Find New York Inmate Records

When a person is incarcerated, information about their conviction, location, and incarceration status is kept in records. These records may also contain personal identifying information, including the inmate's name, date of birth, fingerprints, race, gender, ethnicity, and identification numbers. Records of all information maintained about persons incarcerated in any state correctional facility are inmate records.

In New York State, persons sentenced to no more than one year are typically incarcerated in city or county jails. Persons sentenced to more than one year are usually detained in a state prison. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) maintains records of persons incarcerated in state prisons. Records of persons incarcerated in city or county jails are typically managed by the Sheriff's office or the department of corrections in the city or county where such persons are detained. For example, the Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains inmate records in New York City, while the Sheriff's Office maintains inmate records in Madison County.

Are Incarceration Records Public Information in New York?

Yes, inmate records are public in New York. According to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), they are publicly accessible upon request. FOIL was established to encourage open government and foster the maintenance of a free society.

Some exemptions to the FOIL exist, such as records restricted from public access by law or court order. Records of persons designated as youthful offenders are also not accessible to the public.

What Information is Contained in a New York Inmate Record?

Inmate records contain information collected from the point of conviction until the release of the incarcerated person. Apart from identifying information, inmate records may include criminal history details, such as conviction information. Typically, inmate records contain such information as:

• Name
• Date of birth
• Fingerprints
• Gender
• Race
• Ethnicity
• Department identification number (DIN)
• New York state identification number (NYSID)

Where do I Look Up an Inmate in New York?

To look up inmates in city or county jails outside New York City, interested persons may contact the Sheriff's Office or corrections department for the city or county where the inmate is incarcerated. Requestors may also search using the Inmate Locator tool of New York State's Commission of Correction.

The New York City Department of Correction serves New York, Bronx, Kings, and Queens counties. Requestors may use the Inmate Lookup Service provided by the NYC Department of Correction to find inmates incarcerated in any of these counties.

Requestors may use the DOCCS's Inmate Lookup tool to find persons incarcerated in state correctional facilities.

How Do I Conduct an Inmate Search in New York?

Requestors may use the Inmate Locator tool provided by the Commission of Correction to find persons incarcerated in county or city jails outside New York City. The tool allows users to search using the inmate's name or identification number and offers the option to include the inmate's photograph in the search results.

For persons incarcerated in New York City, Bronx, Kings, and Queens, the Inmate Lookup Service provides an option to search using the NYSID, Book & Case Number, or the inmate's first and last names. The service contains information about inmates' identities, locations, bail amounts, and other booking information. It maintains information on persons incarcerated since September 2005.

Information about inmates in state correctional facilities can be searched using the DOCCS' Inmate Lookup tool. A search can be conducted using the inmate's name and birth year or the DIN or NYSID.

A name search is less efficient as it may contain information about several inmates with the same name. Combining the inmate's name with the birth year can help streamline search results. The most effective search method is through the DIN or NYSID. Each inmate is assigned a department number on arrival, and no two numbers are identical. The search tool can also be used to find an inmate's DIN.

The Inmate Lookup tool provides information on the status and location of incarcerated persons in New York state or DOCCS facilities. It also includes information about formerly incarcerated people beginning from the early 1970s. However, the tool does not contain information about persons previously incarcerated for non-violent crimes, those whose convictions have been set aside by the court, or youthful offenders. Search results may be copied or printed.

To request certified records of persons incarcerated in county or city jail, inquirers may submit written requests to the Sheriff's office, Department of Correction, or law enforcement agency that maintains inmate records for the city or county. Requests and inquiries can also be made in person or by phone.

Certified inmate records of persons incarcerated in state facilities may be obtained by submitting a written request to the DOCCS. Applications may be submitted through the contact form provided on the DOCCS website or sent by mail to:

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
1220 Washington Avenue, Building 2
Albany, New York 12226-2050
Requestors can also make inquiries or request assistance from the DOCCS by phone using (518) 457-5000 or (518) 457-8126

How Can I Find an Inmate for Free in New York?

