Attica Correctional Facility

Attica Correctional Facility is a maximum-security facility for male inmates that is located in Attica, New York. It is operated by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and can house approximately 2,000 inmates.

This facility houses some of the most dangerous and violent criminals in the state of New York. Many of the inmates housed at Attica have been transferred there because of disciplinary issues at another prison.

Attica is famous for the 1971 riot that resulted in the deaths of the 33 inmates and 10 prison employees. Because of the numerous riots that have taken place at the facility, there is a built-in tear gas system in the chow hall and industry area.

Attica Correctional Facility opened in 1931 and has housed numerous notable inmates over the years, including: David Berkowitz (the Son of Sam), John Lennon’s killer Mark David Chapman, Long Island Railroad killer Colin Ferguson, and 1993 World Trade Center bomber El Sayyid Nosair.

This facility has also been referenced numerous times in pop culture, including in the film Dog Day Afternoon starring Al Pacino. In the film, Pacino’s character, Sonny, holds eight bank employees hostage and starts the chant: Attica! Attica! to the police officers outside in reference to the excessive force used in response to the Attica riot.

Since then, the chant "Attica! Attica!" has been parodied or used for comedic effect in many films and television shows. 

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Attica Correctional Facility are seven days a week between 8:45AM and 3:00PM. You must arrive by 2:00PM to visit with your inmate.

Special Housing Unit Visiting Days & Hours (Inmates in SHU custody are allowed one non-legal visit within a seven day period): 9:30AM to 2:30PM Monday to Sunday; Latest Arrival Time 1:30PM.

General population may visit any day of the week. However, if an inmate receives two or more visits during the weekday, he will not be allowed visits on the weekend.

An inmate may have a maximum of three visitors (not including a child one year old or younger). They are allowed up to two split visits per day.

For more detailed visiting information, click here.

Visitor Checklist

To make sure you are prepared for your visit, please look over the following checklist:

• Confirm that the offender has not been transferred and has visitation privileges.
• Bring valid photo identification.
• If you have made special arrangements with the facility, call before leaving to ensure that plans for your visit have been made and are in place.
• Check clothing and jewelry for compliance with visiting regulations.
• If you are bringing a child and you are not the legal guardian or parent, be sure you have a notarized statement from the child’s parent or legal guardian.

• Before leaving home, check your vehicle for contraband and/or hazardous items and be sure to remove these items before entering correctional facility grounds. This includes, but is not limited to:
  • implements of escape
  • drug paraphernalia
  • intoxicants
  • poisons
  • items posing a danger to others
  • weapons, such as knives, scissors, or firearms
  • items used to show a gang affiliation
• Arrive on the designated day during proper visiting hours.
• Leave purses, wallets, and electronic devices in the glove compartment or in the trunk of your car. Be sure to lock your car!
• Do not leave minor children waiting in the car or your visit will be ended.
• Do not have any contraband on you when you enter the facility.
• Treat correctional staff with respect.
• Do not bring anything into the visiting room to give to the offender. Offenders are not permitted to take anything from the visiting area.

How to Call an Inmate

How to Send Money

Programs For Inmates

DOCCS offers an extensive array of programs and services for incarcerated individuals to assist them in redirecting their lives and becoming productive, law-abiding members of society.

Adult Basic Education

The Adult Basic Education Program provides individualized instruction. This is provided to meet the needs of incarcerated individuals who have reading and math scores below the sixth grade level on the Department's selected standardized test in reading, mathematics, and language arts in the context of real life adult problems and situations.

The goal of this program is to provide individuals with skills or competencies necessary to function successfully in contemporary society and to enable the participant to function at the sixth grade reading and mathematics level.

Aggression Replacement Training (ART)

A cognitive behavioral intervention program designed to assist individuals in improving social skills, moral reasoning, coping with and reducing aggressive behavior through the use of self regulating exercises and mindfulness.

ART consists of three coordinated interventions: anger control training, structured learning, and moral reasoning. The program consists of five modules with 32 sessions.

Participants will learn to understand what causes them to feel angry and act aggressively, as well as techniques to reduce anger/aggressive behavior, self-regulate to stop "automatic" aggression, and to build skills that help make better choices.

Barbering

The Barbering course covers the basic services provided by the barber trade. The student studies hair cutting, shaving, massaging, facials, scalp treatments, and styling.

The goal of the Barbering course is to train students in the barbering trade and prepare them to take the Barber license exam. 

The course is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules. Instructions in the required hours are needed to apply to take the New York State Barber license exam.

Genesee Community College Associate's Degree

The goal of college programs is to enable incarcerated individuals to continue education beyond high school and work toward earning a college certificate or degree. A high school diploma or HSE is required.

Building Maintenance

The Building Maintenance program provides students with fundamental skills required to make minor repairs in carpentry, masonry, electricity, plumbing, and weatherization. This course prepares the student with entry-level skills as a building superintendent.

Custodial Maintenance

The Custodial Maintenance Course emphasizes custodial services, including floor care, carpet and fabric care, upholstery care, window care, restroom care, and the safe use and operation of power cleaning equipment and sanitation chemicals.

The goal of this course is to provide students with competencies in entry level skills in commercial, institutional and industrial cleaning, and maintenance. This is self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Basic and Advanced Custodial Technician certifications, NCCER core training program certification, and New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship program are also available.

Electrical Trades

This course provides instruction in basic electricity with emphasis on installing and servicing of all types of residential and commercial wiring systems. Skills taught include code interpretation, installation and servicing of circuits and controls, use of testing equipment, reading of architectural drawings, and wiring schematics.

