Columbia County Jail – Hudson, NY

Columbia County Jail is in Columbia County, NY and is the correctional facility for this area. Know someone locked up at Columbia County Jail? This page gives you information about everything related to Columbia County Jail: How to locate an inmate. How to view Columbia County Jail mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. How to post bail. Booking and intake procedures. Columbia County court information. And everything else.

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and daunting situation, not only for the person who goes to jail, but also their family and friends. This guide is designed to give you information and advice that you need to make going to jail less stressful. If you have a specific question, feel free to ask it, and any feedback or comments that would be a benefit to others will be much appreciated.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that is locked up and want to locate them?

Has somebody that’s been arrested and you don’t know how to find out what jail they’re in?

To search who is in jail at Columbia County Jail you have to navigate to their website and use the inmate lookup.

The Columbia County Jail Inmate Locator is a list of persons who have been arrested, which includes status, bail amount (if applicable), and schedule for visitation. You can also get the same information on anybody booked or discharged in the past 24 hours. Jail inmates are listed alphabetically by last name. You can locate their inmate information more quickly if you’ve got their full name, date of birth, or arrest number.

If the person you’re searching for may be at a different jail you will want to check our guide to other New York jails: Other Jails in New York

A mugshot, or jail intake photo, is the photo that the police take during jail intake processing. A mugshot is actually one face photo and one profile photo. Your full name and jail ID number will appear on the pictures, and they’re kept on file.

Mugshots of Columbia County Jail inmates can be found on the Columbia County Jail website, or you can view them at the Columbia County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you will need to put in the prisoner’s name, and an arrest date, if you have one.

Want to get your mugshot erased from the Columbia County Jail website? This can be tricky, as your mugshot is a public record. To get your mugshot taken down you need to file a Petition to Expunge with the court. This means that all of your arrest records will be sealed, and will not be accessible. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

Read our in-depth tutorial about getting your mugshot taken down, the various websites with mugshots, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: How To Remove Your Mugshot from the Internet

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Once you are arrested and put in jail, your primary thought is about getting out. After you’ve gone through booking, bail is set either by bail schedule or magistrate. In cases where no bail is set this can mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you have to stay in jail until your trial.

If you do bail out you are required to agree to be in court on your court date, and until then you are not permitted to leave the county.

Typically, an inmate can earn an early release in exchange for good behavior if they don’t break the rules and conduct themselves properly while they are in jail.

If you follow the rules, you might be allowed to do work release. You will be required to go back to jail each day when you’re finished with work, or you may get to live in a halfway house instead of jail.

Bail is money that you are required to pay in order to be released from jail until your court date. The amount you will be required to pay is determined by what crime you are charged with and how serious it is. You will have to pay ten percent of the total set so you can be released. If you fail to show up for court, whoever put up your bail money will not get their money back.

To find out someone’s bail amount you have to call the Columbia County Jail. If you have all the person’s information, including name, address and date of birth, they’ll let you know how much their bail is. You can also find out how much their bail is on the Columbia County Jail website.

Having to bail a friend or family member out of jail is never fun, but in some cases, it’s simple to do if you have the money. To start with, you have to find out if they have a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If so, you will not be able to use the services of a bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – the jail will not accept a check. When you’ve paid bail, the inmate will be released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If the amount of bail set is large, of if you can’t pay it, you will need to use a bail bondsman. They will usually have a fee of 10-15% of total bail, and sometimes charge a minimum charge of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman will not be returned to you and the bondsman only accepts cash. If the bail is exceptionally high, the bail bondsman will require that they use assets as collateral for the bond.

If you need a local bail bondsman visit our page about: Find a Bail Bondsman in Columbia County

Have you ever used a bail bondsman because you or someone you know got arrested? If you have, please leave a comment below and tell about your experience and let us know how it worked out for you.

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• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Time Served
• Be Released on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• Get Out on House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The jail intake procedure is made up of each of the following steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you may not be processed immediately.
• You have to answer a bunch of questions, such as what is your full legal name, address, birthdate and an emergency contact.
• Also, you will also be asked about your psychological and medical history.
• You will be issued an inmate ID number.
• You will get fingerprinted.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• Any personal property you have will get taken away from you and stored until you are discharged.
• You will get to use the phone to contact a family member, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If they expect that you will make bail and be released quickly, you will be allowed to wear your own clothes, but if you are not expected to make bail quickly you will be given a jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, please share your experience. How long did it take to get through intake? How were you treated? Can you tell us things that might help other people make it through jail processing?

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When you pay your bail, you will get discharged from jail. Getting discharged from jail can take anywhere from 15 minutes to all day long. Or, simply, the quicker you post bail, the quicker you will get discharged. Also, it depends on whether or not you have a cash bond amount or if the judge needs to figure out your bail amount. For minor offenses, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and are given a discharge date, expect to get discharged at any time that day – but usually in the morning.

for your arrest, or if you need to start a jail sentence, it is highly advisable that you do the right thing and go down to the jail and turn yourself in. In the case of an outstanding warrant, report to the jail, in the reception area, and tell someone that think that there is a warrant for your arrest. They will check their system to see if there are any outstanding local, state or federal arrest warrants out for you, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody and begin the intake process. If you have a jail sentence to serve, report on the date and time that the sentence order states. Make sure that you are not late. Just bring necessary items when you go to jail, such as your driver’s license or even photo ID, any prescription medication you might take, and a copy of the sentencing order.

Inmates have to give information about each visitor to the jail in advance of the visit. Your visitor’s information will go in a log of approved visitors for the inmate. Each and every visitor will have to provide acceptable photo identification when visiting an inmate. Visitors showing up late or without a visiting order will be turned away.
Visitation procedures frequently change, so you should double-check the official site before you go to the jail to visit.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are collect calls or through a pre-paid phone account. These phone calls are usually more expensive than regular phone calls. Phone calls are restricted on when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, but bear in mind that a long line can form at the phones, because everyone wants to use the phone, too. If you break the rules and are disciplined, your ability to use the phone could be reduced or eliminated completely.

Phone Number: 518-828-3324

All mall sent to inmates is required to be sent using the US Postal Service. You must not use any other form of mail delivery. You must print the person’s name, inmate ID number, and the address of the jail on the letter. Don’t send anything in a package or box, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with any metal in it. Any mail sent to inmates will be opened and inspected and read by the staff, and will be returned to the sender if deemed inappropriate.

The mailing address for Columbia County Jail is:

Columbia County Jail
85 Industrial Tract
Hudson, NY 12534

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Columbia County Jail
85 Industrial Tract
Hudson, NY 12534

The mail policy changes, so it would be best to review the official website before you send a letter to an inmate.

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Even if you’ve been arrested, you should know you still have rights, and an important one is your right to request a lawyer. You only get so many phone calls when you get arrested, so make sure you ask a friend or family member to find a lawyer when you call them. You might be thinking ‘do I really need a lawyer?’ While you are not required to have one, a criminal defense lawyer can advise you of your rights, protect your interests and help you navigate the criminal justice system. The quicker you hire an attorney to represent you and work on your case, the better your chances.

For more information on how to find an attorney, read our guide: How to Find an Attorney

If you need an attorney, but can’t afford a lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender. The Public Defender’s Office has access to private investigators, forensics experts and case workers. You should be reassured that Public Defenders are bona-fide attorneys, members of the New York State Bar and are fully licensed to practice law in New York.

Have you or someone you know had to use a court appointed attorney? What was your experience?

Court records are public and available to anyone who requests them. They include a case file containing a docket sheet and each of the motions, documents, and evidence that have been filed. You have the ability to access court records using the internet service, or at the Clerk of Court’s office.

The Clerk of Court is a member of the court who manages court records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath when court is in session, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All court records associated with your case are kept and available to you at the Columbia County Clerk of Court.

Court fees are the fees and charges from your court case, which include filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you don’t have the money to pay these fees and have a Public Defender, you may not have to pay the fees.

