About Washington DC's Correctional System
The DC Department of Corrections (DC DOC) manages correctional facilities in the nation's capital. Washington DC operates the Central Detention Facility (the "DC Jail") and the Correctional Treatment Facility. Many DC inmates serving longer sentences are housed in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities across the country.
If you are searching for a Washington DC inmate, use the official search portal at this link. For federal inmates, use the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Washington DC does not have a traditional state prison system - it operates under a unique hybrid model where the DC DOC manages pretrial and short-sentence inmates while sentenced felons are transferred to federal BOP custody. This means someone arrested in DC may end up in a federal prison anywhere in the United States.
Visitors must be on an approved visitation list. Contact the facility directly using the phone numbers listed below to confirm current visitation schedules, as these may change without notice.