Onondaga County-Patrick J. Corbett Justice Center

You can support your loved ones at Onondaga Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 315-435-1782.

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 Onondaga Co Jail is a detention center located at 555 S State St Syracuse, NY which is operated locally by the Onondaga 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. Onondaga County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Syracuse 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 Patrick J. Corbett Justice Center stands as a direct-supervision maximum-security facility that incorporates state-of-the-art technology and advanced design features to ensure the secure housing of arrested individuals, pre-trial detainees, and those awaiting transfer to Federal, State, and County correctional facilities. With a mission to maintain safety and security while positively impacting incarcerated individuals and the broader community, the Justice Center was meticulously planned and constructed based on extensive research and field visits to similar facilities across the country.

The Justice Center is distinguished by several key features aimed at enhancing security and efficiency:
- The absence of traditional bars, with reinforced perimeter walls and security envelope walls, each containing reinforcement rods in fully-grouted grout holes. All doors are constructed with 12-gauge steel and equipped with industry-standard security locks.
- The facility utilizes complete “touchscreen” controls, enabling seamless management of doors, intercoms, cameras, and personal duress alarms.
- Approximately 160 security cameras are strategically placed throughout the interior and exterior of the facility, ensuring constant surveillance.
- Internal encoded and unencoded radio communications, combined with M.R.D. and Syracuse Fire radio capabilities, support effective communication within the facility.
- Personal duress alarms are integrated into the internal radio system, enhancing staff safety.
- Deputies assigned to housing units are equipped with portable telephones, ensuring constant communication.
- Advanced electronic fire and smoke detection systems are in place to protect against potential hazards.
- A proximity card reader controls access to "non-perimeter" doors, allowing for secure entry.
- A magnetometer is employed for screening all visitors entering the facility, and a High Scan X-ray Unit is used to inspect visitors’ personal belongings for contraband.

These cutting-edge features, coupled with its comprehensive design, make the Patrick J. Corbett Justice Center a model facility for maximum-security operations, ensuring a secure environment for incarcerated individuals, staff, and visitors alike.

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.

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.