riker island visit schedule

Incarcerated Person Visit

The Department of Correction (DOC) has resumed in-person visits with enhanced safety measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19. You no longer need to schedule a visit.

Before you visit an incarcerated person at a DOC correctional facility, please review the rules for COVID-19 safety, identification, dress code, and what you’re allowed to bring. You should also check the DOC Virtual Visitors’ Center  for detailed information about DOC’s visitor policies and procedures.

DOC continues to offer televisits for customers unable to visit an incarcerated person in person.

Submit a Televisit Request Form.

COVID Safety Rules

All visitors must follow health and safety rules to limit the spread of COVID-19 in jails.

This includes:

• Completing a COVID screening and affirmation form
• Temperature taking
• Social distancing
• Wearing a face covering

To visit an incarcerated person, you must follow the DOC dress code policy and wear appropriate clothing. This policy is for the safety and security of staff, incarcerated people, and visitors, as well as to maintain a family-friendly environment.

You will not be allowed to go to the visit floor of a jail if you wear:

• Overly suggestive clothing
• More than one layer of clothing
• Clothing in which contraband and prohibited items can be hidden
• Clothing with holes or rips more than three inches above the knee 
• Hooded garments 
• Hats and head coverings (excluding religious head coverings)
• Clothing identifying a specific gang by name or logo 
• Clothing that makes explicit reference to obscene language, drugs, sex, or violence 
• Swimming attire 
• See-through garments 
• Uniforms 
• Jewelry (excluding a wedding ring and one religious medal. The medal must be no more than two inches in diameter and hung on a chain. The chain must be no wider than one quarter-inch in diameter and no longer than 24 inches.)
• Tops and dresses which expose the chest, stomach, or back 
• Shorts, skirts, or dresses with a hem more than three inches above the knee 
• Spandex leggings unless covered by a top, shorts, skirt, or dress with a hem no more than three inches above the knee 
• Outer garments including coats, shawls, ponchos, jackets, vests, gloves, or over-boots or overshoes 

All visitors must wear undergarments.

If your attire violates the dress code, you are still permitted a contact visit if you agree to wear a cover-up garment provided by DOC. If you refuse to wear the cover-up garment, you will be denied a visit.

Secure storage lockers will be provided at facilities. On Rikers Island, you must go to the Visit Control Building to get the coins needed to use a locker.

Learn more about the DOC Dress Code Policy.

Call 311 or 212-NEW-YORK (212-639-9675) for help.

Identification Requirements

Adults and Youth Ages 16 and Older

If you are 16 and older, you must present one form of valid identification to visit a DOC incarcerated person. The ID must have a photograph and signature, and it cannot be expired or altered.  

Examples of acceptable ID include: 

• Driver license (from any state or territory in the U.S.)
• Department of Motor Vehicles non-driver license identification card (from any state or territory in the U.S.)
• Employment identification (from any state or territory in the U.S.)
• New York State benefits identification card (such as Medicaid/Food Stamp Photographic Identification)
• College identification (from any state or territory in the U.S. The college or university ID must show the current semester. If the ID does not have a sticker with the current semester, the student must present a document from the Registrar’s office which says the student is currently enrolled.)
• U.S. Armed Services identification card
• Resident Alien Card or Permanent Resident Card Issued by the U.S. Department of Justice (Green Card)
• Passport (from any country)
• Consulate-issued identification or diplomatic identification

High school IDs are not accepted.

Children Under 16

Children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 are not required to present any identification.

A 16-year-old or 17-year-old with valid identification may accompany a child under the age of 16 if he or she is the parent of that child and the incarcerated person being visited is also the parent of the same child. In this case, the 16-year-old or 17-year-old must produce a birth certificate for the child under the age of 16.

Prohibited Items

You are not allowed to bring certain items into City Jails, the Rikers Island Visit Control Building, or the Hospital Prison wards. DOC provides a full list of prohibited items online in their Visit Handbook as well as by phone. 

The following is a partial list of prohibited items:

• Guns and bullets 
• Illegal drugs 
• Syringes 
• Knives, box cutters, needles, razors, scissors or any other sharp objects, brass knuckles or any other weapons 
• Tools 
• Metal or glass objects 
• Padlocks 
• Nail clippers and fingernail files 
• Cigarettes, cigars, rolling paper, chewing tobacco, or pipes 
• Tape or other adhesives 
• Explosive devices 
• Matches or lighters 
• Electronic devices, including cell phones, iPods, iPads, MP3 players, e-readers, pagers, beepers, laptops, cameras, recording devices or radios 
• Digital media including CDs and DVDs 
• Law enforcement badges and equipment 
• Liquids and beverages except two clear plastic bottles with non-alcoholic beverages for babies accompanying visitors 
• Metal hairclips and hairpins 
• Non-prescription medication 
• Non-prescription sunglasses 
• No more than a total of three books, newspapers, and/or magazines (except when included in an incarcerated person's package) 
• Photographs (except when included in an incarcerated person's package) 

You are allowed to bring prescription medication in its original container. Except for life-saving prescription medication, all other medication must be stored in a locker and cannot be brought to the facility visit floor. 

Download the DOC Visit Handbook.

Visit Schedule

Monthly visitor schedules and rules for Rikers Island, the Brooklyn Detention Complex, the Manhattan Detention Complex, and the Vernon C. Bain Center are available online and by phone.

• Mondays and Tuesdays: No visits allowed.
• Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays: Visits allowed based on the first initial of the incarcerated person's last name. Check the monthly schedule to find out which incarcerated people may receive visitors.
• Fridays: Visits allowed for all incarcerated people.

Learn more about the DOC Visit Schedule.

Travel Directions

You are encouraged to take public transportation to Rikers Island. The MTA's Q100 bus goes over the Rikers Island Bridge and stops directly in front of the Rikers Island Central Visit House. 

MTA bus routes and schedules are available.  Visit the Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) website.

If you drive, there is very limited parking at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue in Queens. You will need to take the MTA's Q100 bus over the Rikers Island Bridge to the Rikers Island Central Visit House.

Get travel directions to Rikers Island and other DOC facilities.

Rikers Visit Bus

DOC provides free bus transportation for visitors to and from Rikers Island Wednesday through Sunday. The bus stops are located in Harlem and Brooklyn.

• The Harlem bus stop is on the corner of East 125th Street and 3rd Avenue. 
• The Brooklyn bus stop is on Jay Street between Fulton Street and Willoughby Street. 

Anyone who is 16 or older must present valid current identification. 

All buses are accessible to people with disabilities and are staffed by trained drivers.

Learn more about the Rikers Visit Bus.

Bus Schedules and Travel Time

The typical one-way route time is 45 minutes for the Harlem stop and 60 minutes for the Brooklyn stop, but it depends on traffic conditions. Departure times may vary from those in the schedule.

Download the Rikers Visit Bus Schedule.

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For the first time in more than a year, visitors can return to New York City jails.

In-person visits will be available three days a week and coronavirus protocols will be in place.

• Share full article

By Daniel E. Slotnik

In-person visits resumed at New York City jails on Friday after they were halted for more than a year to stave off the coronavirus, according to the city’s Department of Correction.

The department has struggled since the start of the pandemic, facing surges of violence, overworked guards and staffing shortages , and the department’s commissioner characterized the return of in-person visitation as a positive development for inmates and guards alike.

“We’re really thrilled that it’s starting back up again because we all got to learn how lonely it can be not being able to see your loved ones this year, and that’s when you’re not incarcerated,” Vincent Schiraldi, the commissioner, said in an interview on Friday night. “For people who are locked up, it’s even worse.”

Mr. Schiraldi said that guards were happy to see family members return, and that visits were good for staff because “a calmer facility, where people are happier, is a better place to work.”

But staffing shortages mean that in-person visits could pose a threat, said Benny Boscio Jr., the president of the union that represents correction officers.

He added, “if the Department wants to resume in-person visits, then at the same time we should be provided with the proper staffing levels necessary to conduct visits safely.”

The visits stopped in March 2020 as the virus tore through the city’s jails, sickening thousands of corrections officers and inmates .

People are now able to visit inmates on Wednesdays, Thursdays and Fridays, and the department recommended scheduling the visits in advance online . Visitors must wear masks, submit a coronavirus self-assessment and have their temperatures taken; and everyone is required to socially distance, the department said in its announcement.

Video chats had replaced visits during the pandemic — Mr. Schiraldi said there had been 60,000 since the program began — and will continue to be available on Saturdays and Sundays, the announcement said. The department will evaluate how to expand both programs in the future.

Mary Lynne Werlwas, the director of the Legal Aid Society’s Prisoners’ Rights Project, said in an interview on Friday that video chats were better than nothing and that she hoped they would remain an option for people who cannot travel to city jails. Still, she said, nothing compares to an in-person visit for inmates and their families.

“You can’t see someone’s health over the video, you can’t hug them, and the televisits were extraordinarily delayed and cumbersome,” Ms. Werlwas said.

The return of visitors comes at a tumultuous moment for the city’s corrections system, which has been plagued with scandals as lawmakers move forward with a plan to replace Rikers Island, the city’s main jail and one of the nation’s largest, with four smaller facilities.

Last month, a report by a federal monitor described a system in a state of disarray and expressed concerns about the agency’s ability to solve its many problems.

Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Friday that construction would soon begin on a parking garage and a community space near a new jail planned for Kew Gardens, Queens. The other jails will be in Manhattan, Brooklyn and the Bronx, and the whole program will cost an estimated $8.3 billion.

“Today we move one huge step closer to our goal of a fairer and more equitable jail system for all New Yorkers,” Mr. de Blasio said in a statement on Friday. “Closing Rikers Island will make our city stronger and more just.”

