What to do if…
a person you care about is transferred to another detention facility with little notice

What to do now

1. Write down the details you already have.
   Note the person’s full legal name, date of birth, inmate or detainee number if known, A-number if relevant, last known facility, who told you about the transfer, the reported destination, whether they may still be in transit, and any reference number.

2. Identify the likely custody system.
   Start with the last known facility. Ask which agency currently has custody and which official locator or contact route you should use. The person may be in a county jail, state prison, federal custody, immigration detention, or another detention setting.

3. Use the official locator or official facility route that matches the custody system.

   • Federal custody: use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
   • State prison custody: check the official state corrections website.
   • County jail custody: check the county’s official jail or sheriff website if it provides a lookup, or call the jail using the number on its official website.
   • Immigration detention: use the ICE Online Detainee Locator System. You can search using the person’s A-number, or their name, country of birth, and birth date.

4. If the person does not appear in the expected locator, do not guess.
   An official locator may not answer the question straight away. Re-check later and use an official contact route. For immigration detention, the official USA.gov guidance says to contact an ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office if the person cannot be found in the online system.

5. Once the destination is confirmed, check the receiving facility’s rules before acting.
   Ask:

   • whether the person has arrived, if that information can be shared;
   • whether phone, mail, or other contact services are available yet;
   • the correct mailing-address format;
   • the approved deposit method;
   • the current visiting rules and whether advance approval is required.

6. If you have a specific urgent welfare concern, say so clearly.
   Call the facility’s official main number and ask how to pass on an urgent welfare concern to the appropriate staff. Keep the message factual and brief. If you believe there is an immediate threat to life and cannot reach the facility, contact local emergency services.

7. If a lawyer or caseworker is already involved, tell them promptly.
   Share the confirmed facts and ask whether the transfer changes any contact or paperwork arrangements.

8. Check for optional custody-status notifications if they would help.
   If a custody-status notification service is available to you, consider using it. Some state and county systems use VINE or another service. Availability, eligibility, and alert types vary. Check the official state or county route before registering.