmates currently incarcerated in Connecticut state-operated prisons and jails are made available through the DOC Offender Information Search system as a public service. To find an inmate's information using this system, enter only the first few letters of the inmate's last name or the inmate's number as the search criterion in the appropriate search field and click the "Search All Inmates" button.

A list of inmates matching the search criterion will be displayed, but the finder needs to locate the record of interest and select the corresponding inmate number for an expanded view. The search result typically includes the inmate's personal details, current location, release information, and sentence details. However, a person's incarceration does not mean they have been convicted of a crime since the state's correctional system also houses accused who are awaiting trial.

Anyone who wishes to obtain a detailed record of an inmate held in a state prison or jail in Connecticut may go to the correctional facility where they are incarcerated. In most cases, they will be furnished with comprehensive information regarding the inmate whose record is sought than they will ordinarily retrieve through the DOC Offender Information Search system.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

There are no local jails in Connecticut. Rather, the state runs an integrated prison and jail system, and the DOC manages state-run jails where accused offenders awaiting trial and sentenced individuals with pending criminal charges are housed. Information regarding such offenders may be accessed through the DOC Offender Information Search system. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the jail facility where the offender is physically housed to obtain a detailed record from the custodian. However, they will have to provide the record custodian with details like the inmate's name, number, sex, and admission date to help facilitate the search.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

To find information about any inmate incarcerated in Danbury FCI, the only federal prison in Connecticut, from 1982 to the present, interested parties may look up the inmate through the BOP Inmate Locator. The BOP Inmate Locator allows a name-based search using an inmate's name and a number-based search that requires an inmate's BOP register number. Information retrieved often includes the inmate's full name, gender, race, location, status, registration number, and release date.

Alternatively, anyone intending to obtain records of any inmate incarcerated in Danbury FCI may visit the correctional facility in person at:

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Records of former inmates who were incarcerated in Connecticut are not available through the online resources provided by any of the prison authorities in the state. Those inmate search resources primarily hold information regarding inmates currently serving prison or jail sentences in correctional facilities managed by the DOC and BOP.

Depending on where a previously incarcerated person in Connecticut was held and when they were released from prison or jail, the State Archives and National Archives should be the starting points for an old inmate record search. While the State Archives is likely to have records of former inmates who were held in state-run correctional facilities, the National Archives has certain information regarding inmates who served time in federal prisons in Connecticut.

Furthermore, credible third-party sites like Connecticutpublicrecords.us collect inmate records regularly from official sources and upload them to the databases, where they are never deleted. This collection of records may be accessed anytime and at someone's convenience, although usually at a small fee.

If detailed information about an old Connecticut inmate is needed, it is best to visit the state or federal correctional facility where the inmate was held at the time of incarceration. Alternatively, the person seeking the information may submit a public records request to the appropriate prison authority. If the former inmate was housed in a federal facility in the state, submit a FOIA request to the BOP by mail or email to obtain their detailed record. For an old inmate who was incarcerated in a state-run prison or jail, submit a FOIA request to the Connecticut Department online.

Can I Find a Connecticut Inmate Record for Free?

Yes. The DOC Offender Information Search system offers the public a free platform to find records of inmates housed in Connecticut state-operated jails/prisons. Similarly, the BOP Inmate Locator does the same for offenders incarcerated in federal prisons in the state. However, only information about inmates housed by each prison authority may be accessed using these online resources.

Anyone looking to find an inmate record in the state, regardless of where the inmate is housed or which agency supervises them, should consider using reliable third-party platforms like Connecticutpublicrecords.us. These sites have records of inmates across all the prisons and jails in the state, which may be accessed at a nominal fee.

Jails and Prisons in Connecticut

A correctional facility in Connecticut may be either a prison or a jail. The state has 20 state-run prisons and jails, which are all managed by the Department of Correction (DOC) and are divided into four different security levels. These include 4 correctional centers (jails), 1 youth institution, and 15 correctional institutions.

Four out of the state correctional facilities are at the Minimum security level, five at the Medium level, eight at the High level, and three operate at the Maximum security level. Connecticut has no local jails, while only one federal prison operates in the state under the management of the Federal Bureau of Prisons.

State Prisons in Connecticut

Correctional facilities run by the Connecticut Department of Correction include the following:

Private Prisons in Connecticut

Connecticut has no privately run or managed correctional facility.

Connecticut Inmate Statistics

• Connecticut Incarceration Rate - 170 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 329 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 18 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 18 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 9.4:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 3.7:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision: 1,156 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 1,048 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 79 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 0.2%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics