Oklahoma Inmate Records

Oklahoma is one of the states with the highest incarceration rate in the United States, with an average of 22,745 offenders imprisoned in state-run prisons every year. The state's imprisonment rate of 563 per 100,000 residents is notably higher than the national average of 355 per 100,000 total population.

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, Oklahoma's prison population is growing after several years of steady decline. In addition to the over 22,000 inmates in state-operated prisons, the local jails in the state hold approximately 9,200 inmates, while the federal prisons house about 2,300. Records of all inmates incarcerated within Oklahoma's prison system are maintained by each supervising government agency, including local, state, and federal agencies or prison/jail authorities.

Inmate records are detailed files maintained on individuals incarcerated in correctional facilities. A typical Oklahoma inmate record includes the following details:

• Personal Information - This includes the inmate's full name, age, date of birth, race, gender, inmate number, mugshot, and identifiers like hair color, eye color, weight, and height.
• Court Record - The case number, information about the offense committed, trial details, and the sentence.
• Arrest Information - This includes the details of the arresting law enforcement agency, the location of the arrest, the date of the arrest, the arrest warrant, the charges filed, and the time of the arrest.
• Sentencing Details - These include the offenses committed, conviction dates, term length, start date, current facility, incarceration status, and discharge date.
• Disciplinary Actions - These are details of any disciplinary actions taken against the inmate for varying infractions in a correctional facility.
• Visitation Records - These are details of individuals who visit an inmate, the date of the visit, and the time of the visit.

Are Inmate Records Public in Oklahoma?

Oklahoma inmate records are public records under the state's Open Records Act unless specifically required by state law to be kept confidential. The Open Records Act grants members of the public the right to access and review government records, which include records of inmates created and maintained by government agencies.

However, if an arrest record in Oklahoma is sealed or expunged, it becomes restricted from public access, unless a court order requires its disclosure. Similarly, records of juvenile inmates are not publicly accessible. Furthermore, information such as personal financial information, medical records, and Social Security numbers in an inmate record is confidential and is typically redacted or deleted before releasing the record for public access.

What Agencies Are Responsible for Inmate Records in Oklahoma?

The following government agencies supervise different correctional facilities in Oklahoma and/or maintain records of inmates housed in such prisons or jails:

• The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) - All 22 state-run correctional facilities in Oklahoma are managed by the state's Department of Corrections (DOC), an agency that also keeps records of all inmates in those prisons. The DOC has jurisdiction over convicted offenders serving sentences of at least one year for felony crimes. Facilities managed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections and housing inmates are categorized into varying security levels, including medium, community, minimum, and maximum.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) - Records of inmates housed in Oklahoma's two federal prisons are maintained by the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), which is also responsible for managing both correctional facilities. Typically, these prisons incarcerate individuals convicted of federal crimes in any part of the state. Such crimes include drug trafficking, financial offenses, human trafficking, fraud, tax evasion, and mail fraud.
• County Sheriff's Offices - The county sheriff's offices across Oklahoma are mainly responsible for the local jails in every part of the state. They oversee about 91 local jails and keep up-to-date records of all the inmates under their supervision, the majority of whom are serving jail sentences for misdemeanor offenses or non-violent felonies (usually short sentences) or awaiting trial.
• Police Departments - Each police department in Oklahoma keeps records of all arrests executed in their jurisdiction, some of which lead to offenders' convictions and then incarceration in either state prisons or local jails. These records, although held by police departments, are usually a part of a typical inmate record in the state.

How To Search an Inmate's Information in Oklahoma

Before setting out to search for an inmate in Oklahoma or find information regarding them, identify the exact correctional facility where the person is incarcerated or the prison/jail authority maintaining their record.

Find an inmate in the Oklahoma State Prisons

The Oklahoma Department of Corrections (DOC) has an inmate search tool, the OK Offender Lookup system, that enables members of the public to retrieve certain information about inmates incarcerated in state-run prisons. To find an inmate's information using the system, use the inmate's DOC number, name, or date of birth as the search criterion and click the "Search" button. The search may be narrowed by selecting either the "Include alias data in search" or "Include similar sounding names" box, or both, before clicking the search button.

Generally, the search results obtained with the OK Offender Lookup system seem detailed enough. However, interested persons may obtain a more comprehensive record regarding any inmate held in a state-run prison in Oklahoma by visiting the prison where the inmate is physically housed. With information such as the inmate's name, DOC number, gender, race, and birth date, the record custodian should be able to locate the inmate's record file and furnish the requester with the sought information.

