Bucks County Inmate Search
A Buck County Inmate search is a process that allows interested persons to access information about county inmates. Once an individual gets booked into the county prison system, details of their incarceration are typically generated and featured in Bucks County Public Records. These details are then made accessible to the general public according to Pennsylvania's Public Records Laws.
A wealth of information about a county inmate can be accessed when an inmate search is conducted in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This information is essential to persons seeking to visit inmates, post their bond, and view details of their criminal offense, sentence, or release date.
Bucks County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) System, 3,005 arrests were made in Bucks County in 2022. Of this number, 1,516 arrests were for larceny-theft, making it the most prevalent crime in the county in that year. Other offenses with notable amounts of arrests include simple assault (957 arrests), aggravated assault (218 arrests), Burglary "Breaking or Entering" (135 arrests), and motor vehicle theft (75 arrests).
According to Pennsylvania UCR System's 2021 statistics, larceny theft accounted for 1,253 arrests made in Bucks County in 2021. There were 2,607 arrests in that year, indicating a 15.27% decrease in Bucks County arrests between 2021 and 2022.
According to the Bucks County Prison Oversight Board Report, between January and August 2022, 667 inmates, on average, were housed in the Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF) each month.
Bucks County Prison System
The Bucks County Prison System encompasses local municipality jails, the Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF), and the Men's Community Corrections Center. The BCCF serves as the primary countywide central correctional facility of Bucks County. It started its operation on June 18, 1985, and while the Bucks County Department of Corrections oversees the BCCF and the Men's Community Corrections Center, each municipal jail is overseen by their respective local police departments.
The BCCF has 10 modular living units that hold pre-trial detainees or convicted prisoners. 712 bunks are available in these units to house inmates; an average of 727 inmates held by the BCCF are supervised by the facility's staff each day. Besides housing inmates, the BCCF also provides several inmate services to ensure inmates are adequately taken care of and rehabilitated after their stint in jail. These inmate services include libraries, education, medical and mental health care facilities, and religious programming.
How to Find an Inmate in Bucks County
The most reliable way to find an inmate in Bucks County is through the Interactive Voice Response (IVR) lookup system provided by the County's Department of Corrections. This system allows interested parties to search and receive information about all active county inmates via phone. Inquirers can access the IVR system by calling (267) 915-4072. To conduct an inmate search through the IVR system, the inquirer may need to provide information about an inmate to facilitate the search.
Unlike most jurisdictions where a Sheriff's Office maintains an inmate locator, the Bucks County Department of Corrections does not have an online inmate locator. Hence, the IVR is the Department's only system for looking up county inmates.
How Does a Bucks County Inmate Search Work?
Per Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, local agencies must provide public information to inquirers, provided they are not excluded from public disclosure. This law extends to certain inmate records maintained by the Bucks County Department of Corrections. Hence, interested persons can search Bucks County inmates to obtain information about county inmates. Some example of such inmate information includes and are not limited to:
- The inmate's first name, last name, as well as other names they are known by
- Mugshot
- Bucks County Corrections identification Number
- Housing location
- Bond information
- Charges information and Fines
- Parole number
- Age
- Date of birth
- Height
- Gender
- Citizenship
- Complexion
Where to Find a Bucks County Inmate Locator
Unfortunately, the County's Department of Corrections does not provide an online Bucks County inmate locator through the County Sheriff's Office or otherwise. Instead, the Department maintains a phone number at (267) 915-4072 through its Interactive Voice Response (IVR) system, which individuals can call to inquire about a county inmate. To use the system, inquirers may need to possess Personally identifiable information (PII) about the inmate they wish to look up, such as the inmate's name.
Notwithstanding, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an inmate locator. This inmate locator can be used to obtain information about current inmates and parolees of the state prison system, such as those who are or were incarcerated in any Pennsylvania state prison.
At the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) also maintains an inmate locator. The BOP superintends all facilities within the federal prison system. Hence, the BOP inmate locator can be used to find and obtain information about federal inmates. Interested persons can search for federal inmates on the BOP inmate locator by name (first, middle, last name) or by number (DCDC number, INS, FIB, or BOP register number).
Certain third-party providers also maintain inmate locators that inquirers can use to find information about inmates. These inmate locators are generally found on third-party websites and are typically not affiliated with any government agency. Users are usually charged a fee to use most third-party inmate locators. These fees amount usually vary by provider.
How to Send Money to a Bucks County Inmate
Interested persons can send money to a Buck County inmate by depositing it into the inmate's account. Each inmate is issued an inmate account after being booked into the Bucks County Correctional Facility (BCCF).
