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 in terms of size 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. While 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 offenses or a breach of probation, while jail sentencing is for crimes that are 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?

An online Inmate search site is created by the New Hampshire Department of Correction where an interested party can view public records about all inmates. Anyone can check for information about prisoners by imputing the full name of the inmate in the space provided. The person will be directed to a page where the list of all New Hampshire inmates that matches criteria can be found. The result of the search will be the inmates full names, age, inmates number, case ID numbers, Court of the trial, docket numbers, earliest and latest release date, and the location of the prison. 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 can also 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 make searching simpler, as they are not limited by geographic location, and search engines on these sites may help when starting a search for a specific or multiple records. To begin using such a search engine on a third-party or government website, interested parties usually must provide:

• 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 that person resides in or was accused in.

Third-party sites are independent from government sources, and are not sponsored by these government agencies. Because of this, record availability on third-party sites may vary.

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. Usually, different law enforcement departments retain prison records throughout the jurisdiction. Therefore, prison history should be looked up with the correctional facility holding the records. An interested person can also check with the office of the County Sheriff, the Clerk of Courts. At the State level, the Department of Corrections can also be checked.

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 can 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 must 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