New York Prison Communication Directory

New York's correctional system reflects the complexity of the state itself. The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision oversees dozens of prisons ranging from maximum-security facilities in upstate counties like Attica and Green Haven to medium and minimum-security institutions distributed across the state. Separately, the New York City Department of Correction runs one of the largest local jail systems in the country, centered at Rikers Island and supplemented by borough detention centers serving the city's five counties. These are distinct systems with different rules, different providers, and different processes for family communication.

Understanding which system applies to a specific loved one is the critical first step. New York State DOCCS facilities use JPay for messaging and money transfer, while phone services vary by institution. New York City jails operate under separate contracts and may use different platforms than state facilities entirely. Federal institutions in New York, including facilities in Manhattan and Brooklyn, require CorrLinks accounts for electronic messaging under Bureau of Prisons rules. Creating an account with JPay will not help you reach someone in a federal facility, and a CorrLinks account is of no use for a city jail. Getting this right before spending time on account setup is what this directory is designed to help with.

This guide brings together facility and provider information across all three systems so families in New York can find accurate, actionable answers in one place. Whether you need to set up messaging at a state prison upstate, arrange a video visit from the city, send photos to a local detention center, or understand money transfer rules for a Bureau of Prisons institution, this directory helps you navigate the right system without the confusion that comes from piecing together information from multiple uncoordinated sources.