Are New York Inmate Records Public Information?
Yes. New York inmate records are publicly available per the state's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Almost anyone can request such records from correctional agencies or conduct a New York inmate search to find out who's in custody or find someone in jail/prison. This includes persons serving - or who served - a short-term or life sentence. However, certain portions of New York inmate records may be redacted, or access may be prohibited altogether to protect the privacy rights of incarcerated individuals or secure public safety.
New York Inmate Search
Inmate records in New York contain official information about persons in correctional facilities, prisons, detention centers, or jails managed by New York counties, cities, or the State of New York. These records contain information such as a New York inmate's mugshot, biodata, registration number (DIN or NYSID), custody status, facility of incarceration, and release date.
Inmate records are considered public in the United States and, therefore, are made available by both traditional governmental agencies as well as third-party websites and organizations. Third-party websites may offer an easier means to search, as these services do not face geographical limitations. However, because third-party sites are not government-sponsored, the information obtained through them may vary from official channels. To find inmate records using third-party aggregate sites, requesting parties must provide:
- The location of the sought-after record, including state, county, and city where the inmate resides.
- The name of the person listed in the record, unless it is a juvenile.
How to Find Someone in Jail in New York
An individual who wants to find out why someone is in jail in New York or find out what jail someone is in can contact a local sheriff's office. This should be the office responsible for the inmate's care and custody. Some sheriff's departments also provide New York inmate lookup systems online that interested persons can use to discern an inmate's housing facility, custody status, and other details. However, not all details in an inmate record in New York are published online. Certain information is withheld from the public domain for privacy, public safety, or other statutory reasons.
It is important not to confuse how to find someone in jail in New York with how to find someone in a state or federal prison. In the former scenario, an individual can follow the guidelines above. In the latter, the interested person must speak to the State Department of Corrections (if the inmate of interest is in a California state prison) or the Federal Bureau of Prisons (if the inmate was transferred to federal custody). Fortunately, these correctional agencies also have search engines where the public can conduct state or federal inmate searches. No fee applies to carry out a state or federal inmate search via these search engines, nor is an individual required to provide their personal information to perform a state or federal inmate search in New York.
How to Send Money to an Inmate in New York Prison and Jail
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) sets the guidelines for family and friends sending money to an inmate. There are six ways of funding an inmate's account:
- Visitor deposit lockbox
- Mailing in checks or money order
- Online using the JPay website
- Online through JPay mobile app
- Deposit by phone call
- MoneyGram
During visitation, cash, checks, and money orders can be deposited into an inmate's account using the deposit lockbox located in all DOCCS facilities. To drop checks and money orders, depositors should fill out the JPay deposit slip provided by the facility. The DOCCS sends it to Jpay for processing, and cash dropped by visitors is processed by the DOCCS facility staff. Mail in money order or checks by filling out a JPay deposit slip and sending it to:
JPay
P.O. Box 531190
Miami, FL 33153
Money orders mailed take ten days to be credited into an inmate's account. Using other methods of funding an inmate's account will ensure that the inmate's account is credited by the next business day. Interested parties can log onto JPay, create an account, and make a transfer using a debit or credit card. Alternatively, parties may download the JPay mobile app from the Google Play store or the Apple store to send money to an incarcerated individual. Friends and family can also send funds by calling the toll-free number (800) 574-5729 and making a deposit using a credit card. Lastly, interested parties can send funds using MoneyGram by registering, inputting the receiver's details, and choosing their preferred payment method either by card or directly from your bank. When making deposits using MoneyGram, use the receive code 1317.
Funds deposited either through MoneyGram, mobile app, online, or by telephone attract a fee. The fees charged depend on the amount sent. The DOCCS has a fee schedule giving the breakdown based on the sending option. There are no fees for funds deposited using the visitor's deposit lock box at the DOCCS facility. The maximum amount that depositors can send using a money order is $999.99. The maximum amount using MoneyGram varies subject to MoneyGram regulations. The sender should have the inmate's full name, DIN number, facility incarcerated, and a valid email address before depositing it into an inmate's account.
