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Pennsylvania · How-To Guide

How do I find an inmate or search a jail roster?

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections - PADOC (state prisons) / County Sheriff's Office / County Prison/Jail (county level - 67 counties; many PA counties operate their own county prisons)
Details

What you need to know

Fee
Online searches free; certified records requests may involve fees ONLINE OPTION: Yes - PADOC Inmate Locator at cor.pa.gov; county prison websites; UJS Portal for criminal case dockets WHERE TO GO: PADOC (state prisons); County Prison or Sheriff's Office (county level)
Online Option
Yes - PADOC Inmate Locator at cor.pa.gov; county prison websites; UJS Portal for criminal case dockets
Where to Go
PADOC (state prisons); County Prison or Sheriff's Office (county level)
County-specific variations apply

Pennsylvania is distinctive nationally for having so many county-operated prisons (for sentences up to 2 years). Philadelphia, Allegheny County, Montgomery County, Chester County, Lancaster County, York County, and most other PA counties each operate their own county prison separate from the county jail; both shorter-sentenced and pre-trial defendants may be in county prison. Persons serving sentences under 2 years will be at a COUNTY PRISON, not a PADOC state prison.

Pennsylvania Notes

Important state-specific details

  • PADOC manages state prisons including SCI (State Correctional Institution) Graterford, SCI Dallas, SCI Muncy, and 20+ other facilities; Inmate Locator at cor.pa.gov.
  • COUNTY PRISONS (NOT just jails): PA counties operate prisons for sentences up to 2 years - this is different from most states; many medium-term sentenced individuals are in county facilities, not state prisons.
  • PA Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry: megan.psp.pa.gov - searchable online.
  • For visitation, phone calls, sending money, commissary, or mailing to a PA inmate: inmateaid.com has PADOC and county prison facility details.
Official Source

State office contact

State Office
Pennsylvania Department of Corrections - cor.pa.gov | (717) 728-2573; Inmate Locator: cor.pa.gov/Pages/FindanInmate.aspx