Ostego County Jail – Cooperstown, NY

Ostego County Jail is located in Otsego County, New York and is the main jail for this county. Are you looking for somebody locked up in Ostego County Jail? This guide tells you information about everything you might need to know about Ostego County Jail: How to locate an inmate. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s address and phone number. Bail and how to get out of jail. Intake procedures. Court information and records. And lots more.

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a scary and stressful situation, not only for the person who gets arrested, but also their family, friends, and loved ones. The purpose of this guide is to offer information and tips you need to make the process a little less stressful. If you have questions, feel free to ask them, and any comments or feedback that would be a benefit to other people in the same situation is much appreciated.

Do you have a friend or family member that has gone to jail and want to find them?

Do you know a friend or family member who has been arrested and you don’t know how to find out what jail they’re in?

To search who is in jail at Ostego County Jail you need to click on their website and perform an inmate search.

The Ostego County Jail Inmate Lookup has information on people who were arrested and are now in jail, including custody status, how much their bail is, and times the inmate can have visitors. Also, you can find info about anyone arrested and processed or discharged in the past 24 hours. Prisoners are shown in alphabetical order by last name. You will be able to find their arrest information quicker if you enter the arrestee’s full name, birth date, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you are looking for is at another jail you will want to check the other New York county jails in our New York County Jail Guide: New York Jails

A mugshot, also known as a intake picture, is the photo that the jail takes when you get booked into jail. They will take one face photo and one profile photo. Your name and jail ID number will be on the photos, and they will be on file at the jail.

Mugshots of Ostego County Jail prisoners can be found online, or you can see them in person at the Ostego County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you have to input the person’s name, and a booking date, if you know it.

Need to know how to have your mugshot taken down from the Ostego County Jail site? This can be tricky, since the mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot taken down you will need to file a Petition to Expunge in court. What this means is that the record of your arrest would be sealed, and will not be accessible. Unfortunately, this happens very rarely.

For more information about getting your mugshot removed, the different websites with mugshots, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: Mugshot Removal

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Once you’re in jail, your main thought is when and how to get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, your bail is set by the magistrate. In cases where no bail is set this might 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 are released from jail you are required to agree to be there for your court date, and until then you won’t be allowed to leave the area.

Usually, inmates at Ostego County Jail are given an early release in exchange for good behavior if they respect the rules and conduct themselves properly while locked up.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you might be allowed to participate in work release. Either you will have to return to the jail each day after work, or you could have the chance to move to a halfway house instead of living at the jail.

Your bail is the amount of money that you will be required to pay to get out of jail until your trial. Your bail amount depends on what crime you are charged with and how serious it is. You will have to post ten percent of the total set so you can be released. If you don’t show up for your scheduled court date, that person will lose that money.

To find out someone’s bail amount you must call the jail or the county courthouse. If you’ve got the person’s info, like name, address and date of birth, they’ll be able to let you know how much their bail is. Also, you can find out how much their bail is on the jail website.

Having to bail a friend or family member out of jail is no fun, but most of the time, its easy. To start with, you need to find out if they have a “Cash Bond Only” situation. If it is, you can’t use a Bail Bondsman. They only accept cash at the jail, so you have to take cash – the jail won’t accept checks. As soon as you’ve paid the bail bond, the prisoner will get released. If they don’t violate the terms of their bail, you’ll get your money back.

If the amount of bail set is large, or you just can’t afford to pay it, you should hire a bail bondsman. Bondsmen will usually have a fee of 10-15% of the total amount of bail set, and sometimes have 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 has been set really high, the bail bondsman will in these cases use your assets, such as home, property or cars, as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To find a bail bondsman go to: Bail bondsman

Have you ever had to find a bail bondsman because you or someone you know got arrested? If you have, post a comment below and tell about it, and let us know how it worked out for you.

