Strafford County, New Hampshire Inmate Search
An inmate search in Strafford County, New Hampshire, is a method of inquiry available to anyone seeking information about an arrested or detained individual. Most especially, this search is vital to families who want to know where their kin have been taken, or to members of the public curious about arrest incidents that occurred in their communities. Either way, the search is useful for recovering booking and charge information regarding a particular inmate/detainee.
The Strafford County jail, officially called the Strafford County House of Corrections (HOC), holds almost all persons arrested by police agencies within Strafford County. These agencies include the Dover and Rochester PDs, which operate in the county’s most populated municipalities.
Strafford County’s jail population excludes juveniles and most long-term state- and federal-sentenced inmates. However, federal pretrial detainees (ICE and U.S. Marshals detainees) may be housed at the facility while their court proceedings are ongoing. Also, parolees, probationers, and state-level inmates under transfer agreements may be confined in jail.
Generally, inquiries about detained juveniles are made to the NH Division of Juvenile Justice Services (JJS); those relating to state inmates are handled by the New Hampshire Department of Corrections; federal inmate searches go through the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP); and ICE detainee searches are processed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
How to Find an Inmate in Strafford County Jail
Inquiries about Strafford County inmates are processed by the Strafford County Department of Corrections (SCDOC). Supervision of the county’s jail population and management of county jail services fall under this department’s mandate.
To find out whether a person is incarcerated at the Stafford County House of Corrections (Jail), a direct call must be placed to the facility. The Strafford County Department of Corrections maintains no official jail/inmate roster for online record searches. Instead, individuals must call the jail’s designated phone line at (603) 742-3310.
The Stafford County House of Corrections is physically situated at 266 County Farm Road, Dover, New Hampshire.
How to Use the Strafford County Jail Roster
While typical in several jurisdictions, the Strafford County jail does not publish an official online inmate roster for remote public searches. To search the jail’s roster, a call to the facility is necessary. The jail’s phone line, (603) 742-3310, is available for general inquiries 24/7.
What Information is Included in the Strafford County Inmate Roster
Under New Hampshire’s Right-to-Know Law (RSA 91-A), inmate records are open to disclosure unless an exemption applies. Examples of confidential records include medical information and juvenile files.
When making an inquiry to the Strafford County Department of Corrections, certain details can be disclosed to the caller/requester, such as
- The inmate’s full name and age
- Physical descriptors (height, weight, etc.)
- Booking number, date, and time
- Charges, including offense dates and descriptions
- Bond/bail type and amount
Contact Details for Strafford County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
The Strafford County House of Corrections can be contacted using these details:
Agency/Facility | Physical Address | Phone Number | Official Website |
|---|---|---|---|
Strafford County House of Corrections (Jail) | 266 County Farm Road Dover, NH 03820 | (603) 742-3310 |
Note: The Strafford County Sheriff’s Office does not handle jail operations. However, if the office must be reached (for law enforcement or civil process), the following information is useful:
Agency/Facility | Physical Address | Phone Number | Official Website | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Strafford County Sheriff’s Office | 259 County Farm Road Suite 105 Dover, NH 03820 | Non Emergency: (603) 742-4960 Anonymous Tip Line: (603) 605-6475 | Public Information: pio@straffordcountyso.gov Civil Division or Deputies: civil@straffordcountyso.gov |
The normal business hours for the Sheriff’s Office are 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m., Monday - Friday
Jail Facility Overview in Strafford County
The Strafford County House of Corrections is a secure detention center located in Dover, New Hampshire. This facility accommodates individuals accused of crimes in Strafford County, as well as those sentenced to a period of incarceration by the courts. It also regularly houses federal and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) detainees under specific governmental contracts. The jail is run by the Strafford County Department of Corrections and has a rated capacity of 495 beds.
Regarding juvenile detention, Strafford County has no independent juvenile detention center for justice-involved youth. Instead, juveniles accused of delinquent acts are held in state-run facilities or programs. Juveniles are referred to the Juvenile Justice Services, a specialized unit under the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families (DCYF). The John H. Sununu Youth Services Center (SYSC) in Manchester typically serves as the central detention facility for justice-involved youth.
Agency | Office and Mail Address | Phone Number | Office Hours | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Strafford County House of Corrections | 266 County Farm Road Dover, NH 03820 | (603) 742-3310 | 24 hours a day, seven days a week | N/A |
Sununu Youth Services Center | 1056 River Road Manchester, NH 03104 | (603) 625-5471 | 24 hours a day, seven days a week | N/A |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Strafford County House of Corrections
There are three ways to send money to a person residing at the Strafford County House of Corrections:
- In Person: Use the cash kiosk situated in the HOC’s Bail/Release Lobby.
- Mail: Send a money order via USPS to 266 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820. The money order should be made payable to "Strafford County Commissary," and the inmate recipient’s name should be specified in the "Memo" section.
- Online: Visit the jail vendor’s website to make a deposit via credit card.
Deposits made in person and online are subject to a transaction fee.
Questions regarding any of the above deposit options, including funding limits, can be directed to the HOC Records Supervisor at (603) 742-3310.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
A phone inquiry can be made to the Strafford County Department of Corrections to look up information about an inmate housed at the Strafford County House of Corrections. This is the only direct method for searching the jail facility’s records.
For youthful offenders, inquiries should be made to the NH Division of Juvenile Justice Services, part of the New Hampshire Division for Children, Youth, and Families.
NH Division for Children, Youth, and Families - Headquarters
Thayer Building
97 Pleasant Street
Concord, NH 03301
Phone: (603) 271-4451, (800) 852-3345
Rochester District Office (Covers Strafford County)
150 Wakefield Street
Suite 22
Rochester, NH 03867
Phone: (603) 332-9120, (800) 862-5300
TDD Access Relay: (800) 735-2964
Lobby Hours: 8:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m, Monday - Friday
However, juvenile files are restricted from public access in New Hampshire (RSA 169-B:35). To retrieve information from Juvenile Services, the requester must be legally authorized (e.g., the juvenile’s parent, guardian, or counsel) to receive that information. Otherwise, the request will be denied.
Strafford County Visitation Rules and Schedules
The Strafford County Department of Corrections allows non-contact (on-site through glass), video (remote), and contact (face-to-face) visits with inmates at the House of Corrections.
Non-contact visits with family members and friends are available to the general inmate population. Meanwhile, contact visits are a privilege reserved for work release and approved inmate workers.
Non-Contact Visits
- Scheduling: The Department of Corrections staff posts visiting schedules in each housing unit for Unit Officers and inmates to reference. It is the inmate’s responsibility to sign up to receive a visit and inform their guest of the scheduled time.
- Check-In and Mandatory Search: On the visiting date, visitors to the HOC must arrive at least 15 minutes prior to complete check-in procedures. Visitors are subject to a search of their person or belongings while entering or leaving the facility. All visitors aged 18 or older are also subject to an NCIC check for outstanding warrants.
- ID Requirement: A valid government-issued ID-e.g., Passport, Driver’s License, Birth Certificate (for those 17 years old or younger)-must be presented by each visitor. Minors are allowed to visit only in the company of their parents or legal guardians.
A comprehensive list of visiting rules is provided on the SCDOC’s website.
Contact Visits
Procedures for contact visits are identical to those for non-contact visits. However, contact visits are only allowed on Saturdays and Sundays.
Video Visits
These visits are scheduled through the jail’s Inmate Telephone System vendor (which doubles as the video visitation vendor). An account must be established on the vendor’s website to make or receive calls from inmates. Video visits are always recorded and monitored. Rules regarding video visits are specified on the SCDOC’s website.
General Rules
All HOC visitors must adhere to the facility’s rules and procedures, including maintaining sobriety, dressing conservatively (no sleeveless attire, tank tops, halter tops, or hats), and refraining from unacceptable or inappropriate behavior.
Note: On-site visits (both contact and non-contact) are limited to two 1-hour sessions per week, per inmate, with a maximum of one 1-hour session per day. Video visits are generally available daily.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Individuals imprisoned at the Strafford County House of Corrections can exchange correspondence with persons outside the facility. However, it is the jail’s policy to reject any mail sent to inmates without prior approval.
For questions regarding mail restrictions or approvals, individuals can call (603) 742-3310 or write to Strafford County HOC at 266 County Farm Road, Dover, NH 03820.
Notwithstanding, family and friends can exchange electronic messages with inmates through the HOC’s Inmate Telephone System vendor. Additionally, select items (care packages) can be ordered for inmates through the facility’s authorized commissary vendor.