Complete 2026 List Of NYS Correctional Facilities: Official Directory And Security Classifications

Navigating the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) infrastructure requires an up-to-date and accurate directory. This comprehensive guide provides an exhaustive list of New York State correctional facilities for 2026, breaking down security levels, facility classifications, regional distributions, and operational protocols for visitors, legal counsel, and researchers.

Understanding the New York State Correctional System Structure

The New York State correctional infrastructure is divided into distinct security tiers ranging from maximum-security institutions designed for individuals requiring the highest level of physical confinement to minimum-security work release facilities and specialized medical units. As of 2026, DOCCS oversees dozens of active facilities strategically distributed across various geographic regions, from the metropolitan New York area to the remote northern corridors of the Adirondacks.

Knowing the classification of a facility is essential for determining visitation eligibility, correspondence rules, and property allowances. Facilities are generally categorized into the following operational tiers:

• Maximum Security: Encompasses multi-tiered housing units, intensive security protocols, and strict movement controls. These facilities house individuals with severe disciplinary histories or high-security classifications.
• Medium Security: Features perimeter security with varying internal housing structures, offering broader access to vocational training, educational programs, and substance abuse treatment.
• Minimum / Work Release Security: Operates with minimal perimeter security, focusing heavily on community reintegration, transitional programming, and employment placement.
• Regional Medical and Diagnostic Units: Specialized facilities equipped with licensed medical personnel, infirmaries, and centralized intake processing for newly sentenced individuals.

Complete Directory of NYS Maximum Security Correctional Facilities

Maximum-security facilities in New York maintain stringent security measures, including electronic surveillance, comprehensive perimeter barriers, and restricted daily movement schedules.

Medium Security Facilities in New York State

Medium-security institutions form the largest segment of the DOCCS portfolio. These facilities emphasize rehabilitation, vocational skill-building, and educational attainment, ranging from high school equivalency courses to college-degree programs through partnerships with regional universities.

• Adirondack Correctional Facility (Essex County): Operates specialized therapeutic and substance abuse treatment programs within a medium-security framework.
• Albion Correctional Facility (Orleans County): Serves as a primary medium-security facility for female-identifying individuals, offering extensive vocational, nursery, and parenting programs.
• Attica Annex / Mid-State Complex (Various): Interlinked regional facilities providing targeted educational and industrial work assignments.
• Bare Hill Correctional Facility (Franklin County): Medium-security facility featuring robust vocational education and industry work programs.
• Cape Vincent Correctional Facility (Jefferson County): Located along the St. Lawrence River, offering vocational training and community service partnerships.
• Cayuga Correctional Facility (Cayuga County): Focuses heavily on cognitive behavioral intervention and substance abuse treatment programs.
• Collins Correctional Facility (Erie County): Houses medium-security general population with comprehensive educational and vocational offerings.
• Coxsackie Correctional Facility (Greene County): Operates a major reception and classification center alongside general medium-security housing.
• Eastern New York Correctional Facility (Ulster County): Noted for its extensive higher education programs and long-term offender rehabilitation initiatives.
• Fishkill Correctional Facility (Dutchess County): Houses medium-security individuals and maintains specialized medical, mental health, and deaf/hard-of-hearing units.
• Five Points Correctional Facility (Seneca County): A modern facility managing both medium and maximum-security custody levels.
• Franklin Correctional Facility (Franklin County): Provides diverse vocational education, transitional services, and general population housing.
• Gouverneur Correctional Facility (St. Lawrence County): Offers academic education, vocational trades, and specialized programmatic interventions.
• Greene Correctional Facility (Greene County): Focuses on vocational instruction, substance abuse treatment, and transitional preparation.
• Groveland Correctional Facility (Livingston County): Features extensive agricultural and industrial work details alongside educational tracks.
• Hudson Correctional Facility (Columbia County): Operates medium-security housing with a focus on pre-release and transitional readiness.
• Marcy Correctional Facility (Oneida County): Houses medium-security individuals and includes specialized regional medical and mental health facilities.
• Mid-State Correctional Facility (Oneida County): Adjacent to Marcy, offering comprehensive vocational and academic programming.
• Mohawk Correctional Facility (Oneida County): Provides vocational training, academic education, and substance abuse treatment services.
• Ogdensburg Correctional Facility (St. Lawrence County): Medium-security facility featuring targeted rehabilitation and work programs.
• Oneida Correctional Facility (Oneida County): Integrated into the Oneida/Mid-State hub, offering shared vocational and industrial resources.
• Orleans Correctional Facility (Orleans County): Focuses on academic achievement, vocational training, and behavioral modification.
• Otisville Correctional Facility (Orange County): Medium-security institution with specialized faith-based and residential drug treatment programs.
• Queensboro Correctional Facility (Queens County): Serves primarily as a work release and transitional facility for the New York City region.
• Riverview Correctional Facility (St. Lawrence County): Medium-security facility emphasizing education, vocational training, and community reintegration.
• Rochester Correctional Facility (Monroe County): Operates as a community-based work release and transitional facility.
• Sullivan Correctional Facility (Sullivan County): Houses medium and maximum-security individuals with specialized mental health observation units.
• Taconic Correctional Facility (Westchester County): Dedicated medium-security facility for female-identifying individuals, offering comprehensive vocational and parenting programs.
• Ulster Correctional Facility (Ulster County): Serves as a major reception and classification center for male-identifying individuals entering the eastern region.
• Wallkill Correctional Facility (Orange County): Known for its extensive college education programs and agricultural work assignments.
• Washington Correctional Facility (Washington County): Medium-security facility focusing on disciplined routine, education, and vocational readiness.
• Wyoming Correctional Facility (Wyoming County): Features intensive substance abuse treatment programs alongside standard medium-security housing.

