NYSDOC - Wende Correctional Facility

You can support your loved ones at Wende Correctional Facility on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 716-937-4000.

Located at 3040 Wende Rd in Alden, NY, Wende Correctional Facility carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. Wende Correctional Facility offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.

When someone you care about ends up in a state prison, it can be tough to navigate the ins and outs of the system. From figuring out how to stay in touch to understanding what you can do to make their time easier, it can feel overwhelming. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get the lowdown on NYSDOC - Wende Correctional Facility so you can stay connected and support your loved one during their time inside.

Communication is important, the prison 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. 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.

While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches 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. Prisons and jails enforce 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.

Wende Correctional Facility, a maximum-security prison located east of Buffalo, NY, derives its name from the Alden region where it's situated. Initially a county jail operated by Erie County, NY, the site was sold to the state to meet the demand for a maximum-security state prison. Adjacent to Wende stands the Erie County Correctional Facility.

Among the notable inmates housed at Wende are Jack Abbott, a criminal and author who committed suicide there in 2002, and Jimmy Burke, the mastermind of the Lufthansa Heist at LaGuardia Airport, who was portrayed by Robert DeNiro in "Goodfellas". Additionally, Robert Chambers, infamous as the "Preppie Killer," was incarcerated at Wende in 2008 before being transferred, while Mark David Chapman, the killer of former Beatles member John Lennon, arrived at Wende in 2012. David Sweat, responsible for the murder of a Broome County sheriff's officer and an escape from Clinton Correctional Facility in 2015, was transferred to Wende in 2018. Harvey Weinstein, a former film producer and convicted sex offender, was also housed at Wende before being transferred to Twin Towers Correctional Facility in Los Angeles, where he faced additional charges.

Wende Correctional Facility offers vocational training courses in business, custodial/building maintenance, plumbing, and heating, providing inmates with valuable skills for potential employment upon release. Alcohol and substance abuse treatment services are also available to address inmates' needs. Additionally, inmates have the opportunity to take courses such as Alternatives for Violence, which trains them in various problem-solving techniques, contributing to their rehabilitation and successful reintegration into society.