Rikers Island - Davoren is a juvenile detention facility in East Elmhurst, New York,
operated by the City of East Elmhurst.
Young people held here are in the juvenile justice system - not the adult criminal system. Juvenile detention is governed by different rules, different courts, and different rights than adult incarceration. If your child or a young person you care about is detained here, this page is designed to help you understand what is happening and what to do right now. Information on this page was last verified August 2026.
InmateAid has been helping families navigate detention and the justice system since 2012. Our founder served 66 months in federal custody. We know what it means to have a family member taken away, and we built this resource so families have the information they need when they need it most. InmateAid holds a BBB A+ rating.
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Call Rikers Island - Davoren directly at 718-546-6920 - this is the fastest confirmation. Juvenile facility rosters are not always publicly searchable in the same way adult jail rosters are, because juvenile records are confidential in most states.
Steps to confirm your child is at Rikers Island - Davoren:
1. Call 718-546-6920 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian
2. Provide your child's full legal name and date of birth
3. Ask for confirmation of admission and the name of the assigned case manager or youth advocate
4. Ask what the next scheduled court date is and which court it is in
If you have not been notified of the detention and you believe your child may have been arrested, also contact the arresting law enforcement agency and New York juvenile court for your jurisdiction.
Yes - and this is one of the most important things to understand immediately.
In most states, law enforcement is required to notify a parent or legal guardian promptly after a juvenile is taken into custody. In many states, a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and consult a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Your rights as a parent during juvenile detention typically include:
-- The right to be notified of the detention promptly
-- The right to visit during approved hours
-- The right to communicate with your child by phone
-- The right to be present at court hearings
-- The right to retain legal counsel for your child
Contact Rikers Island - Davoren at 718-546-6920 immediately, identify yourself as the parent or guardian, and ask to be connected with your child's assigned case manager or youth advocate. Ask what proceedings are underway and what your participation rights are.
Juvenile court is a separate court system designed for young people, with a focus on rehabilitation rather than punishment. Key differences from adult criminal court:
Confidentiality: Juvenile proceedings and records are typically confidential in New York. This protects your child's record from public access in most circumstances.
Disposition not conviction: The outcome of a juvenile proceeding is a disposition, not a criminal conviction. This distinction matters for your child's future - a juvenile disposition generally does not carry the same lifelong consequences as an adult conviction.
No jury trial in most cases: A juvenile court judge makes the determination, not a jury.
Rehabilitation focus: Juvenile courts have access to a range of interventions - counseling, community service, probation, treatment programs - that are not typically available in adult court.
Adult court transfer: Serious offenses and repeat offenders can be transferred to adult court in New York. If adult court transfer is possible in your child's case, a juvenile defense attorney needs to be involved immediately. An adult conviction follows your child for life in ways a juvenile disposition typically does not.
Contact a licensed juvenile defense attorney in New York as soon as possible. Read InmateAid's what to expect guide for general context on the justice process.
Juvenile detention does not use traditional bail in most states. Instead, a detention hearing is typically held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. At that hearing a juvenile court judge determines whether your child should remain detained or be released to parent or guardian custody with conditions.
Factors the judge considers include the nature of the offense, prior record, whether the young person is a flight risk, and whether release to a parent or guardian provides adequate supervision and community safety.
If your child is held following a detention hearing, subsequent hearings are scheduled on a timeline set by New York juvenile justice law. A juvenile defense attorney can petition for release at any stage.
For cases where adult court transfer has occurred and traditional bail applies, read InmateAid's bail and bond guide for a full walkthrough.
Visitation rules at juvenile detention facilities are set by the facility and New York juvenile justice regulations. Contact Rikers Island - Davoren at 718-546-6920 to confirm:
-- Current visiting days and hours
-- Whether advance registration or approval is required
-- What identification you must bring
-- Whether siblings or other family members are permitted
-- Any specific rules about what you can bring or wear
Juvenile facilities typically permit immediate family members to visit. Extended family and friends may require advance approval. Call before making the trip - hours can change without notice. Read InmateAid's visitation guide for a general pre-visit checklist.
NYC DOC - Rikers Island - Robert N. Davoren Complex (RNDC) - Visitation
Visit an Inmate
- Visitors will be subject to passive canine searches when arriving to the Rikers Island Visit Control Building or the Borough facilities, or any other facility including the Hospital Prison Wards.
- All visitors 16 years of age and older must present valid current identification that contains a photograph and signature. Acceptable forms of identification for all visitors are listed below.
- Children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by an adult over 18 are not required to present any identification at all.
- A 16-year-old or 17-year old with valid identification may accompany a child under the age of 16 if he or she is the parent of that child and the inmate being visited is also the parent of the same child. In this case, the 16- or 17-year-old must produce a birth certificate for the child under the age of 16.
Acceptable Forms of Identification - From any state or territory in the U.S.:
- Current driver’s license
- Valid Employment ID card with photo AND most recent employment paycheck/stub
- DMV Non-driver license identification card
Other Acceptable Forms of Identification
- Resident alien or permanent resident card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
- Passport (from any country)
- NYS benefits identification card (Medicaid/food stamp photo ID)
- U.S. Armed Services identification
- Consulate-issued or diplomatic identification
- IDNYC card
If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor
Visit Schedule - Last year, nearly 100,000 New Yorkers were remanded to the New York City Department of Correction and on an average day, about 13,500 people are detained in our facilities. Most of them stay here on Rikers Island, where we also host as many as 1,500 visitors daily. We recognize how important it is for inmates and their families and friends to maintain contact with one another. We want your visits to be as pleasant as possible, so we are working to speed up the visit process, strengthen security, improve the Central Control Visit Building and provide information to help you plan your visits.
