Yates County Inmate Population

Yates County inmate population records are managed by the Yates County Sheriff's Office, which runs the correctional facility and provides law enforcement across this Finger Lakes county. The sheriff's office is committed to delivering effective corrections, court security, civil, and emergency services to all residents fairly. County Clerk Molly Linehan and Deputy Clerk Brenda Lloyd handle court records at 417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107, Penn Yan, NY 14527. You can search for inmates through the sheriff's office, use VINELink for free alerts, or check the DOCCS lookup for people in state prison.

Yates County Correctional Facility and Inmate Population

The Yates County Sheriff's Office operates the correctional facility and handles all law enforcement and corrections work in the county. The office's mission is to deliver effective and responsive services equally and fairly without regard to race, creed, ethnicity, or social and economic standing. The sheriff can be reached at 315-536-4438.

The Yates County Correctional Facility holds pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. People serving sentences of one year or less stay at the county jail. Anyone sentenced to more than a year goes to state prison under DOCCS. The jail provides visitation on a set schedule and offers inmate services as required by state rules. Medical care, mental health support, and basic programs are part of what the facility provides.

The facility must meet minimum standards from the NYS Commission of Correction under Correction Law Article 3. These rules cover cell conditions, food, medical and dental care, mental health services, and the grievance process. The Commission inspects each facility and publishes its findings. Yates County is one of the smallest counties in New York, so its jail population is relatively low compared to urban counties. But the same standards apply regardless of size. Every one of the 60 county correctional facilities in the state must meet these rules.

How to Search Yates County Inmate Population Records

Call the Yates County Sheriff's Office at 315-536-4438 to check if someone is in the county jail. Staff can confirm custody status and share basic booking information. The administration line is the same number.

VINELink is a free service that covers most county jails in New York. Search by name to see if someone is held in Yates County or any other facility in the state. You can register for alerts. When the inmate is released, transferred, or moved, VINE sends a phone call, text, or email. The service is available in over 200 languages and runs all day, every day. Toll-free: 1-866-277-7477.

For people in state prison, use the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup. It covers anyone currently or formerly held in a state correctional facility. Search by name, birth year, or Department Identification Number. The database goes back to the early 1970s. The system is up around the clock except for a brief break near midnight. Sealed records under CPL §160.50 do not appear. Under Correction Law §9, non-violent offender data gets removed from the site three years after the person finishes their sentence and supervision.

Inmate Population Records and FOIL in Yates County

Inmate records in Yates County are available through the Freedom of Information Law. You send a written request to the sheriff's office for jail records. For court documents, contact County Clerk Molly Linehan at 417 Liberty Street, Suite 1107, Penn Yan, NY 14527. Phone: (315) 536-5120. Fax: (315) 536-5545. The clerk's office also serves as the Clerk of State Supreme and County Courts, so they handle a wide range of legal documents.

FOIL requests must get a response within five business days. The response either provides the records, denies the request with a reason, or gives a date for when the records will be ready. Copy fees are 25 cents per page for standard documents. If the request takes more than two hours of staff time, the county can charge the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can fill it. Medical records are not available through FOIL. Rap sheets go through DCJS.

The Committee on Open Government helps with FOIL questions and disputes. Phone: 518-474-2518. If your request is denied, you can file a written appeal within 30 days.

State Resources for Yates County Inmate Population

The NYS Commission of Correction tracks inmate population data for all county jails, including Yates County. Quarterly reports show the count at the end of each quarter. Monthly data gives the average daily census. Annual reports are on the statistics page going back to 2016. Because Yates County is small, its daily jail numbers tend to be among the lowest in the state.

A screenshot from the Yates County Sheriff's Office website shows the department's mission and approach to law enforcement and corrections.

The sheriff's office states its commitment to serving all residents equally regardless of background.

DOCCS manages 44 state correctional facilities. The state prison population fell 54.9% from its 1999 peak of 72,649 down to 32,766 as of early 2024. The agency closed 24 facilities since 2011, cutting more than 13,000 beds. DOCCS publishes over 965 research reports covering demographics, releases, recidivism, and other topics. As of late 2022, 74% of state inmates were violent felony offenders while drug offenders made up just 9% of the population.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services tracks crime data at the county level. Their statistics for Yates County include arrest data, conviction records, and case processing reports. DCJS uses both Uniform Crime Reporting and Incident-Based Reporting to track offenses and arrests across all agencies in the state.

Legal Help in Yates County

Yates County has a public defender for those who cannot pay for a lawyer. Legal aid groups in the Finger Lakes region serve low-income residents with civil legal matters. The county bar association can point you to private attorneys for criminal defense cases.

Crime victims can use VINELink for free tracking of inmate status. The SCOC complaint portal lets anyone file a report about jail conditions. The Commission reviews all complaints. For questions about personal criminal records, DCJS handles record reviews. You can reach them at 518-457-9847 or by email at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov during business hours, Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Communities in Yates County

Yates County includes several towns and villages in the Finger Lakes region. People arrested anywhere in the county are held at the Yates County Correctional Facility.

Communities in Yates County include Penn Yan, Dundee, Dresden, and Rushville. Inmates from all of these areas are housed at the county jail.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Yates County. If you are not sure which county jail holds someone, check the address where they were arrested.