Minimum Security and Work Release Facilities

Minimum-security installations and work release sites operate under relaxed physical security standards. Individuals housed in these units are typically within a few years of release and participate in supervised work crews, community service projects, or external employment through temporary release programs.

Operational Guidelines for Minimum Security Units Eligibility Criteria: Individuals must maintain an exemplary disciplinary record, demonstrate readiness for community reintegration, and pass comprehensive risk assessments. Privilege Structures: Work release participants are permitted to leave the facility daily for approved employment, educational classes, or family reunification programs under strict electronic monitoring and curfew guidelines.

• Buffalo Correctional Facility (Erie County): Minimum-security work release facility supporting the western New York region.
• Edgecombe Correctional Facility (New York County): Urban work release and transitional facility located in Manhattan.
• Rochester Work Release (Monroe County): Community-based transitional housing unit.

Step-by-Step Guide: Locating an Incarcerated Individual in NYS

When attempting to locate someone within the New York State correctional system, following a structured verification process ensures accurate results and avoids confusion caused by common names or recent transfers.

1. Gather Essential Identifiers: Collect the individual's full legal name, date of birth, and, if known, their nine-character DOCCS Identification Number (DIN) or NYSID (New York State Identification number).
2. Access the Official DOCCS Inmate Lookup Portal: Navigate to the official New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision online lookup database via their secure web portal.
3. Execute the Search Query: Enter the precise spelling of the last name and first initial. Avoid using partial names unless necessary to minimize ambiguous search returns.
4. Review Facility Assignment and Status: Examine the search results to confirm the assigned facility, current security classification, parole hearing eligibility dates, and projected release dates.
5. Verify Transfer Status: Because individuals are frequently transferred for programmatic, medical, or security reasons, always confirm the active facility status before scheduling physical visits or mailing legal correspondence.

Frequently Asked Questions

How can I find out which facility an incarcerated person is currently housed in?

You can locate an individual by using the online DIN search tool on the official NYS DOCCS website or by contacting the DOCCS Office of Transitional Services directly by phone. The database updates daily to reflect internal transfers and releases.

Are visitation rules identical across all NYS correctional facilities?

No, visitation schedules, dress codes, and processing times vary significantly depending on whether the facility is classified as maximum, medium, or minimum security. Always check the specific facility handbook and current visitor guidelines before traveling.

What items are permitted to be mailed to individuals in NYS prisons?

Mail must adhere to strict DOCCS directives, which generally restrict incoming packages to approved vendors, softcover books shipped directly from publishers, and standard letters free of embellishments, staples, or foreign substances. Polaroids and colored paper are prohibited at most facilities.

How do medical transfers affect facility placement in New York State?

If an incarcerated individual requires specialized medical or surgical intervention, they may be temporarily transferred to specialized medical hubs such as Fishkill Correctional Facility or regional medical centers while retaining their base facility assignment.

Can family members send money to commissary accounts online?

Yes, DOCCS partners with approved electronic payment vendors that allow family members and friends to deposit funds into commissary accounts online, over the phone, or via designated kiosks located at facility visitor centers.

Conclusion and Administrative Contact

Staying informed regarding the operational status, mailing addresses, and visiting protocols of New York State correctional facilities requires utilizing verified government resources. For real-time updates, official visitation applications, and direct inquiries, consult the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) official portal.