Search New York City Inmate Population

New York City inmate population records fall under the NYC Department of Correction, which manages all jail facilities across the five boroughs. The city runs its own jail system, unlike most places in the state where county sheriffs handle detention. People arrested in Manhattan, Brooklyn, the Bronx, Queens, or Staten Island go through NYC DOC. The department operates several facilities on Rikers Island and two hospital prison wards. You can search for someone in custody through the DOC's Person in Custody Lookup tool or call 311 for help finding an arrested person.

NYC Department of Correction and Inmate Population

The NYC Department of Correction is the city agency that handles jail operations. Commissioner Stanley Richards leads the department. First Deputy Commissioner Margaret "Meg" Egan assists in day-to-day management. The DOC holds people who are ordered into custody by courts. That includes those awaiting trial and people serving sentences of one year or less. The agency's goal is to provide a path back into the community for people in its care.

NYC is unique in New York State. Most counties use their sheriff's office to run the local jail. The city has its own department for that. The five boroughs each correspond to a county: Bronx County, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York County (Manhattan), Queens County, and Richmond County (Staten Island). But all five feed into the same DOC system. There is no separate county jail for each borough. Everyone goes to a DOC facility.

Since 1999, New York's total prison population has dropped by 54.9%. The state went from 72,649 people in prison to 32,766 by January 2024. DOCCS closed 24 correctional facilities since 2011. That saved about $442 million per year. These numbers reflect state prisons, not the city jail system, but the trend toward lower incarceration shows up at the local level too.

Rikers Island Facilities and Inmate Population Records

Most NYC DOC facilities sit on Rikers Island in East Elmhurst. The island is accessible by Q101 or Q100 bus. Seven main facilities operate there. The Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC) at 18-18 Hazen Street is one of the largest. The Eric M. Taylor Center (EMTC) at 10-10 Hazen Street houses male inmates. George R. Vierno Center (GRVC) at 09-09 Hazen Street also holds male adults.

Other Rikers facilities include the North Infirmary Command (NIC) at 15-00 Hazen Street for medical care. The Otis Bantum Correctional Center (OBCC) is at 16-00 Hazen Street. The Robert N. Davoren Center (RNDC) sits at 11-11 Hazen Street. The Rose M. Singer Center (RMSC) at 19-19 Hazen Street is for female inmates. The West Facility (WF) is at 16-06 Hazen Street. Off-island, the Bellevue Hospital Prison Ward (BHPW) is at 462 1st Avenue in Manhattan. The Elmhurst Hospital Prison Ward (EHPW) is at 79-01 Broadway in Queens. These hospital wards serve inmates who need inpatient medical care.

How to Find Someone in NYC DOC Custody

The NYC DOC Person in Custody Lookup is the main tool. It covers all five boroughs. You can search by name to find someone currently in DOC custody. The system shows the person's current location and basic case info. It does not cover people held by police, state prison, or federal agencies. Only DOC facilities show up in this tool.

If you cannot find someone online, call 311. The city's Find an Arrested Person service is phone-only. Dial 311 from within the city or call 212-639-9675 from outside. Staff can help you figure out where someone is being held. This is useful right after an arrest, before the person is booked into the DOC system.

For people in state prison, use the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup instead. It covers people serving sentences of more than one year. You search by name, birth year, or Department Identification Number. The system runs 24 hours a day with a short maintenance break near midnight. Under Correction Law §9, DOCCS removes certain non-violent offender info from its website three years after the person finishes their sentence and supervision.

VINELink is another option. It covers county jails and state prisons across New York. You can register for alerts when someone is released, moved, or escapes. The service is free. Call 1-866-277-7477 for help. VINELink works in over 200 languages.

NYC Inmate Population Visitation

In-person visits at NYC DOC facilities are walk-in only. No pre-registration is available. Visit days are Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. On Wednesdays and Thursdays, registration runs from 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM. On weekends, registration is from 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Televisits happen on Fridays. The schedule depends on the first letter of the person's last name.

The Benjamin Ward Visit Center is at 18-31 Hazen Street, East Elmhurst, NY 11370. As of December 2025, permissible packages can be dropped off during visiting hours. You can also leave packages at the Rikers Bail and Package Reception area. Mailing packages is still an option. The DOC also partners with the New York Public Library for a video visitation program.

NYC DOC Inmate Lookup System

The NYC Department of Correction provides a Person in Custody Lookup that covers all five boroughs.

The tool shows current facility location, charges, and basic case data for people held in DOC custody. It does not include people in police holding cells or state and federal facilities.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is a statewide tool that checks criminal case records across all 62 counties, including all five NYC boroughs. The fee is $95 per search. You need the person's full name and date of birth. This is not an inmate locator. It shows open cases and convictions. Results are not certified and should not be confused with a Certificate of Disposition.

The Criminal Court of the City of New York handles arraignments for all boroughs. Central booking processes arrests across the five counties. Arraignments typically happen within 24 hours of arrest. Court records are available through the WebCrims system, which provides free access to criminal case records.

Records Access and FOIL for NYC Inmate Population

The Freedom of Information Law gives the public a right to government records. FOIL covers DOC records, police records, and court documents. Each agency handles its own FOIL requests. For DOC records, send your request to the department's Records Access Officer. The agency must respond within five business days. Copy fees are 25 cents per page for standard documents.

Criminal history records (rap sheets) go through DCJS, not FOIL. The Personal Record Review lets individuals get a copy of their own criminal history. You need to submit fingerprints. Two versions are available: unsuppressed (includes sealed records) and suppressed (excludes sealed info). Contact DCJS at 518-457-9847 for help.

Under CPL §160.50, records are sealed when cases are dismissed or end in acquittal. Youthful offender records are protected under CPL §720.35. These records do not show up in public searches. CPL §160.59 allows sealing of certain convictions after 10 years.

NYC Borough Counties

New York City spans five counties. Each borough corresponds to one county. All feed into the same DOC system for jail operations.

Nearby Cities

These cities neighbor New York City or sit in the surrounding metro area.