MDC Brooklyn
Find messaging, video, and phone options for MDC Brooklyn. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- Federal Facility
- Security Level
- Administrative
- Inmate Capacity
- 1,500 approx.
- Established
- 1994
- Operated By
- Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP)
MDC Brooklyn Inmate Communication Overview
The Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn is a federal detention facility operated by the Bureau of Prisons in the Sunset Park neighborhood of Brooklyn, in Kings County, New York. Opened in 1994, MDC Brooklyn primarily houses pretrial detainees — people who have been charged with federal crimes and are awaiting trial — along with some sentenced individuals serving shorter terms. Because of its location in New York City and its role in federal prosecutions handled by the Eastern District of New York, MDC Brooklyn frequently houses high-profile defendants during federal cases. On any given day, the population includes people at various stages of the federal legal process, from initial detention through sentencing.
Communication at MDC Brooklyn follows Bureau of Prisons rules, though the pretrial nature of much of the population introduces some important differences from standard federal prisons. CorrLinks is used for electronic messaging, but access for pretrial inmates may be subject to court orders or attorney-imposed restrictions in some cases. Families should confirm whether their loved one has been cleared for general communication before setting up accounts, particularly if the case is actively ongoing. Phone calls run through ConnectNetwork, and families can fund a prepaid account to receive inmate-initiated calls from the facility.
MDC Brooklyn does not offer remote video visitation. In-person visits must be arranged through the standard BOP visitor approval process, but given the detention center's role in active prosecutions, visit scheduling can sometimes be more complex than at a standard federal prison. The facility is accessible by subway from Manhattan and other parts of the city, which makes in-person visits more practical for New York area families than visits to more distant BOP institutions. If a pretrial detainee is later sentenced and transferred to a federal prison elsewhere, the communication platform will remain CorrLinks and ConnectNetwork, but accounts may need to be updated to reflect the new facility.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
80 29th Street, Brooklyn, NY 11232
Main Phone
(718) 840-4200
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteCommunication Options
Available communication services at MDC Brooklyn.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: CorrLinks
Available but may be restricted by court order for some pretrial detainees. Confirm status first.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Remote video visitation is not available at MDC Brooklyn.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photos by mail only, subject to BOP content restrictions.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Inmate-initiated calls. Some pretrial detainees may have call restrictions.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: ConnectNetwork
Trust fund deposits via ConnectNetwork or BOP money order.
Communication Providers at MDC Brooklyn
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
CorrLinks
Federal messaging via TRULINCS/CorrLinks. Pretrial defendants may have court-ordered communication restrictions.
Learn More About CorrLinksConnectNetwork
BOP phone system and trust fund deposits. Fund a prepaid account at connectnetwork.com.
Learn More About ConnectNetworkCommunication Rules at MDC Brooklyn
- Pretrial detainees may have communication restrictions imposed by the court. Confirm status before setting up accounts.
- CorrLinks contact requires inmate initiation or approval through the TRULINCS system.
- Remote video visitation is not available at MDC Brooklyn.
- If a detainee is sentenced and transferred, update your ConnectNetwork and CorrLinks accounts to the new facility.
- All BOP communications are monitored under standard Bureau of Prisons policy.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions — MDC Brooklyn
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I message someone at MDC Brooklyn?
- CorrLinks is the messaging platform. Create a free account at corrlinks.com and wait for the inmate to invite you or approve your contact request. One important note: pretrial defendants may have communication restrictions tied to their case. If you are not receiving an invitation, it may mean the inmate cannot yet send messages. Confirm their communication status first.
- How do phone calls work at MDC Brooklyn?
- Phone calls from MDC Brooklyn use ConnectNetwork. Create an account at connectnetwork.com, add funds linked to your phone number, and the inmate will call you from facility phones. Some pretrial detainees may have restrictions on calls. If calls are not coming through, ask the inmate or their attorney whether there is a court order limiting communication.
- Can I visit someone at MDC Brooklyn in person?
- Yes, but you must be on the inmate's approved visitor list. Submit a visitor application to MDC Brooklyn and allow time for the background review. The facility is accessible by subway (D/N/R train to 36th Street in Brooklyn). In-person visits are the primary alternative to electronic communication since video visitation is not available.
- What happens to communication if my loved one is transferred from MDC Brooklyn to a federal prison?
- CorrLinks and ConnectNetwork are used system-wide across BOP facilities. Your accounts carry over when an inmate is transferred. You may need to update the facility within the CorrLinks or ConnectNetwork platform, but you do not need to create new accounts from scratch.
- How do I send money to someone at MDC Brooklyn?
- Deposits for the trust account go through ConnectNetwork at connectnetwork.com. You can also use the BOP money order process or services like Western Union Quick Collect and MoneyGram. Funds process in one to three business days.
Stay Connected with MDC Brooklyn
Compare all available providers, search for other New York facilities, and find the right communication options for your family. Free, with no account required.