Erie County NY Correctional Facility (ECCF)

You can support your loved ones at Erie Co Correctional on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 716-937-9101.

When someone you care about gets locked up, it's tough to figure out all the ins and outs of jail life. From sending mail to visiting, there are a lot of things to sort out. And getting info about the arrest? Not always easy. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get a handle on how things work here so that you can stay connected and support your loved one behind bars.

The Erie Co Correctional is a detention center located at 11581 Walden Ave Alden, NY which is operated locally by the Erie County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Erie County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Alden Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals.

You can see all the arrest records for New York here.

The ECCF can presently hold approximately 884 male, female, and adolescent (those adolescents adjudicated as adults) inmates of various classifications. This facility is a combination of "New Generation Jail" pods and open bay construction. The populations include non-arraigned, non-sentenced, sentenced, and federal inmates.

The Erie County Holding Center (ECHC), located in Buffalo, New York, is a pretrial, maximum-security detention facility. It is the second-largest detention facility in New York State, outside of New York City. The ECHC has a capacity of housing 638 inmates remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Erie County. It processes more than 20,000 inmates annually. The facility is a combination of pods open bay construction and traditional linear-type cells. Overflow inmates are housed at the Holding Center Annex at the Erie County Correctional Facility (ECCF).

The populations housed at the ECHC and ECCF include non-arraigned, non-sentenced, sentenced and federal inmates. Males, females, and adolescents (those adolescents adjudicated as adults) are housed at both adult facilities.

The facility upholds a commitment to treating all inmates with dignity and respect, maintaining the highest standards of professionalism and ethical behavior. The dedicated staff ensures a safe and secure environment for everyone within the facility and strives to promote a culture of accountability and transparency. Recognizing the importance of rehabilitation in the correctional process, the Bronx House of Detention offers a variety of programs and services designed to support inmates in their transition back into society. These programs focus on education, job training, substance abuse treatment, and mental health services. The facility collaborates with community organizations and local businesses to provide inmates with the resources necessary for successful reintegration.

Following the intake process, which includes property inventory, medical screening, and booking, inmates are assigned to the general population. Housing assignments are based on the classification of their charges, whether felony or misdemeanor, to ensure proper management and safety within the facility.

After processing, inmates are assigned to a housing area based on classification. Compliance with jail rules typically results in a lower classification and more privileges, while rule violations or additional charges lead to a higher classification and fewer privileges. Inmates serving as trustees within the jail undertake various tasks, including cooking, laundry, and commissary management, often receiving minimal compensation or sentence reduction for their services.

The Inmate Services Unit plays a crucial role in implementing, coordinating, and monitoring various facility programs, utilizing both in-house resources and community partnerships to support inmates in fostering positive change. These efforts aim to enhance self-awareness, improve morale, stimulate intellectual growth, uphold dignity, and reduce recidivism. Upon admission, Inmate Services Unit Staff conduct intake interviews, gathering information on personal and family background, criminal history, substance use, and medical and mental health concerns to develop tailored strategies for inmate interaction and program recommendations.

The jail offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Alternatively, setting up an account through a third-party phone company may entail high fees per minute of usage. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.

Books and magazines ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. The Jail enforces this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.

The facility offers specialized support through a Certified Alcohol and Substance Abuse Counselor who conducts assessments, facilitates community treatment program referrals, and coordinates self-help meetings, including the Intensive Corrections Addictions Residential Education Program. Additionally, facility clergy provide weekly religious services, visit housing units, offer individual consultations, and work with inmates' families and significant others to support their reintegration journey.

Inmate workers are chosen based on conduct and cooperation with staff. Participation in the community service program can sometimes reduce sentences. Commissary is available weekly, with orders submitted via kiosk two days in advance. On holidays, there may be increased spending limits. Upon receiving commissary items, inmates must present their ID, check their order, and sign for it in the presence of the commissary employee. Indigent inmates are provided with all essential basic hygiene items including USPS stamps and writing materials.

The Sheriff's Office provides medical and dental services to both the ECHC and ECCF through the Erie County Sheriff's Office Correctional Health Unit. The Correctional Health Unit ensures timely and appropriate medical care for incarcerated individuals. They provide access to medical providers, nursing care, medication and urgent treatment needs. They also serve as the referral source for mental health and dentistry. The Correctional Health Unit can be reached at 716-858-8931.