Use these steps:

1. Open the Sheriff's inmate lookup.
2. Type the last name the way it would appear on a driver's license. Try a first name too if many results come up.
3. If an Inmate ID appears, write it down. The jail uses it for bail payments, and staff find records faster with it.
4. Note any charge and court shown, then compare it with what jail staff tell you.
5. Stuck? Call 585-268-9200. Staff at that general line can transfer you inside the jail.

The jail held an average of 71 people a day in 2025, and 848 bookings came through its doors that year, according to the Sheriff's annual report. With that steady flow, names come and go quickly, so check again later if you strike out.

Several things explain a blank result:

• Still being processed. After the drive to the jail, prints, pictures and forms eat up time.
• Already released. Twice a day, an arraignment court inside the jail lets many people go home. Others get a desk appearance ticket and never come in.
• Held somewhere else. An arrest just over the county line may lead to a neighboring jail. Federal or state agencies may move someone too.
• Too young. People under 18 are not placed in the adult jail.
• Spelling. Try a maiden name, a middle name, a hyphen or a nickname.

For an arrest that just happened, the county's 24-hour non-emergency dispatch line is 585-268-9600. During the day, the Sheriff's general line is 585-268-9200. You can also ask the department that made the arrest, listed in the last answer on this page.

The Sheriff runs the only adult jail in the county, and it also boards prisoners for federal and other agencies. If someone was picked up near a border, or by another county's officers, try these nearby jails:

• Cattaraugus County Jail, to the west: 301 Court St., Little Valley, NY 14755, Sheriff 716-938-9191
• Wyoming County Jail, to the north: 151 N Main Street, Warsaw, NY 14569, 585-786-8808
• Livingston County Jail, to the northeast: Sheriff's Office, 4 Court St, Geneseo, NY 14454, 585-243-7100
• Steuben County Jail, to the east: 7007 Rumsey Street Extension, Bath, NY 14810, 607-622-3901

Not sure? The Sheriff's Office at 585-268-9200 can usually say whether its deputies made the arrest or moved the person.

Expect a name search, not a photo gallery. Under Public Officers Law § 89(2)(b)(viii), handing out a mugshot invades privacy, unless doing so serves some concrete police purpose. That is why arrest photos are seldom released here.

• Reporters or anyone else with a need may ask the Sheriff's Office at 585-268-9200.
• To ask for photos held by ICE, use its FOIA request form.
• The U.S. Marshals Service seldom shares its own mugshots, though it may do so to help find a fugitive.

VINE, offered through the Sheriff, reports custody status for county jails statewide and for state prisons.

• Call 888-846-3469 (888-VINE-4-NY) any time. It works with a touch-tone phone.
• Or search and sign up on VINELink for alerts about release, transfer or escape.
• Registration is private. The person in custody is not told.

The Sheriff also has an iPhone app, Allegany County Sheriff NY, for office news. For a release time today, phone the jail at 585-268-9200.

Albany's 2020 bail overhaul, adjusted several times since, governs every judge here. Judges must release people charged with most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies, on their word or with conditions. Bail or remand is allowed only on serious "qualifying" charges (CPL 510.10(4)). Where cash bail is ordered, CPL 520.10 obliges the judge to name at least three forms. A bond needing little or no upfront cash must be among them.

Here, a judge at the twice-daily arraignment court in the jail usually decides. Card bail can be paid online through GovPayNet, pay location code 2328, with a 9% fee that is never refunded. Have ready the defendant's full name, date of birth, Inmate ID, the court, and the amount. Our bail and release page has every step.

Jail staff can read the charges to you over the phone at 585-268-9200. Ask for each charge and whether it is a felony or a misdemeanor.

• Felony: a serious crime, class A down to E. Prison is possible.
• Misdemeanor (class A or B): a smaller crime. Local jail time can't pass 364 days.
• Violation: not a crime, with at most 15 days in jail.

The court papers from arraignment list the exact charges, and the defense lawyer gets a copy. Final charging choices belong to the District Attorney's office: Courthouse, 7 Court Street, Room 333, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-9225.

Every defendant has a right to counsel at arraignment. Anyone who can't afford one gets one free.

• Public Defender: 7 Court Street, Suite 311, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-9246, open 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Conflict Defender, for cases the Public Defender can't take: County Office Building, Room 215, 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-9635.

Being held in jail is enough, under state guidelines, to presume a person qualifies. Families may still hire a private lawyer at any time. Tell the lawyer about any health needs, jobs or children that a judge should hear about.

Every visit must be booked ahead by calling 585-268-9428. Scheduling calls must be made by Sunday at 8 p.m. Walk-ins are taken only case by case.

