Search Rochester Released Inmates
Rochester released inmates records are managed through the Monroe County Sheriff and the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Rochester is the third largest city in the state, and its jail system processes a high volume of bookings each year. If you need to find out whether someone was released from custody in the Rochester area, several free tools can help. The Monroe County Jail publishes a daily inmate roster, and the state DOCCS system tracks anyone who served time in a state prison. Both sources are open to the public at no cost.
Rochester Overview
Monroe County Handles Rochester Released Inmates
Rochester sits in Monroe County. All jail custody for the city runs through the Monroe County Sheriff's Office. The county jail at 130 Plymouth Ave South in Rochester holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. It has 1,217 beds and is one of the larger county jails in upstate New York.
When someone is arrested in Rochester, they go to the Monroe County Jail for booking and processing. The Rochester City Court handles local criminal cases, but the jail itself is a county operation. State law under New York Correction Law gives the sheriff authority over county jail operations, and that includes maintaining records of who is in custody and who has been released.
For more on how Monroe County manages inmate records and release data, see the full county page.
Monroe County Jail Information
The Monroe County Jail is the main holding facility for Rochester and the surrounding area. It sits right in downtown Rochester, close to the courts. The facility handles intake, housing, and release for thousands of people each year.
| Facility | Monroe County Jail |
|---|---|
| Address | 130 Plymouth Ave South Rochester, NY 14614 |
| Admin Phone | (585) 753-4300 |
| Visiting Info | (585) 753-4000 |
| Capacity | 1,217 beds |
| Website | Monroe County Jail Bureau |
The sheriff publishes a daily inmate roster in PDF format. This list comes out each weekday and shows who is currently in custody. You can use it to check if someone is still held or has been released. The roster is posted at monroecounty.gov and updates Monday through Friday.
If someone was in custody last week but no longer appears on the roster, that usually means they were released. The roster does not show release dates or the reason for release. For that kind of detail, you would need to call the jail directly or check state-level databases.
How to Search Released Inmates in Rochester
There are several ways to look up released inmates connected to Rochester. Each tool covers a different part of the system. Some track county jail records. Others cover state prison releases. Using more than one gives you a fuller picture.
The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup lets you search for anyone currently in a New York state prison. If the person served time in state custody and was released, they may appear in the DOCCS Parolee Lookup instead. Both tools are free and open to anyone. You just need a name to start your search.
For people held at the county level, the Monroe County inmate roster is the main resource. It shows current inmates. If the person you are looking for is not on the list, they may have been released, transferred, or bonded out. You can call the jail at (585) 753-4300 to ask about a specific person's status.
The Criminal History Record Search through the New York court system is another option. It pulls conviction records from courts across the state. This can confirm whether someone had a case in Rochester and what the outcome was. Court records under New York Judiciary Law are generally open to the public, so most criminal case results will show up in this search.
The Sex Offender Registry is a separate database run by the Division of Criminal Justice Services. If the person you are looking for was convicted of a qualifying offense, their record will appear there with a photo and current address. New York Correction Law Article 6-C requires registration for certain offenses, and the registry is public.
Released Inmates Notifications Through VINE
VINE is a free service that notifies you when an inmate is released. It works for both county jail and state prison custody in New York. You can sign up for alerts by phone, email, or text.
To use VINE for Rochester inmates, go to vinelink.com and select New York as the state. Then search by the person's name or ID number. Once you find the right record, you can register for notifications. The system will contact you when the person's custody status changes. This includes release, transfer, or escape.
VINE notifications are automated and go out as soon as a custody status changes. If you are concerned about your safety, register for VINE alerts so you know the moment someone is released from the Monroe County Jail or a state facility.
VINE is run by Appriss Safety and works with jails and prisons across the country. In New York, it covers all 62 counties and the state prison system. There is no fee to use it. You do not need to give a reason for wanting the notification.
Requesting Released Inmates Records Through FOIL
New York's Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to request government records, and that includes certain jail and prison records. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, agencies must make records available unless a specific exemption applies.
You can file a FOIL request with the Monroe County Sheriff to get details about a released inmate. This might include booking records, release dates, charges, and bail information. The sheriff has five business days to respond or tell you when the records will be ready. There may be a small fee for copies.
For state prison records, send your FOIL request to DOCCS. They handle records for anyone who served time in a state facility. The New York State Archives also holds older prison records that can be useful for historical research. If you need federal inmate records, the Federal Bureau of Prisons has its own inmate locator tool.
Monroe County Released Inmates Bureau
The Monroe County Sheriff's website provides access to the jail bureau page where you can find links to the daily inmate roster and visiting information. This is the primary local resource for checking custody status of people held in the Rochester area.
Nearby Cities
Rochester borders several other communities in Monroe County. These towns share the same county jail and court system. If you are looking for inmate records from this part of New York, the same Monroe County resources apply.
Greece is just north of Rochester and is one of the largest towns in the county. Irondequoit sits to the northeast. Both fall under Monroe County jurisdiction for jail and court matters.