Access Essex County Booking Releases
Essex County booking releases are tracked through the Sheriff's Office and the county jail at 702 Stowersville Road in Lewis. This small Adirondack county does not have a fully automated online inmate search, so most booking release inquiries go through phone calls or in-person visits. The jail has 50 beds and averages 33 to 40 inmates per day, with about 420 to 450 admissions per year. This page explains how to find booking release records in Essex County and what tools are available to you.
Essex County Booking Releases Overview
Where to Find Essex County Booking Releases
The Essex County Sheriff's Office is the primary source for booking release information. The jail sits at 702 Stowersville Road in Lewis. You can reach them by phone at (518) 873-6321 or (518) 873-6971. Fax goes to (518) 873-6942. Email inquiries can be sent to dwainwright@co.essex.ny.us. The staff can confirm if someone is in custody and share basic status details.
Essex County may not have a fully automated online search system for inmates. The website has a Sheriff's Office section under corrections, but for current booking release information, direct contact is your best bet. The county is rural and sits in the Adirondack region, so in-person visits are another option during business hours.
The screenshot below shows a statewide resource you can use for Essex County booking release searches when the local system does not have what you need.
The DOCCS statewide inmate lookup tool covers anyone transferred from Essex County to a state correctional facility.
The DOCCS Inmate Lookup tool covers state prisons and can help if someone was transferred from the Essex County Jail to state custody. Search by name or DIN number to find facility location, custody status, and release information. The VINE Link system also covers Essex County. Register for free alerts about booking releases and custody changes.
Essex County Jail and Booking Releases
The Essex County Jail is a small facility in the Adirondack region. It has a rated capacity of 50 beds. The average daily population runs between 33 and 40 inmates. That puts occupancy at 60% to 70%. The jail houses both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates serving terms of one year or less.
Housing is separated by gender and by classification. Male and female inmates go to different areas. Administrative segregation is available when needed. The jail runs under standards set by the NYS Commission of Correction. Medical and mental health services are provided, and commissary items can be purchased through an online deposit system or the lobby kiosk.
Visiting requires valid photo ID and pre-registration. Call (518) 873-6321 for the current visiting schedule. You must be on the inmate's approved visitor list. The dress code is enforced, and no contraband is allowed. Mail goes to the inmate's full name at Essex County Jail, 702 Stowersville Road, Lewis, NY 12950.
Essex County Booking Release Statistics
Essex County processes 420 to 450 admissions per year. The median length of stay is 12 days, which is shorter than many other New York county jails. Monthly releases average 36 to 38 individuals. About 60% of releases are pretrial. The other 40% are sentence completions.
Offense categories break down to felony offenses at 45% (drug, property, and violent crimes), misdemeanors at 30%, and technical violations like probation and parole at 25%. Pretrial detainees make up 67% of the population. Post-conviction inmates account for 33%. The population is estimated at 85% male and 15% female, with an average age in the mid-30s.
Under New York Correction Law, the Commission of Correction monitors all county jails including Essex County. They collect data on population, booking volumes, and facility conditions. The county jail directory lists the Essex County Jail with its contact details and capacity.
Note: Essex County's median stay of 12 days is among the shortest in New York, so booking releases happen quickly here.
Booking Releases and Public Records in Essex County
You can file a FOIL request for Essex County booking releases. Send your request to the Records Access Officer at the Essex County Sheriff's Office, 702 Stowersville Road, Lewis, NY 12950. You can submit by letter, in person, or by email. Include a specific description of the records you need, date ranges, and the inmate's name if you know it.
The Sheriff's Office must respond within five business days under Public Officers Law Section 89(3). Copies cost $0.25 per page. Search fees may apply for extensive requests. Under Sections 84 through 90 of the Public Officers Law, booking releases are public records. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Committee on Open Government.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains statewide criminal history records that may connect to Essex County bookings. The OCA Criminal History Record Search provides court case data across New York, including Essex County cases.
Court Records Related to Essex County Booking Releases
The Essex County Clerk's Office is at the Essex County Government Center, 7559 Court Street, Elizabethtown, NY 12932. Phone: (518) 873-3600. The Essex County Court is at the same address. You can visit during business hours to access court records. Public terminals are available, and staff can help you find cases.
Court records show the legal side of booking releases. When someone gets booked, the court sets bail or release conditions. Court records tell you if bail was posted, if the case was dismissed, or if someone finished a sentence. The NYS Unified Court System offers online criminal case searches through WebCrims that cover Essex County.
Nearby Counties
Essex County sits in the Adirondack region. If your booking release search extends to neighboring areas, try these counties: