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NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)

City Jail

Last Updated: February 23, 2025
Address
125 White St, New York, NY 10013
Beds
898
County
New York
Phone
212-225-1540
View Official Website

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Manhattan Detention is for City Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for City Jail - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Inmate Telephone Calls - NYC Corrections, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Looking for an inmate at this facility? Visitation Information, Times and Rules
Satellite View of NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)

You can support your loved ones at Manhattan Detention on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 212-225-1540.

The Manhattan Detention serves as a low/medium-security city detention center located at 125 White St in New York, NY. Operated locally by the police and sheriff's departments, it houses inmates and detainees awaiting trial or sentencing. Most sentenced inmates have terms of less than two years. The facility also accepts inmates from surrounding towns and occasionally from the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees are regularly admitted to the jail, with some being released on bail or placed under pretrial services caseloads. Others may be supervised by probation agencies or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who remain in custody await their court appearances at the facility, receiving accommodations such as bedding and meals.

For access to arrest records in New York, you can view them here.

The MDC referred to popularly as "The Tombs" and formerly the Bernard B. Kerik Complex is a municipal jail located in Lower Manhattan. MDC was originally named the Manhattan House of Detention for Men (MHD). The complex consists of two buildings connected by a bridge. The South Tower, the former MDH was opened in 1983, and a North Tower across White Street was completed in 1990. The complex houses only male inmates, most of them pretrial detainees facing trial in New York County (Manhattan). The total capacity of the two buildings is nearly 900 people.

In popular culture, the Tombs as been used in movies, books, songs and television shows. Some notable inmates include Edward Coleman, first criminal executed at the prison in 1839, Rebecca Salome Foster, prison relief worker known as "The Tombs Angel", Ernestine Schaffner, prison relief worker known as "The Tombs Angel", Vojislav Stanimirović (crime boss) YACS, William M. Tweed, head of the Tammany Hall political ring, spent a year in the Tombs after his second trial in 1873, Morris U. Schappes, an American educator, writer, radical political activist, historian, and magazine editor, incarcerated in the Tombs after a 1941 perjury conviction obtained in association with testimony before the Rapp-Coudert Committee (investigating Communism in education in New York).

Inmate Calls - As of May 2, 2019, all inmate calls are free. Inmates are now entitled to 21 minutes of free phone privileges every three hours. Individual calls can last up to 15 minutes each, and even dangerous prisoners locked up in solitary confinement get a single, daily call of up to 15 minutes.

Inmate Handbook - This handbook has information about many of the programs and services available to you, including educational services, family events, the grievance process, law libraries, medical and mental health services, reentry services, and religious services. You can learn more about all of the programs and services available to you in the programs office. To go to the programs office, ask your housing area officer for an interview slip, fill out the slip, and return it to the officer. Additionally, the handbook provides answers to frequently asked questions, including how family and friends can deposit money into your account, how often you can use the phone, what property you may have, how many visits you may have, what to do if you have a disability, how to access services, and how to address various concerns.
Inmate Rulebook
The inmate rulebook contains the rules that you must follow and describes the process if you violate these rules. The rules fall into several general categories:
  • Do not start fires
  • Do not attempt to escape
  • Do not fight or assault anyone
  • Do not possess contraband, including weapons, drugs, tobacco, electronics, and other non-permissible items,
  • Do not lead or participate in riots, demonstrations, barricades, or hostage situations
  • Do not gamble
  • Do not bribe or extort anyone
  • Do not tamper with security devices
  • Do not tamper with documents
  • Do not damage city property
  • Do not disrupt programs or otherwise conduct yourself in a disorderly manner
  • Provide identification when asked
  • Do not give false statements
Follow all instructions from staff If you violate any of these rules, you will be served with a notice of infraction and will receive a due process hearing. At the hearing, you may present a defense before an adjudication captain. The adjudication captain will find you guilty or not and, if you are found guilty, will determine what the sanction will be. Sanctions include surcharges, reprimands, and sentences to punitive segregation time.