The pandemic is receding in city jails, but vaccination rates there still trail those of other residents. City data show that as of Wednesday just under 40 percent of detainees were at least partially vaccinated , compared to more than 55 percent of city residents as of Thursday.

The vaccine situation and the disruption the virus has caused in the city’s jails are similar to those in other U.S. detention facilities. Prisons, jails and detention centers across the country have experienced devastating outbreaks and generally lagged behind in vaccinations , even after shots were made available to inmates .

Jan Ransom contributed reporting.

Daniel E. Slotnik is a general assignment reporter on the Metro desk and a 2020 New York Times reporting fellow. More about Daniel E. Slotnik

What to Know When Visiting a Loved One at the Rikers Island Jail

By Kim Kelly

New York City’s notorious Rikers Island jail complex has earned a reputation for brutality, violence , and neglect in its 85 years of existence. As the second-largest facility of its kind in the U.S., Rikers’s very name — an angular switchblade of a word — has long struck fear into the hearts of those sentenced to make that long, lonely trip over the East River to the facility. There are currently about 4,100 people incarcerated in Rikers. Historically, the majority of those held at the facility have not yet been convicted of any crime; they’ve been stuck behind bars while they await trial because they’re unable to post bail — in other words, just because they’re poor.

At one point, 16-year-old Kalief Browder was one of them. The Bronx teen was held on Rikers for three years, without a trial or conviction, for allegedly stealing a backpack — a charge that was eventually dismissed. Much of that time was spent in solitary confinement, a practice that has long been condemned as torture . Shortly after Browder’s release in 2015, he died by suicide. Just last year, Layleen Polanco, a trans woman living with epilepsy, died from complications of the disease after being placed in solitary confinement.

Now, one of my favorite people in the world is in there too. Since October, David Campbell has been locked inside those forbidding walls, doing his best to survive what New York Governor Andrew Cuomo’s own lawyer, Alphonso David, has called “a savage and inhumane jail that has ruined the lives of too many New Yorkers.” As a result, I’ve seen firsthand what it’s like to visit a loved one on Rikers Island in 2020.

Following years of campaigning by prison abolitionists and other opponents of mass incarceration, the New York City Council is moving forward with an $8 billion plan to shut down Rikers for good, replacing the massive complex with smaller facilities spread throughout four of the city’s five boroughs. (Activists oppose the construction of those new jails too.) For now, with the shut-down process in its early phases and bogged down by numerous hurdles, Rikers is still standing, and those of us who have friends and family inside its walls must continue to make the arduous journey to visit them. And trust me, it’s arduous . The entire system seems set up to make visitation as difficult as possible, but I’ll explain it, step-by-step, to prepare anyone who finds themself needing to make that trip.

The first time we go visit David, my boyfriend and I leave south Brooklyn at 11:30 a.m. It’s a little after 1 p.m. by the time we get up to 21st Avenue in Queens to catch the special Q100 bus to Rikers. The sign that welcomes you to the island is a gaudy hodgepodge of patriotic symbols, and one big banner declares the prison “ Home of New York City’s Boldest .” We cross the bridge, taking in a panoramic view of the city before the jail complex’s jutting walls and strands of razor wire come into view.

Once the bus stops, a corrections officer comes onboard and reads off a list of items that are considered contraband, telling us to leave any such items on the bus, no questions asked. We go into the first security building, where we are lined up on opposite sides of an invisible line and sniffed at by a hulking police dog. The atmosphere that greets us as soon as we enter the complex suggests that we — the visitors — are on thin ice too, and any wrong move would cost us. It’s nerve-racking.

We file back out into the cold to another building. A guard points us to rows of creaky yellow lockers and tells us to stow our personal possessions — phones, toiletries, purses, Metrocards. We’re ushered into yet another building to go through the first of three rounds of metal detectors. I was especially nervous about this step because of Rikers’s notoriously strict dress code . Clothing is strictly policed , and showing up in anything deemed too tight, revealing, or the wrong color will cost you a visit unless you consent to wear a “cover-up garment” — an oversized neon T-shirt . I was mostly concerned about the restriction on jewelry; only wedding rings and religious necklaces are permitted, and I currently have 13 piercings on my face and body. The day before, I swapped out my metal pieces for glass retainers, and was hoping the guards wouldn’t notice them. Luckily, I make it through, though I am still unsure what threat a nose ring could possibly pose.

We then register with a corrections officer, turning over our IDs, giving our fingerprints (which is apparently optional but I was too nervous to risk gumming up the process), and taking a photo. The officer prints out paper passes with our photo, names, and David’s information and tells us to go wait for another bus. TMZ is blaring on a wall-mounted TV. There’s no indication of when the bus is coming, and no one provides us with any further directions, so we continue to follow along behind more seasoned visitors like anxious ducklings.

