Albany County, New York Inmate Search

An inmate search is the process of checking if someone is currently in custody at a correctional facility. In Albany County, this involves contacting the Sheriff’s Office, which is statutorily responsible for the county jail, the Albany County Correctional Facility (New York State Correction Law § 500-c). Individuals can generally conduct an inmate search in person or online at the county level. An inmate search usually discloses the inmate’s personal information and custody details.

How to Find an Inmate in Albany County Jail

When individuals are arrested in Albany County, they are held at the Correctional Facility under the Sheriff’s Office’s supervision. The Sheriff’s Office also maintains records for these inmates and provides public information as necessary.

Individuals can obtain information on an inmate by visiting the Sheriff’s Office. Inquirers may present the inmate’s ID number or their name if the number is not known. Alternatively, individuals may use the statewide third-party Inmate Lookup website to locate inmates online. The website allows individuals to search for an inmate by name or ID number, look up custody status, and receive alerts when someone’s status changes. To receive such alerts and notifications, users will need to sign up for an account on the site.

Below are the addresses of the jail and the Sheriff’s Office.

Albany County Correctional Facility

840 Old Albany Shaker Road

Albany NY 12211

Albany County Sheriff’s Office

994 Madison Avenue

Albany, NY 12208

How to Use the Albany County Jail Roster

Below is a step-by-step guide on using the Albany County Correctional Facility Inmate Lookup tool.

• Access the Sheriff’s Office Website

Individuals may begin the process by navigating to the Albany County Sheriff’s Office website. On the website, users should locate and click on the "Corrections" section from the menu.

• Find the Inmate Lookup Tool

On the "Corrections" page, users should scroll down to find the Inmate Locator tool. Selecting the link will redirect the user to the third-party provider that provides statewide access to inmate information.

• Search Using Available Details

Once on the third-party provider’s website, the most common way to search for an inmate is by name (partial or full) or ID number. One may be unable to locate an inmate without having at least one of the two. Users should ensure the location is set to New York before entering the name or ID number. After entering the relevant details, the search button should be clicked. The system will then return matching results from the current inmate list at the Albany County jail.

What Information is Included in the Albany County Inmate Roster

Information on the Albany County inmate roster typically includes basic custody details that help identify and understand a person’s status in the local correctional facility. Information found on the roster includes

• The inmate’s full name
• The inmate’s date of birth and physical description
• The inmate’s booking photograph (mugshot)
• The inmate’s booking number (jail ID)
• The arrest date
• The arresting agency
• Incarceration status
• A description of the charges
• Bail information
• The housing unit

Although many inmate details are publicly accessible, there are usually limits under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), the governing statute of all public records in the state, as well as other laws, such as NYS Correction Law § 9 and Criminal Procedure Law § 720.35. Under these laws, the following records are exempt from public disclosure:

• Youthful offender information
• Medical and mental health data
• Sensitive personal data
• Security-sensitive details

NYS Correction Law § 9 also mandates that the records of a person who has been released from incarceration should be removed three years following their release from any website maintained by or for the Corrections Department.

Contact Details for Albany County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

To get in touch with the Albany County Correctional Facility, individuals may use the following contact information for the Corrections Division.

840 Old Albany Shaker Road

Albany NY 12211

Phone: (518) 869-2600

The official phone numbers associated with the correctional facility are provided in the table below.

Unit	Phone Number
Administrative Support Staff	(518) 869-2614
Accreditation Unit	(518) 869-2754
Business Office	(518) 869-2606
Classification	(518) 869-2619
Food Services	(518) 869-2637
Identification	(518) 869-2623
Inmate Services Unit	(518) 869-2611
Maintenance	(518) 869-2693
Mental Health Unit	(518) 869-2683
Training Unit	(518) 869-2692

Jail Facility Overview in Albany County

The Albany County Correctional Facility is a maximum-security facility run by the Albany County Sheriff’s Corrections Division located in the Town of Colonie. The facility was built in 1931 and has since served as the county’s primary detention facility for arrested individuals.

The Albany County Correctional Facility has a capacity of 866 beds, making it one of the largest facilities in New York. The facility houses local, state, and federal prisoners and had a daily average of 450 inmates in 2025, with a total of over 2,200 inmates housed for the year. Due to the facility’s capacity, about 345 individuals (both officers and civilians) comprise the jail staff, working to ensure the facility runs smoothly.