A Magistrate is the person that presides over your case in court. Magistrate judges do a number of different things, which include deciding a bail amount, issuing warrants, and presiding over first court appearances and detention proceedings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is prepared to include information about the arrestee’s background and details of the defendant’s life history, which the magistrate judge will take into consideration when determining a sentence. Information will be collected from the defendant, his or her family members, and in some circumstances the victim. Don’t forget that you can request to get a copy of the pre-sentencing report prior to sentencing, so you get the chance to go over it and correct any mistakes in it.

After you are convicted of a crime, you will be given a sentence for your crime. There are several different options for sentencing, ranging from community service, house arrest, and probation, to incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on how serious your crime was, you could be immediately taken into custody, or you could be given a date that you are required to report to jail to serve your term.

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Are you trying to find out if someone is currently in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

To do so, you will have to access the jail website and do an inmate search, and search using:

• Name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date if you know it.
• and their jail ID.

If you think this person is in jail, you can call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can check arrest warrants on the Columbia County court website or call the jail. You have to have the person’s first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and ask the officer in charge. Bear in mind that if there is a warrant for your arrest, you should be prepared to get taken into custody immediately.

If you know the person’s name, as well as their arrest date, contact the jail, by phone, go there in person, or find out online. Records of arrests are in the public record and the information is freely available.

A Civil Process is when someone has been served with papers, such as court orders. You can access civil process orders by going to the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders are registered and listed on both a national and state sex offender database. The people listed on these databases have been tried by jury and convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You can access these offenders on the website, but you should know that you won’t find the precise address, rather the block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are public records. They include a court case file containing a docket sheet and all of the documents and filings filed in the court case. You can access the court records on the website, or at the Columbia County Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Every state maintains records of people’s criminal past. These online databases are all connected so you are able to track criminal backgrounds from other states. You can go to the courthouse and check in person or you can check the website. It is helpful to know the county, and if the crime was in a different state entirely, you may have to pay a fee for a more intensive search.

When you look up a person’s criminal records you will find out if someone has been arrested, charged, or convicted for any crimes, which can include:

• DUI or DWI.
• Drug Possession of Drug Trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Sexual offenses including rape, assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Breaking and entering, theft, larceny.

When you do a criminal history search, you won’t be able to find out if that person has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding tickets.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Been in a traffic accident.
• Other moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To find this kind of information, you will have to do a search for their driving record.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? How easy was it? Did you do your search online or did you have to call the courthouse? Was it correct? There are many reasons that people look up criminal records, and your account could help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI has their list of the Top Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Columbia County, the Sheriff has a list of most wanted criminals, too.

FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that serving a jail sentence in the Columbia County jail is very scary, soon you will get accustomed to the daily routine there. Inmates get an alarm for wake-up at about 6:00 AM, and next you’ll have roll call. After roll call you will eat breakfast. When you finish eating breakfast participate in the program that has been assigned to you. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Columbia County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Columbia County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The process for sending funds to jail inmates is always changing, so double check the official website before send money to someone in jail there.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Columbia County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Columbia County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Columbia County Jail

Requirements:

• You must be over the age of 21.
• You must possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You must be a US Citizen.
• You must pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You must pass a drug test.
• You must have a good level of fitness.
• You must be in good health.
• You must have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Speak Your Mind


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• You have the right to protection from the accused.
• You have the right to notification.
• You have the right to attend proceedings.
• You have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• You have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• You have the right to restitution.
• You have the right to a speedy trial.
• You have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

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Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever spent any time at Columbia County Jail? Do you know someone there? Have you ever visited someone at this jail?

If your answer is yes, then you should write your review about it. Write about what you experienced because other people can find out what to expect.

Things you might want to include in what you write:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail, yard and pod facility and layout
• Jail staff and Guards
• Food and commissary
• Visitors
• Other Inmates.
• Prisoner safety
• Gangs
• Programs and activities


Speak Your Mind

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s ever been arrested and sent to jail has at least one story to tell about it. Why’d you end up in jail? Were you fairly treated? How was life in jail? How did you get along with the other inmates? How did it affect you to go to jail?

Tell Your Story

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you make friends in jail? Want to send a message to an inmate you met while you were incarcerated? Leave a message for them here.

Say Hello


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