The bus to the Robert N. Davoren Center finally shows up, and the drive takes two minutes; we literally just cross a parking lot. We line up outside the door, waiting in below-freezing temperatures. Once inside, we’re ushered into a small room papered with warnings about smuggling in contraband. Eventually, the doors are unlocked and one by one we present our papers again, go through yet another metal detector, have our hands stamped with U.V.-light ink, and enter another waiting room with more lockers where we store our jackets (you’re only allowed to have one layer of clothing in the visiting room).

At this point, I tell one officer that I’m entitled to a two-hour visit because I’m traveling from out of state. He peers at my New Jersey state ID and my Chinatown bus receipt, and denies my request. I remove my belt and shoes a final time to pass through the last metal detector, following a female officer’s request to pull the band of my bra away from my body, pull up my pants legs, and pull down my socks. I pass into the final waiting room, consumed with anxiety as I wait for my boyfriend to join me.

By Ashleigh Carter

By Angie Jaime

By Kristi Kellogg

Inside, a big wall-mounted flat screen is stuck on an empty PowerPoint slide. The other visitors, most of whom are women, stare at the walls. The majority are wearing sweatpants or jeans with plain, neutral-colored shirts. I realize why so many women are wearing Uggs; slip-on shoes would’ve saved us a lot of time. After a few minutes, an officer calls out our friend’s last name. We enter another room and wait.

The grim beige walls are painted with inspirational slogans like “loyalty is royalty.” Across the room, couples hold fast to each other, some sneaking kisses when the officers aren’t looking. Most of the other pairs seem to be in romantic relationships, though there are a few kids there visiting family.

Finally, finally, we get to talk to our friend face-to-face. A low row of plexiglass runs down the middle of the bench, separating us from David and making it awkward to hold hands. He says he’s doing as well as he can. We quickly fall back into our normal patterns, and for a minute, it feels like we’re back at the bar or sitting around my kitchen table — just three people laughing and catching up. Then I reach for my phone to show him some dumb meme, and remember it’s locked up. Reality comes rushing back. Nine months to go.

Our allotted hour passes far too quickly. After what feels like no time at all, an officer strides by and barks, “Visiting time is over! Now!” We hug David tight and tell him we’ll be back soon. As we board the bus, Ginuwine’s “Pony” is playing on the radio, which feels both pleasantly bizarre and unspeakably ghoulish. When we get back to the locker room, I turn on my phone to check the time: 4:17 p.m. We’d somehow been in there for three hours.

With hearts both full and empty at the same time, we head back outside to wait for the Q100. Back over the bridge. Back to our subway stop. Back to our freedom. And next month, we’ll be back to do it all again, until the day we can bring him back over the bridge — away from this hopeless island — with us.

Editor’s note: In an email to Teen Vogue , the Department of Corrections said that a visitor handbook with “all visitor-related information” is available online, and that the security protocols are “designed to ensure the safety and security of DOC personnel, people in our custody, and visitors. The DOC also said they’ve tried to “improve the visiting experience” through measures like creating the visitor handbook and providing children visiting their facilities with crayons and drawing books.

Want more from Teen Vogue ? Check this out: What the Prison-Abolition Movement Wants

Stay up-to-date on the 2020 election. Sign up for the Teen Vogue Take !

By Emily Bloch

By Max Felker-Kantor

By Israel Garcia

By Tracie McMillan

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Rikers Island - Taylor Visitation Center

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General Facility Information

Visitation table of contents.

• What can I expect when visiting.
• Can I bring my inmate anything in the visiting room?
• Can I request longer visitations with the facility?
• Where can I get a visitation application for NYC DOC - Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center (EMFC)? - Click to download.
• What are some of the do’s and don’ts of visitation?
• Visiting an Inmate - 10 easy steps you should know.
• First time in prison?
• A day in the life of a prisoner.
• How to quickly locate your transferred inmate?
• Visiting day at a prison - Things you should be aware of.

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General Visitation Information

NYC DOC - Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center (EMFC) - Visitation

Visit an Inmate

• Visitors will be subject to passive canine searches when arriving to the Rikers Island Visit Control Building or the Borough facilities, or any other facility including the Hospital Prison Wards.
• All visitors 16 years of age and older must present valid current identification that contains a photograph and signature. Acceptable forms of identification for all visitors are listed below.
• Children under the age of 16 who are accompanied by an adult over 18 are not required to present any identification at all.
• A 16-year-old or 17-year old with valid identification may accompany a child under the age of 16 if he or she is the parent of that child and the inmate being visited is also the parent of the same child. In this case, the 16- or 17-year-old must produce a birth certificate for the child under the age of 16.

