Suffolk County Inmate Search
A Suffolk County inmate search provides individuals access to information regarding inmates and arrestees within the county’s judicial limits. Inmate information is considered part of Suffolk County Public Record unless restricted by law or judicial order. When someone violates the law, the police are responsible for apprehending the individual and ensuring that the violator answers for their offense, as directed by law. The arrest may take place with or without a warrant.
Per Section 140.10 of the New York Legislature, law enforcement officers can arrest a person without a warrant if the crime took place in the officer's presence or if the officer has a reasonable cause to believe that the suspect committed a crime, irrespective of whether the incident occurred in the officer's presence.
Once an arrest occurs in Suffolk County, New York, the arrestee is taken to one of the county's police precincts or a village/town police department for booking. During the booking process, an officer will take the individual's details (name, age, address, mugshot, fingerprints, etc.) to generate an arrest report.
After the booking process, if the prosecutor drops the charges, the accused will be released immediately. However, if this does not happen, any of the following may occur:
- The accused will be issued a citation to appear in court and answer the charges.
- The defendant will be held in jail until they can appear in court to determine if a bond can be set. If the judge approves bail, the individual will be released after payment and given a date for their court appearance. If the judge refuses the bond request, the accused will remain in the county jail until the trial begins.
Individuals whose criminal trials lead to incarceration may be taken to the local jail or a state prison facility to serve their sentences. Typically, offenders whose sentences are one year or less will be housed in one of the correctional facilities under the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office. However, inmates serving sentences above a year may be detained in a correctional facility under the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. This agency operates the state prison institutions.
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.
Suffolk County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
Suffolk County has recorded over 10,000 arrests for criminal offenses in the last ten years. Offenses recorded over time have been categorized into felony crimes (for example, murder, drug-related offenses, DWIs, sexual offenses, robberies, and other violent crimes) and misdemeanor crimes (property crimes, prostitution, etc.).
Periodically, local police departments and other law enforcement agencies report arrests to New York's Division of Criminal Justice Services through the Uniform Crime Reporting program.
According to statistics published by the Division of Criminal Justice Services, Suffolk County recorded 12,149 arrests in 2021, of which 2.3% (282) were the number of juvenile arrests, and 11,867 were adult arrests. The age range of adults frequently arrested for crimes was 30 to 34 (2,014 offenses recorded), followed by persons between ages 25 to 29 (1,931 offenses). In the period under review, misdemeanor offenses, particularly DWI, had the highest number of arrests (1,920).
Compared to the 2020 and 2019 reports, where Suffolk County recorded 12,708 and 19,556 arrests, respectively, the 2021 statistics reflect a 4.4% decrease in arrests in 2020 and a 37.9% decrease in 2019.
Suffolk County's average daily inmate population in 2021 was 698.
To access more recent statistics, requesters may contact the sheriff's office at (631) 852-2200 or review the inmate demographics page. Alternatively, one can submit a Freedom of Information (FOIL) request to the sheriff's office.
Suffolk County Prison System
Suffolk County prison system is the county's corrections system managed by Suffolk County Sheriff's Office (SCSO) Corrections Division. It consists of two jails: the Yaphank and Riverhead Correctional Facilities, which operate as minimum, medium, and maximum security facilities for both male and female inmates.
The Yaphank Correctional Facility has a maximum holding capacity of 976 inmates, while the Riverhead Correctional Facility has a design capacity of 840 inmates. As of April 10, 2023, the facilities recorded a total jail population of 910.
Within the Suffolk County correctional facilities are dorms and housing units, a health unit responsible for the inmates' medical, dental, and mental needs, a rehabilitation unit, a medical pod, and a visiting section.
Other subdivisions under the Corrections Division include the Corrections Administrative Bureau, Special Operations Bureau, Vocational Work Programs Section, and the Human Trafficking Unit.
The Corrections Administrative Bureau is further divided into eleven units. Some of these units include:
- Records Unit (also regarded as the Inmate Information Center)
- Document Management Unit
- Commissary Unit (in charge of distributing items purchased through inmate funds)
- Compliance Inmate Unit (responsible for ensuring that all Suffolk County Correctional Facilities comply with the relevant rules.
- Disciplinary Processing Unit: When inmates are accused of flouting the rules and regulations, this unit investigates the allegations and, when required, disciplines the guilty party.
- Vocational Programs Unit: Inmates partake in vocational training programs to garner skills in masonry work, carpentry, landscaping, and painting. The training programs are only accessible to sentenced inmates.
How to Find an Inmate in Suffolk County
To obtain information about inmates housed in a local correctional facility in Suffolk County, an individual may contact the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office at (631) 852-2200.
Requesters must provide inmate details such as a first and last name, birth year, and booking or identification number.
How Does a Suffolk County Inmate Search Work?
Per the New York Freedom of Information Law ("FOIL"), law enforcement officers are authorized to provide inmate records in their possession to requesting parties.
The law empowers members of the public (citizens and non-citizens) to carry out Suffolk County inmate searches and obtain information on incarcerated persons.
