New York Board and Commissions

The Board of Correction establishes and ensures compliance with minimum standards regulating conditions of confinement and correctional health and mental health care in all City correctional facilities. The Board monitors conditions in the City's jails, investigates serious incidents, evaluates the performance of the Department of Correction, reviews inmate and employee grievances, and makes recommendations in critical areas of correctional planning.

If you would like information about how to locate an inmate, get to Rikers Island, post bail, visit an inmate, send money to an inmate’s account, schedule an attorney visit, deliver a package to an inmate, or schedule pick-up of inmate property,

The Board of Correction has jurisdiction over the New York City jails. Its jurisdiction does not include the New York State prison system. Information regarding the NYS prison system may be obtained by contacting the offices listed to the right.

Judge decides Close Custody violates BOC's Minimum Standards

State Supreme Court Judge Marcy Friedman has ruled, in Jackson et.al v. Horn, that the inmate-petitioners were “entitled to a declaratory judgment determining that the DOC's close custody housing program violates BOC Minimum Standard § 1-05, and that the DOC is obligated to comply with section 1-05. The Minimum Standards, including 1-05, are legal mandates with which the DOC, through its Commissioner, is duty-bound to comply. Put another way, the DOC lacks discretion to decide whether or not to comply with Minimum Standard § 1-05.

Board unanimously rejects DOC variance requests

At its June 18, 2009 special public meeting, the Board unanimously rejected the Department of Correction’s requests for variances from §1-06 (“Recreation”) and §1-09 (Visiting) of the Minimum Standards for NYC Correctional Facilities. The Department had sought authorization to reduce the prisoner outdoor recreation schedule from seven days per week to five and to reduce the visiting schedule from five days per week to four. The Board had heard comments on these requests at its June 5th public hearing where eleven speakers presented testimony, and DOC Commissioner Martin Horn submitted written comments. The Board also reviewed information provided by the Department in response to many questions about the variances raised by the Board, and several Board Members inspected Rikers Island facilities to review visit processing and recreation.

contact the Department of Correction at
Tel: 718-546-0631