Agency	Office and Mail Address	Phone Number	Office Hours	Email
Albany County Sheriff’s Office	994 Madison Avenue, Albany, NY 12208	(518) 487-5400	Civil Office: 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday to Friday Law Enforcement: 24 hours a day, every day	contactsheriff@albanycounty.com
Albany County Correctional Facility	840 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211	(518) 869-2600	24 hours a day, every day	The Albany County Correctional Facility does not have a dedicated email address. Individuals may route any emails through the Sheriff’s email address.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Albany County Correctional Facility

Friends and family members of an inmate housed at the Albany County Correctional Facility may send money to help cover commissary purchases and other personal needs. Individuals can send money to an inmate in person by making a deposit at the correctional facility’s lobby kiosk. Deposits may be made in cash or by card.

Individuals may also make deposits by phone at (866) 345-1884, online via a third-party vendor, or by mail. Mail deposits must be in the form of a postal money order, not cash or personal check, and should be sent to the correctional facility’s scanning address. The money will be sent to the jail once it is received and processed.

The Albany County Correctional Facility reserves the right to limit the amount of money an inmate may receive. Also, if an inmate has any unpaid court surcharges or fees, any money received into the inmate’s account may be directed towards the payment of such costs.

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

In Albany County, the primary jail facility is the Albany County Correctional Facility, which houses adult offenders as directed by the local justice and Superior Courts. Individuals can conduct a search of the facility for an inmate by visiting the Sheriff’s Office. Staff at the office typically ask for the inmate’s name or ID number to search for an inmate’s record.

Alternatively, individuals may search for the inmate online using the statewide Inmate Lookup tool. Researchers may search using a name or ID number. For a more precise search, using an ID number is recommended.

Albany County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Visitation is one of the ways family and loved ones get to connect with an individual detained in the Albany County Correctional Facility, in addition to phone calls. Anyone is allowed to visit an inmate provided they comply with the facility’s rules and fulfill the visitation requirements. The subsequent sections provide more information on how visitation works at the Albany County Correctional Facility.

• ID or Approval Required

Visitors generally have to provide a valid means of identification before being allowed access to speak with an inmate. A valid identification must include the visitor’s name, address, photograph, date of birth, and signature. IDs that meet this requirement include driver’s licenses, U.S. Armed Services IDs, and passports. Youths (under 18) visiting the facility must present a birth certificate and be escorted by a parent/legal guardian, or provide a notarized letter from a parent approving the visit. The letter must bear the parent or legal guardian’s name, address, phone number, the reason for the visit, the date and time of the visit, and the inmate’s name to be visited.

• How to Visit

Visitation may occur in person or via video, but it must be scheduled at least 24 hours prior to the intended visit time and no more than seven days in advance. Scheduling for in-person and video visits happens via the correctional facility’s online visitation platform, run by a third-party vendor. Individuals will be asked to submit their ID online when scheduling, and they will subsequently receive an email stating whether their request is granted or denied. Denial usually only happens if the visitor’s ID does not match the personal information they provided.

• General Days and Hours for Visitation

Visiting hours for the Albany County Correctional Facility are as follows:

• • 3:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.
  • 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
  • 7:15 p.m. to 8:15 p.m.
  • 8:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m.

Mondays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays

• Visit Duration

Visits can last up to an hour. Each inmate is allowed to have two 1-hour visits per week, starting Sunday, while visitors may visit an unlimited number of inmates, provided they are not scheduled for the same time.

• General Visitation Rules
  • In-person visitors must be willing to pass through a scanner or will be denied entry.
  • The only item permitted to be in the visitor’s possession beyond the lobby area is the facility locker key.
  • Visitors are not allowed to give anything to an inmate during a visit.
  • Visitors can include an additional person to visit with them during scheduling.
  • Any visitor who violates the facility’s rules may have their visit terminated.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Individuals can stay connected to an inmate in the Albany County Correctional Center by mail. All mail, except legal mail, must be sent to the scanning site in this format:

Albany County Correctional Facility

Inmate Name, Inmate ID Number

P.O. Box 162

Clifton Park, NY 12065

Any mail sent to the site is opened and inspected to ensure it does not contain contraband. Once inspected and confirmed free of contraband, the mail will be scanned and made available to the inmate through the facility’s tablet system. Each inmate already has an individual account set up for this purpose. Individuals should ensure they do not send any non-privileged (personal) mail directly to the facility, as that will be returned.