Transfers & Finding Someone in Missouri (Missouri DOC)

Key info

New arrivals go through a reception and diagnostic center first. Men enter through one of three regional centers — the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (Fulton), the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (ERDCC, Bonne Terre), or the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WRDCC, St. Joseph). All women enter through the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC, Vandalia). There, a person is screened (medical and mental health), classified by custody level, and then assigned and transferred to a permanent prison.

The listed prison can change after classification. Because the first prison is the reception and diagnostic center, the facility shown in the offender search can change once the person is classified and transferred.

Find someone with the Missouri DOC offender search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb, searching by name or DOC ID number. It covers people in Missouri DOC custody, not county-jail detainees.

All 19 Missouri prisons are state-operated and appear in the offender search the same way.

Reception and classification

After sentencing, a newly committed person goes to a reception and diagnostic center for medical and mental-health screening, a custody-level classification, and a program assessment, then is assigned and transferred to a permanent prison. Which center depends on sex:

Men: one of three regional centers — the Fulton Reception and Diagnostic Center (Fulton), the Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (ERDCC, Bonne Terre), or the Western Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WRDCC, St. Joseph).
Women: the Women’s Eastern Reception, Diagnostic and Correctional Center (WERDCC, Vandalia).

During reception, visiting and other privileges are limited, and the prison shown in the offender search can change once the person is classified and transferred to a permanent facility.

State prison or county jail

The Missouri DOC offender search covers people in Missouri DOC custody. All 19 Missouri prisons are state-operated and appear in the offender search the same way.

A person sentenced to state time may still be physically held in a county jail awaiting transfer to a DOC prison. County jails are a separate system and are not in the DOC offender search. To locate someone in a county jail, search that county’s roster.

Finding someone

To find where someone is held, use the Missouri DOC offender search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb, searching by name or DOC ID number. It covers people in Missouri DOC custody, not county-jail detainees. A person sentenced to state time who is not yet listed may still be held in a county jail awaiting transfer; in that case, search the county’s roster.

Transfers and current location

A person may be transferred again later in the sentence for custody, program, medical, or disciplinary reasons. Transfers are Missouri DOC decisions, and families are not always notified in advance. Because the location can change with transfers, confirm the current facility on the offender search before traveling, applying to visit, or sending mail.

Verify Before Acting

Confirm the current location and status on the Missouri DOC offender search at web.mo.gov/doc/offSearchWeb before traveling, applying to visit, or sending mail, searching by name or DOC ID number. A newly committed person passes through a reception and diagnostic center — one of the three regional centers (Fulton, ERDCC in Bonne Terre, or WRDCC in St. Joseph) for men, and WERDCC in Vandalia for women — before moving to a permanent prison, so the listed facility can change once the person is classified and transferred. The Missouri DOC may transfer a person again for custody, program, medical, or disciplinary reasons, and transfer timing and notification are set by the Missouri DOC. All 19 Missouri prisons are state-operated and appear in the offender search the same way; the search covers people in Missouri DOC custody, not county-jail detainees. A person sentenced to state time may be held in a county jail awaiting transfer, so if they are not listed in the offender search, search that county’s roster.

Sources

This page is compiled from the following publicly available sources. Policies change without notice — confirm current details with the facility before relying on them.