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

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The jail intake procedure includes these steps:

• You will get put in a holding cell. If the jail is busy, it will take a while to get processed.
• You will answer some simple questions, like your full legal name, your address, date of birth and an emergency contact.
• Also, you will also be asked about your medical and psychological history.
• You will be given an inmate number.
• You will get fingerprinted.
• You will have a front and profile photo taken for your mugshot.
• All of your personal property will be taken away from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• You will then be allowed to make a phone call so you can contact family, friends, or bail bondsman.
• If you are expected to be released shortly, you might get to keep wearing street clothes, otherwise you will have to wear a jail uniform.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through processing at jail? If you have, please share your experience so others can benefit from your story. How long did you have to wait? How did the guards treat you? Can you share any secrets that could help others to get through jail intake?

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Once bail has been posted, you will be allowed to leave jail. The discharge process will take anywhere from 15 minutes to all day. Or, simply, the quicker bail is posted, the quicker you will get released. Also, how fast you get released can depend on whether you’ve got a cash bond amount or if the magistrate needs to figure out the amount of bail to be set. For lesser charges, you will get booked and get released without having to post bail. When you have completed your jail sentence and are given a date of your release, you should expect to get released between 9am and noon.

warrant out for your arrest, or if you must report to start a sentence, you should follow the law and turn yourself in. For a warrant, report to the jail processing area, and tell them that you think there may be a warrant out for your arrest. They will check to see if you have a warrant, and if they find one, they will take you into custody and begin the intake process. When reporting to serve a sentence, report to the jail at the exact time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you are not late to report. Just bring necessary items when you turn yourself in, such as a driver’s license or even ID, any prescription medication you might take, and a sentencing order.

The inmate have to give the name and date of birth of each visitor to the jail before anyone can visit them. Your visitor’s names will be entered in the visitation log as an approved visitor. Every visitor will be required to provide acceptable photo identification. Anyone arriving late or that is not on the visitation list will not be allowed to attend visitation.
Visitation procedures at Ostego County Jail are always changing, so we suggest that you visit the official Ostego County Jail jail site before you visit an inmate.

Phone calls that inmates are allowed to make from jail are made through a jail approved pre-paid phone account or phone card . Phone calls made in jail are much pricier than regular phone calls. There are certain restrictions about when you can make phone calls, how long you can talk, and how often you can make calls, but you should keep in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you break the rules and are disciplined, phone privileges may be limited or eliminated completely, as part of the punishment.

The Ostego County Jail phone number is: 607-547- 4252

All mail is required to be sent via the actual US Postal Service, and not courier or delivery, or hand delivered. You can’t use any other form of delivery. You have to print the person’s name, inmate ID, and jail address on the envelope. Don’t send a package, padded envelope, plastic bag, or an envelope with any metal in it. All mail is opened and read and inspected by the jail administration, and will get returned if the jail decides it is inappropriate.

If you would like to send a letter to an inmate at Ostego County Jail, use this address:

Ostego County Jail
172 County Highway 33W
Cooperstown, NY 13326

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Ostego County Jail
172 County Highway 33W
Cooperstown, NY 13326

The Ostego County Jail inmate mail policy changes frequently, so be sure to check the official website before send a letter to someone in jail there.

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When you get arrested, you have certain rights, and an important one is the right to request an attorney. You are only allowed to make so many phone calls in jail, so make sure to ask a friend or family member to find a lawyer when you talk to them. You may be asking yourself ‘why do I need a lawyer?’ You can represent yourself if you really want to, but, a criminal defense attorney will make sure you know your rights, protect your interests and guide you through the criminal justice system in Otsego County. The faster you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your charges, the better your chances.

To read more about this, click here: How to Find an Attorney in Otsego County

If you’ve been arrested and cannot afford an attorney, the courts will assign you a public defender, which is a free lawyer. In addition, the Public Defender Office is staffed by private investigators, crime scene and forensics experts and social workers. All Public Defenders are full-fledged attorneys who are admitted to the New York State Bar Association and are fully licensed to practice law and represent you in court.

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

Otsego County court records are a matter of public record. Court records contain a file with a docket and all of the documents in the case. You are able to access your court records using the online service, or at the Clerk of Court.

The Otsego County Clerk of Court is an officer of the court that maintains the records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath in a court case, and read the jury’s verdict. All records and documents related to your case are kept and available to you at Clerk of Court.

