How To Find a Jail Phone Number In New York
In New York, the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) as well as county sheriff's offices, allow inmates to maintain a level of communication with loved ones and legal representatives.
Keeping incarcerated individuals in touch with their support network aids every inmate's reentry into society and helps loved ones cope with the absence of their friends and relatives. Phone calls are critical in maintaining that level of communication. They reduce the cost and stress of prison visits for loved ones, friends, and family members and allow lawyers to provide timely updates about ongoing legal procedures.
An inmate's family members and friends may need also to receive phone calls from jail facilities in the state to inquire about telephone policies, confirm an inmate's presence in the jail, or communicate an emergency. They must also meet specific requirements to keep up with their incarcerated loved ones through telephone calls.
By performing a New York inmate search, interested persons may retrieve the jail phone number of the facility where an inmate of interest is being housed.
What is New York's Provision on Inmate Phone Calls?
New York's inmate phone communication system is called the "Call-Home" program. It allows those in correctional facilities to keep in touch with loved ones through phone calls. The person receiving the inmate telephone call must accept the call charges made, as inmates can only make collect calls, except outside the United States, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, US Virgin Islands, and Canada.
However, inmates are entitled to one free call per week that may not exceed 15 minutes. Calls to cell phones can also be monitored and recorded by each facility. The Department's inmate telephone policies follow the provisions of N.Y. Comp. Codes R. & Regs. tit. 7 § 723.3.
According to the law, inmates can only call people on their approved phone lists. The list consists of a maximum of 15 approved phone numbers. They can only modify this list during quarterly meetings with their Offender Rehabilitation Coordinator.
People who do not want to receive phone calls or calls from a particular inmate must write to the correctional facility. Their name will then be added to the inmate's Negative Correspondence and Telephone List. The facility will inform the inmate of the change and notify them that any attempts to contact the person may result in disciplinary action. The individual's phone number will also be removed from the inmate telephone system.
Inmates are generally allowed to make phone calls daily, including holidays, between hours determined by the specific facility. The prison facilities also implement a call schedule, and calls will automatically end when the phone conversation reaches the predetermined time limit (after a warning message). Calls generally may not last longer than 30 minutes, and a 10-minute limit may be imposed if a queue of inmates is waiting to make calls.
International Inmate Calls
There are specific rules for phone calls outside the United States, American Samoa, Puerto Rico, Guam, Federated States of Micronesia, Midway Islands, US Virgin Islands, and Canada. These calls may or may not be collect, and an employee will assist the inmate caller. Inmates can make two calls per month to international numbers unless there is an emergency. Before the call, an employee assigned by the superintendent checks if the inmate has enough funds in their account, as the inmate is obligated to pay for the call. The employee will also confirm if the inmate has not exceeded their two-call limit.
The employee assisting with the call will contact the operator beforehand to arrange a "time and charges" call for eligible inmates. Once the call is completed, the operator will notify the facility of the incurred toll charges. The inmate then signs a form to authorize payment, which is forwarded to the financial office for processing. The facility will be responsible for additional charges from the phone company for acquiring toll information.
Emergency Calls
Senior correction counselors can approve emergency calls when there is an extreme emergency. These calls will be charged to the facility if the other inmate calls, and the recipient cannot afford the call. Under such circumstances, a record must be added to the inmate's guidance and counseling unit case folder. The record will detail the rationale for this emergency call and document the necessary information.
Confidential Calls (to attorneys, spiritual advisors, and health professionals)
Inmate confidential telephone calls also are designed to protect inmates' privacy when they communicate by cell phones with their attorneys, physicians or clinicians, or clergy persons. To request that calls from inmates to designated numbers not be recorded, the call recipients must first submit a request on letterhead to the Department.
For attorneys, a 10-digit phone number with a valid US area code must be placed on the Do Not Record list. Attorneys can verify if their number is on the list by visiting the online resource provided by the DOCCS for attorneys. Those not registered with the NYS Office of Court Administration, or those with incorrect formatting or wanting to add additional numbers, must submit a request containing their OCA number, a copy of their Certificate of Good Standing, or a printout from their state's court administration website confirming their good standing.
Additionally, the request should include the telephone numbers (10-digit numbers without spaces, dashes, or dots) to be exempt from recording and an email address for contact purposes. Attorneys can send requests to DoNotRecord@doc.nyc.gov, and they will receive an email confirmation once the numbers have been added to the list. Calls to these numbers will only be considered privileged and will be recorded and monitored once the requester receives confirmation.
For physicians and clinicians treating inmates, requests to place their contact numbers on the Do Not Record list should include the inmate's name and NYSID, the telephone numbers to be exempt from recording, and a fax number or email address for contact purposes.
