FDC Houston Inmate Search. BOP Locator & Register Number

BOP register number required for money, email, and visits: here's how to find it.

Overview

Federal facilities don’t use county booking numbers. Everyone at FDC Houston has a BOP register number: an 8-digit identifier (formatted XXXXX-XXX) that follows them through the entire federal system. You need it to send money, use CorrLinks email, and get approved as a visitor. The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/ is the official tool to find it.

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Quick Facts

Search tool: BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc/: official, free, no login required.
Search by name: returns register number, current facility, and projected release date.
Register number format: 8 digits, formatted XXXXX-XXX (e.g., 12345-678).
New arrivals: allow 24–72 hours before the record updates to show FDC Houston.
Register number is required for MoneyGram deposits, Western Union, and CorrLinks email.
FDC Houston address: 1200 Texas Avenue, Houston, TX 77002: phone (713) 221-5400.

The BOP Inmate Locator

The Federal Bureau of Prisons maintains a public search tool at bop.gov/inmateloc/. It covers every person currently in BOP custody, including FDC Houston. Search by first and last name: the results show:

Full legal name
Current facility (should show “FDC Houston” if they’re there)
8-digit register number
Projected release date
Race, sex, and age (for identity confirmation)

No login. No fee. This is the primary tool.

What a Register Number Looks Like

BOP register numbers are 8 digits formatted with a hyphen: XXXXX-XXX. Example: 23456-179. The number stays the same regardless of which BOP facility they’re transferred to. Write it down: you’ll use it every time you send money, set up email, or fill out visitor paperwork.

Why the Record Might Not Appear Yet

If someone was just transferred to FDC Houston from another facility: or was arrested on federal charges and is being booked in: there’s a processing lag. The BOP system can take 24 to 72 hours to update. During that window:

Their record may still show the previous facility
Their name may not appear at all
Call the facility directly at (713) 221-5400 for custody confirmation

If the Name Comes Up at a Different Facility

The BOP Locator shows wherever the person is currently housed in the federal system, not just FDC Houston. If the result shows a different facility, they may have been transferred already. FDC Houston regularly transfers sentenced inmates to their designated permanent facilities after sentencing. Track the current location directly through the Locator: it updates automatically.

What the Register Number Unlocks

Once you have the register number, you can:

Send money via MoneyGram (code 7932) or Western Union (FBOP DC): the account field requires the register number followed immediately by the last name
Set up CorrLinks email: the inmate uses their register number to add you from inside
Complete the visitor application: the BP-A629 Visitor Questionnaire requires the inmate’s register number

See the full guides: how to send money and how to get approved for visits.

If the Search Returns No Results

Several things could explain it:

Recent arrest: processing lag, try again in 24–72 hours
Name spelling: federal records use full legal name; try alternate spellings
Not in BOP custody: they may be in county or state custody, not federal
Already released: the Locator only shows current BOP inmates; the “Find an Inmate” search for released inmates requires a different search path on bop.gov

If you’ve confirmed they were arrested on federal charges in the Southern District of Texas, call (713) 221-5400.

Families Also Ask

5 of 5 questions

Where exactly do I search for someone at FDC Houston?

Go to bop.gov/inmateloc/: the BOP Inmate Locator. Enter their first and last name. The results will show their register number, current facility, and release date. It's free and requires no login.

Inmate Search

What is a BOP register number and why do I need it?

It's the 8-digit ID (XXXXX-XXX format) assigned to every person in federal custody. You need it to send money via MoneyGram or Western Union, to use CorrLinks email, and to fill out the visitor approval form (BP-A629). Get it from the BOP Locator or from the inmate directly.

Inmate Search

I searched the BOP Locator and they don't appear: what do I do?

If they were just arrested or located, allow 24–72 hours for the record to update. Try alternate name spellings. If you're certain they're in federal custody, call FDC Houston at (713) 221-5400 to confirm their location.

Inmate Search

The search shows a different facility, not FDC Houston: is that an error?

Not necessarily. The BOP Locator shows wherever they currently are in the federal system. If they've been sentenced and designated to a permanent facility, they may have already transferred out of FDC Houston. The Locator updates automatically when someone moves.

Inmate Search

Is FDC Houston's inmate roster public like county jail rosters?

No. FDC Houston doesn't publish a daily roster the way county jails do. The BOP Inmate Locator is the official lookup tool: search by name, not by browsing a list.

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