The goal of the Electrical Trades course is to provide students with entry level skills as an apprentice or electrician's helper. This is self-paced, individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

The New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Electrical certification training program are also available.

Family Reunion Program

The Family Reunion Program (FRP) provides approved incarcerated individuals and their families the opportunity to meet for a designated period of time in a private home-like setting.

The goals of the program include:

• Preserving and strengthening family ties that have been disrupted as a result of incarceration.
• Fostering positive and responsible conduct.
• Facilitating post-release reintegration into the family and community, thereby reducing the likelihood of recidivism.

Incarcerated individuals must meet preconditions to be eligible to participate in the FRP.

Floor Covering

The Floor Covering Course covers the installation of most floor covering materials including types of carpeting, floor tile, sheet goods, wall tile, and quarry slate. Students learn layout and measurement, floor preparation, maintenance and repair, and job estimation.

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills which will enable them to be employed as a Floor Covering Mechanic. It offers self-paced individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills.

A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Core Certification Training Program are available.

General Business

The General Business course provides students with instruction on using computers, calculators, and printers. Students become familiar with software applications, including word processing, spreadsheets, databases, presentations, and desktop publishing. In addition, instruction is offered in filing, mailing procedures, bookkeeping, and business correspondence.

The goal of the course is to prepare students to work in a business office. It provides self-paced, individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

IC3 Digital Literacy Certification from Certiport and Microsoft Office Specialist Certifications in Excel, PowerPoint, and word processing from Certiport are available.

Incarcerated Veterans

The Incarcerated Veterans Program is designed to address the readjustment and reentry needs of veterans returning to society following a period of incarceration. 

 Level I

All correctional facilities provide Level I services ensuring that veterans obtain a copy of their DD214 Military Discharge papers and that appropriate referrals are made through the Veterans Administration (VA) for ongoing treatment, vocational training, education, housing, and employment when the veteran is released from incarceration. 

Level II

In addition to the Level 1 services provided, Attica is also a Level II facility and features a Veterans Inmate Organization that meets on a regular basis providing education, camaraderie and support to each other. There is often a community group involved, such as an American Legion or a VFW Post. There is a Veterans’ Day Recognition Ceremony and Banquet to honor their service to their country.

Metal Furniture Manufacturing

The Metal Furniture Shops involve the preparation and assembly of special metal projects, including beds, office furniture, and security screens. Some participants are taught the use of gas and arc welders, presses, and other metal fabricating machines. The assembly section of this shop includes attaching upholstered seat backs and the spray painting of the product.

The goal of the program is to provide an opportunity for participants to acquire job skills and acceptable work habits by working in a production oriented environment, operating equipment, and meeting production schedules and quality standards. Efficiency and quality are stressed in all shops.

High school diploma or HSE is required to participate.

Painting and Decorating

Students in this program learn techniques of paint application to both interior and exterior surfaces. Skills taught relate to preparation of the surface, and application of stains, clear finishes and pigmented paint. Students learn techniques of wallpapering, and wood refinishing. Instruction is given in safety procedures in handling paints, ladders, and scaffolding.

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills as a painter or painter's helper. It offers self-paced, individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Plumbing and Heating

Students in Plumbing and Heating Course learn the installation of water, gas, waste disposal systems, and heating units in buildings and homes. This program covers basic instruction in plumbing, including code restrictions, blueprint reading, fixtures for domestic and commercial establishments, as well as oil burner repair and servicing.

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills in any of the following areas: plumber, pipe fitter, furnace installer, oil burner mechanic. It offers self-paced, individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

Printing

The Printing Course is an extensive program teaching a variety of techniques ranging from bookbinding, typesetting, and lithography (offset press work).

The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills that will enable them to secure employment in the printing trade. It offers self-paced, individualized instruction to develop student competencies in entry level skills as defined by modules.

A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program is available.

Sex Offender Counseling and Treatment Program

The Sex Offender Counseling and Treatment Program (SOCTP) is a comprehensive program of counseling and treatment offered by the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision for convicted sex offenders and other offenders the Department identifies as likely to benefit from sex offender counseling and treatment based upon a study of their background.

The SOCTP is offered to those who have been identified as low, moderate/high, and high risk to reoffend. Offenders are assigned a risk level for treatment using a comprehensive process that utilizes both actuarial tools and clinical assessment.

Small Engine Repair

The Small Engine Repair course provides training in the repair and maintenance of lawn and garden equipment, recreational vehicles and motorcycles. Students learn troubleshooting, including testing, diagnosis, and repair. 

Skills taught include major engine overhaul, ignition testing and servicing, fuel system servicing and repair, mower blade replacement and servicing, power drive and transmitting systems, and understanding schematics and specifications.

The goal of the Small Engine Repair course is to provide students with entry-level skills as a small engine repairman. This is a New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program.

Welding

Students are taught various techniques of arc, oxyacetylene, tungsten inert gas (TIG) and metallic inert gas (MIG) welding and cutting. They learn control of equipment in the various positions of welding, as well as many types of joints, beads, welds, and braces. This course includes blueprint reading and working from layouts and diagrams.

The goal of the Welding Course is to develop students' entry level skills as a welder. A New York State Department of Labor Apprenticeship Program and NCCER Welding Certification Training Program are available.

Youth Assistance Program

The Youth Assistance Program is specifically designed to provide positive guidance and direction to at-risk youth in the surrounding community from becoming involved in illegal activities or committing crimes which may lead to the criminal justice system.

The program includes presentations by selected facilitators who are incarcerated. They discuss the circumstances and behaviors that led to their incarceration and the consequences of life in prison. 

Pictures of Attica Correctional Facility

Careers at Attica Correctional Facility