Berks County Inmate Search
A Berks County Inmate search is a process through which an inquirer retrieves information about convicts imprisoned in the county's detention facility. Members of the public have access to lookup Berks County inmate information as they are regarded as a part of Berks County Public Records per state laws. An inmate search is usually necessary for verifying the incarceration history, holding facility, and crime details of inmates in Berks County.
Berks County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) Department of the Pennsylvania State Police collects and publishes crime and incarceration statistics sourced from Berks County Sheriff's Office.
According to the 2021 UCR report, a total of 2,901 arrests were made in the county, while 3,201 and 2,232 arrests were made in 2022 and 2023 respectively. Simple assaults had the highest arrest rates across three years: 1,694 in 2021, 1,667 in 2022, and 1,155 in 2023, while the rates for aggravated assaults were 297,335 and 275, respectively. The arrest rates for larceny were 646 in 2021, 926 in 2022, and 610 in 2023, while motor vehicle theft had 42 arrests in 2021, 24 in 2022, and 42 in 2023. Robbery and burglary had arrest rates of 170 in 2021, 200 in 2022, and 119 in 2023. Rape had the least arrest rates of 5 in 2021, 19 in 2022 and 4 in 2023.
The incarceration rate in Berks County jail is estimated to be 1,174 inmates as of 2014, with a daily average of 325 inmates. Males are incarcerated in jail at a rate of 676 per 100,000 residents, while the female incarceration rate is 72 per 100,000 residents. Between 2010 and 2015, the male incarceration rate had a percentage increase of 2%, while the female incarceration rate had an increase of 12%.
Berks County Prison System
Berks County Jail is a medium-security incarceration facility in which male and female adult criminals are confined. The jail has a maximum capacity of 998 persons and an average population of 1,174 inmates yearly. The Berks County Sheriff’s Office is responsible for supervising the jail and thus performs all employment activities such as payments, hiring, and dismissal. The Berks jail facility has about 240 employees on its payroll and has various units such as the jail administration, the correctional facility guards, the treatment department, the information unit team, the records room team, and the transportation unit.
How to Find an Inmate in Berks County
Individuals in search of inmates confined in Berks County jail can submit requests to the County Sheriff's Office via mail or in person. Queries about inmates can also be done by phoning (610) 208-4800. The Berks County jail system also has an online repository for inmate search.
Individuals conducting inmate searches will need to supply certain search criteria like inmate name, date of arrest, or booking number. The Sheriff's Office can be accessed from 8:00 am to 5:00 pm weekdays at:
Berks County Sheriff's Office
Berks County Courthouse
633 Court Street, 3rd Floor
Reading, PA 19601
Phone: (610) 478-6240
Fax: (610) 478-6222
How Does a Berks County Inmate Search Work?
Berks County inmate records are public records per the Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law unless otherwise stated by law. The availability of these inmate records provides a lot of useful information about an incarcerated person to searchers.
An inquirer in search of an inmate can expect to find the following information:
- Full name of the inmate, date of birth, and other descriptive information such as height, hair, skin and eye color
- Identifying features such as Gender, nationality, and age
- Mugshots or booking photograph
- Booking information like date, booking officer, and booking number
- Bond or bail posting details
- Information about the incarceration facility such as inmate housing details
- Crimes committed by the inmate and sentences being carried out by the inmate
Where to Find a Berks County Inmate Locator
The Berks County Inmate Locator can be found on the County jail system's website. The information contained in this website is only for inmates who are confined in the County's jail. The inquirer will need to enter key search details such as the full name of the inmate, age, booking number, gender, birth date, or location.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also maintains an Inmate Locator through which interested individuals can access Berks County inmate information by inputting relevant search criteria.
Apart from the Inmate locators provided by the County and State, there are other third-party inmate locators managed by aggregate websites that deliver their users with inmate records. The search information needed to retrieve inmate details on these sites normally includes a complete inmate's name, county name, or booking number. These third-party inmate locators usually have fees attached to utilizing them and vary across the different service providers.
How to Send Jail Mail in Berks County
Individuals who wish to send mail to an inmate in Berks County jail must ensure that the mail is properly addressed and does not include prohibited items. All inmate mail must have a returning address legibly written on the envelope. Books, magazines, and newspapers sent to an inmate must be dispatched directly from the publisher or an online bookshop else they will be returned.
The County jail does not permit inmates to receive stamps, writing papers or pads, clothes, undergarments, shoes, cash, and personal checks via mail. The list of other prohibited items can be accessed in the Inmate Handbook. Individuals willing to send mail to an inmate in Berks County can obtain additional information by calling (610) 208-4800 or reviewing the County jail website.
Individuals sending books, magazines, and legal mail to inmates are to make sure the mail is addressed as follows:
Inmate's Name and the Berks County jail system number
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533
For sending personal correspondences to an inmate, the mailing format is:
Inmate's Name and the Berks County jail system number
Berks County Jail System
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
Berks County Jails and Prisons
The Berks County Jail is the preliminary detention facility in the County. The contact information of the County jail is listed below:
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533
Phone: (610) 208-4800
