Cortland County Jail

County Jail

Last Updated: November 15, 2024
Address
54 Greenbush St, Cortland, NY 13045
Beds
90
County
Cortland
Phone
607-756-3438
Fax
607-753-7815
Email
nlynch@cortlandcountyny.gov

Cortland Co Jail is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for County - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Cortland County Jail

You can support your loved ones at Cortland Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 607-756-3438.

When someone you care about gets arrested, it can be overwhelming. This webpage aims to ease your concerns by providing information about Cortland County Jail. From visitation guidelines to contacting jail staff, we're here to support you as you navigate this challenging time. Take a look around and let us help you understand how to best support your family member or friend in custody.

The Cortland Co Jail, located at 54 Greenbush St in Cortland, NY, is a secure detention center operated by the Cortland County Sheriff's Office. This facility primarily houses individuals awaiting trial or sentencing, typically for less than two years. It accepts inmates from various jurisdictions, including surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service, and the Cortland Police Department.

New detainees are regularly admitted to the jail, with some being released on bail or placed under pretrial services caseloads. Others await their court appearances at the facility, receiving necessary accommodations such as bedding and meals. View all arrest records here.

Individuals who do not post bail within the first twenty-four hours are required to appear before a judge. During this first appearance, conducted either in person or via telephone, the judge informs the arrested person of the charges against them and sets the bond amount.

Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.

After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.

The jail is designed with "pods," featuring a large common area with affixed tables and attached seats, and individual cells typically on two levels. Inmates spend certain times in their cells and other times congregating in the pod for activities like playing cards, games, reading, or watching television. Movement outside the pod, such as trips to the commissary, library, or recreation area, occurs under the constant supervision of unarmed correctional officers. The environment in the county jail is considered less stressful than that of a prison because the sentences are much shorter.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.

Inmate workers are selected for community service programs based on their demonstrated good conduct, cooperation with facility staff, and adherence to institutional rules. These criteria ensure that only individuals who exhibit responsibility, reliability, and a commitment to positive behavior are allowed to participate. Participation in these programs not only benefits the community through valuable labor contributions but also offers inmates the chance to develop a strong work ethic, learn transferable job skills, and build a sense of accountability.

In certain cases, involvement in community service programs can contribute to a reduction in an inmate's sentence. This incentive reinforces the importance of maintaining good behavior while incarcerated and highlights the program's dual role in supporting both the community and the inmate's journey toward reintegration.

Inmate Locator

To utilize the Inmate Search page on InmateAid, begin by selecting the relevant prison facility in New York. This allows you to view the current list of inmates housed at Cortland County Jail.

The second section features the InmateAid Inmate Search tool, providing a user-generated database of inmates. You can access this resource to utilize any of InmateAid's services. If you require assistance in creating an inmate profile to maintain communication, please contact us at aid@inmateaid.com, and we'll gladly help you locate your loved one.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

Contact Visitation - Except for the initial visit, all visits will be contact visits unless otherwise specified. Any violation of the visitation rules can result in restriction of your visiting privileges.

Visit Details- Inmates receive two one-hour contact visits per week except in the case where a Disciplinary Hearing Board has imposed a sanction of the loss of one hour of contact visiting for a specific length of time, or when the Administration has restricted you to only having secured visits, or when a specific inmate is denied or limited contact visitation. Inmates may be restricted to secure visits only if they do not comply with rules or if there is a clear risk to others.

Visitor Sign-in - All visitors must sign in 10 minutes before the scheduled visitation time. Picture ID must be presented. No Exceptions.

Visitation Schedule - Click Here for the full visitation schedule as of April 9, 2022

Contact Visitation Rules

  • Contact visiting days and times are subject to change with prior notice posted in each cellblock and the public foyer of the jail.
  • No persons under the age of 18 will be authorized to visit any inmate unless they are accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Photo ID’s are required and birth certificates or guardianship papers are required in the case of an accompanying child (under 18).
  • Visitors must sign in for the visit at least 10 minutes prior to the start of the visit. If the visitor does not sign in 10 minutes prior to the visit, they will not be allowed in for visitation.
  • No more than 2 visitors may visit any inmate at any one time.
  • Physical contact between inmates and their visitors will be limited to the following: Inmates shall be allowed to briefly kiss their visitor(s) at both the beginning and at the end of the visit. Inmates and visitors shall be required to conduct themselves in a manner consistent with reasonable standards of public decency. Inmates may hold hands with their visitors through the visit.
  • Inmates and visitors are to remain seated on their own side of the table.
  • Children will be required to leave the visitation room if their behavior becomes disruptive.
  • Nothing is to be exchanged between inmates and visitors without the express permission of the Correction Staff.
  • All visitors may be searched to ensure they are not in possession of any contraband. All personal belongings possessed by any prospective visitor will be searched if such belongings are being brought into the facility.
  • Passing of any contraband (any unauthorized item) is in violation of the New York State Penal Law 205.20. The Cortland County Sheriff’s Department will arrest and aggressively seek prosecution to the fullest extent of the law, any person who attempts to promote prison contraband

All contact visits are videotaped and such videotapes may be used as evidence in disciplinary or criminal proceedings.

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.