9. Arthur Kill Correctional Facility, Staten Island

Image via Google Maps

Former State Prison, formerly a drug rehabilitation center, featured in the film Tenderness with Russell Crowe and Laura Dern. Closed in 2011 as part of Governor Cuomo’s prison closing program, the land sold to Broadway Stages, a film studio company with soundstages already in Greenpoint.

10. Essex Market Prison

Built in 1856, the Essex Market Prison was located on 2nd Avenue between 1st and 2nd Street. It was notable for its large cat population, including the famous Minnie the cat. The Ludlow Street Jail was just nearby, and these two prisons were sited on what is now the Seward Park High School. The Essex Market Prison was abandoned in 1911.

11. Yorkville Prison at 57th and Lexington

The Yorkville Prison was a district prison,also known as the 57th Street Jail. In the courthouse basement between 3rd Avenue and Lexington Avenue, 40 detainees could be held.

12. The West Side Prison at 53rd and 8th Avenue

According to Correction History, the West Side Prison, also a district prison, had “38 cells and a large holding ‘cage.’ Male inmates stayed overnight, some remaining months and years. Women inmates didn’t remain overnight. The fortress-like structure featured back-to-back cells, each a small stone cavern with no shelving and hardly enough space for a single inmate. But its 38 cells sometimes held 157. The night court on 54th Street was just in back of the prison.”

13. The Fordham Prison

The Fordham Prison was another district prison, built in 1875. Also known as Morrisania, it was replaced by another building at 161st Street and 3rd Avenue in 1924 that contained 6 pens for men and 3 for women.

14. The Harlem Prison

The Harlem Prison was part of the now landmarked Harlem Courthouse, the oldest jail structure still standing in New York City. The 40 jail cells were used util1940.

15. West Farms, Bronx

West Farms was the 8th District prison, originally at Williamsbridge but later moved to 181st Street in the Bronx.

16. Washington Heights Prison

The exactly location of the Washington Heights Prison is debatable. According to Corrections History, “various reports listed it at 457 W.151st St. Some reports also listed it as 1130 St. Nicholas Avenue.”

Read on for 13 of NYC’s currently active prisons.

This article also partly written by Bernadette Moke.