Dutchess County Jail

Visiting at Dutchess County Jail takes planning. Every visit must be scheduled in person for a specific session—phone reservations aren't allowed—and you need to sign in 30 minutes before your session starts. During the first 24 hours of incarceration, the incarcerated person gets one initial non-contact booth visit (30 minutes max), and it doesn't count toward the weekly allowance. Contact visits run Sundays, Tuesdays, and Thursdays. Classified inmates can have two 60-minute contact visits each week. Booth sessions are available 8:30–9:30 and 9:50–10:50 in the morning, plus 12:20–1:20 and 1:50–2:50 in the afternoon. Bring a valid government photo ID, follow the dress code, and leave your cell phone out—lockers are available. Expect routine canine searches.

Dutchess County Jail offers telephone service seven days a week from 9:00am to 9:45pm, except during lock-in periods. All calls may be monitored and recorded, and staff won't relay messages. In some housing areas, people assigned to Wi-Fi enabled units can use tablets to make calls and send or receive electronic messages. Setup instructions are posted on ConnectNetwork.com. Phone and tablet services run through third-party vendors, so you'll likely need to create an online account, add funds, and complete registration (often including valid ID). Check the vendor's registration pages for the most accurate setup requirements.

To send mail to someone at Dutchess County Jail, address it exactly as: Incarcerated Individual's Name, Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center, P.O. Box 1389, Poughkeepsie, New York 12602. Incorrect formatting can cause delays or returns. All incoming mail is inspected for contraband. Handwritten letters must use blue or black ink and stay within about one-inch margins so staff can copy them clearly. The incarcerated individual handles their own writing and postage—both purchased through commissary. Sending books? They must come directly from an online publisher or bookstore. Used and hardcover books aren't accepted. Photos have size and content limits: no polaroids, nothing larger than 5x7, no frames. Some items—bras, religious items, medical appliances, and trial/funeral clothing—have special shipping or drop-off rules. Most commissary and issued items can't be mailed in.

Sending money to someone at Dutchess County Jail is straightforward once you know the limits. Kiosk deposits cap at $200 for an initial deposit (a service fee applies), with additional deposits allowed in $200 increments—so larger amounts take multiple transactions. Cash sent through the mail is accepted and gets deposited when received. For spending, incarcerated individuals can place one commissary order per week with a $125 cap. Within that limit, food items max out at $95 and hygiene items at $30. iCare packages from Dutchessny.iCareGifts.com have no delivery charge, are limited to one per week, and count toward the $125 cap. Fresh Favorite meals ordered at the facility also count toward the weekly limit.