Boston Pre-Release Center

How to Search for State Prison Inmates in Massachusetts

The Massachusetts Department of Correction began, although less formally, in 1878 with the construction of the Massachusetts Correctional Institution at Concord (MCI-Concord).

Massachusetts’s 16 correctional facilities have a general capacity of 8,300. There are another 7,000 on probation or parole, and all of these are overseen by a staff of approximatyely 4,800.

The following will explain the tricks and hacks you can use to find any inmate in custody with the Massachusetts Department of Correction.

Since Massachusetts does not have its own online inmate search, it contracts with Vinelink Inmate Search Notification System to keep track of inmates, both sentenced and unsentenced, that it has in custody. The Vinelink System is updated daily, and sometimes more often. You can also call them at 866-277-7477 if you need assistance.

In order to search for an inmate, you have to know the exact spelling of their full name, first AND last. You can also look up names using just their last name, or even a partial spelling. The only information you will get after looking up an inmate, is the facility in which they are being held, their age and their race.

You do not need to register an account with Vinelink, although if you are registered you will be able to get the inmate's date of birth and their full Inmate ID# in the listing, as well as get notified when the inmate is moved to another facility, or is released.

Step 1

• Go to the Massachusetts Vinelink page.
• Enter their First and last Name.... or a partial name and check the box for 'Partial Name'.

Step 2

• Review the listing.
• At this stage you can create an account in order to see their Date of Birth, ID #, and be notified if they are moved to another facility, or if they are released.

There are multiple ways to add money to an inmate's account at Boston Pre-Release Center, using Access Corrections Secure Deposits

1. Online - Making a deposit using a verified Visa or Mastercard online, or using their Apple or Android App.
2. By phone - Dial 866.345.1884 to reach their 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers.
3. Jail Lobby Kiosk - Kiosks accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
4. Mail-in Lockbox - Friends or Family who do not have a credit or debit card can mail money orders to their secure lockbox to make deposits to an inmate’s account. Depositors use a customized form that captures all needed information. Upon receipt, they process and post the deposits to the inmate's trust fund in approximately 48 hours.

Money orders may be mailed to inmates at:
Access Corrections
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132

Money orders must be made out to "Access Secure Deposits".
Include the state, city, inmate name and ID number on all money orders.

5. Walk-in Cash Deposits - Go to any Cash Pay Today location to deposit cash to your inmate's account.

Secure Deposits - Frequently Asked Questions
Secure Deposits - Video Tutorial on How it Works
Secure Deposits - Help Pages

Customer Service Contacts:
Phone: 866-345-1884
Email: customerservice@accesscorrections.com
Online Chat - Look for 'bubble' on bottom right of the page linked here.

Boston Pre-Release Center Inmate Visitation Information

There are two ways to visit an inmate in Massachusetts, 'in-person' and 'remotely'.  

The following are instuctions on visiting in-person. 

To view instructions on remote visitation, scroll past this section.

Boston Pre-Release Center In-person Inmate Visitation

Step 1 - Applying

Fill out an application for visiting an inmate.  (English application)  (Spanish application)

Visitation approval can take 30-40 days.

Mail this form to the specific institution you intend to visit. The mailing address for Boston Pre-Release Center may be found on the third page of the application or on the Prison Locations Page.

Children under the age of 18 do not need approval, unless the child is not the inmate's and in that case there needs to be a Minor Consent form filled out, and then approved by staff.  (English version, Spanish version)

Step 2 - Prepare for the Visits

Read and understand the Boston Pre-Release Center:

- Dress code (English, Spanish),

- The visiting procedures, and

- Make sure you have a picture ID, such as a driver's license, passport, military ID or any state or federal government issued ID.

Step 3 - Visits in the meantime

Recent arrivals to Boston Pre-Release Center shall be allowed to have two (2) visitors and a reasonable number of visiting children pending the visitor pre-approval process.

Inmates shall submit an Inmate Visitor Listing within thirty days of admission.

Any visitors who are added to Inmate Visitor Lists after this shall not be allowed to visit until approved .

The two (2) visitors allowed to visit pending the approval process shall have to become properly approved or they become inactive after 40 days and can no longer visit. 

Step 4 - Visitation Days and Times

Once you are approved you will be notified of the days and times of visits.  If you have any questions at this point call 617-822-5000, and please review all of the visitation procedures.

REMOTE VIDEO VISITATION 

Boston Pre-Release Center uses Securus Video Connect for Remote Inmate Video Visitation. 

Video Visitation allows 'approved' friends, family members, attorneys and clergy of an inmate to connect with them using their computer, Securus Video Visitation app, or ‘on-site’ kiosk. 

Steps:
Register and/or log in.
Select the facility of your inmate.
Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits.
Schedule your visit.

What is the Cost of a Remote Video Visit?
Costs vary and are subject to change, but generally visits range from $5.00 to $15.00 for a 15 to 30 minute online or on-site video visit.