Acceptable Forms of Identification From any state or territory in the U.S.:

• Current driver’s license
• Valid Employment ID card with photo AND most recent employment paycheck/stub
• DMV Non-driver license identification card

Other Acceptable Forms of Identification

• Resident alien or a permanent resident card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice
• Passport (from any country)
• NYS benefits identification card (Medicaid/food stamp photo ID)
• U.S. Armed Services identification
• Consulate-issued or diplomatic identification

If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor Visit Schedule - Last year, nearly 100,000 New Yorkers were remanded to the New York City Department of Correction and on an average day, about 13,500 people are detained in our facilities. Most of them stay here on Rikers Island, where we also host as many as 1,500 visitors daily. We recognize how important it is for inmates and their families and friends to maintain contact with one another. We want your visits to be as pleasant as possible, so we are working to speed up the visit process, strengthen security, improve the Central Control Visit Building and provide information to help you plan your visits. Our mission at every location is to ensure the humane care, custody and control of everyone who is in a New York City jail and to support them in their preparation for release. We offer a variety of programs and services in each of our facilities and partner with other city agencies and non-governmental organizations to sustain their successful transition back into our community. Visit Schedule - The visit schedule is based on the first letter of inmates' last names. Visitors should check the visitation schedule to be sure their friend or family member is eligible for a visit on a specific day. Registration and Visit Hours There are no visits on Mondays and Tuesdays Wednesday and Thursday Registration hours for all facilities on Rikers Island as well as for the Brooklyn Detention Complex in downtown Brooklyn, the Manhattan Detention Complex in downtown Manhattan and the Vernon C. Bain Center in the Bronx on Wednesdays and Thursdays are from 1:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. Visits are permitted from 1:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 8:00 p.m. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday Registration hours for the above facilities on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays are from 7:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visits will begin no earlier than 8:00 a.m. and end at 4:00 p.m., but visitors must register by 2:00 p.m. (Please note: the start of visiting hours can be delayed due to unforeseen circumstances.) Number of Visits and Visitors Inmates are permitted to visit with up to three (3) visitors at the same time, with the maximum number to be determined by conditions set forth in each facility, availability of space and volume of visitors/inmates. Detainees may receive visits three (3) times per week. Sentenced inmates may receive visits two (2) times per week. All inmates are limited to one (1) visit session per visit day, regardless of the number of visitors in that session. Visitors' Dress Code - To provide for the safety and security of Department staff, inmates and visitors and to maintain a family-friendly environment, visitors must wear appropriate clothing to visit inmates. Overly suggestive clothing and clothing in which contraband and non-permissible items can be hidden are not permitted. When meeting with an inmate, visitors may only wear a single layer of clothing (except those visitors required to wear a cover-up garment) and NO ACCESSORIES. Visitors WILL NOT be permitted onto the visit floor of a jail if they are wearing any of the following:

• Clothing with holes or rips that are located more than three inches above the knee
• Hooded garments
• Hats and head coverings (excluding religious head coverings)
• Clothing identifying a specific gang by name or logo
• Clothing that makes explicit reference to obscene language, drugs, sex or violence
• Swimming attire
• See-through garments
• Jewelry (excluding a wedding ring and one religious medal no more than two inches in diameter hung on the chain of one-quarter-inch or less in diameter and no longer than 24 inches
• Tops, including dresses, which expose the chest, stomach or back
• Shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is more than three inches above the knee
• Spandex leggings unless covered by tops, shorts, skirts or dresses the hem of which is no more than three inches above the knee
• Outer garments including coats, shawls, ponchos, jackets, vests, gloves, or over-boots or overshoes (outer boots or shoes that slip over other shoes)
• Visitors must wear undergarments.

Visitors whose attire violates the dress code will be permitted a contact visit if they agree to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department. Visitors who refuse to wear a cover-up garment provided by the Department will be denied a visit.

Acceptable Forms of Identification

From any state or territory in the U.S.:

• Current drivers license
• Resident alien or permanent resident card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice

If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor

Visiting with Children

We recommend that families with children under the age of 6 come at the following times: 2:00pm - 5:00pm on Wednesday and Thursday 7:00am - 10:30am Friday-Sunday During these suggested times DOC staff will do their best to expedite families with small children through the line at the Benjamin Ward Visit Center. If you have a child under 6, please speak to the visit greeters located in the central visit area. Strollers without electronic or GPS features are permitted to be brought into the facilities. If your stroller has electronic or GPS features, there is an area outside of the central visit area where you can secure your stroller. You must bring your own lock and chain in order for you to secure the stroller. You are permitted to bring two clear plastic baby bottles, one baby blanket, one bib and diapers with you into the facilities. No glass containers will be permitted. On the visit floor you will only be permitted to bring 1 blanket, 1 plastic bottle and 1 baby bib. Extra diapers and all other items can be stowed in a locker at the visit waiting area at each facility.

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Visiting an inmate in New York City

Visiting applications and rules for visiting new york city/rikers island inmates.

