Pennsylvania Inmate Search

Pennsylvania inmate records are maintained by state, county, or local agencies. For example, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) maintains records of inmates held in state prisons, while each county’s correctional department maintains records for inmates in the county jail. Similarly, the Philadelphia Prisons Department (PDP) manages the jails in the City of Philadelphia. Typically, the information found on Pennsylvania inmate records includes:

• Full names and nicknames of the inmate
• Mugshot photo of the inmate
• Date of birth, gender, and ethnicity of the inmate
• The date of incarceration and the date of release
• Crime history and previous penalties faced by the convict (if any)
• Additional information about the conditions of incarceration
• Location and address of the incarceration facility
• Impending court hearings or judgments
• Cell number of the inmate

Pennsylvania State Prisons

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) oversees 23 state correctional institutions plus one boot camp, housing about 38,000 inmates across minimum to maximum custody levels, including the SCI Waymart, SCI Cambridge Springs, SCI Fayette, SCI Phoenix, and SCI Muncy. The State Correctional Institution Phoenix was designed to replace the aging SCI Graterford. It was opened in 2018 and is currently the largest Maximum-security men’s correctional institution in Pennsylvania, with a capacity of nearly 3,830 inmates. It houses male offenders, including those on death row.

State Correctional Institution Phoenix
Address: 1200 Mokychic Drive
Collegeville, PA 19426
Phone: (610) 409-7890

The State Correctional Institution Muncy is a medium/maximum security facility for adult female offenders. It opened in 1953 in Lycoming County and has a capacity of nearly 1,472 inmates and capital-case offenders.

State Correctional Institution Muncy
Address: 6454 Route 405,
Muncy, PA 17756
Phone: (570) 546-3171
Fax: (570) 546-3173

How To Find An Inmate In Pennsylvania?

Interested parties may find an inmate in any Pennsylvania state prison using the Inmate/Parolee Locator on the state’s Department of Corrections (DOC) webpage. The database offers information on every inmate and parolee under the custody of the DOC. Information on this database is updated daily to ensure completeness and accuracy. Users may search the database with any of the following identifiers:

• Full names (this includes first, middle, and last names of the convict)
• The inmate or Parolee number
• Date of birth
• Committing County
• Gender
• Race
• Location of the incarceration facility
• Country of citizenship

The search result yields the inmates’ biographical data, incarceration information, and a mugshot. Ensure to fill in the search criteria appropriately for an accurate result.

When searching for an inmate held in a county or city jail, inquirers typically visit, call, or mail the local correctional agency to request information on an inmate. However, most agencies provide an inmate search tool on their websites or the county’s website. For example, residents may find inmates in Philadelphia via the Inmate Locator on the Philadelphia Prison Department (PDP) website. Find the list of Pennsylvania county prisons and their administrators here to facilitate your search. Generally, access to these inmate portals is free, and users can query the database by several criteria, including name and ID.

Under the Pennsylvania Sunshine Act, 65 Pa.C.S. §§ 701–716, and the DOC open records policy, individuals are allowed to inspect or copy inmate records upon request unless the record is exempted by law or court order. Sealed arrest records and juvenile records are examples of records that are excluded from public access.

Records that are considered public may be accessible from some third-party websites. Operating independently of any federal, state, or local agency, such websites may simplify the search process as they are not limited by geographic location. In addition, third-party sites typically have search engines that can be used to filter specific or multiple records. To use third-party or government websites, interested parties may need to provide:

• The name of the person involved in the record, unless said person is a juvenile
• The location or assumed location of the record or person involved. This includes information such as the city, county, or state that the person resides in or was accused in

However, third-party sites are independent of government sources and are not sponsored by these agencies. Because of this, record availability cannot be guaranteed.

How To Find A Federal Inmate In Pennsylvania?

There are 11 federal prisons in Pennsylvania, and interested persons may locate an inmate in these facilities via the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) website. All federal inmates currently serving sentences or detained in any federal facilities in the country are registered on this database. Users may apply the inmate locator on the website as follows:

• By name: The full names of the inmates are required. Information about the inmate's ethnicity, gender, and date of birth will improve the accuracy of the results.
• By number: A federal inmate is assigned a registration number for identification. This number may be generated from the Department of Corrections (DC), Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), Immigration and Naturalization Services (INS), or the Bureau of Prisons (BOP).