Similarly, clergy with pastoral relationships with inmates and endorsements from relevant religious authorities can submit requests to add their phone numbers to the Do Not Record list. These requests should also include the same inmate information and requester contact details.
County Jails
New York county jails are typically operated by county sheriff departments, not the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. These jails have different telephone vendors and independent policies. However, most of their rules paid telephone calls are similar to the DOCCS's. For example, county jails generally only allow inmates to call outside the jail facility, not the other way around.
Individuals looking for information on how to call an incarcerated loved one in a county jail can check with the corrections division of the county sheriff's department.
Eligibility Requirements for Inmate Phone Calls
Intending call recipients must meet the following requirements before they can receive calls from inmates:
- Call recipients must be added to an inmate's approved telephone list.
- Lawyers, clergymen, and health experts who want to make private calls with inmates must submit the required requests to place their numbers in the "Do Not Record" list.
- Inmates must place an emergency call request to their corrections counselor, chaplain, or watch commander to make an emergency call.
Are Inmate Phone Calls Public?
No, inmate phone records are not readily available to the public. However, nonprivileged phone records (including recordings of inmate calls) can be released if a court order is issued. New York's highest court (the Court of Appeals) ruled in People v. Diaz that the 4th amendment does not protect these calls, and the facility can release them.
However, calls to attorneys, health experts, and clergy are not monitored and forward calls are considered private.
How to Perform a New York Inmate Search
To find a jail phone number, inquirers must confirm the jurisdiction where the detainee is held. This is done by performing a New York inmate search to retrieve the individual's details. The New York Department of Corrections provides a free online inmate locator on its website, searchable by first or last name, Department Reference Number (DIN), New York State Identification Number (NYSID), or birth year. At the county level, inmate searches may be performed through county sheriff's offices which maintain updated, alphabetized inmate rosters.
Where Is a Jail Phone Number Typically Listed in New York?
Loved ones of inmates can use jail phone numbers to contact facilities where their incarcerated relatives or friends are being held. These numbers can help them find information concerning how to contact the inmates in cases of emergency.
Jail numbers are typically listed on the website of the department in charge of the facility, such as the websites of the DOCCS and county sheriff's offices.
How To Find a County Jail Phone Number In New York
For state prison facilities, interested individuals can head to the Find a Facility page of the DOCCS's website to find a facility's phone number.
If the inmate resides in a county jail, they can visit the official website of the county or the county's sheriff's office. They can also head to the Commission of Corrections webpage to find the address and phone numbers of the sheriff's office.
New York Jail Phone Numbers and Contact Information
The DOCCS's Find a Facility page contains contact information for New York State prisons. Interested persons can check the website to find phone numbers they can use to reach state prisons.
How To Put Money On Phone For Jail Calls in New York
The New York DOCCS offers loved ones of inmates two ways to pay for calls they receive from state facilities. These provisions include:
Direct-Billed account: Collect calls are added to the recipient's monthly phone bills through a prepaid calling account with the Department's telephone provider. The individual setting up the account must undergo a credit check, as state regulations permit.
Prepaid account: The prepaid account (also provided by the Department's vendor) offers more control over spending on collect calls, as the call recipient funds the account beforehand to receive calls and can choose to accept or reject future calls. There are various methods to add funds to the account, including sending a check or money order to the vendor, visiting a vendor's location, or using a credit card online or via phone. However, there is a fee associated with credit card transactions.
Interested individuals can go through the DOCCS's inmate telephone system webpage for specific instructions on creating the account and the vendor's details.
County jails use different vendors with separate account creation provisions and procedures. Loved ones can visit the website of those counties or their sheriff's offices to learn more.
How to Add Money to Inmate Phone Account in New York
In specific situations, such as making international calls, inmates will be required to pay the phone bill if it is not a collect call. To do that, they must have money in their jail account.
The Department provides different methods for funding an inmate's account, including visit day deposits (visitors can leave checks, cash, and money orders in the conventional visitor deposit lockbox located at each DOCCS facility). Loved ones can also mail cheques and money orders, deposit money via the third-party vendor's mobile app or website, and use a credit card to pay by phone.
Interested individuals can find more information on the Department's Account Deposits webpage.
How To Accept Collect Calls From Jail On Cell Phone For Free In New York
All collect phone calls are charged to recipients' accounts with the DOCCS's phone vendor, except for calls outside the US, its territories, and Canada. International call recipients can receive free phone calls from New York jails if the inmate chooses to foot the bill.
In cases of emergency, especially when the recipient and inmate cannot pay for the call, the facility will make eligible inmates shoulder the cost of the phone conversation.
However, some cities may offer free phone calls from jail. For example, the New York City Council passed a resolution to provide free domestic calls to inmates under its jurisdiction.