New York County and city jails have similar rules for funding an inmate's account. Interested parties should visit the New York DOC website to inquire about how inmates' accounts can be funded. Generally, the most common methods of funding inmate accounts in county/city jails include:
- Money order
- In-person using the facility kiosk
- Online - website or mobile app
- Calling a toll-free number
How to Get Approved to Visit an Inmate in New York Prisons and Jails
Persons looking to visit persons serving time in New York prisons must follow the visitors' checklist. Visiting an inmate begins with knowing the exact facility where the individual is serving time. Next, the individual must apply for approval - family and friends of New York prison inmates do not need prior approval for the first visit, even if they are not on the inmate's visitors' list. All visitors must hold a valid means of identification and sign a statement agreeing to abide by visitation rules and regulations. Note that the following individual needs prior approval before visiting an inmate:
- Anyone currently under probation
- Anyone with past or unresolved criminal proceedings
- An inmate previously incarcerated in that facility
- DOCCS employees
- An active volunteer for the DOCCS
These visitors must write to the Superintendent and obtain a permit before the visitation can occur. Visitation rules are similar across city jails in New York. However, parties interested in visiting a county jail can visit the New York City DOC website for information about visit schedules, visit hours, number of visits, and other regulations.
How to Find a County Inmate Roster in New York
In New York, county inmate rosters are typically found on local sheriff's websites. These rosters (sometimes called New York inmate locators) are simply catalogs of presently incarcerated individuals, which may list full inmate names, mugshots, dates of entry or booking dates, jail numbers, ages, genders, races, offense categories (felony or misdemeanor), custody status, charges, bail amounts, and more. Sometimes, a sheriff's inmate roster may be provided as a searchable database, which requires the entry of specific keywords to find out who's in custody in a specific New York correctional or detention facility. To conduct a New York inmate search using these rosters, the inquirer must enter the inmate's last name, date of birth, DOC number, or related queries.
How to Perform a New York Prison Inmate Search
The DOCCS is in charge of all inmate records held in the state prisons, and it provides an inmate locator that the public can use to perform a free New York inmate search by name to find who's in custody. However, interested persons can use the tool to access the records of adult inmates only. Juvenile offenders' records in the state are confidential and cannot be made public.
To conduct a New York inmate search, input the inmate's Department Identification Number (DIN) or the New York State ID number (NYSID), the inmate's full name, and year of birth, and submit the request to locate the inmate. The DOCCS removes from its website information about a non-violent incarcerated individual five years after such an inmate completes their term or parole. When this happens, searchers may have difficulty obtaining an inmate's record. Searchers who have difficulty using the New York inmate locator may call the DOCCS Central files at (518) 457-5000 for help.
How to Perform a County Jail Inmate Search in New York
The NYCDOC manages all inmates incarcerated in county jails. Inmates in county jails are either individuals awaiting trial or serving a sentence of one year or less. The state prison in New York holds inmates serving a sentence of more than a year or a life sentence. The NYCDOC encourages parties interested in locating an individual incarcerated in county jail to use VINELink. Searchers should have the name and ID number of the inmate they intend to find.
Meanwhile, persons searching for someone in a jail in New York City may use the prison lookup tool to find inmate records. Generally, the searcher must know the inmate's identification number or bookcase number of the inmate to initiate a search. A name-based search with the inmate's first and last name is always possible.
New York State Prisons and County Jails: Understanding the Difference
New York has a large prison population, with over 60,000 people incarcerated in state prisons and another 7,000 in county jails. The state's prison system is expensive, costing taxpayers $3.7 billion annually. The state Department of Corrections oversees New York state prisons and county jails.
The majority of prisoners in New York are serving time for non-violent offenses, such as drug crimes or property crimes. However, the state also houses a significant number of violent offenders, including murderers and rapists.
Most prisoners in New York are housed in state prisons operated by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS). There are 52 state prisons across the state, with a total capacity of over 51,000 inmates.
County jails are operated by individual counties and typically house inmates who are awaiting trial or who have been sentenced to terms of one year or less. These jails do not hold inmates serving lengthy or life sentences. There are 62 county jails in New York, with a total capacity of over 7,000 inmates.
How to Find an Inmate Release Date
The inmate release date is one of the information provided in a New York inmate search. However, this information is unavailable under certain circumstances, such as when releasing the date puts the inmate in danger. Only eligible persons can access the inmate's exact release date in such cases. These include the inmate's immediate family, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized law enforcement officials. Other persons will only have access to the inmate's month and year of release.
