How To Find a Jail Phone Number In Pennsylvania
When incarcerated in Pennsylvania, an inmate may be allowed to communicate with friends, loved ones, attorneys, public officials, media, etc. Inmate communication is facilitated by email, postal mail, and telephone; however, one of the quickest ways for friends and family to talk to an inmate is through jail phones.
Inmate telephone procedures vary from state to state and from one corrections facility to another. In some jails, phone communication is a two-way thing: inmates can call outsiders and receive phone calls just as those on the outside can communicate with inmates via the jail phone. In other prison facilities, inmates can only make calls but are not allowed to receive them. To communicate with an inmate in Pennsylvania, one must know whether they are housed in a Pennsylvania state jail or county jail, as the process of finding jail phone numbers differs in both cases. State jail phone numbers can be found through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, but to find the phone number of a county jail, one must contact the county officials concerned.
To get in touch with an inmate, eligible persons may perform a Pennsylvania inmate search to locate the detainee and subsequently retrieve the contact information of the facility where they are held.
What is Pennsylvania's Provision on Inmate Phone Calls?
Inmate calls received in Pennsylvania are subject to the rules in the Department of Corrections Inmate Handbook (DC-ADM 818) and Title 66 (Pa.C.S. § 2907). Under these provisions:
- Inmates may make phone calls to their family members, friends, etc., and there is no limit to the number of correspondents an inmate may have.
- A prisoner may not call their victims, former inmates, inmates of other facilities, or probationers, except with the approval of their facility manager.
- Inmate phone calls are a privilege, not a right, and may be taken away due to inmate misconduct, jail emergency, or other reasons.
- Inmate phone calls are usually monitored, except for conversations with their attorneys.
- Prison inmates make calls by registering with and using the state's approved third-party call service provider.
- Outgoing phone calls from a prison facility will be identified to the receiver as originating from a state correctional institution.
- Two-way calls and call forwarding are prohibited.
- Phone calls are charged (usually prepaid). However, the facility may provide alternative payment methods for inmate telephone calls if these methods do not compromise security, prison operations, and the public's interest.
- Inmates are allowed to make collect calls.
- If an inmate does not have funds and cannot make a collect call, the call cost will be charged to their account and deducted once money is deposited into that account.
- Inmate calls are restricted to numbers within North America.
Eligibility Requirements for Inmate Calls in Pennsylvania
Generally, incarceration facilities have phones, periods for phone calls on cell phones, guidelines for phone use, and repercussions for violating the guidelines. The facility determines the calling schedule. Some requirements for inmates' phone calls include the following:
- Inmate phones may only be used to make prepaid or collect calls to persons listed on the inmate's Telephone Authorization List (DC-8A) and telephone numbers in the North American Calling Plan.
- The use of jail phones to commit a crime will result in prosecution.
- Inmate telephone calling privileges may be revoked for administrative or disciplinary reasons. This means that certain violations may make a prisoner ineligible for phone privileges.
- One must register with the provided calling plan before they can make calls.
Are Inmate Phone Calls Public in Pennsylvania?
No. Chapter 57 of the Pennsylvania General Assembly (18 Pa. C.S. §5701) makes provisions for intercepting, recording, monitoring, and disclosing inmate phone conversations (except those protected by attorney-client privilege). However, these recorded jail calls are not considered public records per § 5704. An intercepted recording from cell phones is only accessible to the correctional facility, warden, facility superintendent, the warden or superintendent's designee, other chief administrative staff or their designee, and law enforcement officials. Prosecutors may also request and obtain inmate phone recordings via a court order.
How to Perform a Pennsylvania Inmate Search
In Pennsylvania, an inmate search can provide inquirers access to the contact information of the jail where the detainee is held. This is done by making physical inquiries to local law enforcement departments or through online inmate locator portals provided by these agencies, which are usually free. These search portals, often labeled "Inmate Locator," require specific information like the inmate's name or booking number and sometimes additional details like the inmate's birth date. An example is the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate/Parolee Locator.
Where is a Jail Phone Number Typically Listed in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania has around 23 state correctional institutions and about 55 additional community corrections, training, and contract facilities. Each facility has its jail phone number. The Pennsylvania Department of General Services provides a commonwealth directory for the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. This directory contains a comprehensive listing of jail and correctional facilities (their addresses, key personnel, and phone numbers) managed by the Department of Corrections.
How To Find a County Jail Phone Number In Pennsylvania
Anyone can find a county jail phone number on the county institutions directory provided on the Department of Corrections website. The sheet has comprehensive data about county jails, jail phone numbers, wardens, and email addresses in Pennsylvania.
In addition, some counties have dedicated websites with telephone number for their correctional institutions. By browsing such web pages, one can find the jail phone numbers of such counties. For instance, one can find the county jail phone numbers of the Philadelphia Department of Prisons and Delaware County Prison on their county websites.
