Rhode Island Inmate Search

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) operates a unified correctional system, which means that the department supervises all pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals, regardless of their sentence length or the crime they committed. This system integrates state-level prisons and jails. Currently, the RIDOC has six correctional facilities with a total operational capacity of 3,541 inmates. As of the end of 2024, there were 2,346 incarcerated persons under the RIDOC.

Rhode Island inmate records are considered public, meaning anyone can access non-confidential records. In compliance with the Rhode Island Access to Public Records Act (ARPA), the RIDOC maintains an inmate search tool that allows the public to access important information about incarcerated persons in the state. The tool also reveals the current facility where an inmate is being held. This helps family and friends locate and keep in touch with their loved ones in prison.

What is Rhode Island Inmate Lookup?

Rhode Island inmate look involves searching for information about individuals in the state's correctional facilities. The RIDOC offers an inmate search tool that grants access to non-confidential inmate records. Through this system, citizens can access important details about inmates, including their full names, mugshots, current custody status, reasons for incarceration, location of incarceration, and upcoming court dates.

Rhode Island inmate lookup tool promotes transparency and empowers community members to engage with the prison system. For instance, with the Rhode Island inmate lookup tool, citizens can access important details about an offender's sentence length, which helps them understand if the offender has completed their time or has been released on parole. In addition, the inmate lookup tool provides details about the correctional facilities where inmates are housed. Friends and family members can use this information to locate and connect with their loved ones during incarceration.

What Information Can You Find in a Rhode Island Inmate Search?

Anyone who conducts an inmate search in Rhode Island will find the following information:

• Inmate's full name
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Details of arrest
• Location of incarceration
• RIDOC number
• Sentences
• Custody status
• Probation details

How Are Inmate Records in Rhode Island Created and Stored?

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections oversees all pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals, regardless of the length of their sentence or the nature of their crime. As a result, the department is responsible for creating, maintaining, and updating inmate records. The process begins with completing an offender's RAP sheet, which contains important information such as the individual's name, address, phone number, physical description, and the details of the crime. As inmates are transferred between correctional facilities or participate in court hearings and trials, their official records are updated to accurately reflect each change in status. This includes documenting the location of the inmate, any adjustments to their classification, and the outcomes of legal proceedings.

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections offers an online database where the public can access non-confidential inmate records. Anyone interested can perform an inmate lookup at any time of the day or night.

What Does Rhode Island's Prison System Look Like?

Rhode Island has a unified prison system that combines state-level and jail facilities under the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC). The RIDOC oversees six correctional facilities: five for male inmates and one for female inmates. These facilities provide essential services such as custody, care, and rehabilitation for those incarcerated in the state. In addition to basic custody, they offer various institutional programs, including health services, mental health support, education, substance abuse counseling, medication-assisted treatment, programs for youthful offenders, chaplaincy services, parenting classes, and sexual offender treatment. The RIDOC employs over 1,427 staff members, including classified and unclassified employees. Among these, 90 are classified staff members working in the administrative division. By the end of 2024, the RIDOC had an operational capacity of 3,541 inmates, with approximately 2,346 incarcerated individuals.

Rhode Island's prisons are classified into three security levels: minimum, medium, and maximum. Minimum-security prisons mainly house inmates convicted of nonviolent offenses. Medium-security facilities house people with violent backgrounds, but they are not seen as dangerous or likely to escape. Maximum-security prisons are for inmates who need close supervision because of the seriousness of their crimes.

Types of Correctional Facilities in Rhode Island

Rhode Island has six correctional facilities providing custody, care, and rehabilitation to offenders statewide. These facilities are under the supervision of the state's Department of Corrections. Each of these facilities has specific levels of custody and houses a different demographic. The Rhode Island Division of Juvenile Corrections comprises the Rhode Island Training School and the Office of Juvenile Probation. The Rhode Island Training School is a secure facility providing custody and rehabilitation programs to juveniles detained or sentenced by the Rhode Island Family Court. There are no federal prisons in Rhode Island. Federal offenders in the state are sent to federal prisons in neighboring states.

Rhode Island State Prisons

The state of Rhode Island has six correctional facilities located at the Pastore Government Center Complex in Cranston. Each serves a different demographic and has various custody levels. They also offer mental health and substance abuse treatment. Below is the list of all prison facilities in Rhode Island:

• Anthony P. Travisono Intake Service Center
• High-Security Center
• Maximum Security Facility
• Minimum Security Facility
• John J. Moran Medium Security Facility
• Gloria McDonald Women's Facility

Rhode Island County Jail

The state of Rhode Island operates a unified prison system. Offenders in each of the five counties are detained and incarcerated by any of the six correctional facilities under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. Interested persons can look up incarcerated persons in their county using the statewide inmate search tool.