Inmate information is available online for free through government-provided portals and tools such as the Inmate Locator and the Inmate Lookup tool. Some third-party websites also offer free inmate search tools. Interested persons may also contact the Sheriff's office or local law enforcement authorities to find an inmate.

Under most state open-records laws, members of the public are entitled to access various documents ranging from court filings to property deeds. While these records can be obtained directly from the relevant government offices, third-party websites have created alternative avenues that often simplify the process. Such websites compile large volumes of data and make them searchable across county or state boundaries, which is useful when the exact location of a record is uncertain. To initiate a search, an individual must usually provide essential information such as the subject's name—except in cases involving minors where legal confidentiality applies—and the jurisdiction or likely area of filing. However, it is important to remember that these platforms are not connected to or endorsed by government agencies. Their databases may therefore vary in accuracy, completeness, and timeliness. For this reason, while third-party searches can serve as a helpful starting point, verification from the official government custodian is often necessary.

How to Find Old Inmate Records in New York

The New York State Archives maintains archived inmate records. The available information includes case files, intake and release registers, and summary cards. Inmate identification numbers index these records. Information such as medical records, criminal history, and probation reports is restricted by law and is therefore not accessible through the New York State Archives.

To obtain records from the New York State Archives, requestors may do one of the following:

• Search the New York State Archives digital catalog
• Send requests by email to records@nysed.gov

Send requests by mail to:

New York State Archives
New York State Education Department
Cultural Education Center
Albany, NY 12230

Search for records in person at:

State Archives Research Room
11th Floor, Cultural Education Center
222 Madison Avenue
Albany, NY 12230

To request or search records from the New York State Archives, researchers are usually expected to provide:

• The inmate's full name
• The facility where the inmate was incarcerated
• The date of admission into the facility
• Inmate identification number

Conviction date can be used in place of admission date.

To search for inmate records in person, requestors must fill out a Research Room Registration Form. They must also make reservations for the research room one week before their visit and contact an archivist to confirm the record's availability. Archivists can be contacted via email at archref@nysed.gov and by phone at (518) 474-8955. Records are retrieved twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.

New York State Archives staff determines access to archived inmate records on a case-by-case basis.

Inmate Release Date Lookup In New York

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) provides a statewide inmate lookup system that includes release dates, parole eligibility, and conviction information. Release dates may be subject to parole board determinations. Direct queries may be made to:

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision
The Harriman State Campus – Building 2
1220 Washington Avenue
Albany, NY 12226
Phone: (518) 457-5000

How do I Conduct a Federal Prison Inmate Search?

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains information about persons incarcerated in federal prisons. To find persons incarcerated in New York federal prisons, requestors may use the Inmate Locator tool provided by the BOP. Names or identification numbers, including those below, may be utilized for the search:

• Bureau of Prisons (BOP) registered number
• Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS) number
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) number

The BOP maintains information about persons incarcerated in federal prisons since 1982. Older records are maintained by the National Archives Records Administration (NARA). To obtain records from NARA, interested persons may utilize any of the following options:

• Order the record online
• Contact NARA with details of their inquiry
• Send requests by email to newyork.archives@nara.gov
• Make requests by phone through (866) 272-6272, (212) 401-1620, or (866) 840-1752
• Contact the regional NARA office in New York
• Send requests by mail to:

The National Archives and Records Administration
8601 Adelphi Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

Or:

The National Archives and Records Administration
3301 Metzerott Road
College Park, MD 20740-6001

NARA charges fees to make copies of archived records.

How Long Does it Take For An Inmate's Information to Be Published in New York Inmate Locator?

The publication of inmate information isn’t usually immediate. Although processing times for the intake and release of incarcerated persons vary from facility to facility, it may take 48 hours or more for an inmate's information to become available on the New York Inmate Locator.

Why Is An Inmate Not Showing Up In Search?

The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision regularly updates its inmate lookup system, but newly admitted inmates may not appear until intake is finalized. Juveniles or individuals under youthful offender status are excluded from public searches. Some inmates in federal prisons or local jails under temporary custody may also not appear in the DOCCS database. The search may yield no matches if the inmate's Department Identification Number (DIN) or name is entered incorrectly.