Rikers Island
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Rikers Island. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Multiple
- Inmate Capacity
- 8,000 approx.
- Established
- 1932
- Operated By
- New York City Department of Correction (NYC DOC)
Rikers Island Inmate Communication Overview
Rikers Island is New York City's primary jail complex, situated on a 413-acre island in the East River between Queens and the Bronx. Operated by the New York City Department of Correction, the complex houses multiple individual jails serving different populations, men, women, adolescents, and those with specific medical or mental health needs. On any given day, the island holds anywhere from 5,000 to 8,000 people, the vast majority of whom are in pretrial detention awaiting court proceedings. New York City has announced plans to close Rikers Island and replace it with a network of smaller borough-based facilities, though the transition is ongoing and the main complex remains in operation. The Anna M. Kross Center (AMKC), one of the island's jails, no longer houses people in custody, per a June 2026 city announcement.
Communication at Rikers Island operates through New York City DOC contracts with GTL. Phone calls, video visitation, and electronic messaging all run through GTL's platform, which means families only need a single account to access multiple services. For phone calls, families can set up a GTL prepaid account or a direct-bill account linked to their phone number. Video visits are available and can be scheduled remotely through the GTL app or website, which is a significant convenience for families who cannot easily travel to the island in person. Electronic messaging, referred to as IntelliMail within the GTL system, allows families to send messages that are printed and delivered to the inmate as paper correspondence.
One important distinction for families is that Rikers Island houses people under NYC DOC jurisdiction, not New York State DOCCS. This means JPay, which is used for state facilities, is not the right platform for Rikers inmates. Using JPay to try to reach someone at Rikers will not work. Similarly, if a loved one is transferred from Rikers to a state facility upstate, the provider will change and a new account may be needed. Confirming the current facility and jurisdiction before setting up any accounts is always the right first step when someone is newly detained or has been transferred.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
Rikers Island, East River, New York, NY 10035
Main Phone
(212) 848-6000
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteVisit and Contact Details
Inmate search, mail, visiting hours, costs, commissary, and bail information for this facility.
Visiting Hours
In-person visits Wednesdays, Thursdays, Saturdays, and Sundays. Registration hours: Wednesday and Thursday 1:00 PM to 6:00 PM; Saturday and Sunday 7:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Televisits on Fridays. Visit schedule depends on the first letter of the person in custody's last name.
Commissary / Sending Money
Send money orders or cashier's checks by mail to the person in custody's fund account. Cash is no longer accepted by mail.
Communication Options
Available communication services at Rikers Island.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: GTL
IntelliMail via GTL. Messages are printed and delivered to the inmate as paper mail.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available through GTL app. Schedule in advance for best availability.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail accepted subject to NYC DOC content restrictions. Digital photos not available.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Prepaid or direct-bill accounts via GTL. Inmate-initiated calls from facility phones.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: GTL
Deposits to inmate commissary accounts via GTL or AccessCorrections.
Communication Providers at Rikers Island
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
All Rikers Island communication services, messaging, video, phone, and money, run through GTL.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Rikers Island
- All communication is through GTL. JPay and other state-system providers do not serve Rikers Island.
- Inmates are under NYC DOC jurisdiction, not NYS DOCCS; different rules apply than at state prisons.
- Electronic messages are delivered as printed paper, not directly to a device or screen.
- Photo mail is subject to NYC DOC inspection and content restrictions.
- Transferring an inmate to a state or federal facility requires setting up a new provider account.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Rikers Island
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- What provider do I use to contact someone at Rikers Island?
- All communication services at Rikers Island, phone calls, video visits, electronic messaging, and money transfers, are handled by GTL (Global Tel Link). Create a single GTL account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. You will not need separate accounts for different services as long as your loved one remains at a NYC DOC facility.
- Can I do a video visit with someone at Rikers Island?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL. Log into your GTL account, navigate to the video visitation section, and search for the specific jail facility on Rikers Island where your loved one is housed. Select an available time slot and follow the scheduling prompts. You will need a device with a camera and stable internet connection.
- Does JPay work for Rikers Island inmates?
- No. JPay is used for New York State DOCCS prisons, not for New York City DOC facilities. Rikers Island is operated by the NYC Department of Correction, which contracts with GTL for communication services. If you create a JPay account to reach someone at Rikers, it will not work. You need a GTL account instead.
- How do I send money to someone held at Rikers?
- Funds for commissary accounts at Rikers Island can be deposited through GTL or AccessCorrections. Log in to your GTL account and navigate to the money transfer section, or visit accesscorrections.com. You can add funds via debit card, credit card, or cash at a MoneyGram location. Processing typically takes one business day.
- What happens to my GTL account if my loved one is transferred from Rikers to a state prison?
- If your loved one is transferred from Rikers Island to a New York State DOCCS facility, your GTL account will no longer be the correct platform. You will need to create a JPay account for messaging and a Securus account for phone calls and video visits at most state facilities. Funds in your GTL account do not transfer to other providers. Contact GTL customer service about account balance options.
Troubleshooting at Rikers Island
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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