Rhode Island's Juvenile Detention Center

The Rhode Island Division of Juvenile Corrections is responsible for juvenile justice and incarceration. The division comprises the Rhode Island Training School and the Office of Juvenile Probation. The Rhode Island Training School is the only facility providing custody and rehabilitation programs to juveniles detained or sentenced by the Rhode Island Family Court. The Office of Juvenile Probation provides supervision in the community for youth who have been adjudicated delinquent and are sentenced to the Rhode Island Training School but can serve their sentence in a residential treatment program.

Rhode Island Community Correctional Facilities

The Rhode Island Department of Corrections oversees community corrections in Rhode Island. Community corrections focus on providing adequate rehabilitative services and community confinement to specific offenders in the state. These rehabilitative services include employment and educational opportunities, access to counseling and support groups, and access to substance and other medical treatment. On the other hand, community confinement allows the RIDOC to provide custody to inmates who pose a manageable risk to the community and require structured supervision. These inmates are electronically monitored to ensure compliance with pre-approved daily schedules. Individuals eligible for community confinement may include persons charged with substance abuse, domestic or simple assault, shoplifting, driving on a suspended license, embezzlement, or driving under the influence charges. There are nearly 100 employees in Community Corrections, including Probation & Parole Officers, Home Confinement Counselors, Supervisors, and Administrators.

Why are People Incarcerated in Rhode Island?

In Rhode Island, people go to prison for different types of offenses. These offenses are mainly grouped into three categories: person offenses, sex offenses, and property offenses. Person and sex offenses are usually considered violent crimes, while drug and other minor offenses are seen as non-violent.

Common personal offenses that can lead to prison include murder, kidnapping, manslaughter, battery, assault, and fighting. Sex offenses include rape, child abuse, sexual assault, breaking protective orders related to sexual assault, and aggravated rape. Property offenses cover arson, burglary, larceny, theft, fraud, forgery, and shoplifting. Drug offenses involve illegal possession, making, distributing, dispensing, or using controlled substances, as stated by state law.

Those interested in conducting an inmate search to find out why a person is being incarcerated in a Rhode Island correctional facility can look up the inmate using the state's inmate search tool.

Rhode Island's Incarceration Rate and Statistics

Rhode Island has one of the lowest incarceration rates in the United States. As of December 2022, the state's incarceration rate was 124 per 100,000 persons, with about 2,132 inmates under the supervision of the Department of Corrections. The state's inmate rate increased from 118 to 124 between 2021 and 2022.

The table below shows Rhode Island's year-end incarceration rate over a 7-year period.

Life After Incarceration in Rhode Island

As individuals get closer to their release from prison, they are assigned a discharge planner who helps them create a transition plan. Before release, the pre-release unit in Transitional Services and Discharge Planning holds informational forums in the facilities. These forums educate prisoners about the services available to them. The unit also starts preparing for a successful reintegration into their homes and communities. The discharge plan is an addition to the individualized program plan. It ensures that individuals receive the community services they need after release.

Available discharge planning services include housing, mental health care, health services, substance use disorder treatment, medication-assisted treatment, and programming for youthful offenders. In addition to planning before release, agencies that work with the Rhode Island Department of Corrections (RIDOC) also offer post-release services and follow-up support. This approach aims to help ex-offenders reintegrate successfully into the community and reduce the risk of reoffending.

Despite these efforts, Rhode Island faces a significant challenge with a high recidivism rate. Approximately 50% of inmates released from state correctional facilities commit new offenses, and many end up returning to prison.

How Does Parole Work in Rhode Island?

The Rhode Island parole board reviews each inmate's progress, and when they feel a prisoner is rehabilitated and not a danger to society, they may release them early before finishing their sentence. When this happens, the inmate is given a list of stipulations they must comply with. If the inmate does not check in regularly with their parole officer or violates any of the other rules, they will return to prison to finish their sentences. As of December 2022, Rhode Island's parole population stood at 380.

Rhode Island's Parole Population in 2022

How Does Someone Get Probation in Rhode Island?

Probation is a supervisory program where a Rhode Island judge can order probation instead of prison. This privilege is most often given to first-time or low-risk offenders. Again, these individuals do have to comply with a list of court-ordered rules. If they fail to meet with the probation officer or complete any of the other terms of their probation, it will be revoked, and they will immediately go to prison. About 17,320 were on probation in Rhode Island as of year-end 2022.

Rhode Island's Probation Population in 2022