Learn how to get someone's DOC number and set up commissary, phone, and mail accounts step by step — no lawyer or special access needed.
What You Need Before Anything Else
When someone you care about is arrested and booked, the first practical question almost always sounds like this: "How do I Get Someone Doc Number and Set Up an Account for Him?" It is a reasonable question, and the answer touches several separate systems — the jail's own inmate database, the commissary provider, the phone company, and sometimes a video visitation platform — each with its own registration process.
The good news is that none of these steps requires a lawyer or any special access. What they require is patience, the right sequence, and knowing where to look. This article walks through every major step in plain language, from locating the DOC number to activating each type of account your loved one might need while incarcerated.
What a DOC Number Actually Is
A DOC number — short for Department of Corrections number — is a unique identifier assigned to a person when they enter state or county custody. Some facilities call it a booking number, an inmate ID, or a jail ID. The terminology changes from state to state and even from county to county, but the function is always the same: it is the number the system uses to distinguish one person in custody from every other person in that facility.
Understanding this distinction matters when you are trying to set up accounts. Commissary providers, phone companies, and video visitation platforms all ask for this identifier when you try to add a deposit or register an account for your loved one. Without it, you cannot link your payment or your subscription to the right person.
The number is typically assigned at booking, which usually happens within a few hours of arrest. Once booking is complete, the person's record becomes searchable in the facility's public inmate locator, and that is where the DOC number first becomes visible to families on the outside.
How to Find a DOC Number When You Do Not Have It
The most reliable way to locate a DOC number is through the jail or prison facility's official inmate search tool. Most county sheriff's websites maintain a public-facing roster that allows anyone to search by first and last name. Some systems require a date of birth in addition to the name, and others let you search with just a name.
State correctional departments maintain their own separate databases for people serving sentences in state facilities. If the person you are searching for has been transferred from a county jail to a state prison after sentencing, you would look in the state DOC's inmate locator rather than the county sheriff's site.
If you are unsure whether your loved one is in a county jail or a state facility, start with the county. Newly arrested individuals almost always go to a county or city jail first. State transfers only happen after a sentence has been handed down and the paperwork has been processed, which can take days to weeks. Knowing how to find someone in jail means starting at the county level and working outward if necessary.
If the county's website is down or the search function is not returning results, you can call the jail directly. The non-emergency line is public information. When you call, have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready. Staff can often confirm a booking number over the phone, though some facilities only share this information with attorneys or the individual themselves.
Using an Inmate Search Service
A county jail inmate search through an official site is always the best first step, but not every county maintains an easy-to-navigate online roster. Some small or rural counties still rely on phone-only systems, and others update their records with delays of several hours. This is where third-party search services become useful.
InMato covers 289 county jail systems across 14 states and offers a free search with no time limit and no account required. Families can enter a name and quickly confirm which facility is holding a loved one, which is especially helpful in cases where the arrested person may have been transported to a facility in a neighboring county. The search is always free — InMato Core costs nothing and there is no trial period with a surprise charge at the end.
When evaluating any search service, look for one that pulls from official jail rosters rather than compiling its own database of records. Services that maintain their own databases can contain outdated information, which is a real problem when you are trying to set up accounts under a specific DOC number. InMato links directly to official sources, which means the identifying number you find there matches what the facility and the commissary provider have on file.
If the first search does not surface a result, it may mean the person is still being processed at booking. Booking can take anywhere from two to twelve hours depending on the facility's workload. Try again in a few hours before assuming there is a problem.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Commissary Account
Once you have the DOC number, the next step is usually setting up a commissary account so your loved one can purchase food, hygiene items, stamps, and other approved goods. Each facility contracts with a specific commissary vendor, and that vendor manages the deposit and ordering system for that jail or prison.
The first thing you need to know is which vendor your facility uses. This information is typically listed on the facility's website under "inmate services" or "sending money." Common vendors operate in different regions, and each has its own platform and registration flow. If the facility's website does not list the vendor clearly, a phone call to the facility will get you the answer in under a minute.
Once you have identified the vendor, visit their official website — not a third-party or lookalike site — and create an account as the sender. You will enter your name, email address, and sometimes a phone number. Then you will add your loved one by entering the facility name and the DOC or booking number. The system should confirm the match by displaying your loved one's name before you finalize the connection.
