Adults arrested on felony and misdemeanor charges in Queens County are processed at this facility:
126-01 82nd Street
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
In most New York counties the sheriff runs the county jail, while in New York City the city’s Department of Correction holds people after police processing. Arrests come in from sheriff’s deputies, from village, town and city police departments, and from the New York State Police. On arrival, staff take fingerprints and a booking photo, inventory property, check for open warrants and complete a medical and mental health screening before a housing assignment is made.
Federal prisoners may also be held here, for example people in the custody of the U.S. Marshals awaiting federal court dates.
Recent arrests appear on the county’s official booking list (opens in a new tab) or on an official statewide inmate lookup. Under New York’s Freedom of Information Law, police agencies generally may not release booking photos unless doing so serves a specific law enforcement purpose, so many listings show charges and the arresting agency without a mugshot. To confirm a detail or fill a gap, call the Queens Detention Complex at 718-575-5387.
Getting through booking at the Queens Detention Complex and into a housing unit, or out the door on release, may take a couple of hours or most of a day, depending on how many new arrivals are ahead in line.
New York’s highest court has held that a person arrested without a warrant should be arraigned within about 24 hours unless the delay is explained. Many people never spend the night at all: for most misdemeanors and class E felonies, police are required to issue a desk appearance ticket and release the person instead of holding them for arraignment.
Since the 2020 bail reform, judges cannot set money bail for most misdemeanors and nonviolent felonies; those defendants are released on their own recognizance or with nonmonetary conditions such as supervised release. Where bail is allowed, the judge must offer more than one form of bail, including a partially secured or unsecured bond. Commercial bail bond agents are licensed in New York through the state Department of Financial Services. See our Bail page for release instructions.
New York limits local involvement in civil immigration enforcement. State courts have ruled that local officers lack authority to hold someone on an ICE detainer alone, the Protect Our Courts Act restricts civil immigration arrests at courthouses, and a 2026 state law required county sheriffs to end their 287(g) agreements and bars local jails from holding people for civil immigration purposes. A group of sheriffs has challenged that law in court. If someone is transferred to federal immigration custody, the ICE detainee locator can help find them.
The quickest route is a call to the jail at 718-575-5387. Ask whether the person has been received and, if so, when their arraignment is expected.
Some facilities answer with an automated name lookup; others connect you to an officer. Have the person’s full name and date of birth ready, since staff often use it to confirm identity before sharing anything.
Someone arrested a few hours ago may still be at a police precinct or station house and not yet in the jail’s system, so it can help to check back later.
You can also search online through the Queens Detention Complex Booking Roster.
Once taken into custody, the person is usually processed first by the arresting agency, whether a local police department, the sheriff’s office or the New York State Police, and then either released with an appearance ticket or held for arraignment in Queens County.
Booking happens in several stages. Defense lawyers routinely tell clients to say nothing about the alleged offense during this time, because conversations with officers and other arrestees can be recorded and later offered as evidence.
Fingerprints are scanned electronically, a booking photo is taken, and the person answers questions about their background and health. Prints are checked for warrants in Queens County, elsewhere in New York and nationally. New York takes DNA samples after a conviction for a felony or Penal Law misdemeanor, not at arrest.
For drunk-driving arrests, refusing a chemical test leads to a license revocation of at least one year plus a civil penalty, and a blood sample can only be taken without consent under a court order.
Expect a pat-down and a metal detector or body scanner. A more intrusive strip search may follow, especially before the person is placed in a housing unit.
Expect to be asked about current medications, medical and mental health history, drug or alcohol use, allergies, thoughts of self-harm, tattoos and scars, and any gang ties. The answers guide classification, cell placement and whether the person needs medical attention or special supervision.
Officers list everything the person has on them and store it in a property bag. It is returned at release, or a relative or friend can pick up certain items if the person signs a release form.
Stored items typically include street clothes, cash, cards, phones, keys, jewelry, piercings and belts. Shoelaces and drawstrings are removed, and eyeglasses may be held if staff consider them a safety risk.
The person is given a chance to call family or a lawyer so they can share news of the arrest or start arranging bond or bail once a judge rules at arraignment.
Anyone held past arraignment receives facility clothing, footwear, bedding, a towel and basic hygiene items from the Queens Detention Complex.
Before moving to housing, many people are required to shower, and some facilities apply a lice or scabies treatment.
Plan on anywhere from an hour to a full day. The number of arrests that came in at the same time, staffing levels and the person’s cooperation all affect the timing.
Someone who arrives drunk, high or combative may be kept in a holding cell until they settle down, which can add several hours.