Niagara County Jail

Jail Layout

Interview with Karl


JM: How many different blocks were there?
Karl: There were about nine different blocks and four "pods." There were also dormitories, but I never had any experiences staying in those. From what I understand, the jail has a capacity of just 514 inmates, male and female.

JM: Did they have names? If so, what were they?
Karl: The blocks were "named" with an alphabetic letter, such as "C," "D," "E", "H", "I", or "J."

JM: Which inmates were housed in the different blocks?
Karl: Generally "H" block was used for protective custody male inmates, and "K" block was used to house the protective custody female inmates. "I" block was generally used to house the male youthful offenders (16 years old, on the average) and "J" block was used to house all inmates initially upon admission to the jail. You remained in "J" block for anywhere from 3 days to several weeks while waiting for an opening on a block or in a pod or dormitory.

JM: What do you remember being the nicest and worst parts about the different blocks?
Karl: I liked the quietness of "H" block, plus the fact that you could walk around. In "J" block you are locked-in 23 hours per day. While I was there, a young inmate completed a suicide attempt and died. I'm not sure just exactly what block he was on - I think it was "J" block.