Find an Inmate in Local Jail

Most of the county sheriff's offices in charge of the local jails around Oklahoma have links to online inmate search resources on their websites. These resources allow interested members of the public to obtain information about offenders incarcerated in jails overseen by such sheriffs. Typically, anyone will need information like an inmate's name, gender, date of birth, admission date, and/or inmate number to look up inmates incarcerated in the local jail.

Online inmate search resources maintained by local jails primarily provide basic information about inmates in custody. If someone needs a more detailed record regarding an inmate held in an Oklahoma local jail facility, the ideal thing to do is to visit the facility in person or mail a request to the record custodian. Once the custodian has enough information to enable them to search for the inmate's file, they will search and provide the requester with the sought information or record once found.

Find an Inmate in Federal Prison

The BOP Inmate Locator, an online resource provided by the Federal Bureau of Prisons, has information about federal inmates incarcerated in Oklahoma City FTC and El Reno FCI from 1982 to the present. To access the records of any such inmates, enter their name or BOP register number in the available search field under the appropriate tab and click the "Search" button. Information obtained from this search typically includes an inmate's full name, race, release date, location, age, gender, and registration number. Alternatively, interested persons may visit the federal prison facility where an inmate is held to find detailed information about them.

How Can I Access Old Inmate Records?

Old inmate records in Oklahoma may not be accessible using the online inmate locators or resources offered by the different prison/jail authorities in the state. Such resources are typically designed to provide access to information about offenders who are currently in prison or jail custody. The Oklahoma State Archives has a collection of old records, including old records for inmates who were previously incarcerated in state-run prisons, that may be accessed by the public. Anyone looking to find old records of former inmates who served their sentences in federal prisons in the state may also look up the National Archives.

Furthermore, third-party websites like Oklahomapublicrecords.us have records of persons who were formerly incarcerated in the state in their databases. Once collected and uploaded, such records remain in their database and may be accessed anytime, although at a small fee. In addition, old inmate records in Oklahoma may be accessed by visiting the correctional facilities where such inmates were physically held during their time. In most cases, records obtained in this manner are often detailed.

If a former inmate whose record is sought was incarcerated in one of Oklahoma's federal prisons, anyone may submit a FOIA request to the BOP, either by mail or email, to retrieve the record. In Oklahoma, if an individual is no longer in the custody of a state-run prison or under supervision, their records are typically closed. Anyone who needs a copy of such records may request them by completing and submitting the Closed Records Request Form. However, if the record is required for legal purposes, interested persons may obtain it by submitting an Open Records Request to the Oklahoma Department of Corrections.

Can I Find an Oklahoma Inmate Record for Free?

Yes. Several online resources in Oklahoma offer free access to inmate records, depending on where inmates are housed and the agency in charge of the correctional facilities holding the inmates. For instance, the BOP Inmate Locator, OK Offender Lookup system, and the inmate search tools maintained by county sheriff's offices all enable free access to records of inmates housed in federal prisons, state-run prisons, and local jails, respectively. However, they only have information about individuals in the custody of each supervising prison/jail authority.

If the correctional facility housing an inmate whose information is sought in Oklahoma is unknown, use any reliable third-party site like Oklahomapublicrecords.us to look up the inmate's records. These sites are a one-stop database for all inmates in the state, regardless of which facility houses them. They provide centralized access to information regarding inmates in local, state, and federal correctional facilities in Oklahoma, although at a nominal fee.

Jails and Prisons in Oklahoma

Oklahoma correctional facilities are grouped into four categories based on how they are managed, as outlined below:

• Local Jails - The state has about 91 local jail facilities under the supervision of different county sheriff's offices.
• State Prisons - Oklahoma has at least 22 state-run prisons under the management of the state's Department of Corrections (DOC).
• Federal Prisons - The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) funds and manages the 2 federal prisons in Oklahoma.

State Prisons in Oklahoma

Some of the state prisons managed by the Oklahoma Department of Corrections are listed in the table below:

Private Prisons in Oklahoma

Oklahoma does not have a privately operated prison at the moment.

Oklahoma Inmate Statistics

• Oklahoma Incarceration Rate - 563 per 100,000 residents
• Male Incarceration Rate - 1,021 per 100,000 males
• Female Incarceration Rate - 108 per 100,000 females
• Youth Custody Rate - 59 per 100,000 youths
• Number of Prisoners in Private Prisons - 0
• Black/White Imprisonment Disparity - 4.4:1
• Latino/White Imprisonment Disparity - 0.9:1
• Number of offenders under community supervision: 788 per 100,000 people
• Number on probation - 567 per 100,000 people
• Number on parole - 81 per 100,000 people
• Felony Disenfranchisement Rate - 1.4%

* Source: United States Bureau of Justice Statistics