When a family member or close friend goes to jail and cannot be bailed out immediately, one of the first things people want to do is visit the inmate.  Before you can visit your inmate in one of the jails in New York City or Rikers Island you will need to know a few important things:

• All visitors who are over 16 are required to present a valid photo ID that also contains a signature.  Acceptable forms of identification are a current valid driver's license, employment ID that includes a photo and signature, a state identification card, a passport, U.S. Military ID, or resident alien/permanent resident card issues by the United States Department of Justice.
• All minors must be accompanied by an adult.  If the minor is under 16 years old they will not be required to provide identification.
• All visitors must pass through a metal detector and may be searched upon entering into the visitation area.
• Never try to give the inmate an unauthorized item during visitation.  This will result in disciplinary actions and possible criminal charges against you.
• Never bring drugs, or weapons into a correctional facility, this will result in your arrest.
• You are allowed to bring personal items into an inmate as long as they adhere to the criteria outlined here .  You are allowed to bring certain jewelry, clothing, and stationary supplies but they must not violate the departments directive found here .

Dress Code for Visitors of New York City Jails and Rikers Island Facilities

For the safety and security of visitors, inmates, and staff, all visitors are required to follow a strict dress code.  Failure to follow the dress code will result in a denial of visitation.  We recommend you always bring a change of clothes that you leave in your car just in case an item of clothing you are wearing is deemed inappropriate you will be able to quickly change.

• When visiting you must refrain from talking to other visitors and inmates other then the one you are their to visit.
• Visitors may only wear a single layer of clothing when they enter the visiting area.  Multiple layer clothing is not allowed as it can be used to smuggle contraband.
• Any pants, shorts, skirts, or dresses must come no higher than three inches above the knee.
• No clothing is allowed if it has holes or rips above the knees.
• No hats, sunglasses or items that cover the face are allowed to be worn, unless it is for religious purposes (in which case it may still be removed and searched).
• Do not wear jewelry to visitation, it can set off the metal detector and is generally not allowed.
• Bathing suits and swim attire is not allowed, this includes flip-flops, sandals and slippers.
• Visitors may not wear Spandex or leggings unless they are covered by additional clothing that comes to no more than three inches above the knees.
• You may not visit while wearing coats, shawls, jackets, gloves, ponchos, or vests.  Dressing in layers is not allowed.
• Any clothing that exposes the midriff, back, shoulders, cleavage, thighs or other excessive skin is not allowed.
• Sheer and see-through clothes are not allowed.
• Clothing that contains offensive language or images is prohibited.
• Uniforms, including doctors, nurses, military etc are not allowed to be worn for security reasons.
• Clothing that is gang related is prohibited.
• Hooded clothes are not allowed.
• All visitors are required to wear underwear.
• Cover up garments will be provided if an item of clothing you are wearing violates the dress code, refusal to wear it will result in a denial of visitation.

If you have a question, or have already visited an inmate in a New York City Jail and would like to share your experience, or if you know of some other useful information related to visiting an inmate in New York City, leave us a comment below.

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Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center COVID-19 Coronavirus Visitation Policy

Rikers island - eric m. taylor center.

Address: 10-10 Hazen Street East Elmhurt, NY 11370 Phone: 718-546-5720

New Visitation Policies in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center Due to COVID-19 Coronavirus

Because of concerns for the safety and wellness of both staff and inmates at the Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center in East Elmhurt, New York, contact visits of any type may be suspended. Even if they have visits, from time to time, face masks may be required.

Approved Non-contact visits with family, friends and the inmate’s lawyers may still be allowed when at-home or onsite video visitation is not available, however given that new guidelines are changing daily please check the visitation page or call 718-546-1500 for updates.

Video Visitation at Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center

At-home and onsite video visitation guidelines for Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, when this service is available, can be found by going to the visitation information page .

We highly recommend that you call 718-546-1500 first for any changes due to staff shortages or other unforeseen circumstances, including whether your inmate has become ill and is unable to be in the general population where video kiosks are available.

How Long Will These Changes Last?

Experts in the study of the COVID-19 are anticipating that spread of the virus will be a ongoing concern for New York County, the state of New York and the entire United States until well into 2024 and maybe even beyond. We are witnessing the virus becoming more contagious, but less deadly over time. Many people think that the 'more contagious, but less deadly' variants will infect so many people that a higher level of natural immunity for the majority of Americans will be the end result.

Will the Inmates in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center Be Safe from Getting Sick With COVID-19 Coronavirus?

Whether the inmates are safe from contracting the coronavirus depends entirely on two things:

• The Virus being introduced into the facility by a staff member or inmate who is unaware that they have it.
• How easily it spreads.

At this stage most people who get the coronavirus show very few symptoms beyond what you might experience with a bad cold or a mild case of the common flu. Newer variants are turning out to be less deadly than the common flu we experience every year.

Studies that have been done are showing that the hardest hit are those 60 years of age and older, those with pre-existing medical issues like diabetes, leukemia or obese individuals. Young men and women rarely become very ill, and when they do, seem to recover quickly.

Given the close proximity of inmates and staff to each other in this lockup, it is going to be very difficult to prevent the spread of COVID-19 once it is introduced into the facility as the virus can spread via the microscopic vapor that we release every time we speak, cough or sneeze.

We will continuously update this page as the virus changes and new policies are instituted.

