Suffolk County – Riverhead Correctional Facility

Suffolk County – Riverhead Correctional Facility basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 631-852-2200

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Suffolk County – Riverhead Correctional Facility is a medium-security detention center located at 100 Center Dr S Riverhead, NY which is operated locally by the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Suffolk County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Riverhead Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Suffolk County Correctional System is operated with an average daily population of over 1,300 inmates, is the fourth largest local jail system in the state and consists of a maximum-security wing, built in phases commencing in 1966 and a newer medium-security building completed in 1987. This building has a square footage of 298,592. Riverhead has a design capacity of 769 cells. All specialized beds for mental observation and segregation are located here as well.

A second facility is located in Yaphank. The Yaphank facility has a design capacity of 804 and houses most of the system’s sentenced males in dormitory-style housing. Originally constructed in 1959, there were housing additions in 1982, 1986, 1987 and 2013.

On the same grounds is a third unit, a 54-bed D.W.I. Alternative Facility, which was opened in 1987 to reduce overcrowding and recidivism among D.W.I./Substance abuse offenders. This facility is constructed primarily of modular trailers.

All told, the facilities require approximately 900 Correction Officers to provide security, programming, and management services to the total inmate population of more than 1,300. Beyond this number are other categories of Suffolk County Sheriff's Office employees who are assigned to other divisions but play critical roles in the day-to-day management of the jails including staff who transport inmates to and from court, information technology, and criminal identification bureau. These figures also do not include the clinical and administrative staff of the County’s Health Department who provide medical, mental health, and dental care within the facilities.

Inmates typically enter the system in one of four ways. Persons who are arrested for crimes in the western part of the county are typically brought to the local police substations first. They are then transferred to a holding area adjacent to District Court in Islip where they are processed and then arraigned. If committed to jail, the Suffolk County Sheriff's Office then transports the post-arraigned defendant to Riverhead, where they are admitted into the jail system. Individuals arrested on the East end are first taken to local justice courts and then transported after arraignment to Riverhead. Probation/parole violators are typically brought directly to Riverhead to await revocation proceedings unless they are arrested on new charges in which case they will enter the system just as any new arrestee would.

If the inmate has a common name add his/her date of birth on the envelope.

Packages and Money:
When mailing packages and/or money, please send only items that are allowed by regulations. Prohibited or excess items will be returned to you at the inmate's expense or disposed of if not remitted within the required time frame. Contraband items may result in prosecution.

Please note: No pockets or drawstrings are permitted on the clothing listed below:

2 Females – Night Gowns – Plain and White Only
7 Females – Sports Bras – No Metal
2 Sweat Shirts – Green or White
2 Sweat Pants – Green or White
2 Gym Shorts – Green or White
7 Tee Shirts – White Only
2 Towels – 2' by 4' Maximum Size – White
2 Set of Thermals – White or Off White
5 Books – Paperback Only
5 Magazines
2 Newspapers – Current
15 Photos – 5"x7" Maximum Size – No Polaroid
1 Prayer Rug
1 Kuffi – Green or White
1 Wedding Band – Plain

Type of Funds Accepted:
ONLY CASH AND MONEY ORDERS WILL BE ACCEPTED
PERSONAL CHECKS ARE NOT ACCEPTED

visitation Info

Suffolk County Jail (Riverhead) – Visitation

ANY VISITOR INTRODUCING CONTRABAND INTO THE FACILITY WILL BE PROSECUTED. Drug sniffing dogs patrol inside the facilities and on the grounds.

The following information pertains to the Riverhead and Yaphank Correctional Facilities.  Information regarding the D.W.I. Alternative Facility visiting schedule can be obtained by calling 631-852-1893 or 631-852-1894.  

Visiting hours for the Riverhead and Yaphank facilities are Tuesday thru Saturday beginning at 2:30 p.m.        
There are four sessions per day: 2:30-3:30pm, 4:00-5:00pm, 6:45-7:45pm, 8:15-9:15pm

Reservations for these sessions may be made in advance by calling 631-852-1893 or 631-852-1894, Monday–Friday 8 am to 11am or 12 pm to 4 pm. Call at least 24 hrs in advance and for the current week only. You must be at least 18 years old to schedule a visit.

Please be ready to provide the reservationist with the following information:

• Your full name.
• Your date of birth.
• Contact phone number.

Any other identifying information you may be asked for. If you do not have a reservation, a “walk-in” visit may be possible depending on availability. Walk-in visitors must adhere to the established schedule.

Visiting is scheduled by the first initial of the Inmate’s last name as follows:

Session	Odd Days	Even Days
2:30-3:30	B-E-Z	D-S-V
4:00-5:00	M-P-Q-X	F-G-J-Y
6:45-7:45	C-K-W	L-N-T
8:15-9:15	O-U-R	A-H-I

Inmates may have up to two (2) one-hour visits per week.  Inmates are permitted only two (2) visitors and two (2) small children at the same time into the visiting room. You may split the visit time among several individuals allowing a maximum of six (6) visitors per visit period. Once your visit time is over, you must leave the facility.

You must be at least 18 years old to schedule and/or visit alone. Persons under the age of 18 must be accompanied by their legal guardian at all times while on facility property. An original Birth Certificate or Court documentation is required for all children.

Every adult visitor must present valid photo identification

Examples of photo I.D. that are accepted are: New York State issued driver’s license, learner’s permit or a non-driver photo I.D., a photo driver’s license issued by another state, or jurisdiction, a U.S. Military photo I.D. card, a U.S. passport, and a foreign passport.  Other forms of valid Government issued I.D. may be accepted at the discretion of the Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office Visiting personnel. 
 

WHAT TO EXPECT UPON ARRIVAL AT THE FACILITY AND PRIOR TO YOUR VISIT

Arrive at least 30 minutes prior to the scheduled visiting session to allow for processing. Visitors who arrive late may not be processed for a visit.  Upon arrival Check-in at the Facility’s entrance booth.

Park in the designated visitor parking area only.  Remain in your vehicle or the sheltered waiting area until your designated visiting time. Once you have entered the facility, it will take approximately 30 minutes to process you for entrance into the visiting room. Please be patient and remain seated in the waiting area until an officer calls the name of the inmate you wish to see.      

Every effort will be made to accommodate all persons who are handicapped or need assistance.

The following items are not permitted into the visiting waiting area:

Tobacco products, Matches, Lighters, Food, Drinks, or Gum.

For your convenience, a locker will be assigned to you. You must place all your personal property in it.

In accordance with NYSCOC Minimum Standards Section 7008, visitors are subject to being searched for contraband. In order to expedite your visit please follow all posted regulations and the directions of all officers. You will be required to successfully pass through a metal detector and meet dress requirements. You should avoid wearing clothing that contains multiple zippers, metal appliqués or bras with metal under wire. All contents from all pockets on your clothing should be removed. These and similar items may prevent you from being able to pass the metal detector. Your shoes must be removed and passed through the x-ray machine.

The following items are not permitted into the visiting room:

Jewelry, piercings, earrings, watches, bracelets of any kind, wallets, keys, pocketbooks, money, papers, writing utensils, hats, coats, vests, sweaters, layered clothing, hooded garments, beepers, phones, belts, hair scrunchies, hair clips, hair pins or any other item indicated by Correction Officers.

Your visit may be terminated for violation of facility rules. You will be denied your visit if you appear to be intoxicated or under the influence of drugs. You will also be denied a visit if you pose a threat to the safety, security or good order of the facility

Drug dogs patrol inside the facilities and on the grounds.  Any visitor caught with contraband or defacing facility property will be subject to arrest and will be barred from visiting or entering any facility properties.