Collins Correctional Facility

Collins Correctional Facility is a medium-security facility for male inmates that is located in Collins, New York. It is operated by the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision and is adjacent to the Gowanda Correctional Facility. 

With a capacity to house approximately 1,700 inmates, Collins Correctional Facility is a little unusual because it has two separate sections. The complex basically features two of everything, from mess halls to libraries. 

The two sections are separated by a road, and there is no secure passageway from one part of the prison to the other. So, when prisoners are being transferred – which occurs multiple times per day – the inmates are cuffed and shackled just like they would be when traveling outside of prison walls. 

Prison Insights

Visiting Hours and Rules

Visiting hours at Collins Correctional Facility are on weekends and holidays from 8:30AM to 3:00PM. The latest arrival time for a visit is 2:30PM.

Special Housing Unit Visiting Days & Hours (Inmates in SHU custody are allowed one non-legal visit within a seven day period):

• S-Block 5:00PM to 9:00PM Saturday and Sunday; Latest Arrival Time 8:00PM
• SHU/Long-term Keeplock schedule: Saturday to Friday
• PIMS Level 1 & 2, one visit per week, Saturday only
• PIMS Level 3, Saturday visit and eligible for second visit 5:00PM-9:00PM, Sundays

A maximum number of four visitors is allowed per visit. 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.
• 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.
• 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

Collins Correctional Facility offers a variety of programs and services for inmates to assist them with 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.

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.

Culinary Arts

Students are instructed in baking bread and pastry, preparing all types of foods, kitchen sanitation and the proper procedures and techniques used in serving food. The goal of this course is to provide students with entry level skills in the food trades.

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. 

Energy Technology

The focus of the Energy Technology course is on energy efficient practices that include wind and solar power. Students develop entry level skills in roofing, plumbing, and electrical with a focus on electrical theory, circuitry wiring, and the importance of weatherization. They also learn to use power tools and to follow general safety procedures.

The goal is to provide students with entry level skills for a position as a solar photovoltaic installer or an electrician's helper, which include roofing, plumbing, and electrical skills. 

Family Reunion Program

The Family Reunion Program (FRP) provides approved inmates 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.

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. 

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

Level I services ensure 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, Collins 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.

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.

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.

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.

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 Collins Correctional Facility

Careers at Collins Correctional Facility