As the popularity of the Internet grows as a means of communication, many institutions
and agencies are utilizing its capabilities to disseminate information to each other
and the general public more quickly. In some instances, they are not conscientious
and prudent about the information they publicize on the Internet.
SSA must, however, make sure that any website that we access for inmate information
is not protected by privacy and disclosure laws or that the website administrator does not charge a fee for accessing the information
from its website. Each website that SSA visits for prisoner information must provide
reliable and current information on its inmate population. The website must also have
the information displayed in a clear and readable format that will not cause a SSA
technician to misinterpret any of its contents so the technician will not draw an
incorrect conclusion about a beneficiary's identity or inmate status.
The RPCs will evaluate each identified website for accuracy and reliability of its
content. If the RPC determines the website meets SSA's third party verification standards
(see GN 03001.012), the RPC will add the website to a special prisoner Internet website
page that they will create. The RPCs will attach the special Prisoner Internet Website
page to the regional office's main website. The special Prisoner Internet Website
pages will provide correctional and mental institutions website addresses broken down
by State in each of the corresponding regions. SSA technicians can use the website
addresses that appear on the regional Prisoner Internet webpages as sources of third
party verification of inmate information. For the regional web addresses for the approved
RPC’s internet verification websites, see GN 02607.680D.2.c.