How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision - DOCCS (state prisons) / County Sheriff / County Jail (county level - 62 counties including 5 NYC boroughs) / NYC Department of Correction - DOC (NYC jails - separate system)

Details

What you need to know

Fee

Online searches free ONLINE OPTION: DOCCS: doccs.ny.gov/inmatelookup; NYC DOC: findmyinmate.doc.nyc.gov; county jails: varies WHERE TO GO: DOCCS (state prisons); NYC DOC (NYC jails); County Sheriff (county jails outside NYC)

Online Option

DOCCS: doccs.ny.gov/inmatelookup; NYC DOC: findmyinmate.doc.nyc.gov; county jails: varies

Where to Go

DOCCS (state prisons); NYC DOC (NYC jails); County Sheriff (county jails outside NYC)

County-specific variations apply

This is one of the most complex inmate search environments nationally. NYC's jail system (DOC) is completely separate from DOCCS and county jails. Nassau and Suffolk Counties have large county jail systems. Upstate county jails vary greatly in online access - Monroe County, Erie County, Onondaga County have reasonable online tools; very small rural county jails (Hamilton, Schuyler, Lewis, etc.) may require direct phone calls.

New York Notes

Important state-specific details

DOCCS manages 44+ state correctional facilities across New York; doccs.ny.gov/inmatelookup also covers parolees.
NYC DOC manages Rikers Island (major complex) and borough-specific detention centers; recent NYC arrests and short-term detainees held here, NOT in state system and NOT in county sheriffs' jails.
For NYC criminal case information: nycourts.gov/apps/crims.
NY Sex Offender Registry: sor.community.ny.gov - searchable online.
Before being released, DOCCS informs inmates of restored voting rights (2021 law).

Official Source

State office contact

State Office

DOCCS - doccs.ny.gov | (518) 457-8126; DOCCS Inmate Lookup: doccs.ny.gov/inmatelookup; NYC DOC - nyc.gov/doc | (718) 546-0700; NYC Inmate Lookup: findmyinmate.doc.nyc.gov