How do you know if your Inmate will be available during the time you schedule?
The Securus system knows the times that Boston Pre-Release Center inmates are available for remote video visits.
It will not allow you to schedule a visit with your inmate if they are not available or the video visitation kiosk(s) in the jail are booked already.
Once you schedule a visit with your inmate they will be notified of the date and time of the visit.

Important Tips:
Your entire visit is being monitored and recorded. Do not say or do anything that you would not want being replayed in court.
You should schedule your visit, in advance, at a time that works best for you.
For best sound quality, use earbuds or headsets.

Quick & Easy Access to Important Information & Help:
Phone: 972-734-1111 or 877-578-3658
Video Tutorial on Registering for Securus Video Visits.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Boston Pre-Release Center Pricing.
Securus Contact Information.
iphone app
Android app

Boston Pre-Release Center uses Securus Video Connect for Remote Inmate Video Visitation. 

Video Visitation allows 'approved' friends, family members, attorneys and clergy of an inmate to connect with them using their computer, Securus Video Visitation app, or ‘on-site’ kiosk. 

Steps:
Register and/or log in.
Select the facility of your inmate.
Review the days, available hours and the cost of remote and on-site visits.
Schedule your visit.

What is the Cost of a Remote Video Visit?
Costs vary and are subject to change, but generally visits range from $5.00 to $15.00 for a 15 to 30 minute online or on-site video visit.

How do you know if your Inmate will be available during the time you schedule?
The Securus system knows the times that Boston Pre-Release Center inmates are available for remote video visits.
It will not allow you to schedule a visit with your inmate if they are not available or the video visitation kiosk(s) in the jail are booked already.
Once you schedule a visit with your inmate they will be notified of the date and time of the visit.

Important Tips:
Your entire visit is being monitored and recorded. Do not say or do anything that you would not want being replayed in court.
You should schedule your visit, in advance, at a time that works best for you.
For best sound quality, use earbuds or headsets.

Quick & Easy Access to Important Information & Help:
Phone: 972-734-1111 or 877-578-3658
Video Tutorial on Registering for Securus Video Visits.
Frequently Asked Questions.
Boston Pre-Release Center Pricing.
Securus Contact Information.
iphone app
Android app

The Boston Pre-Release Center Inmate Phone System is Securus. 

Sign up with Securus by clicking the banner below.

1.  AdvanceConnect – Good Option - You control all phone numbers your inmate can call.

This type of account offers you the following benefits:
•    You are able to receive inmate calls as long as funds are available in your account.
•    You can add multiple phone numbers to your account so your inmate can reach your home phone, work phone, cell phone, other relatives, neighbors, friends, etc.
•    Calls WILL connect to cell phones.

2.  Inmate Debit – Inmate can call anyone they choose (subject to jail's approval)

This type of account offers you the following benefits:
•    You can fund an Inmate Debit account without having your own calling account.
•    Inmates can call anyone on their approved calling list without requiring friends and family to create separate prepaid accounts.
•    Calls WILL connect to cell phones.
•    Funds placed in the Inmate Debit account will become the property of the inmate and friends & family members will not be able to receive refunds on this account. 

3. Direct Bill - You receive calls from your inmate, and the charges are billed to you monthly.

• Requires a credit check. 
• Costs more.
• Good for lawyers, bail bonds, long-term inmates, etc.

Resources
Contact Securus by Phone:  972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591
Contact Securus Online
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit a Question for Securus Online
Online Rate Quote

Boston Pre-Release Center Inmate & Family Voicemail

Securus Outbound Voicemail provides your inmate an opportunity to leave a message for their family and friends when a call to their mobile goes unanswered. Once the inmate leaves a voicemail, a text message containing a link will be sent to the dialed number. The recipient of the inmate's voicemail is then sent to a web form to pay and listen to the message. The voicemail will be available for up to 30 days after it is sent, and then another 30 days after it is paid for.

Securus Phone System Cost & Fees - *Subject to Change

ADVANCE CONNECT Phone Calls 
$0.21 per minute

INMATE DEBIT Phone Calls
$0.21 per minute

DIRECT BILL Phone Calls
$0.25 per minute

TRADITIONAL COLLECT Phone Calls
$0.25 per minute

VOICEMAIL Message
One minute - $0.75 per minute

For current online rate quote, go here.

Boston Pre-Release Center Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
The Boston Pre-Release Center allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Boston Pre-Release Center also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Confirm Mailing Address here

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Confirm Mailing Address here

Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The Boston Pre-Release Center allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Boston Pre-Release Center standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Confirm Mailing Address here

Commissary Deposits

There are multiple ways to add money to an inmate's Commissary account at Boston Pre-Release Center, using Access Corrections Secure Deposits

1. Online - Making a deposit using a verified Visa or Mastercard online, or using their Apple or Android App.
2. By phone - Dial 866.345.1884 to reach their 24/7 Access Corrections domestic call centers.
3. Jail Lobby Kiosk - Kiosks accept cash, credit cards, and debit cards.
4. Mail-in Lockbox - Friends or Family who do not have a credit or debit card can mail money orders to their secure lockbox to make deposits to an inmate’s account. Depositors use a customized form that captures all needed information. Upon receipt, they process and post the deposits to the inmate's trust fund in approximately 48 hours.