Table of Contents for Manhattan Detention

Inmate Locator

To utilize the Inmate Search page on InmateAid, begin by selecting the relevant prison facility in New York. This allows you to view the current list of inmates housed at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC).

The second section features the InmateAid Inmate Search tool, providing a user-generated database of inmates. You can access this resource to utilize any of InmateAid's services. If you require assistance in creating an inmate profile to maintain communication, please contact us at aid@inmateaid.com, and we'll gladly help you locate your loved one.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Visitation Information

NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex - Visitation

Visit an Inmate

  • Visitors will be subject to passive canine searches when arriving to the Rikers Island Visit Control Building or the Borough facilities, or any other facility including the Hospital Prison Wards.
  • All visitors 16 years of age and older must present valid current identification that contains a photograph and signature. Acceptable forms of identification for all visitors are listed below.
  • Children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by an adult over 18 are not required to present any identification at all.
  • A 16-year-old or 17-year old with valid identification may accompany a child under the age of 16 if he or she is the parent of that child and the inmate being visited is also the parent of the same child. In this case, the 16- or 17-year-old must produce a birth certificate for the child under the age of 16.

Acceptable Forms of Identification - From any state or territory in the U.S.:

  • Current driver’s license
  • Valid Employment ID card with photo AND most recent employment paycheck/stub
  • DMV Non-driver license identification card

Other Acceptable Forms of Identification

  • Resident alien or a permanent resident card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
  • Passport (from any country)
  • NYS benefits identification card (Medicaid/food stamp photo ID)
  • U.S. Armed Services identification
  • Consulate-issued or diplomatic identification
  • IDNYC card

If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor
Visit Schedule
Registration and Visit Hours
There are no visits on Mondays and Tuesdays, Wednesday and Thursday
Registration hours for the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown Manhattan is on Wednesdays and Thursdays are from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visits are permitted from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 8:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday
Registration hours are on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visits will begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 2:00 p.m. (Please note: the start of visiting hours can be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.)
Number of Visits and Visitors
Inmates are permitted to visit with up to three (3) visitors at the same time, with the maximum number to be determined by conditions set forth in each facility, availability of space and volume of visitors/inmates. Detainees may receive visits three (3) times per week. Sentenced inmates may receive visits two (2) times per week. All inmates are limited to one (1) visit session per visit day, regardless of the number of visitors in that session.
Visitors' Dress Code - To provide for the safety and security of Department staff, inmates and visitors and to maintain a family-friendly environment, visitors must wear appropriate clothing to visit inmates. Overly suggestive clothing and clothing in which contraband and non-permissible items can be hidden are not permitted. When meeting with an inmate, visitors may only wear a single layer of clothing (except those visitors required to wear a cover-up garment) and NO ACCESSORIES.
Visitors WILL NOT be permitted onto the visit floor of jail if they are wearing any of the following:

  • Clothing with holes or rips that are located more than three inches above the knee
  • Hooded garments
  • Hats and head coverings (excluding religious head coverings)
  • Clothing identifying a specific gang by name or logo
  • Clothing that makes explicit reference to obscene language, drugs, sex or violence
  • Swimming attire
  • See-through garments
  • Uniforms
  • Jewelry (excluding a wedding ring and one religious medal no more than two inches in diameter hung on the chain of one-quarter-inch or less in diameter and no longer than 24 inches
  • Tops, including dresses, which expose the chest, stomach or back
  • Shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is more than three inches above the knee
  • Spandex leggings unless covered by tops, shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is no more than three inches above the knee
  • Outer garments including coats, shawls, ponchos, jackets, vests, gloves, or over-boots or overshoes (outer boots or shoes that slip over other shoes)
  • Visitors must wear undergarments.

Visitors whose attire violates the dress code will be permitted a contact visit if they agree to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department. Visitors who refuse to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department will be denied a visit.