How to Rent a Tablet for an Inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center

To rent a tablet for an inmate in New York County follow these instructions:

• Register here .  It is recommended you use Chrome or Firefox.
• Pay for the subscription using Paypal.
• You get charged the 1st of each month. 
• You get charged a full month even if it's only used for a partial month.
• No activation or early termination fees.
• Your New York County inmate will recieve their tablet in 3-5 business days, after you pay.

• Call -  800-844-6591 or 972-734-1111 .
• Email -  [email protected]

For all New York County information on Tablet Rentals for your inmate, check out our  Tablet Rental  Page.

How do you Visit an Inmate in NYC Rikers or other Correctional facilities?

To lean about inmate visitation in the NYC Correction Department, read the following:

TELEVISITING (Remote Visitation)

Televisiting will take place from 8:00am to 2:00pm on Saturday, and 8:00am to 2:00pm on Sunday. Televisiting follows the Department's existing in-person visit schedule, which organizes visit days based on the first letter of the person in custody's last name. Please refer to the Visit Schedule in order to determine which day of the week you may visit your loved one.

VISIT SCHEDULE (changes monthly)

In-person visits will take place Wednesday and Thursday afternoons from 2:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.- and Friday mornings from 8:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Visitors need to arrive 1 hour prior to their scheduled visit time. Visits will follow the existing visitor schedule according to the last name of the individual in custody.

To learn more about the Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center inmate visitation procedures, polices and schedules, which change monthly, check out our Inmate Visitation Page .

How Inmates in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, Rikers Island and the entire NYC DOC Jail System Make Phone Calls

To find out how Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center makes phone calls, read this information:

• Inmates in the Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center can make 21 minutes worth of domestic calls every three hours, with no call going longer than 15 minutes.
• Inmates in Segregation get less time, and only once a day maximum.
• There is a fee if an inmate wants to buy more phone calling time when incarcerated in the NYC DOC.

For all the information on how to buy time, using tablets to make calls, how much it costs and more, check out out  Inmate Phone  Page.

How to Deposit Money in the Account of an NYC DOC Inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center

To deposit money in the commissary account of an NYC DOC inmate, follow these instructions:

• You can deposit money online using Jpay , Western Union or Moneygram. The money can also be used for bail.
• You can mail a money order of cashier's check into Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center.
• You can deposit cash into a kiosk that is located in the Vernon C. Bain Center in the Bronx.

For all the information, including links to all of the online deposit methods and addresses fo mailing money orders, check out our  Send Money  Page.

What is the Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center?... Where is it Located?... Who is in Jail There? ... How Many Inmates are There?

• Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center is one of twelve jails in the New York City Department of Correction.
• There are 2351 beds in the facility.
• There are over 47020 of Bookings every year.

For all the information about Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, how to reach an inmate there, how to find out if the inmate is there, or where he went when he was released, check out our  Family Info  Page.

How to Mail, What Can you Mail and What Can't you Mail to an Inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, or Rikers Island or NYC DOC Inmates

To understand the Mail Policies for Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center requires a lot of time and attention as NYC DOC Jails are some of the most permissive in America.

1. Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center allows unlimited mail. 2. They allow packages to be sent in to inmates. 3. They allow magazines, newspapers and books to be sent direct from friends and family. 4. They allow clothing, jewelry, art supplies and all kinds of stuff to be sent to inmates.

In short, to fully understand the Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center and see the full list of things you can mail to an inmate, check out our  Inmate Mail  Page.

How to Look Up an Inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, Rikers Island or the NYC DOC Jail System.

To look up an inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center or any of the New York City Department of Correction follow these instructions:

1. Proceed to the NYC DOC Inmate Locator Page . 2. Type in the inmate's first name, last name or case and book number. 3. If you just type in the first name or last name, you will see a list of every inmate that uses that name. 4. Select your inmate from that list.

For full instructions on how to interpret the information on the Inmate Search Locator including criminal charges, bail, court dates and more, check out our  Mugshots  Page.

How to Order Commissary for Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center, Rikers Island or NYC Jails

Instructions for ordering commissary for Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center will soon be announced. The New York City Department of Correction is rolling out a new commissary system in the Spring of 2022. Inmates will be able to order commissary directly and have it delivered from an outside vendor. Stay tuned for updates.

This jailhouse 'Uber Eats' system will be replacing the current commissary system.

Stay tuned by checking out our  Commissary  Page for Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center

How to Bail out an Inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center or any NYC or Rikers Island Jail

To Bail out an inmate in Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center or a New York City Jail follow these instructions:

1. You can post bail either online or in person. 2. To post bail online or in person you need the exact name your inmate used when arrested, and their book and case number. You can find this information here . 3. You can use one of multiple payment systems online.... Western Union , Moneygram or Jpay . 4. In person bail payments must be made in Brooklyn, Queens or the Bronx. 5. Personal checks or Money Orders exceeding $1,000 will NOT be accepted for bail.

For the complete information on how to bail out someone from Rikers Island - Eric M. Taylor Center or any Rikers island or NYC Jail, check out our  Inmate Bail  Page.

