Erie County, New York Inmate Search
An inmate search serves as a vital public resource that allows citizens, legal professionals, and family members to locate individuals currently in custody within a specific jurisdiction. In Erie County, New York, these records offer transparency regarding the local justice system and ensure that the public can access essential information about incarcerated individuals. Public agencies typically manage inmate data at the county, state, and federal levels.
In Erie County, the Sheriff’s Office oversees local detention facilities that primarily house individuals awaiting trial or serving short-term sentences. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) manages state-level records for individuals serving longer sentences in state prisons, such as the Wende or Collins facilities located within the county.
Erie County consists of three cities and 25 towns. The two most populated cities are Buffalo and Lackawanna. The Buffalo Police Department and the Lackawanna Police Department handle initial arrests within their respective city limits. While these departments maintain their own administrative records and police reports, individuals arrested in these cities are generally transferred to the Erie County Sheriff’s custody if they remain in detention.
How to Find an Inmate in Erie County Jail
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office Jail Management Division operates the primary detention system for the county. This system consists of records from the Erie County Holding Center (ECHC) and the Erie County Correctional Facility (ECCF).
The Erie County Holding Center, located in downtown Buffalo, while the Erie County Correctional Facility is situated in the Town of Alden. To find someone in these facilities, a person can access the public Inmate List (or jail/inmate roster) provided by the Sheriff’s Office or contact the facilities directly.
Erie County Sheriff’s Office
10 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York, 14202
Erie County Holding Center
40 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, New York 14202
Erie County Correctional Facility
11581 Walden Avenue
Alden, New York 14004
How to Use the Erie County Jail Roster
The Erie County Sheriff’s Office maintains a public inmate roster that details every individual currently in their custody. This roster is available online through the Sheriff’s official website in a searchable or downloadable format, typically as a PDF document that the office updates regularly.
Steps to Use the County Roster:
- Access the Document: Users should visit the Erie County Sheriff’s Office website, navigate to the "Inmate Information" link in the top menu, and click it to access the roster.
- Review the List: The roster lists inmates alphabetically by last name.
- Identify the Individual: Because many individuals may share similar names, users should cross-reference the date of birth provided in the list to ensure they have located the correct person.
- Note the Location: The roster explicitly states whether the person is at "ECHC" (Buffalo Holding Center) or "ECCF" (Alden Correctional Facility).
If an individual has already been sentenced to a state prison, they will not appear on the county jail roster. Instead, the public must use the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup tool. The state tool allows searches by Department Identification Number (DIN), New York State Identification Number (NYSID), or by Name combined with a Birth Year.
What Information is Included in the Erie County Inmate Roster
The Erie County Sheriff’s inmate roster provides specific, factual details intended for public identification and safety. When a user views the roster, they will typically find the following fields:
- Individual Control Number (ICN): A unique booking number for incarcerated individuals.
- Inmate Name: The individual’s legal name while in custody.
- Date of Birth: The month, day, and year the individual was born, used to verify identity.
- Booking Date: The exact date the individual entered the facility for their current period of incarceration.
The release of this information complies with the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), specifically Article 87 of the Public Officers Law, which governs access to agency records. However, certain exceptions allow agencies to deny access to records if disclosure would constitute an "unwarranted invasion of personal privacy" or jeopardize the safety of any person.
Contact Details for Erie County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
To obtain official updates or speak directly with jail staff, individuals can utilize several contact channels. The Sheriff’s Office Headquarters, located at 10 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, manages general administrative inquiries. For questions regarding an inmate’s status or visitation at the downtown holding center, the public can reach the jail directly via its main line. Those seeking information from the correctional facility in Alden should contact that site’s administrative office.
|
Facility |
Address |
Phone Number |
|---|---|---|
|
Sheriff’s Office Headquarters |
10 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
(716) 858-7618 |
|
Erie County Holding Center |
40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
(716) 858-7638 |
|
Erie County Correctional Facility |
11581 Walden Avenue, Alden, NY 14004 |
(716) 937-9101 |
Jail Facility Overview in Erie County
Erie County operates a comprehensive detention system designed to house individuals at various stages of the legal process. The primary responsibility for managing these facilities falls to the Jail Management Division of the Erie County Sheriff’s Office. The county maintains two main detention sites: the Erie County Holding Center (ECHC) and the Erie County Correctional Facility (ECCF). Collectively, these buildings process more than 20,000 individuals annually and house diverse populations, including adult males, females, and adolescents adjudicated as adults.
The Erie County Holding Center, located in downtown Buffalo, serves as the region’s largest pretrial detention facility. As a maximum-security site, it primarily holds individuals awaiting trial. With a capacity of approximately 638 to 680 people, it is the second-largest detention center in New York State outside New York City.
The Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden functions as a medium-security site with a larger capacity. It accommodates approximately 746 to 1,070 individuals. This facility houses sentenced inmates, individuals transferred from the Holding Center due to overcrowding, and New York State parole violators awaiting final hearings.
Both facilities provide essential services, including medical care through the Correctional Health Unit and behavioral health services via the Adult Forensic Mental Health Clinic.
|
Facility |
Office and Mail Address |
Phone Number |
Office Hours |
Email/Contact |
|---|---|---|---|---|
|
Erie County Holding Center |
40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
(716) 858-7638 |
24 Hours a day, 7 days a week | |
|
Erie County Correctional Facility |
11581 Walden Avenue, Alden, NY 14004 |
(716) 937-9101 |
24 Hours a day, 7 days a week |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Erie County Holding Center
The Erie County Holding Center provides multiple secure methods for friends/family to deposit funds into an incarcerated individual’s account. These funds allow inmates to purchase items through the facility’s commissary, such as snacks or writing materials.
Individuals can deposit money using the following methods:
- In-Person Deposits: The Holding Center maintains a cashier’s window on the first floor near the Delaware Avenue entrance. The window accepts deposits during specific blocks:
- Monday through Friday from 7:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m., 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., 3:00 p.m. to 5:15 p.m., and 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.
- Weekend hours are limited to 7:00 a.m. to 11:15 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. to 2:15 p.m.
- Online Deposits: The Sheriff’s Office contracts with a third-party service to enable individuals to send funds electronically.
- Mail-In Deposits: Users may download a specific deposit form from the Sheriff’s website and mail it along with the funds to the facility.
The facility strictly prohibits the use of personal checks.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
Erie County offers a centralized system for locating individuals in custody. While the county operates two distinct buildings, the Sheriff’s Office maintains a unified public "Inmate List." This document covers all individuals currently housed within the county’s jail management system, regardless of their specific location.
The public roster identifies each inmate’s location using the abbreviations "ECHC" for the Buffalo facility and "ECCF" for the Alden site.
|
Facility Name |
Public Inmate Search Option? |
Where to Find Information |
|---|---|---|
|
Erie County Holding Center |
Yes (Shared Roster) |
Access the County Sheriff’s Inmate Roster PDF online. |
|
Erie County Correctional Facility |
Yes (Shared Roster) |
Access the County Sheriff’s Inmate Roster PDF online. |
|
State Correctional Facilities |
Yes |
Use the NYS DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup for Wende or Collins prisons |
Erie County Visitation Rules and Schedules
The Erie County Holding Center encourages visitation to maintain positive social connections. To ensure the safety of all parties, the facility enforces strict rules regarding eligibility, identification, and conduct.
Who Can Visit: General visitation is open to the public. Still, the facility may deny admission to individuals with past criminal proceedings or those currently under community supervision without the Superintendent’s prior approval. Minors below 18 must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. Only one adult and one child may visit an inmate at any single time.
Identification Requirements: Adults must present valid photo identification, such as a state driver’s license, passport, or military ID. For children, the guardian must provide an original or certified copy of the birth certificate, guardianship papers, or a student ID card.
Dress Code and Behavior:
- Visitors must clear a metal detector and may be subject to a K-9 search.
- Prohibited clothing includes orange garments, see-through materials, hats, scarves, or anything with inappropriate symbols.
- Children must be supervised at all times and are not permitted to run or shout in the visiting area.
Schedule and Duration: Visits at the Holding Center generally last one hour. The facility currently offers visitation from Saturday through Wednesday, 7:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Individuals arriving at 2:00 p.m. are limited to a 30-minute session. The facility suspends all public visitation on holidays.
Mailing and Commissary Information
Sending mail to an inmate requires adherence to specific formatting to ensure it reaches the intended recipient and passes security inspections. All correspondence undergoes screening for contraband or prohibited materials.
Mailing Address Format:
Inmate’s Full Name and ICN Number
Erie County Holding Center
40 Delaware Avenue
Buffalo, NY 14202
Allowed and Disallowed Items:
- Allowed: Personal letters, photographs (maximum of 10 per envelope), and soft-covered educational or religious materials.
- Disallowed: The facility rejects any items that are available for purchase in the commissary. Forbidden items include food, candy, cigarettes, stamps, writing paper, envelopes, and personal hygiene products like deodorant or shampoo.
- Strict Prohibitions: Staff will return or destroy mail containing nude photographs, Polaroid pictures, musical greeting cards, or any text describing jail escapes.