Note that information about inmates in custody before 1982 may not be available in the database. Records of such inmates are available with the National Archives and Records Administration (NARA). Hence, inquirers should direct requests for information about these old inmates to NARA.

How Do I Find Inmate Records In Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) is the repository for inmate records in the state prisons. Inmates and authorized individuals may apply to obtain a certified copy of an inmate's record. No inmate record request is fulfilled without the consent of the inmate named on the record. The agency processes requests for Pennsylvania inmate records based on the type. Common inmate records requests include:

• General records; this record comprises communications to the department about an inmate’s conduct or complaints
• Medical or dental health record; this record may be an all-encompassing medical report, or restricted to certain aspects
• Drug and Alcohol Treatment Records
• Mental health records; this includes information about treatment, hospital admissions, outpatient health care, etc. (Requests for this type of record expire after six months)

In line with the agency’s Release of Information Policy, inmates may apply for a copy of their own records by completing the DC–135A request form. The completed form is submitted to the appropriate officer or the Corrections Superintendent’s Assistant (CSA). An inmate is restricted from requesting information pertaining to another inmate.

A third party is permitted to request Pennsylvania inmate records by submitting a written request. Where a third party is requesting an official copy of an inmate record, the request must be accompanied by the DC–108 request form. The inmate who is the subject of the record in question must sign this form prior to submission. Such requests are submitted to the facility’s Release of Information Coordinator.

Note that a 25-cent per-page fee applies to duplication of available inmate records. Additional charges may include $1 to certify a document per page, a postage fee, and others, depending on the type of request.

Requesters may also write or call the jail authority to request official copies of inmate records for inmates held in county or city jails. For example, to obtain inmate records for persons in Allegheny County Jail, call the Jail’s Record Office at (412) 350–2635, and for persons in Philadelphia City Jail, contact the Office of Community Justice and Outreach at (215) 685–7288, –7711, or –8909.

How to Put Money on Inmates' Books In Pennsylvania?

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (DOC) allows family and friends to send money to their loved ones incarcerated in state facilities. Each inmate has an account that’s typically funded directly or electronically. Direct funding refers to visiting the facility's lobby kiosk and making a payment to the inmate’s account. The lobby kiosks are user-friendly and accept payments in cash, credit, or debit cards. Each transaction attracts a $2 service charge. Follow the prompts to put funds in an inmate’s account.

OC places a few restrictions on the total sum an inmate may receive within a period. For instance, credit card payments generally fund a maximum of $300 in 72 hours. In comparison, the limit for money orders via JPay is set at $999.99. Cash or walk transactions using MoneyGram are limited to $5,000 per transaction. However, no limits exist on how much money is allowed in an inmate’s account.

When sending funds to inmates in county or city jails across Pennsylvania, payers may need to contact the jail authority to determine the appropriate deposit means. Typically, these jails allow funding an inmate’s account by one or multiple means, including deposit at a kiosk in the jail lobby, money order by mail, or electronic wire transfer. For example, Philadelphia jails allow electronic deposits via AdvancePay or Access Corrections, while Allegheny County Jail accepts inmate deposits via more options.

Does Pennsylvania Use JPay for Inmates?

Yes, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) partners with JPay to offer inmate services across state correctional institutions. Generally, JPay accepts money order payments with service charges accruing only to the payer. Payers must fill out a deposit slip and submit it with the money. Depending on the user's preference, deposit slips are available in English and Spanish. Ensure to fill out the form accurately:

• Inmate ID
• Name
• Sender’s name and contact information

The funds are deposited into the inmate’s account once daily during business days. Once the transaction is completed, the inmate is notified through a personal receipt.

Families and friends can send money online, by phone, or via money order to JPay’s lockbox. JPay also offers secure emails, VideoGrams, and eCards. Inmates can use JP6S tablets to access approved music, education tools, and messages. Select facilities offer video visits through JPay’s Video Connect service. Upon release, inmates receive JPay debit cards, which are valid at Mastercard ATMs.