Search Buffalo Jail Roster

The Buffalo jail roster tracks all inmates booked through Buffalo in Erie County, New York. Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State and the county seat of Erie County. All arrests made by Buffalo police go through central booking at the Erie County Holding Center in downtown Buffalo. The jail roster is maintained by the Erie County Sheriff's Office, and you can look up current inmates through the sheriff's website. This page covers how to search for inmates from Buffalo, where the jail facilities are located, and what local and state resources can help you find someone in custody.

Erie County Holding Center and Buffalo Jail Roster

Buffalo arrests go through the Erie County Holding Center at 40 Delaware Avenue in downtown Buffalo, NY 14202. This is the primary jail facility for the city. It holds about 1,100 inmates, including pre-trial detainees and those serving short sentences. The Erie County Sheriff's Office operates the Holding Center and maintains the jail roster for all inmates, including those arrested by Buffalo police. The Erie County Sheriff's website has information about jail operations and inmate services.

Erie County also runs the Erie County Correctional Facility at 11581 Walden Avenue in Alden, New York 14004. This second facility has capacity for around 1,000 inmates. It typically houses sentenced inmates and those classified for lower security. Inmates from Buffalo may be held at either location depending on their charges, security level, and available space. The sheriff's office makes the assignment.

Central booking for Buffalo arrests happens at the Holding Center on Delaware Avenue. When Buffalo police arrest someone, the person is brought to the Holding Center for processing. Staff takes photos, fingerprints, and enters the person's information into the jail roster. The booking process can take several hours. Once complete, the inmate shows up in the system and can be found through online search tools.

How to Search the Buffalo Jail Roster

The Erie County Sheriff's Office provides an online tool to search for current inmates. Visit the Erie County Sheriff's website to access the inmate lookup. You can search by name to find anyone currently held at the Holding Center or the Alden correctional facility. Results show the inmate's name, charges, booking date, and bail information. The tool is free and available to anyone.

Keep in mind the online search only shows people who are currently in custody. If someone was released, posted bail, or was transferred to state prison, they will not appear in the results. For state prison searches, the DOCCS Inmate Lookup covers all New York State correctional facilities. The NY.gov incarcerated individual search is another state-level option.

If you need historical jail roster records or more detailed information than what the online tool provides, you can submit a FOIL request. New York's Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to request public records from government agencies. Send your request to the Erie County Sheriff's Office in writing. They must acknowledge it within five business days.

Buffalo Police Department

The Buffalo Police Department is headquartered at 74 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. The non-emergency phone number is (716) 853-2222. For police records, call (716) 851-4406. When Buffalo police make an arrest, the person is transported to the Erie County Holding Center for central booking. The Buffalo Police Department does not operate its own jail. All detention is handled at the county level through the sheriff's office.

Buffalo is a large city with multiple police precincts covering different parts of the city. No matter which precinct handles the arrest, all inmates go to the same Holding Center on Delaware Avenue. This makes searching the jail roster straightforward. You only need to check one system to find anyone arrested in Buffalo. The jail roster does not list which precinct or officer made the arrest, just the charges and booking details.

Bail and Visiting at the Holding Center

The bail office at the Erie County Holding Center is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is unusual for county jails, and it means you can post bail at any time. Accepted payment forms include cash and certified checks. Exact change is needed for cash payments. Bail amounts are set by the judge at arraignment. Some defendants may be released without bail on their own recognizance. Others may face high bail or be held without bail depending on the charges.

Visiting hours at the Holding Center are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1 PM to 3 PM and 6 PM to 9 PM. On Saturday and Sunday, hours expand to 9 AM to 11 AM, 1 PM to 3 PM, and 6 PM to 9 PM. Video visitation is available through ICSolutions. You need valid photo ID to visit in person. The jail has dress code requirements and restrictions on what visitors can bring inside. Contact the Holding Center for the latest visiting rules.

To send money to an inmate, the jail accepts approved deposit methods. Phone calls are available through the jail's contracted provider. All calls are monitored and recorded. Inmates can also receive mail at the Holding Center. Address letters to the inmate's full legal name at 40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202.

New York State Jail Roster Resources

Several state tools can help with jail roster searches beyond Erie County. The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup portal covers all state prisons in New York. If someone from Buffalo was sentenced and transferred to state custody, this is where to find them. The State Commission of Correction maintains a directory of every county jail in the state with contact information and compliance reports.

VINE is a free service that sends custody alerts. Register to get notified when an inmate is released, transferred, or changes status. Call 1-888-846-3469 for the VINE hotline. The WebCrims portal provides criminal court case lookups across New York State. The Sex Offender Registry is a separate state database. New York Correction Law sets the rules for how jails operate and what records can be shared with the public.

Nearby Cities

Buffalo is surrounded by several Erie County towns and suburbs. Amherst, Cheektowaga, Tonawanda, and Hamburg all send their inmates to the same Erie County jail system. If someone was arrested near Buffalo but you are not sure of the exact jurisdiction, check the nearby city pages below. All Erie County arrests end up at the same Holding Center or Alden facility.