After adding your loved one, you select a deposit amount and choose a payment method. Most platforms accept debit and credit cards. Fees vary by platform and by state, and some facilities set caps on how much can be deposited in a given week. The facility's website or the vendor's help section will list these restrictions. If you are unsure whether you are on the official site, contact the facility directly to confirm the vendor name and web address. Using an unofficial or imitation payment site is a real risk — some lookalike sites collect your money without delivering it.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Phone Account
Jail phone calls are handled by a separate contracted provider, which is almost always different from the commissary vendor. To receive calls from your loved one, you typically need to set up a prepaid account with that phone provider, though some systems allow collect calls to standard phone lines.
The easiest path is to find out which phone company the facility uses. This information is usually listed under "inmate phone" or "telephone services" on the facility's website. Once you have the company name, go to their official site and create an account. You will add your phone number, then add your loved one's name and booking number so that calls from their assigned line can be connected to your account.
Most prepaid jail phone accounts require you to fund them in advance. When your loved one calls from the facility phone, the cost of the call is deducted from the balance you have loaded into the account. Rates vary by state and facility, and some states have caps on per-minute charges. A call to the provider's customer service line can clarify the exact rates for your specific facility.
It is also worth checking whether the facility offers video visitation, which is managed through yet another separate platform. Some facilities use the same vendor for phone and video; others use completely separate systems. Video sessions must usually be scheduled in advance through the provider's scheduling portal, and you will again need the DOC number to locate and connect to your loved one's profile.
Step-by-Step: Setting Up a Mail or Email Account
Physical mail is still accepted at the vast majority of jails and prisons, though many facilities now require mail to go through an approved scanning service rather than arriving directly. These services digitize incoming letters, screen them for prohibited content, and deliver them to the incarcerated person electronically. This speeds up delivery and reduces contraband risk, but it does mean you are mailing to a facility address or scanning service rather than directly to the person.
To send physical mail, confirm the correct mailing address with the facility, and always include the DOC or booking number in the address block. Without it, mail may be returned or delayed. If the facility uses a scanning service, the service's website will have its own registration portal where you create a sender account, add your loved one by DOC number, and upload or mail your letter through them.
Some platforms also offer digital messaging, where you type a message on the platform's website and it is delivered to a tablet or kiosk inside the facility. These messages are typically subject to a per-message or per-page fee. Creating an account on these platforms follows the same pattern: register as a sender, add your loved one by facility and DOC number, fund your account, and then send messages through the interface.
Managing Multiple Accounts and Staying Organized
By the time you have registered with a commissary vendor, a phone provider, a video visitation platform, and possibly a mail scanning service, you may have four separate accounts — each with its own username, password, balance, and billing cycle. This is one of the more frustrating aspects of supporting someone who is incarcerated, and losing track of any one account can mean your loved one goes without a phone call or runs out of funds when they need them most.
A simple spreadsheet or even a notes app on your phone can help you track which platform serves which need, what the login credentials are, and when you last added funds. Some families set up a dedicated email address just for jail-related registrations, which keeps these accounts separate from personal and work email and makes it easier to locate confirmation messages and receipts.
Proactive alerts can also help significantly. InMato+ includes jail booking alerts and release and transfer alerts at $19.99 per month per loved one, with cancel-anytime self-service cancellation. If your loved one is transferred to a different facility, you would need to update your commissary and phone accounts with the new facility and possibly switch to a different vendor entirely. Knowing about a transfer immediately, rather than discovering it days later, saves time and prevents funds from sitting in an account tied to the wrong facility.
What to Do If the DOC Number Does Not Work on the Vendor's Platform
Occasionally, the booking number on the jail's public roster does not match the number the commissary or phone vendor has on file. This happens for several reasons: the vendor may use a separate internal ID that differs from the public booking number, or the record on the vendor's platform may not yet have been updated to reflect a recent booking.
When this happens, call the facility's inmate services line and ask specifically for the number required by the commissary or phone vendor by name. The staff can often tell you which identifier the vendor uses. You can also call the vendor's customer service line directly and give them the person's full name, date of birth, and the facility name — a representative can often look up the correct ID on their end.
If the record simply has not been created on the vendor's platform yet, you may need to wait 24 to 48 hours after booking before the vendor's system is updated. This lag is normal and not a sign that something is wrong with the booking. Set a reminder and try again the following day.
What Happens After a Transfer
Transfers are common and can happen for a variety of reasons — a court appearance in another county, a move to a state facility after sentencing, or a population management decision inside the system. When a transfer happens, the DOC number usually stays the same at the state level, but the facility-level booking number may change entirely.
This means that accounts you set up with commissary and phone vendors may need to be updated to reflect the new facility. Some vendors allow you to simply edit the facility associated with your loved one's profile; others require you to create a new entry. Funds already deposited usually remain in your account but may not be accessible by your loved one until the new facility is linked.