Photos of this facility

Inmate Search New York County & City of East Elmhurt

Inmate search state of new york and federal lockups, rikers island eric m. taylor center - contact information.

How to Get to Rikers Island

by Beverly Bird

Published on 23 Aug 2018

Whether a loved one is being held there or you have to visit for other reasons, a trip to Rikers Island definitely isn’t a day at the country club. The island itself totals about 400 acres, and the various prison complexes located there take up much of this land. More than 13,000 inmates and detainees call the place home on any given day, and they receive up to 1,500 visitors on each visiting day. Expect crowds, some waiting and some less-than-pleasant conditions depending on when you visit.

How to get there

There’s only one way on and off Rikers Island: the Rikers Island Bridge. This helps to keep the prison secure, but it can also give visitors fits. The New York City Department of Correction recommends that you take the bus to Rikers: the Q101 from Manhattan, which delivers you directly to the Rikers Island entrance at Hazen Street and 19th Avenue in Queens. From there, transfer to the Q100 line, which takes you over the bridge to the Visit Center.

If you’re determined to drive instead, anticipate having to hunt – and hunt hard – for a parking space. Parking is extremely limited. Take the Triboro Bridge from the Bronx or Manhattan to Queens. If you’re starting out from Brooklyn or Staten Island, take the Brooklyn-Queens Expressway. In either case, exit at Astoria Boulevard.

Stay alert at that point because the route you must travel has a few twists and turns that come up at short intervals. Bear left on Astoria Boulevard to access 23rd Avenue, then hang a left on 82nd Street and a right on 81st Street, which becomes 19th Avenue. Turn right again at the first traffic light. This puts you on Hazen Street, where the Rikers parking lot is located. You’ll still need to catch the Q100 bus from there to get from the parking lot to the Visit Center.

When to visit

You can visit Rikers five days a week, Wednesday through Sunday. There are no visiting hours on Mondays or Tuesdays.

That’s the easy part. New York City sets a visiting schedule for inmates and detainees, so you can’t just show up at any time on a visiting day and expect to see who you want to see. Check the city’s website for the schedule to find out when your loved one is permitted to receive visitors. The schedule is based on the first letter of his last name, and it can change monthly. You can usually get the schedule on the website for the current month and a month in advance.

Visiting hours are from 1 to 9 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and from 8 a.m. until 4 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays, but you can expect occasional delays depending on what’s going on at the prison that day.

Security issues and rules

Go first to the Registration Center to check in. You must register before 8 p.m. on Wednesdays and Thursdays and between 7 a.m. and 2 p.m. on Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays. Inmates are limited to one visit per day.

You must pass through a “passive” canine search after you’ve registered; in other words, a dog will sniff around your body for hints of contraband. Provide current identification that includes both a photo and your signature. A driver’s license, employer ID card or nondriver’s license ID will suffice if it has both. Otherwise, a passport is acceptable, as well as a Medicare or Food Stamp ID for the state of New York, a U.S. Armed Services ID Card, a resident alien or permanent resident ID card issued by the U.S. Department of Justice, a diplomatic or consulate-issued ID or an IDNYC card. Children under the age of 16 do not need ID if they’re accompanied by an adult over age 18. A visitor who is 16 or 17 may accompany a minor who is the child of both the visitor and the inmate. In this case, a birth certificate is required to prove it.

Seasonal considerations

Keep in mind that this is an old, somewhat decrepit facility. Yes, there’s air conditioning and heat – at least in visiting areas – but the prison is known to become uncomfortably hot in the summer and frigid in the winter because it’s constructed mostly of concrete and steel. Whatever the weather is outside tends to get trapped inside, resulting in temperature extremes even indoors. Dress lightly if you visit during summer, and wear a sweater if it’s wintertime.

Remember, there’s only that one bridge on and off the island. It’s been known to become impassable in snowy conditions. Flooding of the facilities is common in any heavy rain- or snowstorm.

Then there’s the smell

The facilities on Rikers Island are built over a giant landfill. Initially, the island comprised only 87 acres, which simply wasn’t enough room. The problem was rectified by expanding it with more than 300 acres of ash and garbage. Garbage smells. It produces methane gas as it decomposes. Be prepared to hold your nose against the aroma that’s reportedly reminiscent of rotting eggs. It’s more pervasive on some days than others.

• Visit a Person in Custody
• Visit Schedule
• Visit Transportation
• Visiting with Children
• Visitors' Dress Code
• Visitor Satisfaction Survey

Inmate Visit Schedule - November 2021 A-L = Visits open to inmates whose last name begins with any letter between A and L, inclusive.

M-Z = Visits open to inmates whose last name begins with any letter between M and Z, inclusive.

A-Z = Visits open to all inmates.

--- = Closed, No visits today. ADVISORY: * Thanksgiving Day (11-25-21)         Registration Hours changed to 7:00 am - 2:00 pm         Visitation Hours changed to 8:00 am - 4:00 pm