• Right after booking: one 15-minute non-contact visit is allowed within 24 hours of admission.
• After classification, which takes 5 to 15 business days: two one-hour visits a week.
• Times the Sheriff's schedule lists: men on Tuesday at 12:30 and 4:45 p.m., Wednesday at 12:30, 2:00 and 4:45 p.m., and Thursday at 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. Women on Tuesday at 2:00 p.m. and Thursday at 4:45 p.m. Confirm your slot when you call.
• Arrive 15 minutes early with a driver's license or non-driver photo ID, or the visit is refused.
• Dress code: no large hoop earrings, hoodies, short skirts or midriff tops. Hats, jackets, bags, phones and keys go in lockers.
• Visitors under 18 need a parent or guardian beside them. Another adult needs a signed note from the guardian and the child's birth certificate each time.
• At the barrier: holding hands is allowed, plus a quick hug and closed-mouth kiss at the start and end. Nothing may be passed over.

The person inside may turn down any visit. Ask the visit line whether video visits are offered. More tips are in our visitation guide.

Account money pays for commissary items. Here are the ways the jail accepts:

• Mailed money order: payable to "Allegany County Sheriff's Office Commissary Account" and write the person's name on it as "in care of." Allow up to 10 days. Personal checks are refused, and the jail is not responsible for cash sent in the mail.
• Lobby kiosk: a deposit machine sits in the jail lobby.
• Online: use the deposit service linked from the Sheriff's jail page.

Money can't be left at the Sheriff's Office counter. Sending money to one inmate for another is against the rules and leads to discipline. Our money deposit guide and commissary guide cover more. Questions go to 585-268-9200.

Under 9 NYCRR 7002.8, each new arrival gets phone access, and staff must tell them so. The jail also runs a one-to-one tablet program. Each person gets a tablet for legal materials, classes and keeping in touch with family.

To set up calls or messages, phone 585-268-9200. Ask about setting up an account, the price per call, and video calls. Expect calls and messages to be recorded, so keep case details out of them. See the jail phone guide and the messages and email guide on our site for the usual setup.

Call 585-268-9200 before mailing anything. Ask for the exact address format and whether the Inmate ID belongs on the envelope.

State rules let people in jail write to anyone, with no cap on how many letters they get. Personal letters can be opened to search for contraband, though not read without a written order. Letters from lawyers and courts get opened only with the person watching (9 NYCRR 7004).

Items must be brand new, in sealed original packaging, and sent by mail or by a shipper such as UPS or FedEx. The jail allows:

• white underwear, white bras without underwire, white T-shirts with sleeves and white bath towels up to 30" by 56"
• thermal tops and bottoms
• softcover books, magazines without nudity, newspapers and blank puzzle books
• blank writing tablets, drawing pads up to 9" by 12" and softcover pocket calendars up to 4" by 6"
• DVDs, which become jail property

Anything else is sent back at the inmate's cost. Our mail guide has more tips.

Items collected at booking stay in jail storage until release. Phone 585-268-9200 to ask whether a family member can pick up items, what the person must sign, and when to come. Whoever picks up must show photo ID at 4884 State Route 19S, Belmont, NY 14813.

Nothing can be handed over during a visit. Clothing or books for someone inside must be mailed or shipped new.

New York's Civil Rights Law puts the duty of care for a prisoner's physical and mental health on the officers holding them. In 2025, the Sheriff's transport team made 37 trips to the hospital.

If you are worried, call 585-268-9200 right away. Give the person's name, the medicine and dose, and their doctor's name and number. Say so clearly if you fear a suicide risk. In an emergency, dial 911.

The HALT law limits long cell lockdowns. It shields young people up to 21 and adults 55 or older. It also shields anyone pregnant, anyone who just gave birth, and people with disabilities. For mental health help after release, the county's Community Services office is at 55 Chamberlain Street, Wellsville, NY 14895, 585-593-1991.

Deputies with the Sheriff's Office carry out warrants countywide. To ask if one is active, phone 585-268-9200. State Police postings are on the Wanted and Missing page. Cuba police keep an active warrants file, and the Wellsville Police Department lists wanted people under its Offenders menu. Each town or village court can also tell you about warrants its judge signed. The safest way to clear one is with a lawyer, who can schedule a voluntary appearance before the issuing judge or get a new date from the clerk. The felony court is County Court, 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-449-3462.

Each date comes from whichever court has the case.

• Felonies after indictment: County Court, 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813, chief clerk 585-449-3462, weekdays 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
• Misdemeanors, tickets and early felony steps: the town or village justice court named on the paperwork. The county court schedule page shows the night each one meets.
• Arraignments of people in custody: the court that sits twice daily at the jail. Call 585-268-9200.

The state's WebCrims search covers only certain courts, mostly downstate, so a call is the dependable route here. Our criminal court page lists every local court with its phone and court night.

Cases brought by U.S. agents here land in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of New York, Robert H. Jackson U.S. Courthouse, 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202, 716-551-1700.