Court fees and costs are the charges associated with your case, such as filing fees, motion and claim fees, and court charges. If you cannot afford these fees and have been assigned a Public Defender, you may get out of having to pay them.

The magistrate is the type of judge who presides over your case. Magistrates do several different things, which include setting bail, writing arrest warrants, and overseeing first court appearances and detention proceedings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is put together with background information and information about the arrestee’s life and history, which the magistrate will review and take into consideration when decide your sentence. Information will be solicited from the defendant, their family, and in some cases the victim of the crime. Remember that you can ask to get your own copy of this report before sentencing, and review it and correct any mistakes.

After being convicted of a crime, you will be sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, including community service, house arrest, and probation, to prison or jail time. Depending on sentencing guidelines and the severity of your crime, you might get taken into custody, right there in court, or you could be given a date that you must report to jail to serve your term.

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Want to find out if somebody you know is currently in jail, or has been an inmate in the past?

To do so, you need to visit the jail website and do an inmate search, and search using:

• Their name.
• Birth date.
• Their approximate booking date.
• or jail ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail, you should call the jail confirm whether they’ve been arrested or not.

If you think you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can access court records on the website or you are able to call the jail. You have to have their first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and ask one of the officers. You should know that if you do have an outstanding warrant, you will be taken into custody immediately.

If you know a person’s name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the Otsego County jail, by phone, go there in person, or check online. Arrest records are a matter of public record and this information is available to anyone.

Civil processes are when someone has been served with papers, which can be , subpoenas, and arrest warrants. You can find these by going to the Otsego County Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All people registered as sex offenders are required to be registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people listed on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex crime. You are able to see these listings on the website, but bear in mind that you will not be able to get the actual address, but rather the neighborhood block that they live on.

Court Records are public records and available to anyone. These records include a court case file that includes a court docket and any of the filings and documents filed in the case. You can access court records via the internet service ‘Public Access to Court Electronic Records’, or at the Otsego County Clerk of Court office in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Every state maintains records of people’s criminal history. These online databases are connected so you are able to track criminal backgrounds from other states. Go to county courthouse and make an inquiry, or you can check online. You must know which county the crime occurred in, and if it was in a different state, you might have to pay for a more intensive search.

A criminal history search you will find out if someone has been arrested, charged, or convicted for any crimes they may have committed, which could include:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug crimes like possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes like assault or murder.
• Breaking and entering, theft, larceny.

If you do a criminal records check, usually won’t find if that person has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding or reckless driving.
• Lost their driver’s license or license revoked or suspended.
• Traffic accidents.
• Moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To get this information, you must do a driving history search.

Have you ever searched for criminal records? Was it a difficult process? Did you search online or did you call the jail? Was the information you received correct? There are plenty of reasons that people search for criminal records, and your feedback might help other people that are in the same situation.

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Most Wanted

For Federal crimes, the FBI maintains a list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. In Otsego County, the Otsego County Sheriff’s Department keeps their own list of most wanted criminals and fugitives.

FBI’s Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Everyone knows that being incarcerated in Ostego County Jail is quite unpleasant, soon you will get used to the routine that is set for you. Inmates get a wake-up alarm every morning at 6am, and then you’ll have roll call. Then you will have breakfast. After breakfast, you will work 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 Ostego 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 Ostego 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 could change, so check the site when you send funds to an inmate 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 Ostego County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Ostego 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 Ostego County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to 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.

Click here to tell about all about it


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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:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims 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 in this jail? Do you have a friend or family member there? Have you ever visited a prisoner there?

If so, then you should write a review about it. Write down your experience so others can learn what to expect.

Things you might want to put in the review:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail layout and facility
• Staff and guards
• Commissary and food
• Visitors
• Inmates.
• Inmate safety
• Gang activity
• Prisoner programs and activities


Write a review about Ostego County Jail

Tell Your Story

Everybody who’s been arrested and thrown in jail has at least one story to tell about it. How’d you get locked up? How did the guards treat you? What was it like in jail? How did you get along with the other inmates? How has this experience impacted your life?

Click here to tell about all about it

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Do you want to send a message to a friend from jail? Post a message to them below.

Send a message to someone at Ostego County Jail


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