I am not sure if I am properly asking the question. Background: I have two switches that control ON/OFF to two double-receptacle outlets (each outlet has two three-prong receptacles). I can only control the ON/OFF of the upper receptacles, but there is absolutely no power to the lower receptacle. Can I get unswitched power to the lower receptacle?

Thanks in advance.

Pull the receptacles and tell us what wires you have in each.

OK, will get back to you.

Sorry to get back to you so late. There are a total of 4 wires going into the receptacle box - a bare ground, a white, a black, and a red. Nothing is going out. The white is connected to what labelled "white." the black is connected to a screw across from the white, and the red is connected to another screw beneath the black. There is a screw below the white hole/screw, but nothing is connected to it. I tested it. When switched on, the black is 120 VAC with respect to ground which is connected to another screw beneath the empty hole. There is no power to red.

The tab between black and red was removed too...

OK. That's one outlet . What about the other one.
At the switch, the white wire should be connected to a white wire. The red should be connected to a black wire in another cable, which should also be connected to the switch. The black wire should be connected to the switch.