New York Public Records /Search New York Inmate Records Online

Search New York Inmate Records Online

Are New York Inmate Records Open to the Public?

Yes. New York inmate records are publicly accessible under the state's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). These records can be requested from correctional agencies or through inmate searches to identify individuals in custody or those who have served sentences. However, certain parts of these records may be redacted or access restricted to protect the privacy rights of the incarcerated or ensure public safety.

New York Inmate Search

Inmate records in New York provide detailed information about individuals in various correctional facilities, including prisons, detention centers, and jails managed by counties, cities, or the State of New York. These records typically include:

Mugshot
Biodata
Registration number (DIN or NYSID)
Custody status
Facility of incarceration
Release date

These records are available through both governmental agencies and third-party websites. While third-party sites may offer convenience and broader search capabilities, the accuracy of the information can vary compared to official sources. To search for inmate records using third-party sites, requestors generally need to provide:

The location of the record, including state, county, and city
The name of the person listed in the record, unless it involves a juvenile

How to Conduct a New York Jail Inmate Search

To find someone in a New York jail, individuals can contact the local sheriff's office responsible for the inmate's custody. Many sheriff's departments offer online inmate lookup systems, which provide information on an inmate's housing facility, custody status, and other relevant details. However, not all information may be available online due to privacy and public safety considerations.

Differences Between New York State Prisons and County Jails

New York's correctional facilities include state prisons and county jails, each serving different purposes and managed by different authorities. State prisons, overseen by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), house inmates serving sentences longer than one year, including life sentences. There are 52 state prisons with a total capacity exceeding 51,000 inmates.

County jails, operated by individual counties, typically detain individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences of one year or less. These facilities 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.

Sending Money to an Inmate in New York Prisons or Jails

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) provides several methods for sending money to inmates, including:

Visitor deposit lockbox
Mailing checks or money orders
Online via JPay website or mobile app
Phone deposits
MoneyGram

Depositors need to fill out a JPay deposit slip for mail-in options, and funds sent via MoneyGram or online methods are credited by the next business day. Fees vary based on the deposit method, and depositors must have the inmate's full name, DIN number, and facility information.

How to Contact Inmates in New York Prisons and Jails

To communicate with inmates in New York prisons and jails, family and friends can use several methods. Traditional mail remains a primary means of contact, requiring the sender to know the inmate's full name, DIN number, and facility address. Additionally, some facilities offer email services through third-party providers like JPay, which may require setting up an account and paying a fee for each message sent.

Phone calls are another option, though they must be initiated by the inmate. Inmates can make collect calls or use prepaid phone accounts funded by family and friends. The DOCCS provides guidelines on how to set up these accounts and the associated costs.

Getting Approved for Inmate Visitation in New York Prisons and Jails

To visit an inmate in New York, individuals must follow specific procedures set by the DOCCS. Initially, it is essential to know the facility where the inmate is housed. For the first visit, family and friends do not need prior approval, even if they are not on the inmate's visitor list. All visitors must present valid identification and agree to abide by the visitation rules.

Certain individuals, such as those on probation, with unresolved criminal proceedings, or former inmates of the facility, require prior approval from the Superintendent. They must write to obtain a permit before visitation. County jails have similar rules, and interested parties should check the specific jail's website for detailed visitation schedules and regulations.

How to Locate Someone Incarcerated in New York

To locate an inmate in New York, individuals can use the DOCCS inmate locator tool, which allows for searches by name, Department Identification Number (DIN), or New York State ID number (NYSID). This tool provides information on adult inmates but excludes juvenile offenders due to confidentiality laws.

For county jail inmates, the NYCDOC manages an inmate lookup tool, and individuals can also use VINELink for broader searches. Knowing the inmate's identification number or full name is crucial for initiating a successful search.

Finding a County Inmate Roster in New York

County inmate rosters in New York are typically available on local sheriff's websites. These rosters list currently incarcerated individuals and may include details such as full names, mugshots, booking dates, jail numbers, ages, genders, races, offense categories, custody status, charges, and bail amounts.

Some sheriff's offices provide searchable databases, requiring specific keywords like the inmate's last name, date of birth, or DOC number to find the relevant records. This allows the public to quickly identify who is in custody in a specific New York correctional or detention facility.

How to Conduct a New York Prison Inmate Search

The DOCCS offers an inmate locator tool for conducting searches on state prison inmates. This tool is accessible to the public and allows searches by name, Department Identification Number (DIN), or New York State ID number (NYSID). It provides information on adult inmates, excluding juvenile records due to confidentiality.

To use the tool, enter the required details and submit the request. If difficulties arise, searchers can contact the DOCCS Central files for assistance. Information about non-violent inmates is removed from the website five years after their term or parole completion, which may complicate searches for older records.

How to Find an Inmate’s Release Date in New York

Inmate release dates are generally included in New York inmate records. However, this information may be restricted if disclosing it poses a risk to the inmate's safety. In such cases, only eligible persons like immediate family, crime victims, attorneys, and authorized law enforcement officials can access the exact release date.

Others may only see the month and year of release. To obtain this information, individuals must provide proper identification and demonstrate their eligibility to access the restricted details.

Facilities Managed by the New York Department of Corrections

The New York Department of Corrections manages numerous facilities across the state, including:

Adirondack Adolescent Offender Facility
Albion Correctional Facility
Altona Correctional Facility
Attica Correctional Facility
Auburn Correctional Facility
Bare Hill Correctional Facility
Bedford Hills Correctional Facility
Cape Vincent Correctional Facility
Cayuga Correctional Facility
Clinton Correctional Facility
Clinton Annex
Collins Correctional Facility
Coxsackie Correctional Facility
Downstate Correctional Facility
Eastern NY Correctional Facility
Edgecombe Residential Treatment Facility
Elmira Correctional Facility
Fishkill Correctional Facility
Five Points Correctional Facility
Franklin Correctional Facility
Gouverneur Correctional Facility
Gowanda Correctional Facility
Great Meadow Correctional Facility
Green Haven Correctional Facility
Greene Correctional Facility
Groveland Correctional Facility
Hale Creek ASACTC
Hudson Adolescent Offender Facility
Lakeview Shock Incarceration C. F.
Marcy Correctional Facility
Mid-State Correctional Facility
Mohawk Correctional Facility
Moriah Shock Incarceration Corr. Fac.
Ogdensburg Correctional Facility
Orleans Correctional Facility
Otisville Correctional Facility
Queensboro Correctional Facility
Riverview Correctional Facility
Rochester Correctional Facility
Shawangunk Correctional Facility
Sing Sing Correctional Facility
Southport Correctional Facility
Sullivan Correctional Facility
Taconic Correctional Facility
Ulster Correctional Facility
Upstate Correctional Facility
Wallkill Correctional Facility
Washington Correctional Facility
Watertown Correctional Facility
Wende Correctional Facility
Willard Drug Treatment Campus
Woodbourne Correctional Facility
Wyoming Correctional Facility

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