1. Soon after arrest, a magistrate judge weighs pretrial release versus detention at a hearing (18 U.S.C. 3142).
2. Those kept in custody are U.S. Marshals Service prisoners. The local jail boards some of them. Ask the Marshals where someone is: 2 Niagara Square, Buffalo, NY 14202, 716-348-5300.
3. Search court filings with the PACER Case Locator.
4. After sentencing, the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator shows where they are serving time.

An immigration hold usually goes like this:

1. Immigration agents lodge a detainer (Form I-247A). This request would hold the person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released, so ICE can pick them up (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
2. Once ICE has them, a common next stop is 4250 Federal Drive, Batavia, NY 14020, ICE's Buffalo (Batavia) Service Processing Center. Detainee information: 585-344-6500, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
3. Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator using an A-number. Name plus country of birth also works.

State law narrows local cooperation. People ex rel. Wells v DeMarco (2018) found that sheriffs and police in New York lack authority under state law for civil immigration arrests. Honoring a detainer is optional, according to the Attorney General, who advises doing it only with a judicial warrant. Executive Law § 170-k, effective with the May 27, 2026 budget, bars 287(g) agreements, and all of them lapsed by August 25, 2026. Under Civil Rights Law § 28, nobody on the way to court, at court or headed home from it may be taken into civil custody unless a judicial warrant or court order authorizes it.

A felony sentence of over a year is served under the state Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. Once the county reports the person as ready for transfer, DOCCS gets ten business days to pick them up. First comes a stay at an intake center for assessment, then a move to a regular prison.

1. Open the Incarcerated Lookup.
2. Type the DIN if known; if not, the exact last name and birth year.
3. The record shows where the person is housed.

Without internet access, call DOCCS at 518-457-5000, The Harriman State Campus, 1220 Washington Avenue, Building 4, Albany, NY 12226. Our New York state prison guide explains visits and letters prison by prison.

Youths are never booked into the adult jail. Officers have to contact a parent and tell them where the teen will be questioned. A teen who is held goes to a juvenile detention center instead.

• Felony charges at 16 or 17 start in County Court's Youth Part, where many are moved to Family Court.
• Younger teens and most misdemeanor cases go through probation and Family Court.
• Family Court has to see a detained child within 72 hours, or on its next working day if that comes first.

To learn where the youth is, call Probation's Family Court Unit, 7 Court Street, Room 32, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-9370. Family Court's chief clerk, 7 Court Street, Belmont, NY 14813, is at 585-449-3463.

Roughly 46,800 residents are spread across the county's 29 towns and 10 villages (Census Bureau estimate, July 1, 2025). There is no city. Here are the agencies that make arrests.

Countywide and state

• Allegany County Sheriff's Office, 4884 State Route 19S, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-268-9200. Deputies on road patrol answer calls in towns lacking a local department. The 24-hour non-emergency dispatch line is 585-268-9600.
• New York State Police, Amity station, 5591 State Route 19, Belmont, NY 14813, 585-344-6200
• New York State Police, Fillmore station, 20 North Genesee Street, Fillmore, NY 14735, 585-567-2283

Village police

• Alfred Police Department, 7 West University Street, Alfred, NY 14802, 607-587-8877
• Andover Village Police, 35 E. Greenwood St., Andover, NY 14806, village office 607-478-8455
• Angelica Village Police, 49 Park Circle, Angelica, NY 14709, 585-466-3737
• Belmont Village Police, 1 Schuyler St., Belmont, NY 14813, village office 585-268-5522
• Bolivar Village Police, 252 Main St., Bolivar, NY 14715, village office 585-928-2234
• Richburg Village Police, listed at 252 Main St., Bolivar, NY 14715, 585-928-2544
• Wellsville Police Department, 46 South Main Street, Wellsville, NY 14895, 585-593-5600

Town police

• Cuba Police Department, serving the town and village of Cuba, NY 14727, office 585-968-1666, weekdays 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Friendship Police Department, 50 West Main Street, Friendship, NY 14739, 585-973-2222
• Willing Town Police, through Town Hall, 1431 State Route 19 South, Wellsville, NY 14895, 585-593-3210
• Independence Town Police, through Town Hall, 887 Marietta Ave., Whitesville, NY 14897, 607-356-3608

College campuses

• Alfred University Office of Public Safety, 1 Saxon Drive, Alfred, NY 14802, 24-hour dispatch 607-871-2108
• Alfred State University Police, 10 Upper College Drive, Alfred, NY 14802, 607-587-3999

Patrolled by the Sheriff and State Police: the towns of Alfred, Allen, Alma, Almond, Amity, Andover, Angelica, Belfast, Birdsall, Bolivar, Burns, Caneadea, Centerville, Clarksville, Genesee, Granger, Grove, Hume, New Hudson, Rushford, Scio, Ward, Wellsville, West Almond and Wirt outside their village limits, plus the villages of Almond and Canaseraga. For arrests in these places, call the Sheriff or the nearest State Police station.