The New Hampshire State Prison System

The Department of Corrections is a state department responsible for administering county jails and setting requirements for state prisoner detention facilities. In New Hampshire, the primary goal of the State prison system is to protect the people of the state from lawbreakers. The Corrections Department aims to provide employees and inmates with a secure, safe, and respectable atmosphere while they perform the functions of the legislative and judicial systems.. The department also seeks to offer ways for criminals to learn expertise, while promoting non-criminal activity. The justice department is headed by a commissioner appointed by the governor. The Division of Administration oversees the Department of Corrections’ corporate activities.

Difference Between Jail and Prison in New Hampshire

The terms ‘Jail’ and ‘Prison’ both mean a detention center for prisoners, but in distinct words, they are separate. Jails are typically smaller and are therefore run by city or county councils under the authority of a county sheriff; Prisons are broader and managed by state or federal government departments. Also, jails are designed for brief stays in terms of time for prisoners, usually for those awaiting trial or completing shorter sentences. Prisons are for long-term inmates serving varying degrees of imprisonment (minimum, medium, maximum security, or solitary confinement) based on the offense committed. Jail sentence is typically for minor violations or a breach of probation, while jail sentencing is for crimes deemed a felony. A prison is more crowded in terms of population than a jail. That is why Jails are less fitted with amenities for regular living conditions. Prisons, on the other hand, are well equipped because of the length of stay of prisoners.

How Many Prisons Are In New Hampshire?

In the state of New Hampshire, there are 2 federal Prisons, 4 State Prisons, and 14 County jails.

1. Federal Prisons are:

• Federal Correctional Institution Berlin (FCI Berlin)
• Federal Correctional Institution Berlin Camp (FCI Berlin Camp)

2. State Prisons are:

• New Hampshire Prison for men
• New Hampshire State Prison for women
• Northern New Hampshire Correctional Facility
• Shea Farm Halfway House

3. County Jails are:

• Merrimack County Jail
• Rockingham County Jail
• Strafford County Department of Corrections
• Cheshire County Department of Corrections
• Belknap County Jail
• Sullivan County Jail-House
• Hillsborough County House of Corrections
• Grafton County Department of Corrections
• Coos County Corrections Department
• Carroll County Department of Corrections
• N H Department of Corrections
• Marilyn Allen Jail Ind
• Grafton Jail & Correction
• Corrections Department

How do I search for an Inmate in New Hampshire State Prison?

The New Hampshire Department of Corrections created an online inmate search site where interested persons could view public records about all inmates. Inquirers may check for information about prisoners by inputting the inmate's full name in the space provided. Users are typically directed to a page where the list of all New Hampshire inmates that match the criteria may be found. The search results generally include the inmate's full name, age, inmate number, case ID numbers, Court of the trial, docket numbers, earliest and latest release dates, and location.

A searchable registry of identified New Hampshire sex offenders is also available at The New Hamsphire Department of Protection. However, sex offenders with convictions outside New Hampshire who now live in New Hampshire are not listed. Apart from the online search, any interested person might search for an inmate by visiting the Department of Corrections’ Office.

New Hampshire Department of Corrections
105 Pleasant Street
P. O.Box 1806
Concord New Hampshire 03302–1806
Phone: (603) 271–5600
Fax: (888) 908–6609

Are Incarceration Records Public in New Hampshire

Arrest records, court records, and incarceration records are public records in New Hampshire. According to the New Hampshire RSA Ch. 91-A, members of the State public are entitled to public information with the purpose of ensuring accountability to the people. Basically, public records must be available for inspection and copying by the public whenever a request is made. It is also the responsibility of the agency in charge of the record to respond to the request within five working days.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. These websites often simplify the search process by aggregating information from various jurisdictions and providing it to record seekers via a single database. Users are generally required to provide the following information to facilitate a search:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state where the person resides or was accused.

Third-party sites operate independently from government sources and are not sponsored by these agencies. Therefore, the accuracy and validity of the information they provide may not be guaranteed.

How to Look Up Jail Records in New Hampshire?

It is possible to look up prison history in New Hampshire as long as the records are not locked or expunged. Different law enforcement departments usually retain prison records throughout the jurisdiction. Therefore, prison history should be looked up with the correctional facility holding the records. Interested persons may also check with the office of the County Sheriff and the Clerk of Courts. The Department of Corrections may also provide this information to inquirers at the State level.

Can Jail Records be Expunged in New Hampshire?

There are several cases in which a person in New Hampshire who has been convicted of a criminal offense may apply to have it deleted. This procedure is referred to in many states as expungement, but it is recognized as an annulment in New Hampshire, as stated in RSA § 651–5. Annulment may be applied for based on the crime committed and the time period for waiting, as allowed by the law, before a person can apply for annulment. Moreso, an applicant should ensure that all the terms and conditions of sentencing are fulfilled religiously and is not charged or convicted of any other crime before such a person is qualified for an annulment. Depending on the type of offense, the time ranges are as follows:

• Simple violation (offenses specified under habitual offender laws): 1 year
• Class A misdemeanor: 3 years
• Class B misdemeanor: 3 years
• Class B felony: 5 years
• Class A felony: 10 years
• Sexual assault: 10 years