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Frequently Asked Questions

NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC) – Frequently Asked Questions

  1. What is NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC), and who is held here?
    Manhattan Detention is a City/Municipal Jail that primarily houses individuals arrested by local law enforcement. It holds pretrial detainees, individuals serving short sentences (less than 12 months), and those awaiting transfer to county or state facilities.

  2. How can I find out if someone is in custody at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    To check if someone is detained at Manhattan Detention, use the inmate locator on the website or call 212-225-1540. You may need the person’s full name and date of birth to obtain information.

  3. How long can someone be held at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Most individuals are held for less than 72 hours before being released, transferred to a county jail, or appearing before a judge. However, those serving short sentences may stay longer, depending on municipal policies.

  4. What happens during the booking process at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Booking includes fingerprinting, photographing, medical screening, warrant checks, and recording of charges. The individual is then assigned to a holding cell or general population while awaiting further processing.

  5. Can I post bail for someone being held at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Yes, bail can be posted at Manhattan Detention if the detainee is eligible. Bail payments may be made using cash, credit, or through a bail bondsman. Contact 212-225-1540 for specific bail procedures.

  6. What are the visitation rules at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Visitation is subject to facility-specific guidelines. Visitors must be pre-approved, provide valid identification, and comply with dress codes. Some city jails allow video visitation through the prison phone provider.

  7. How can I send money to an inmate at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Funds can be deposited into an inmate’s commissary account via an outside third-party money transfer company like JailATM, InmateCanteen, Western Union money orders, or lobby kiosks. Check their website for deposit instructions and allowable limits.

  8. Can inmates at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC) make phone calls?
    Yes, detainees are allowed outgoing calls using their contracted phone carrier. Calls may be collect or prepaid, with time limits enforced. All calls are monitored and recorded.

  9. Can I send mail to an inmate at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Yes, inmates may receive letters, photographs, and approved reading materials. All mail is screened for contraband. Polaroids, explicit content, and certain materials are prohibited. Try this InmateAid app for sending letters, postcards or selfies to an inmate.

  10. Are attorneys allowed to visit inmates at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Yes, legal visits are allowed. Attorneys can visit in person during designated hours and must present bar credentials and client information. Legal calls may also be arranged.

  11. What medical care is available at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Basic medical, mental health and prescription medication services are provided. Inmates needing urgent care may be transported to a hospital for treatment.

  12. Are there work programs or educational services at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Many city jails focus on short-term detention, so educational or work programs may be limited. Some facilities offer substance abuse counseling, GED prep, or reentry support for eligible inmates.

  13. Can an inmate request a transfer from NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    No, inmates cannot request transfers. Transfers are determined by court orders, sentence length, and facility capacity. Some detainees are moved to county jails or state prisons based on their legal status.

  14. What happens when an inmate is released from NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Upon release, individuals may be discharged from the facility, transferred to another institution, or placed under probation supervision. Some detainees must appear in court for pending cases.

  15. Can someone be held at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC) for unpaid fines or warrants?
    Yes, individuals with outstanding warrants or unpaid fines may be held until their case is resolved or a bond is posted. Warrant checks are conducted during the booking process.

  16. What happens to personal belongings when someone is booked into NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Personal property is collected, inventoried, and stored during booking. Upon release, individuals receive their belongings unless items are held as evidence.

  17. Can I pick up an inmate’s property if they are transferred from NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Yes, with written authorization from the inmate, a designated individual may retrieve personal property. Contact 212-225-1540 to arrange a pickup.

  18. How can I report concerns about an inmate’s safety at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Concerns can be reported to the NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC) administration or the municipal police department overseeing the jail. In serious cases, contact legal representatives or advocacy groups for assistance.

  19. What should I do if I believe someone was wrongfully arrested and is being held at NYC DOC - Manhattan Detention Complex (MDC)?
    Contact a criminal defense attorney immediately. The attorney can request court hearings, review charges, and determine the best legal course of action.

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