Facilities Operated by the New York Department of Corrections
Adirondack Adolescent Offender Facility
196 Ray Brook Road
P.O. Box 110
Ray Brook, NY 12977-0110
Phone: (518) 891-1343 (Essex County)
Albion Correctional Facility
3595 State School Road
Albion, NY 14411-9399
Phone: (585) 589-5511 (Orleans County)
Altona Correctional Facility
555 Devils Den Road
P.O. Box 3000
Altona, NY 12910-3000
Phone: (518) 236-7841 (Clinton County)
Attica Correctional Facility
639 Exchange Street
Attica, NY 14011-0149
Phone: (585) 591-2000 (Wyoming County)
Auburn Correctional Facility
135 State Street
Auburn, NY 13024-9000
Phone: (315) 253-8401 (Cayuga County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 618, Zip 13021)
Bare Hill Correctional Facility
181 Brand Road
Caller Box #20
Malone, NY 12953-0020
Phone: (518) 483-8411 (Franklin County)
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
247 Harris Road
Bedford Hills, NY 10507-2400
Phone: (914) 241-3100 (Westchester Co.)
Cape Vincent Correctional Facility
36560 State Route 12E
P.O. Box 599
Cape Vincent, NY 13618-0599
Phone: (315) 654-4100 (Jefferson County)
Cayuga Correctional Facility
2202 State Route 38A
P.O. Box 1150
Moravia, NY 13118-1150
Phone: (315) 497-1110 (Cayuga County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 1186, Zip 13118)
Clinton Correctional Facility
1156 Rt. 374
P.O. Box 2000
Dannemora, NY 12929-2000
Phone: (518) 492-2511 (Clinton County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 2001, Zip 12929)
Clinton Annex
1074 Route 374
P.O. Box 2000
Dannemora, NY 12929
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 2002, Zip 12929)
Collins Correctional Facility
Middle Road
P.O. Box 490
Collins, NY 14034-0490
Phone: (716) 532-4588 (Erie County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 340, Zip 14034-0340)
Coxsackie Correctional Facility
11260 Route 9 West
P.O. Box 200
Coxsackie, NY 12051-0200
Phone: (518) 731-2781 (Greene County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 999, Zip 12051-0999)
Downstate Correctional Facility
121 Red Schoolhouse Road
P.O. Box 445
Fishkill, NY 12524-0445
Phone: (845) 831-6600 (Dutchess County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box F, Zip 12524)
Eastern NY Correctional Facility
30 Institution Rd
P.O. Box 338
Napanoch, NY 12458-0338
Phone: (845) 647-7400 (Ulster County)
Edgecombe Residential Treatment Facility
611 Edgecombe Avenue
New York, NY 10032-4398
Phone: (212) 923-2575 (New York County)
Elmira Correctional Facility
1879 Davis St
P.O. Box 500
Elmira, NY 14901-0500
Phone: (607) 734-3901 (Chemung County)
Fishkill Correctional Facility
18 Strack Drive
Beacon, NY 12508-0307
Phone: (845) 831-4800 (Dutchess County)
(Inmate Mail: 271 Matteawan Road, P.O. Box 1245)
Five Points Correctional Facility
6600 State Route 96
Caller Box 400
Romulus, NY 14541
Phone: (607) 869-5111 (Seneca County)
(Inmate Mail: Caller Box 119)
Franklin Correctional Facility
62 Bare Hill Road
P.O. Box 10
Malone, NY 12953-0010
Phone: (518) 483-6040 (Franklin County)
Gouverneur Correctional Facility
112 Scotch Settlement Road
P.O. Box 370
Gouverneur, NY 13642-0370
Phone: (315) 287-7351 (St. Lawrence County)
Gowanda Correctional Facility
South Road
P.O. Box 350
Gowanda, NY 14070-0350
Phone: (716) 532-0177 (Erie County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 311, Zip 14070-0311)
Great Meadow Correctional Facility
11739 State Route 22
P.O. Box 51
Comstock, NY 12821-0051
Phone: (518) 639-5516 (Washington County)
Green Haven Correctional Facility
594 Rt. 216
Stormville, NY 12582-0010
Phone: (845) 221-2711 (Dutchess County)
Greene Correctional Facility
165 Plank Road
P.O. Box 8
Coxsackie, NY 12051-0008
Phone: (518) 731-2741 (Greene County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 975, Zip 12051-0975)
Groveland Correctional Facility
7000 Sonyea Road
P.O. Box 50
Sonyea, NY 14556-0050
Phone: (585) 658-2871 (Livingston County)
Hale Creek ASACTC
279 Maloney Road
Johnstown, NY 12095-3769
Phone: (518) 736-2094 (Fulton County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 950, Zip 12095)
Hudson Adolescent Offender Facility
50 East Court Street
P.O. Box 576
Hudson, NY 12534-0576
Phone: (518) 828-4311 (Columbia County)
Lakeview Shock Incarceration C. F.
