New York State Prisons
44 facilities- NYSDOC - Adirondack Correctional Facility
- NYSDOC - Albion Correctional Facility
- NYSDOC - Altona Correctional Facility
- NYSDOC - Attica Correctional Facility
- NYSDOC - Auburn Correctional Facility
Federal Facilities in New York
4 facilitiesNew York County Jails
61 facilities- Albany County NY Correctional Facility
- Allegany County NY Jail
- Bronx House of Detention
- Broome County Corrections Division (ICE)
- Cattaraugus County NY Jail
ICE Detention Centers
1 facilityNew York Department of Corrections
New York DOCCS lookup searches by DIN or name. New York's state prison system has shrunk dramatically - from about 72,000 inmates in 1999 to about 33,000 today. Multiple facilities have closed. New York has been a leader in criminal justice reform.
The official inmate search is available at nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov. MCC New York (federal, lower Manhattan) and MDC Brooklyn are major federal facilities in the NYC area.
Visitation in New York Facilities
DOCCS visitor approval requires a Visitor Registration Form. Processing takes 3 - 6 weeks - New York's approval process is slower than many states. Background checks for adult visitors. New York has expanded family reunion programs at many facilities.
Always confirm visiting schedules directly with the facility before traveling. Find specific visitation rules on each facility's page in our New York prison directory.
Sending Mail to New York Inmates
New York DOCCS mail requires the DIN. New York has eliminated physical mail at most state facilities - mail is submitted through JPay or postal mail to a central scanning facility and delivered electronically to inmate tablets.
InmateAid delivers letters and photos, postcards, and magazines to New York facilities. Want to receive letters without sharing your home address? Our Letters From Inmates service scans and delivers inmate mail to your account.
Sending Money to New York Inmates
Commissary funds let inmates purchase approved items from the facility store. Primary money transfer options for New York:
- JPay (primary - deposits and digital mail)
- Money orders accepted at some facilities
- Lobby kiosks
See our Send Money guide or navigate to the specific facility page for current provider information.
Reentry Resources in New York
Planning for release is one of the most important things a family can do. These organizations provide support in New York:
- New York DOCCS Reentry - Official reentry programs
- Legal Action Center - NYC-based reentry legal advocacy and policy
- Osborne Association - NYC-based comprehensive reentry services
- Hour Children - Long Island City - women released from prison with children
Frequently Asked Questions About New York Prisons
Are phone calls free at New York state prisons?
Yes - New York eliminated all per-minute charges for phone and video calls from DOCCS state prisons in 2021, one of the first states to do so. Calls from any DOCCS facility to any US number are free, with no account setup required on your end. This applies regardless of the facility's security level or the nature of the offense. The critical limitation: free calls apply to DOCCS state facilities only. New York City's jail system - Rikers Island and the borough facilities operated by NYC DOC - is a completely separate system. Most NYC DOC facilities have moved toward free calls following city legislation, but confirm separately. County jails outside NYC set their own policies - many still charge.
What is a DIN number in New York?
DIN stands for Department Identification Number - the unique identifier for every DOCCS inmate. It follows a specific format: two-digit year, then a letter, then five digits - for example, 19-A-12345. The first two digits indicate when the person first entered DOCCS. The number must appear on all mail sent to DOCCS facilities, both on the envelope and inside the letter. Find it through the DOCCS inmate lookup at nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov. County jail inmates and federal inmates have entirely separate ID systems - DIN is specific to DOCCS state custody only.
What happened at Attica in 1971?
The Attica uprising is one of the most significant events in American prison history. On September 9, 1971, inmates at Attica Correctional Facility took control of the prison and held 42 staff hostage for four days, demanding better conditions - adequate food, clothing, medical care, and an end to routine brutality. After negotiations broke down, Governor Rockefeller ordered a state police retaking on September 13. The assault killed 33 inmates and 10 hostages - authorities initially and falsely claimed inmates killed the hostages. Autopsies proved otherwise. Attica prompted prison reform nationally and remains a touchstone for prisoner rights movements. The facility still operates as an active maximum-security prison today.
What is Sing Sing?
Sing Sing Correctional Facility in Ossining sits on the east bank of the Hudson River about 30 miles north of Manhattan. The phrase 'sent up the river' entered the American language as a reference to being transported up the Hudson to Sing Sing - the facility opened in 1828 and originally received prisoners by river boat. Sing Sing has housed some of the most famous figures in American criminal history, including the Rosenbergs, executed there in 1953. Today it operates as a medium/maximum security facility known for its education programming. The Bard Prison Initiative at Sing Sing is one of the most recognized prison college programs in the country. The facility's location makes it relatively accessible for New York City families.
Does New York scan prison mail?
Yes - DOCCS has largely eliminated physical mail delivery at most state facilities. Mail sent to most DOCCS prisons is processed through a centralized scanning system: your envelope is opened, inspected, scanned, and delivered digitally to the inmate's tablet. The physical letter does not reach the inmate. This change has been deeply unpopular with families who found meaning in physical mail - particularly handwritten letters and children's drawings. Not all DOCCS facilities have completed the transition; check the current mail policy for your specific facility at doccs.ny.gov before sending anything. Digital mail submission through JPay is the most reliable method for facilities using digital delivery.
Why has New York's prison population dropped so much?
New York's state prison population fell from a peak of about 72,000 in 1999 to roughly 33,000 today - more than 50% over 25 years. Multiple overlapping causes: the Rockefeller Drug Laws mandatory minimums were substantially reformed in 2009 and 2010, releasing thousands stuck under those provisions; parole grant rates increased significantly; crime rates declined; and alternatives to incarceration expanded. New York has closed more than 20 state prisons during this period. The decline is one of the most-studied examples in American criminal justice policy of meaningful prison population reduction achieved without corresponding increases in crime.