Money orders for commissary may be mailed to inmates at:
Access Corrections
P.O. Box 12486
St. Louis, MO 63132

Money orders must be made out to "Access Secure Deposits".
Include the state, city, inmate name and ID number on all money orders.

5. Walk-in Cash Deposits - Go to any Cash Pay Today location to deposit cash to your inmate's account.

Secure Deposits - Frequently Asked Questions
Secure Deposits - Video Tutorial on How it Works
Secure Deposits - Help Pages

Customer Service Contacts:
Phone: 866-345-1884
Email: customerservice@accesscorrections.com
Online Chat - Look for 'bubble' on bottom right of the page linked here.

Boston Pre-Release Center uses Corrlinks to send inmates email and text messages

Corrlinks is a third party service that contracts with the Boston Pre-Release Center and other prisons throughout the country to allow inmates and their friends and family to communicate using digital secure messaging that is monitored by the institution prior to being delivered.

Corrlinks also has a video visitation service and allows inmates to receive funds that are sent to them from the outside.

In order to exchange messages from an inmate, you must first receive an invitation from the inmate, which they can do from within Boston Pre-Release Center.  There is usually a fee involved in this service, but not so for messages from/to inmates residing at facilities operated by the Federal Bureau of Prisons or CoreCivic (CCA).

Step 1 - Register

Register with your name, address, email and phone number.  A verification email will be sent to you.

Step 2 - Send Message

At this point you must have an invitation from an inmate, or a verifcation code will be sent to you email beforehand that allows you to send your first message to an inmate.

The screen will look like this:

If you need assistance Corrlinks has a comprehensive FAQ Page and a Customer Support page. 

Everything is done online, there is no phone to call.

Once an inmate is convicted and sentenced for a violation of that state’s felony laws (and their sentence is more than one year in length), they are moved from the City or County Jail and sent to a State Prison in Massachusetts. If the violation they are convicted of is a federal crime, they will be sent to a Federal Prison, but will not necessarily be doing their time in Massachusetts.

Massachusetts State Prisons are operated and maintained by the state government and are used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. State prisons are funded by state tax money. The fund is used to provide food and clothes to inmates and to hire employees to keep the prison running. Inmates in state prison enjoy certain privileges such as TV use and recreation, both indoor and outdoor. The number of privileges allowed depends on the security level of the prison, the inmate and the overall needs of the prison on a specific day.

Massachusetts has minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The Corrections Department in Massachusetts also maintains low (or no) security residential settings and camps where inmates assist in state property maintenance and duties such as fighting fires. Almost all prisons provide ‘jobs’ where an inmate can earn a small hourly wage and even learn a trade. Some prisons even contract with call centers and handle phone calls on issues related to their state government. Criminals who have committed a violent crime or killed someone are likely housed in a maximum security prison. If the inmate in these prisons behave, they are also eligible to recreate and/or work as well.

In Massachusetts Prisons rehabilitation is the stated goal but the reality is that they exist to punish inmates for their crimes and keep them from hurting or harming innocent people on the outside who follow the laws and live and act responsibly. The fact is that most prison systems are underfunded, overcrowded and are not able to spend time and money rehabilitating offenders. This is not the fault of the people hired to work in prisons, they are just victims of the lack of resources due to budgeting constraints.

State Inmate

Most states have Department of Corrections websites that allow you to type in a felon's first and last name and pull up inmates in that state.

If you need to find a sentenced inmate serving time in a state other than Massachusetts, go here. To find an inmate in Massachusetts, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the Inmate Search button.

Once you locate them click next to the inmate's name or on the link provided and it will show you which prison the inmate is housed in. If the inmate is no longer incarcerated, but is on parole/probation or discharged, it will tell you that as well. In addition, many state prison inmate pages show recent mug shots.

Federal Inmate

The federal prison system has its own inmate locator called the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Type in the inmate's name and it will tell you where he or she is incarcerated and their projected release date. It also lists released federal prison inmates and the date they were released.

Federal inmates who are moved from one prison to another will show as "No longer in federal custody" on the system until they reach their next federal prison destination. This movement can take a few days to several months to complete, so keep checking back to find out where the inmate was taken.

ICE Inmates

The ICE Detainee Lookup allows friends, family members and interested parties to locate illegal and/or undocumented immigrants that are in the United States without permission.

Has the Inmate been recently arrested?... Try a County Jail

In many cases, the person you are looking for has either not been convicted or sentenced or has been sentenced and is awaiting transport to a State or Federal Prison and is still incarcerated in a City or County Jail.

To locate that person, go here to first find the State, and then the County where they were originally arrested or have been transported to. From there you can begin your search in our databases that contain the names and information of millions of inmates.

Jailexchange.com has all information on every jail and prison in the United States.