Our mission at every location is to ensure the humane care, custody and control of everyone who is in a New York City jail and to support them in their preparation for release. We offer a variety of programs and services in each of our facilities and partner with other city agencies and non-governmental organizations to sustain their successful transition back into our community.
We are committed to the safety and well-being of all New Yorkers and urge you to encourage those who you visit to take advantage of these opportunities. Enjoy your visit!
New York City Department of Correction
Visit Schedule - The visit schedule is based on the first letter of inmates' last names. Visitors should check the visitation schedule to be sure their friend or family member is eligible for a visit on a specific day.
Registration and Visit Hours
There are no visits on Mondays and Tuesdays
Wednesday and Thursday
Registration hours for all facilities on Rikers Island as well as for the Brooklyn Detention Complex in downtown Brooklyn, the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown Manhattan and the Vernon C. Bain Center in the Bronx on Wednesdays and Thursdays are from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visits are permitted from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 8:00 p.m.
Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Registration hours for the above facilities on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visits will begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 2:00 p.m. (Please note: the start of visiting hours can be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.)
Number of Visits and Visitors
Inmates are permitted to visit with up to three (3) visitors at the same time, with the maximum number to be determined by conditions set forth in each facility, availability of space and volume of visitors/inmates. Detainees may receive visits three (3) times per week. Sentenced inmates may receive visits two (2) times per week. All inmates are limited to one (1) visit session per visit day, regardless of the number of visitors in that session.
Visitors' Dress Code - To provide for the safety and security of Department staff, inmates and visitors and to maintain a family-friendly environment, visitors must wear appropriate clothing to visit inmates. Overly suggestive clothing and clothing in which contraband and non-permissible items can be hidden are not permitted. When meeting with an inmate, visitors may only wear a single layer of clothing (except those visitors required to wear a cover-up garment) and NO ACCESSORIES.
Visitors WILL NOT be permitted onto the visit floor of jail if they are wearing any of the following:
- Clothing with holes or rips that are located more than three inches above the knee
- Hooded garments
- Hats and head coverings (excluding religious head coverings)
- Clothing identifying a specific gang by name or logo
- Clothing that makes explicit reference to obscene language, drugs, sex or violence
- Swimming attire
- See-through garments
- Uniforms
- Jewelry (excluding a wedding ring and one religious medal no more than two inches in diameter hung on chain of one quarter-inch or less in diameter and no longer than 24 inches
- Tops, including dresses, which expose the chest, stomach or back
- Shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is more than three inches above the knee
- Spandex leggings unless covered by tops, shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is no more than three inches above the knee
- Outer garments including coats, shawls, ponchos, jackets, vests, gloves, or over-boots or overshoes (outer boots or shoes that slip over other shoes)
- Visitors must wear undergarments.
Visitors whose attire violates the dress code will be permitted a contact visit if they agree to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department. Visitors who refuse to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department will be denied a visit.
Phone contact rules at juvenile facilities vary significantly. Some permit daily calls; others limit contact considerably, particularly in early detention. Contact Rikers Island - Davoren at 718-546-6920 to confirm current phone policies.
Contact Rikers Island - Davoren at 718-546-6920 to confirm the current phone system and how to receive calls.
Commissary and mail rules at juvenile facilities vary more than at adult jails. Some have standard commissary systems; others provide all essentials as part of the program. Contact Rikers Island - Davoren at 718-546-6920 to confirm:
-- Whether a commissary or trust account exists and how to fund it
-- What items your child is permitted to have
-- Mail rules including address format, what is permitted, and any restrictions
For money deposits where a standard system exists, visit InmateAid's send money page for deposit instructions for Rikers Island - Davoren.
For mail, address to NYC DOC 11-11 Hazen St with your child's full legal name and any facility ID number assigned at intake. Keep mail supportive and simple - plain white paper, no stickers, no glitter, standard print photos.
InmateAid's send mail service handles formatting so rejection is not a risk.
New York's juvenile justice system - how detention hearings work, what rights young people and their parents have, what programs are available, and what happens at release - is governed by New York law and varies from adult incarceration in important ways. InmateAid's New York resources hub covers New York-specific resources including legal aid organizations and juvenile justice information.
Frequently Asked Questions about Rikers Island - Davoren
How do I confirm my child is at Rikers Island - Davoren?
Call 718-546-6920 and identify yourself as the parent or legal guardian. Juvenile facility rosters are confidential and not publicly searchable - direct contact with the facility is the fastest and often only way to confirm placement.
Can my child be questioned without me present?
In most states a juvenile cannot be questioned without a parent or guardian present, or without a knowing and voluntary waiver of that right. If your child was questioned before you were notified, document that and contact a juvenile defense attorney immediately.
Will this result in a criminal record?
Juvenile records are typically confidential and may be sealed or expunged when your child turns 18, depending on New York law and the nature of the offense. However, serious offenses can result in adult court transfer, which creates a permanent adult record. Contact a juvenile defense attorney for guidance specific to your child's situation.
How long can my child be held before a court hearing?
In most states a detention hearing must be held within 24 to 72 hours of admission. The juvenile court judge determines at that hearing whether to release your child to parent custody or continue detention. Contact 718-546-6920 for the scheduled hearing date and time.
Can I bring things when I visit?
Contact 718-546-6920 to confirm what is permitted. Most juvenile facilities restrict what visitors can bring - typically only valid ID is required, and items for the young person must be approved in advance through proper channels rather than brought during a visit.
Juvenile detention is frightening for everyone involved - for the young person inside and for the family outside. The system is designed with different goals than adult incarceration, and most of the time the path through it is shorter and less permanent than families fear in those first hours. What matters most right now is getting connected - to the facility, to a good juvenile defense attorney, and to as much information as you can find.
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