Albany County Booking Releases
Albany County booking releases cover all arrests and custody changes processed through the Albany County Correctional Facility on Albany Shaker Road. The Sheriff's Office keeps records of each booking, from the initial intake to final release, and these files are open to the public through a formal request process. If you need to find booking releases in Albany County, you can search the jail roster online, call the records line, or file a written FOIL request with the Records Access Officer at 16 Eagle St. The county handles thousands of bookings each year, so the system has clear steps for searching and getting copies of arrest and release data.
Albany County Overview
Albany County Jail Booking Records
The Albany County Correctional Facility sits at 840 Albany Shaker Road, Albany, NY 12211. It is the main jail for the county. The facility has a rated capacity of about 1,040 beds and holds both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. Staff process roughly 3,500 bookings per year, with an average daily count near 400 people. Each booking creates a record that includes the person's full name, date of birth, charges, bail amount, and intake time. These booking releases are stored by the Sheriff's Office and can be looked up through several channels.
To check current inmates, call the correctional facility at (518) 869-2600. The records line is (518) 869-2614. You can also reach the Sheriff's Office main number at (518) 487-5400 or send an email to contactsheriff@albanycounty.com. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody, share basic booking data, and point you toward the right forms if you need official copies. Walk-in requests are taken Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM at the facility.
About 69% of those held are pretrial. Sentenced inmates make up 29%, and the rest are on holds or parole violations. The median stay is 21 days. Roughly a third of people booked are released within a week.
Searching Albany Booking Releases Online
Albany County provides an online inmate lookup through the Sheriff's Office website. You can search by name, date of birth, or inmate ID number. Results show the person's charges, booking date, bond or bail info, and housing unit. The NYS DOCCS Inmate Lookup covers state prisons, so if someone has been transferred out of the county jail and into state custody, that tool will show their current status and facility.
For victim notifications, the VINE Link system lets you track custody changes at no cost. You sign up with the inmate's name and pick how you want alerts sent. Options include phone, email, or text. VINE runs around the clock and covers Albany County along with other jails across New York State. It is a good way to stay informed about releases and transfers without calling the jail each day.
Albany County FOIL Requests for Records
New York's Freedom of Information Law gives the public a right to see government records, including booking releases. In Albany County, you submit a written FOIL request to the Records Access Officer at the Albany County Sheriff's Office, 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. The request should list your full name, contact details, and a clear description of the records you want. Be as specific as you can with names, dates, and the type of records. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, the agency must respond within five business days. They will either hand over the records, deny the request with a cited reason, or send an acknowledgment with a timeline for when they will get back to you.
Copies cost $0.25 per page for standard documents up to 9 by 14 inches. Some records are exempt from release. Medical files, mental health notes, Social Security numbers, and info that could put someone at risk are all protected. Disciplinary records from jail are also off limits in most cases. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the agency's FOIL Appeals Officer. The Committee on Open Government offers guidance on the process and can help if you run into problems with a denial.
Note: FOIL requests for older or archived records may take longer to process since those files need to be pulled from storage.
Booking Releases and Court Records in Albany
Court records tie directly to booking releases. When someone is arrested and booked in Albany County, they appear in court for arraignment. Albany City Court at 24 Eagle Street handles misdemeanors, violations, and initial appearances. Felony cases move to Albany County Supreme Court at 6 Lodge Street. The County Clerk's Office at 16 Eagle Street, Room 128, keeps records of all criminal cases. You can search their index by defendant name, case number, or date at no charge. Copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more but are accepted for official use.
The OCA Criminal History Record Search lets anyone run a statewide name-based check through the Unified Court System. The fee is $95 per name. Results come back by mail in two to four weeks and include unsealed convictions. This is separate from the fingerprint-based check through DCJS, which costs $13.50 for New York residents. For pending cases, the WebCrims system shows active criminal matters in participating counties, including court dates and charge details.
Albany County Correctional Facility Details
The jail has maximum, medium, and minimum security units. There are medical and mental health wings, an intake center, and educational programs run through BOCES. Substance abuse counseling and re-entry services are also on site. The Alternative Sentencing Program offers electronic monitoring and community service for eligible non-violent offenders. That program runs through the Albany County Probation Department at 58 North Russell Road, (518) 447-7176. People on alternative sentencing still have booking and release records on file, and those records are subject to FOIL just like standard jail records.
Visitation follows a set schedule by last name. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are the main days, with time slots starting at 7:30 AM. Call the facility to confirm the current schedule before you go. All visitors need valid ID. The jail also supports video visitation in some units.
The State Commission of Correction inspects the facility on a regular basis. Their county jail directory lists contact info for every jail in New York, including Albany County.
Statewide Tools for Albany Booking Data
Several state-level tools help you find booking releases tied to Albany County. The DOCCS website covers anyone sentenced to state prison. If a person was booked in Albany County and later moved to a state facility, DOCCS tracks their location, sentence, and release dates. The Record Review page at DCJS lets individuals check their own criminal history by submitting fingerprints through IdentoGO. The NYS Archives holds older records for people who were in state prisons, useful for historical research.
The Sex Offender Registry is a separate database run by DCJS. It lists Level 2 and Level 3 offenders by name, county, or zip code. Level 1 info is only available by phone. These records overlap with booking releases when an offender is first arrested and processed through the county jail.
Albany County Booking Release Image
The NYS DOCCS Inmate Lookup is one of the main state tools for checking custody status after someone leaves a county jail like Albany County's facility. Visit the DOCCS lookup portal to start a search.
This portal shows real-time data pulled from the DOCCS database, including facility placement and projected release dates for anyone in state custody from Albany County.
Cities in Albany County
Albany County includes the city of Albany, which serves as both the county seat and the state capital. Colonie is another major community in the county. Both have their own police departments, but all jail bookings flow through the county correctional facility.
Arrests made by local police in these areas result in booking releases held at the county level. The same FOIL process and inmate search tools apply no matter which agency made the arrest.
Nearby Counties
If you need booking releases from a neighboring county, these pages cover the areas around Albany County: