Yonkers Inmate Population
Yonkers inmate population records involve both the city's police department and the Westchester County Department of Correction, which operates the county jail. Yonkers is the third largest city in New York State and the largest city in Westchester County. It borders the Bronx borough of New York City. The city has its own police force, but people arrested by Yonkers PD are held at the Westchester County jail in Valhalla. Over 211,000 people live in Yonkers according to the 2020 census. You can check for inmates through VINELink or by contacting the county correction department.
Yonkers Overview
Westchester County Jail and Yonkers Inmate Population
The Westchester County Department of Correction runs the county jail in Valhalla on the Grasslands Campus. Commissioner Joseph K. Spano leads the department. The facility is accredited by the American Correctional Association. Medical operations carry accreditation from the National Commission on Correctional Health Care. This is not a typical sheriff-run jail. Westchester has its own separate correction department.
The jail has two divisions. The Jail Division houses people 16 and older. Males accused of a crime or awaiting sentencing go here. Females accused of crime, awaiting sentencing, or serving terms of a year or less are also held in this division. The Penitentiary Division houses males sentenced to terms of one year or less. This two-part setup is unusual compared to most counties in New York.
The Yonkers Police Department is at 104 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701. Phone: 914-377-7900 (non-emergency). Police Commissioner Christopher Sapienza leads the department. The direct emergency line is 914-377-7777, which bypasses switching delay. When YPD officers arrest someone, that person goes through booking at the police station and then gets transferred to the county jail in Valhalla.
How to Search Yonkers Inmate Population Records
Use VINELink to search for someone in Westchester County custody. Search by name. Register for free alerts about releases, transfers, or escapes. Notifications come by email, text, or phone call. The toll-free line is 1-866-277-7477. VINELink covers county jails and state prisons across New York and works in over 200 languages.
For state prison, the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup covers anyone serving more than one year. You can search by name and birth year or by Department Identification Number. The system is available around the clock, with a brief maintenance window near midnight. Correction Law §9 requires removal of certain non-violent offender data three years after they finish their sentence and supervision.
Records Access for Yonkers Inmate Population
Police records requests from the Yonkers PD require a search fee. You must include a self-addressed stamped envelope. Send requests to: Yonkers Police Department Records Unit, 104 South Broadway, Yonkers, NY 10701. Include as much detail as you can about what records you need. The department is Title VI compliant and provides meaningful access to all communities.
The Yonkers City Clerk handles FOIL requests for city government records, vital records, and licensing. For county jail records, submit your request to the Westchester County FOIL office. The Westchester County Clerk maintains court and land records. Main phone: (914) 995-3080. Office hours: 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Standard FOIL copy fees are 25 cents per page. Agencies have five business days to acknowledge your request. The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties at $95 per search. You need the full name and date of birth. Sealed records under CPL §160.50 and youthful offender records under CPL §720.35 are excluded from public searches.
Yonkers Police Department
The Yonkers Police Department provides law enforcement for the city and processes records requests through its Records Unit.
YPD offers services including crime mapping, community programs, camera registration, and tip submission. Emergency calls go to 914-377-7777.
State Resources for Yonkers Inmate Population
The NYS Commission of Correction monitors the Westchester County jail. Quarterly inmate population statistics include data from all 60 county correctional facilities. Monthly jail population reports track the average daily census. The Commission checks facilities against minimum standards under Correction Law Article 3. They also review complaints about jail conditions and investigate deaths in custody.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services publishes crime statistics at the county level, including Westchester County data. DCJS maintains criminal history records and oversees the Sex Offender Registry. Contact dcjsstats@dcjs.ny.gov for statistics. The Committee on Open Government at 518-474-2518 helps with FOIL questions and provides advisory opinions.
Since 1999, New York's total prison population has declined by 54.9%. DOCCS has closed 24 correctional facilities since 2011, saving about $442 million per year. As of December 2022, 74% of the state's under-custody population were violent felony offenders. Drug offenders made up only 9% of the population, down 56% from 2013.
FOIL Process for Yonkers Inmate Population Records
FOIL requests to DOCCS can be mailed to: Records Access Officer, DOCCS, Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226-2050. Email works too: foiladmin@doccs.ny.gov. Fax: 518-453-8474. Records can be viewed in person by appointment on business days from 9 AM to 4 PM at the Records Access Office in Albany. Appeals must be filed within 30 days of the response. Medical records do not go through FOIL. Those requests go to the Facility Medical Director.
Criminal history rap sheets are not available through FOIL either. Those go through DCJS. The Personal Record Review requires fingerprint submission. Two versions exist: unsuppressed (includes all records, even sealed ones) and suppressed (excludes sealed info). Contact RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or call 518-457-9847. Hours are 8 AM to 4 PM, Monday through Friday.
Westchester County Inmate Population
Yonkers is part of Westchester County. All county detention goes through the Westchester County Department of Correction.
Nearby Cities
Cities near Yonkers in the greater New York metro area.