Information requesters may obtain when conducting such a search include:
- An inmate's full name
- Date of birth
- Sex
- Ethnicity/Race
- Age
- Location
- Physical features (hair color, eye color, height, and weight)
- Booking number
- Mugshot
- Bond amount
- Presiding court
- Next court appearance
- Arrest details, such as the date and time, agency, and location
- Charge(s)
- Release date
Not all Suffolk County inmate records are accessible to the public. Subject to the FOIL, some record categories are exempt from public inspection. These include youthful offender records (or juvenile inmate records), records sealed by court order, and records of persons initially convicted but acquitted of the charges (Criminal Procedure Law §160.50).
Where to Find a Suffolk County Inmate Locator
An inmate locator is a database containing information about each inmate under the jurisdiction of a law enforcement agency. Usually, the inmate locator is accessible online on a corrections division's website (usually the county sheriff's website). However, not all correctional agencies provide this service. In Suffolk County, for instance, inmate information can only be accessed via telephone or by a personal visit to the sheriff's office.
Nonetheless, those looking for an inmate incarcerated in a state prison managed by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision can access the agency's inmate locator tool. Requesters only need to provide an inmate's first and last name, birth year, and identification number. However, note that there are no state prisons in Suffolk County.
Again, where an inmate is incarcerated in a federal prison, one should access the Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
Besides the government-owned corrections departments that provide inmate locator services, some independent third-party public records sites also provide online inmate search services. These sites have inmate locator tools that help interested members of the public retrieve relevant records. However, requesters must supply certain details, like an inmate's first and last name, date of birth, or state. Likewise, they may need to pay a fee or subscribe to the site before they access the search results.
How to Send Money to a Suffolk County Inmate
The Accounts Unit of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office maintains commissary accounts for incarcerated individuals. Through the accounts, relatives and loved ones can deposit money to enable inmates to purchase items (food, newspapers, magazines, pencil, toothpaste, etc.) while in detention.
Interested persons can deposit money into an inmate's account using any of the following methods:
Mail: Interested persons can send money orders or certified checks via mail. The funds will be deposited in the inmate's account. Once deposited, the inmate will be issued the receipt of the payment. Note that inmates cannot receive personal checks. Below is the mailing address:
C/O Inmate's Name
Suffolk County Correctional Facility
110 Center Drive South
Riverhead, NY 11901
In-person: Family and friends are allowed to pay in cash or deposit using credit or debit cards at the kiosks located in the lobbies of the Riverhead and Yaphank correctional facilities.
Online/Phone: Inquirers can make online or telephone deposits with a credit or debit card through a third-party payment provider. However, only a maximum of $100 can be deposited per transaction.
Regardless of the method chosen, depositors must provide an inmate's name or booking number to deposit money into their commissary account.
How to Visit a Suffolk County Inmate
Suffolk County inmates can receive a maximum of two one-hour visits per week on Tuesday through Saturday. Intending visitors must schedule their visitation, however, as unscheduled walk-in visits are not permitted. To schedule a visit, call (631) 852-1893.
Only two adults can visit an inmate at a time, and individuals below 18 are not allowed to visit alone. Visitors are also required to comply with the following rules:
- Visitors cannot bring prohibited items into the facility. Any visitor discovered with contraband may be subject to arrest and prosecution per the law, and they may have their visiting privileges suspended.
- Visitors must present identification to gain access to the facility. Acceptable identification includes a valid state driver's license, state driver's permit, DMV Non-driver license identification card, U.S. Military ID, or a foreign passport (in English) with photo ID.
- Visitors should not be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. Persons who fail to comply may lose their visiting privileges.
- Visitors must not bring dangerous weapons into the facility.
- Visitors must conduct themselves reasonably and not engage in any act that is excessive or inappropriate for a public place. Failure to comply may result in a suspension of visiting privileges.
Attorney Visits
The Suffolk County Sheriff's Office provides additional visitation guidelines for attorneys of records. Aside from in-person visits, attorneys can schedule video and telephone conferences by calling (631) 852-3356. However, as with the general public, attorneys must comply with the visitation rules.
How to Send Jail Mail in Suffolk County
The mailroom officer of the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office collects and distributes the jail mail from Monday to Saturday, except for postal holidays. All mail sent to the county's jail facilities must have an inmate's name affixed to the address. If an inmate has a common name, it is recommended that the sender include the inmate's birth year on the envelope. The sender must also include their name and a return address on the envelope or package. See the jail facility's mailing address below:
C/O Inmate's Name
Suffolk County Correctional Facility
110 Center Drive South
Riverhead, NY 11901
All incoming mail must comply with the facility's inmate mail procedures. Staff at the jail facilities thoroughly check each mail before delivering the items to an inmate.
Below is a list of prohibited mail items:
- Stamps or other postage
- Polaroid pictures
- Books, magazines, and newspapers not sent from a publisher or reputable online vendor
- Mail with drawings or writings (other than address and return address) on the envelopes. Any such mail received will be returned to the sender
- Pictures larger than 5" x 7"
- Pornographic images or pictures that are offensive and graphic
- Hard-covered publications with covers attached
- Cards larger than 6" x 9"
- Personal checks
- Stickers
- Colored envelopes (only white enveloped are allowed)
Suffolk County Jails and Prisons
The following are the names, contact information, and addresses of the jail and prison facilities in Suffolk County, New York:
Riverhead Correctional Facility
100 Center Drive South
Riverhead, NY
Yaphank Correctional Facility
200 Glover Drive
Yaphank, NY