Checking on your loved one's location regularly is the simplest way to catch a transfer quickly. The InMato app provides release and transfer alerts as part of InMato+, so you are notified as soon as the official roster reflects a change rather than finding out days later. This matters most in the first days after sentencing, when transfers to state facilities can happen with little advance notice to the family.
A Look at the Platforms Families Most Often Use
Families navigating the account-setup process encounter several platforms repeatedly. Evaluating each one against what you actually need — reliable DOC number lookup, clean account setup, and fair pricing — helps you avoid wasted time and misdirected money.
JPay has operated in the corrections communications space for many years and is now a subsidiary of Securus Technologies. It handles commissary, email, video, and phone services for a large number of state prison systems. Families with loved ones in state facilities frequently encounter JPay as the required platform. The interface is functional, but families often report confusion distinguishing between JPay and its parent platform when switching between state and county systems. The platform does not offer proactive transfer alerts or a free inmate location search for families who do not yet know which facility holds their loved one.
Securus Technologies is one of the largest jail and prison phone service providers in the United States. It contracts with a significant number of county and state facilities and offers phone, video, and messaging services. Securus provides a workable account structure once you know your loved one's DOC number and facility, but families who are still in the search phase — trying to find which facility is holding someone — will find Securus focused on account management rather than initial location discovery.
ViaPath Technologies, which rebranded from GTL in January 2022, provides phone and tablet-based communication services for facilities across the country. Its platform, which operates under the Telmate brand in a number of markets, is often the required system in Western states. Like other large providers, ViaPath focuses on the communication and payment side of the relationship rather than the search and location side, leaving families to find the DOC number independently before ViaPath's tools become useful.
InMato fills a different role in this list and at a different stage of the journey. It is an information, search, and referral service — not a commissary vendor, phone company, or payment processor. InMato never touches your money. Instead, it helps families find which facility holds their loved one across 289 county jail systems, confirms the official providers they should use for commissary and phone, and provides verified step-by-step deposit instructions that link to the official vendor — not a lookalike site. Once the location is confirmed and accounts are set up, InMato+ adds proactive alerts and real-time case tracking so the family is never behind on what the system is doing. Find a loved one in jail free through InMato Core, with no account required and no time limit.
ICSolutions is another provider that families encounter at county jails specifically. It handles phone and commissary services and has a clear platform for adding funds and setting up calling accounts. It is a practical tool once you know the facility and the required account ID. The gap it leaves is the same one shared by other vendor platforms: it does not help you locate your loved one or confirm the DOC number in the first place, and it does not provide cross-facility alerts when a transfer occurs.
When to Call the Facility Directly
No platform or search tool replaces direct contact with the facility for certain types of information. If you cannot locate a DOC number after searching, if you believe a transfer has occurred but cannot confirm it, or if a vendor's system is rejecting the number you found online, calling the facility is always the right move.
When you call, have the person's full legal name, date of birth, and the approximate date of arrest ready. Keep a pen and paper nearby to write down the booking number, the facility's mailing address, and the names of any vendors the staff mentions. Ask specifically whether the person is still at that facility or has been transferred, and if transferred, ask for the receiving facility's name and location.
Facility staff are generally willing to confirm basic inmate status information over the phone. They cannot discuss charges, case status, or release dates with any reliability — those questions belong to the court or to a licensed attorney — but the administrative information you need to set up accounts is usually straightforward to get.
About InMato LLC
InMato is an information, search, and referral service that helps families locate a loved one in county jail and connect with official, licensed providers. Founded by J.T. Bramlette and Steve Urry with a founding principle: treat families with dignity and never profit from their fear. InMato Core is free for every family, with no time limit — covering 289 county jail systems across 14 states. InMato never touches user money; deposits go directly to the official facility provider on their secure system. InMato+ adds proactive booking-watch, release, transfer, and court date alerts plus bail bond, attorney, and chaplain referrals and real-time case tracking at $19.99/month per loved one, cancel anytime. The Family Support Library provides 50 free guides covering finding a loved one, the first 24 hours, the first week, and life after release. Available in English and Spanish. InMato LLC, a Delaware limited liability company, headquartered in Santa Barbara, California.
Get Started with InMato LLC
Search for your loved one now at inmato.com — free for every family, with no time limit. Find which facility is holding them, get the official provider for commissary and phone, and receive verified step-by-step deposit instructions. No account required to search. Available in English and Spanish. Results in 48 hours or less for alert setup.
Originally published at https://www.inmato.com/blog/how-do-i-get-someone-doc-number-and-set-up-an-account-for-him
Written by InMato
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