What are New York Inmate Records?

New York inmate records are comprised of the paperwork, digital files, physical evidence, and court records assigned to each inmate traveling through the criminal justice system. They may include DNA samples, audio and video clips, forms, police reports, arrest warrants, trial documents, and sentencing.

These inmate records originate with local law enforcement, the courts, confinement facilities, and other agencies who come in contact with the inmate. They usually include the person’s name, date of birth, race, gender, and a physical description, including eye and hair color, height, weight, and any defining marks.

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision is the state agency in charge of inmates, incarceration facilities, and inmate records.

New York Prison and Jail System

The state of New York has 53 correctional facilities, including prisons, drug treatment programs, maximum, minimum, and medium-security facilities. Some also act as community correctional offices where those on parole or probation must check-in. Six of the facilities hold women, and 50 hold men.

New York City also has 16 detention and treatment centers that act as jails housing short term inmates and those awaiting trial. New York State also has some local county jail facilities that serve the same purpose.

There are roughly 50,000 people in prison in New York and another 27,000 in local jails or detention centers. New York also has 11,000 people in federal prison.

How to Search for Inmates in New York

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision has an inmate locator tool on its website where you can easily find someone in prison. You can search using the inmate’s name, or DIN, or NYSID. If you search by name, you can narrow the results by adding in a birth date.

The results will show a list with inmates’ DIN, name, gender, birthdate, status, facility, and race. You can click on the DIN to get additional information. The extra details will show where they are currently held, the county where they were indicted, and their parole or probation date. You may also see the inmate’s crimes, sentencing, and other dates.

You can also use a third-party tool like InfoTracer to find someone in a New York prison easily. 

Types of Jails in New York

How to Contact, Send Money to or Visit an Inmate in New York

New York eagerly encourages family visitation for inmates. They even have facilities especially set up for making visits comfortable. However, there is a  whole page of rules that visitors must obey when visiting an inmate in New York.

Offenders are allowed to receive mail, and family and friends can send mail and packages; however, they must follow the rules specified here.

New York uses the Securus program for phone calls, and you can prepay for your incarcerated loved one to contact you. Information about that is here.

You can send money to an individual in prison using the JPay system and following the guidelines here. 

Police Departments in New York

New York Counties