RECEPTION AND CLASSIFICATION PROCESS
What occurs upon an inmate's initial arrival at the prison?
Upon admission to the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS), each offender is assigned a Department Identification Number (DIN). This internal identifier is crucial for tracking the offender during their custody. To locate your loved one, you will need this number. If it is unavailable, you may access our online Offender Lookup service, which requires the offender's full name and date of birth for a successful search. The website will provide the name of the facility where the offender is currently assigned. It is advisable to confirm their location shortly before visiting, either through the website or by contacting the facility directly. Although infrequent, unscheduled transfers can occur, potentially leading you to travel a considerable distance only to discover that the offender has been relocated.
Please note: Offenders classified as Youthful Offenders are not listed on the Department’s website.
Additionally, offenders, including youthful offenders, can be located by calling the DOCCS Central Office at (518) 457-5000 during regular business hours. If an offender is in the process of being transferred, their location will remain unavailable until they reach their new destination, which may take several days. It is the responsibility of the offender to inform you of their new location.
Telephone Calls Upon Transfer or Return to a Facility:
Within 24 hours of arriving at a new facility, an offender is permitted one collect telephone call to a family member. If security protocols prevent the offender from making this call, a designated staff member, typically from the Guidance and Counseling Unit, will facilitate the call to a person of the offender's choice.
This procedure does not apply to offenders in "transit status" or those temporarily housed at a transit facility for overnight or weekend transfers. However, it is applicable to offenders in holding units at Auburn and Sing Sing.
An offender who is "out to court" or hospitalized for five days or more will be allowed to make a collect telephone call within 24 hours of returning to the correctional facility. Collect calls from external hospitals, excluding secure wards, may only be made with the approval of the Superintendent or their designee.
An offender who has violated parole and is readmitted to prison will also be allowed to make one collect telephone call to a person of their choice within 24 hours of their arrival.
Can my family receive a package while in Reception or In transit?
When an offender is classified as “In Reception,” they are unable to receive a monthly package unless they have been housed at the Reception Facility for 31 consecutive days. On the 31st day, you may send a monthly package. Prior to ordering the package, it is advisable to contact the facility's “Guidance” department to confirm the offender’s eligibility for receiving a monthly package.
If the offender is classified as “In Reception” with a status of “In Draft,” they are scheduled to leave Reception and transfer to their home facility. This transfer may involve the offender being moved to multiple facilities before reaching their permanent location. In such cases, you should refrain from placing an order and wait until they arrive at their home facility.
Wilson’s Inmate Package Program is the approved vendor for NYS DOCCS. We encourage you to contact us at 800-610-6617 x1 to verify your offender's status before placing your monthly inmate package order.