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NYC DOC – Brooklyn Detention Complex (BKDC) basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 718-546-0700
This facility is for adult inmates.
The BKDC (originally the Brooklyn House of Detention) is a city jail facility that can hold up to 815 male inmates in its single cells. Most of the population is made up of detainees undergoing the intake process or awaiting trial in Kings or Richmond County.
In 2017, New York City committed to closing the jails on Rikers Island and creating a network of modern borough-based jails instead. The BKDC was designated as one of the jails that be used to replace Rikers. In August 2018, the city released a Draft Scope of Work to outlining their plan for the new jail, which would tear down the existing 162,000 sq ft. facility and replace it with a building eight times as large and up to 40 stories tall.
Inmate Calls – As of May 2, 2019, all inmate calls are free. Inmates are now entitled to 21 minutes of free phone privileges every three hours. Individual calls can last up to 15 minutes each, and even dangerous prisoners locked up in solitary confinement get a single, daily call of up to 15 minutes.
Inmate Rulebook
The inmate rulebook contains the rules that you must follow and describes the process if you violate these rules. The rules fall into several general categories:
- Do not start fires
- Do not attempt to escape
- Do not fight or assault anyone
- Do not possess contraband, including weapons, drugs, tobacco, electronics, and other non-permissible items,
- Do not lead or participate in riots, demonstrations, barricades, or hostage situations
- Do not gamble
- Do not bribe or extort anyone
- Do not tamper with security devices
- Do not tamper with documents
- Do not damage city property
- Do not disrupt programs or otherwise conduct yourself in a disorderly manner
- Provide identification when asked
- Do not give false statements
Follow all instructions from staff If you violate any of these rules, you will be served with a notice of infraction and will receive a due process hearing. At the hearing, you may present a defense before an adjudication captain. The adjudication captain will find you guilty or not and, if you are found guilty, will determine what the sanction will be. Sanctions include surcharges, reprimands, and sentences to punitive segregation time.
visitation Info
NYC DOC – Brooklyn Detention Complex Center – Visitation
Visit an Inmate
- Visitors will be subject to passive canine searches when arriving at 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
- IDNYC card
If you have any questions while at a facility, please ask a Correction Officer or Supervisor
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 the Brooklyn Detention Complex in downtown Brooklyn are 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 are 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 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
- Uniforms
- 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.