County jail
ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-08-05 — always confirm at the official source .
NY · Erie County
How to find someone in jail in Erie County, New York
Take a breath. Here is where people are held in Erie County, the official locators to search, and how to confirm where your person is — using free, government sources only.
- County facilities listed
- 8
- State locator
- NYS DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup
- VINELink
- Covers New York
- Jurisdiction
- Erie County, NY
Erie County jails & facilities 8
These are the correctional facilities the national dataset lists in Erie County. Confirm a specific person on the official roster or locator — this page never stores or looks up records.
County jail
ERIE COUNTY HOLDING CENTER
Facility info as of 2024-08-05 — always confirm at the official source .
County jail
ERIE COUNTY JUVENILE DETENTION CENTER
Facility info as of 2024-08-05 — always confirm at the official source .
City / local jail
HOPEVALE INCORPORATED
Facility info as of 2020-02-13 — always confirm at the official source . (this listing may be out of date — confirm with the facility)
State prison
BUFFALO CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-03-21 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
COLLINS CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-03-13 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
GOWANDA CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-03-20 — always confirm at the official source .
State prison
WENDE CORRECTIONAL FACILITY
Facility info as of 2024-03-18 — always confirm at the official source .
Which system is holding them?
There is no single search that covers everyone in Erie County. Match the situation to the right official locator — most families start with the first one.
If the arrest was recent
Start with the county jail
A recent arrest in Erie County almost always means the county jail listed above, run by the local sheriff — not a state prison. Check that jail’s roster or search VINELink; if the booking is only a few hours old, call the jail’s booking desk.
If they were sentenced to prison
Use the state prison locator
Once a person is sentenced, they move from the county jail into the New York Department of Corrections. Search the state inmate locator by name or ID — a county jail roster will not show a sentenced prisoner.
If the charge is federal
Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons
A federal charge means federal custody — a separate system from any New York county or state facility. Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator by name or register number.
Nearby counties in New York
If the arrest happened just across a county line, these New York counties are closest to Erie County. Open one for its jails and the exact official locators to search.
If you need to bail them out in New York
Finding the person comes first. Once you know where they are being held, this is how getting them out works in New York.
Commercial bail available
In New York, commercial bail exists. If a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash directly with the court or through a licensed bail bond agent for a fee. A judge may also release the person on their own recognizance or on conditions, so ask the court or the jail what applies before paying anyone.
The person’s rights. The person in custody has the right to talk to a lawyer about their case, and if they cannot afford one, the court can appoint a public defender.
If there is also a warrant to deal with
Two companion guides pick up where this one leaves off — checking for a warrant, and resolving it on your own terms.
Common questions about finding someone in Erie County
How do I find someone who was just arrested in Erie County?
Someone just arrested in Erie County is usually held at ERIE COUNTY CORRECTIONAL FACILITY or ERIE COUNTY HOLDING CENTER, run by the local sheriff. Check that jail’s roster or VINELink; if the booking is only hours old, call the jail’s booking desk. A brand-new arrest will not appear on the state prison locator.
How do I find someone in state prison from Erie County?
Once a person is sentenced they move into the New York Department of Corrections. Search the state inmate locator by name or ID number — it is separate from the Erie County jail and from the Federal Bureau of Prisons.
Is there a free way to check if someone is in custody in New York?
Yes. VINELink, the free national custody service, covers New York: search by name and register for free alerts. County jail rosters, the state locator, and the Federal BOP are all free and official too. Skip paid inmate-search and mugshot sites.
How does bail work for someone held in Erie County?
Commercial bail exists in New York: if a judge sets money bail, it can be posted in cash with the court or through a licensed bail bond agent for a fee, and a judge may also grant release on recognizance or on conditions.
More of New York
This is one of New York’s counties. The state guide has the complete rundown and every other county.