A.  Did you know that you can go online and look up federal prison records online?  You can search for any inmate and look into their criminal history.  Simply go to http://www.bop.gov/

If there is information you need, but not provided on the Bureau of Prisons' website, please write to them at:

Federal Bureau of Prisons
320 First Street N.W.
Washington, D.C.  20534

B.  Are you in need of a criminal attorney?
 Go to http://www.prison.com/

C.  Are in interested in Federal and State prison statistics?
Go to http://www.ojp.usdoj.gov/bjs/abstract/iptc.htm

Here are some examples according to 1999 U.S. Department of Justice statistics:

•  In 1999, an estimated 721,500 Federal and State prisoners were parents to 1,498,800 children under age 18.

•  22 percent of all minor children (17 years old and younger) with a parent in prison were under 5 years old.

• Prior to incarceration, less than half of the parents in State prisons reported living with their children:  44% of fathers and 64% of mothers.

•  Almost 1.5 million minor children have a mother or father in prison in 1999, an increase of more than 500,000 children since 1991.

• Of the nation's 72 million minor children, an estimated 2% had a imprisoned parent in 1999.

• Half of the parents in State prisons were black, about a quarter were white, and a fifth were Hispanic.

• In 1999, an estimated 767,200 black children, 384,500 white children, and 301,600 Hispanic children had a parent in prison.

• More than 80% of all parents in prison reported that their minor children lived with the other parent, but these answers varied greatly by gender.  About 90% of fathers in State prisons said that at least one of their minor children were now living with their mother, while 28% of mothers in prison said that their child's father was the current caregiver.  Mothers most often said that their children's grandparents were the caregivers (53%), compared to 13% of fathers who said that their children were with grandparents.

•  46% of all parents in Federal and State prisons said that they were living with their children just prior to their admission to prison.

• As of 12/31/99, an estimated 336,300 United States households with minor children had a resident parent in prison.

• 40% of imprisoned fathers and 60% of mothers reported weekly contact with their children by telephone, mail or visit.

• A majority of both fathers (57%) and mothers (54%) reported never having had a personal visit with their children since incarceration.

• More than 60% of parents in State prisons reported being incarcerated more than 100 miles from their last place of residence.

• About 14% reported a mental illness and 70% did not have a high school diploma.

• At the time of their most recent arrests, 27% of fathers and 50% of mothers in State prisons were unemployed.

• In the month prior to their arrest, 46% of parents said that they had incomes of at least $1,000 per month, and 27% said that their income was derived from illegal activities.

• In the month prior to their arrest, 20% had been living with their children in two-parent households, 18% were living with their children as single parents and 62% lived apart from their children.

•  In 1999, an estimated 721,500 Federal and State prisoners were parents to 1,498,800 children under age 18.

•  22 percent of all minor children