9300 Lake Avenue
P.O. Box T
Brocton, NY 14716-9798
(716) 792-7100 (Chautauqua County)
Marcy Correctional Facility
9000 Old River Road
P.O. Box 5000
Marcy, NY 13403-5000
Phone: (315) 768-1400 (Oneida County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 3600, Zip 13403)
Mid-State Correctional Facility
9005 Old River Road
P.O. Box 216
Marcy, NY 13403-0216
Phone: (315) 768-8581 (Oneida County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 2500, 13403)
Mohawk Correctional Facility
6514 Rt. 26
P.O. Box 8450
Rome, NY 13442
Phone: (315) 339-5232 (Oneida County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 8451)
Moriah Shock Incarceration Corr. Fac.
75 Burhart Lane
P.0. Box 999
Mineville, NY 12956-0999
Phone: (518) 942-7561 (Essex County)
Ogdensburg Correctional Facility
One Correction Way
Ogdensburg, NY 13669-2288
Phone: (315) 393-0281 (St. Lawrence County)
Orleans Correctional Facility
3531 Gaines Basin Road
Albion, NY 14411-9199
Phone: (585) 589-6820 (Orleans County)
(Mailing Address: 3531 Gaines Basin Road)
Otisville Correctional Facility
57 Sanitorium Road
P.O. Box 8
Otisville, NY 10963-0008
Phone: (845) 386-1490 (Orange County)
Queensboro Correctional Facility
47-04 Van Dam Street
Long Island City, NY 11101-3081
Phone: (718) 361-8920 (Queens County)
Riverview Correctional Facility
1110 Tibbits Drive
P.O. Box 158
Ogdensburg, NY 13669-0158
Phone: (315) 393-8400 (St. Lawrence County)
Rochester Correctional Facility
470 Ford Street
Rochester, NY 14608-2499
Phone: (585) 454-2280 (Monroe County)
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
200 Quick Road
P.O. Box 750
Wallkill, NY 12589-0750
Phone: (845) 895-2081 (Ulster County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 700, Zip 12589)
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
354 Hunter Street
Ossining, NY 10562-5442
Phone: (914) 941-0108 (Westchester County)
Southport Correctional Facility
236 Bob Masia Drive
P.O. Box 2000
Pine City, NY 14871-2000
Phone: (607) 737-0850 (Chemung County)
Sullivan Correctional Facility
325 Riverside Drive
P.O. Box 116
Fallsburg, NY 12733-0116
Phone: (845) 434-2080 (Sullivan County)
Taconic Correctional Facility
250 Harris Road
Bedford Hills, NY 10507-2497
Phone: (914) 241-3010 (Westchester County)
Ulster Correctional Facility
750 Berme Road
P.O. Box 800
Napanoch, NY 12458-0800
Phone: (845) 647-1670 (Ulster County)
Upstate Correctional Facility
309 Bare Hill Road
P.O. Box 2000
Malone, NY 12953
Phone: (518) 483-6997 (Franklin County)
(Inmate Mail: P.O. Box 2001)
Wallkill Correctional Facility
50 McKendrick Rd
P.O. Box G
Wallkill, NY 12589-0286
Phone: (845) 895-2021 (Ulster County)
Washington Correctional Facility
72 Lock Eleven Lane
P.O. Box 180
Comstock, NY 12821-0180
Phone: (518) 639-4486 (Washington County)
Watertown Correctional Facility
23147 Swan Road
Watertown, NY 13601-9340
Phone: (315) 782-7490 (Jefferson County)
Wende Correctional Facility
3040 Wende Road
Alden, NY 14004-1187
Phone: (716) 937-4000 (Erie County)
Willard Drug Treatment Campus
7116 County Route 132
P.O. Box 303
Willard, NY 14588-0303
Phone: (607) 869-5500 (Seneca County)
Woodbourne Correctional Facility
99 Prison Road
P.O. Box 1000
Woodbourne, NY 12788-1000
Phone: (845) 434-7730 (Sullivan County)
Wyoming Correctional Facility
3203 Dunbar Road
P.O. Box 501
Attica, NY 14011-0501
Phone: (585) 591-1010 (Wyoming County)
