Erie County Jail Roster Search
The Erie County jail roster covers inmates at two facilities: the Holding Center in downtown Buffalo and the Correctional Facility in Alden. Erie County is the most populous county in western New York, and the sheriff's office manages one of the largest jail systems in the state. The jail roster lists everyone currently in Erie County custody, including pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. You can search the Erie County jail roster online, by phone, or through New York's statewide inmate lookup tools. This page explains all the ways to find someone in Erie County corrections custody.
Erie County Jail System Overview
How to Search the Erie County Jail Roster
Start with the Erie County Sheriff's Office website. The sheriff runs both county facilities and maintains the inmate database. You can search the jail roster to find out if someone is in custody at either the Holding Center or the Correctional Facility. Results typically show the inmate's name, booking date, charges, bail status, and which facility they are at.
For phone inquiries, call the Erie County Holding Center. Staff can confirm custody status and provide basic booking details. The Holding Center is at 40 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo, which is where most initial bookings take place. If someone has been in custody longer and moved to the Correctional Facility in Alden, you may need to call that location separately. Both facilities are part of the same jail system and share the jail roster database.
The DOCCS Incarcerated Individual Lookup covers state prison inmates. Anyone sentenced in Erie County to more than one year ends up in the state system, not the county jail. Use DOCCS to search by name for state inmates. For custody alerts on any Erie County inmate, sign up at VINE. The system sends free notifications when an inmate is released, transferred, or has a status change. Call 1-888-846-3469 to register by phone.
Erie County Holding Center
The Erie County Holding Center is at 40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. It holds approximately 1,100 inmates, including about 200 women. This is the main intake facility for Erie County. When someone is arrested in the county, they get booked at the Holding Center first. The booking process creates the jail roster entry with the inmate's name, charges, bail information, and personal details.
The Holding Center handles pretrial detainees primarily. Most people on the Erie County jail roster here have not been convicted yet. They are waiting for court dates or could not post bail. The bail office at the Holding Center is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. It accepts cash and certified or bank checks. Exact change is required for cash bail payments. No personal checks or credit cards are accepted. Once bail is posted, the release process takes several hours to complete.
| Facility | Erie County Holding Center |
|---|---|
| Address | 40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| Capacity | ~1,100 inmates |
| Type | Intake and Pretrial Detention |
| Bail Office | Open 24/7 |
Erie County Correctional Facility
The Erie County Correctional Facility is at 11581 Walden Avenue, Alden, NY 14004. It holds about 1,000 inmates and functions as a medium-security facility. Inmates who have been in the system longer or who are serving county sentences often get transferred here from the Holding Center. The Correctional Facility has more programs available, including work assignments with local municipalities and nonprofits.
Work programs at the Alden facility include a recycling program and grounds maintenance. Inmates can also participate in educational and vocational programs. Property release for inmates at either facility requires a signed authorization form from the inmate. Without the form, the jail will not release personal belongings to anyone. The Erie County jail roster covers both facilities, so a search will show you which location an inmate is at.
| Facility | Erie County Correctional Facility |
|---|---|
| Address | 11581 Walden Avenue, Alden, NY 14004 |
| Capacity | ~1,000 inmates |
| Type | Medium Security Correctional |
Visiting and Communication
Visiting hours at the Erie County Holding Center are Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Friday from 1 to 3 PM and 6 to 9 PM. On weekends, hours are 9 to 11 AM, 1 to 3 PM, and 6 to 9 PM. Visitors need valid photo ID. All visits are monitored. Video visitation is also available through ICSolutions. Remote video visits last 30 minutes and can be scheduled online.
Inmates at both Erie County facilities use ICSolutions for phone calls, messaging, and photo sharing. Phone calls can be set up through the ICSolutions platform, and prepaid accounts make the process simpler. Messaging allows inmates and their contacts to exchange written messages electronically. Photo sharing lets families send approved photos to inmates through the system. All communication is subject to monitoring and recording, except for calls with attorneys.
State and Federal Resources
The DOCCS portal covers state prison inmates. The Federal Bureau of Prisons locator handles federal inmates. Erie County sometimes holds people on federal charges or detainers, and those individuals may not appear on the standard county jail roster. Check the federal locator if you suspect someone is being held on a federal matter.
The State Commission of Correction oversees all county jails in New York. The Sex Offender Registry tracks registered offenders statewide. Court records from Erie County are on WebCrims. The NY.gov search page is a good starting point when you are not sure where someone is. New York's Correction Law governs all county jail operations.
Cities in Erie County with Jail Roster Pages
Erie County includes several cities and towns with their own pages on this site. Arrests in these areas go through the Erie County jail system. Check the links below for city-specific information about how to search the jail roster.
Nearby County Jail Rosters
Erie County borders several other counties in western New York. If the person you are looking for was arrested outside Erie County, check these neighboring jails.