Pennsylvania Jail Phone Numbers and Contact Information
The addresses and contact information of Pennsylvania's 23 state correctional institutions are as follows:
Forest – Central Region
286 Woodland Drive
Marienville, PA 16239-0307
Phone: (814) 621-2110
Fax: (814) 927-8143
Frackville – Central Region
1111 Altamont Boulevard
Frackville, PA 17931
Phone: (570) 874-4516
Fax: (570) 794-2018
Greene – Western Region
169 Progress Drive
Waynesburg, PA 15370
Phone: (724) 852-2902
Fax: (724) 852-5541
Houtzdale – Central Region
209 Institution Drive
Houtzdale, PA 16698-1000
Phone: (814) 378-1000
Fax: (814) 378-1030
Huntingdon – Central Region
1100 Pike Street
Huntingdon, PA 16654-1112
Phone: (814) 643-2400
Fax: (814) 506-1186
Laurel Highlands – Western Region
5706 Glades Pike
Somerset, PA 15501-0631
Phone: (814) 445-6501
Fax: (814) 443-0357
Mahanoy – Eastern Region
301 Grey Line Drive
Frackville, PA 17932
Phone: (570) 773-2158
Fax: (570) 783-2008
Mercer – Western Region
801 Butler Pike
Mercer, PA 16137
Phone: (724) 662-1837
Fax: (724) 662-1940
Muncy – Central Region
6454 State Route 405
Muncy, PA 17756
Phone: (570) 546-3171
Fax: (570) 546-2745
Phoenix – Eastern Region
1200 Mokychic Drive
Collegeville, PA 19426
Phone: (610) 409-7890
Fax: (610) 489-5176
Pine Grove – Western Region
189 Fyock Road
Indiana, PA 15701
Phone: (724) 465-9630
Fax: (724) 464-5139
Quehanna Motivational Boot Camp – Central Region
4395 Quehanna Highway
Karthaus, PA 16845-9714
Phone: (814) 263-4125
Fax: (814) 263-3901
Rockview – Eastern Region
Box A, 1 Rockview Place
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 355-4874
Fax: (814) 355-6060
Smithfield – Central Region
1120 Pike Street
PO Box 999
Huntingdon, PA 16652
Phone: (814) 643-6520
Fax: (814) 506-1022
Somerset – Western Region
1590 Walters Mill Road
Somerset, PA 15510-0001
Phone: (814) 443-8100
Fax: (814) 443-8137
Waymart – Eastern Region
Route 6
PO Box 256
Waymart, PA 18472-0256
Phone: (570) 488-5811
Fax: (570) 488-2557
Albion – Western Region
10745 Route 18
Albion, PA 16475-0001
Phone: 814/756-5778
Fax: (814) 756-9737
Benner Township – Eastern Region
301 Institution Drive
Bellefonte, PA 16823
Phone: (814) 353-3630
Fax: (814) 353-3637
Cambridge Springs – Western Region
451 Fullerton Avenue
Cambridge Springs, PA 16403
Phone: (814) 398-5400
Fax: (814) 398-5413
Camp Hill – Eastern Region
2500 Lisburn Road
PO Box 8837
Camp Hill, PA 17001-8837
Phone: (717) 737-4531
Chester – Eastern Region
500 East Fourth Street
Chester, PA 19013
Phone: (610) 490-5412
Fax: (610) 447-3042
Coal Township – Central Region
1 Kelley Drive
Coal Township, PA 17866
Phone: (570) 644-7890
Fax: (570) 644-4882
Dallas – Eastern Region
1000 Follies Road
Dallas, PA 18612
Phone: (570) 675-1101
Fax: (570) 675-2392
Fayette – Western Region
50 Overlook Drive
LaBelle, PA 15450
Phone: (724) 364-2200
Fax: (724) 364-2208
How To Put Money On Phone For Jail Calls in Pennsylvania
Phone jail calls to Pennsylvania prison facilities are available via a third-party provider. A person must first register and create an account with the other inmate's account phone service provider. This third-party provider offers users the following options to receive phone calls and credit their call accounts:
- The inmates may request to make a transfer from their commissary account to the phone service provider's account.
- Family and friends of the inmate may make a secure deposit to the service provider on behalf of the inmate.
The procedures for putting money on the phone to make calls to county jail facilities can be obtained from the jail administrators.
How to Add Money to Inmate Phone Account in Pennsylvania
An outside party who wants to credit or add funds or money to an inmate's phone account in Pennsylvania must follow the directions of the phone service provider. This information can be obtained from the inmate telephone system provider's website or the prison administrator.
How To Accept Collect Calls From Jail On Cell Phone For Free In Pennsylvania
Collect calls are telephone calls where the receiver pays for the call instead of the caller. To place a collect call, the caller must first request that a collect call be placed through an operator or automated system.
Pennsylvania's Automated Inmate Telephone System (AITS) makes provision for collect calls in accordance with 66 Pa. C.S. §2907. Calls made from Pennsylvania jails must either be collect calls or paid for by the inmate. Some prison phone service providers allow callers to place collect calls and be charged a "direct bill," which allows them to receive calls from contacts, friends and family members and have the call charges billed directly to them monthly. Prisoners in Pennsylvania do not have the option for free collect calls. Where applicable, the call may be made through a prepaid calling account. Callers may be required to be listed on an approved calling list and will usually be played a warning message before the call is connected and they may opt to accept future calls as well. The system is usually restricted to eligible inmates.