Kings County Jail and Prison Communication Guide
Find the correct messaging, phone call, video visitation, and money transfer provider for correctional facilities in Kings County, New York. Using the wrong provider is the most common mistake families make. This directory shows you exactly which platform to use before you sign up.
Kings County, the borough of Brooklyn, is part of the New York City jail and correctional system rather than operating its own separate county jail. People detained in Brooklyn are typically held at Rikers Island, which is the main New York City jail complex, or at the Brooklyn Detention Complex on Atlantic Avenue. The Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn is a federal facility that holds pretrial and sentenced inmates under Bureau of Prisons jurisdiction. Each of these facilities operates under a different system with different providers and different communication rules, which makes it essential to know exactly which facility is involved before setting up an account.
New York City jails, including those housing people from Brooklyn, have historically used GTL for phone services and video visitation. The NYC Department of Correction manages the overall system, and communication access operates under city-level contracts rather than individual facility contracts. People held at Rikers Island or the Brooklyn Detention Complex are part of the NYC DOC system. The Metropolitan Detention Center Brooklyn, by contrast, is entirely separate, it is a federal facility where inmates communicate through CorrLinks under Bureau of Prisons guidelines, and phone calls are handled through different federal contracted providers.
This directory provides communication information for Kings County and Brooklyn-area correctional facilities so families can navigate the right system without unnecessary confusion. Whether you are trying to reach someone at Rikers Island through the NYC DOC system, set up messaging at the Brooklyn Detention Complex, or contact a loved one at the federal facility on 29th Street, this guide helps you identify the correct provider and process without having to search through multiple agency websites.
Which providers do Kings County jail families use?
NYC jails including those in Kings County offer free phone calls since 2019. GTL ConnectNetwork and GettingOut by Telmate are the most common providers at Kings County facilities. Rikers Island uses GTL ConnectNetwork. MDC Brooklyn is a federal facility that uses CorrLinks for messaging and ConnectNetwork for phone calls. Always confirm the specific facility before setting up any account.
Are phone calls free at Kings County NYC jails?
Yes. New York City eliminated jail call charges in 2019. Phone calls from all NYC Department of Corrections facilities including those in Kings County are free. You do not need a funded prepaid account to receive calls from NYC jail facilities. NYC was the first jurisdiction in the country to make jail calls free. Note that federal facilities in Brooklyn such as MDC Brooklyn are not NYC DOC facilities and are not covered by the free call program.
What is the most common mistake Kings County jail families make?
Confusing NYC DOC facilities with federal facilities is very common in Kings County. MDC Brooklyn is a federal Bureau of Prisons facility that is not part of the NYC jail system. Families trying to reach someone at MDC Brooklyn need CorrLinks for messaging and ConnectNetwork for phone calls which are not free. Always confirm whether the facility is NYC DOC or federal BOP before setting up any accounts.
Communication Providers in Kings County
These providers serve facilities in Kings County. The correct provider depends on the specific facility.
Correctional Facilities in Kings County
Select a facility to find the correct provider and communication options for that specific location.