Individuals can deposit money in an inmate account through the BCCF business office or lobby kiosks. The business office is open from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. from Monday to Friday except on county holidays. Individuals can use a credit or debit card to deposit money into an inmate account at the business office. However, the business office staff does not collect cash. Cash deposits can be made at the lobby kiosk. These kiosks are open every day from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Furthermore, the only cash denominations accepted at the kiosks are $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100. These kiosks also accept credit and debit cards.
Alternatively, interested persons can send money to a Buck County inmate by mailing money orders addressed to the inmate to the BCCF. Money orders must be mailed to the BCCF in an envelope with the following address format:
Inmate Name, BCP Number
c/o Bucks County Correctional Facility
1730 S Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
Cash and credit card deposits are subject to deposit fees. For cash deposits, $2.50 per transaction for up to $300. Meanwhile, the cost for credit card deposits is $2.5 for up to $20 and increases to $11.50 for the maximum $300 deposit.
How to Visit a Bucks County Inmate
Interested persons can visit a Bucks County inmate in person or via video call. County inmates are typically issued a tablet for video visitations for a service fee. A notable feature of video visitation is that prospective visitors are not required to pre-schedule video visits. Prospective visitors can conduct a video visit through the Buck County Department of Corrections third-party vendor website "Global Telephone LINK Corporation (GTL)".
In-person visitations are conducted on Saturdays for the Bucks County Correctional Facility and the County Men's Community Correctional Center. To visit an inmate of either facility in person, the prospective visitor must be added to the visitation list of the county inmate they wish to see. Each inmate is responsible for their respective visitation list. Hence, inquiries about adding a prospective visitor to an inmate's visitation list should be directed to the inmate.
On the visiting day, visitors will be processed before entering the facility to ensure safety. Afterwards, they will be checked in at the lobby. After entry, visitors are subject to the facility's visitation rules and procedures. The facility can terminate inmate visits and revoke future visitation privileges of visitors who knowingly or unknowingly break these rules. Hence, it is important to familiarise oneself with these rules before visiting. Some of these include:
- Visitors who leave their assigned seat can have their visit terminated
- Visitors older than 16 years must have any of the following photo IDs:
- Drivers license
- Employment or school ID
- Non-divers license
- Passport
- Their parent or legal guardian must accompany minors (those under the age of 16)
- Inmates are allowed a maximum of 2 visitors per session
Furthermore, attempting to or bringing contraband into the facility during visitation day is punishable by up to 5 years imprisonment under Pennsylvania Crime Code Title 18, Section 5123. Contrabands are any items not issued by the facility, bought in the canteen, or approved by the facility's security department; these include drugs, alcohol, and escape implements.
The facility's visitation rules and procedures also outline a strict dress code for visitors. Under these rules, certain clothing items are prohibited. These include and are not limited to:
- Halter tops
- Hats
- bandanas
- Short shorts
- mini skirts
- Fishnets
- See-through blouse
For a full list of the facility's visitation rules and procedures, interested persons can visit the visitation page of the County's Website. Ex-inmates should note that they must write a letter to the Deputy Superintendent requesting permission to visit an inmate or assistance for the scheduling process. The letter includes the name of the inmate being visited, the incarnation dates of the ex-inmate, and if they are on supervision. The letter should be mailed to:
Deputy Superintendent
1730 S. Easton Rd
Doylestown, PA 18901
How to Send Jail Mail in Bucks County
Individuals can send jail mail to a Bucks County inmate by addressing the mail to the inmate by name or inmate number (for expedited process) and mailing to the County Department of Corrections at:
Bucks County Department of Corrections
1730 S. Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
All mailed items must adhere to the facility's mailing policy. This policy outlines permitted items, unauthorized items, and permitted publications and reading materials. Under the policy, certain mailed items must have the following characteristics to be considered a permitted item:
- Mails must be in a legal-sized envelope or plain unlined white standard business-sized (number 10, 4 by 9 ½ inches)
- Letters must be written in graphite pencil or ink
- Digital photo copies of photographs must be on standard white 8 ½ by 11 inch paper.
- Publication and reading materials must be mailed directly from their publishers.
Some unauthorized items:
- Colored envelopes
- Greetings cards
- Care packages
- Mails with imprinted lipstick
- Items containing glue of white-out.
- Explicit materials
Interested persons can visit the mail and messaging information webpage on the county's website for a complete list of permitted items, unauthorized items, permitted publications, and reading materials.
Bucks County Jails and Prisons
The names, addresses, and contact information of all jail and prison facilities situated in Bucks County are listed below:
Bucks County Men's Community Corrections Centers
1270 Almshouse Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
Phone: (215) 345-3700
Fax: (215) 918-3015
Bucks County Correctional Facility
1730 S Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
City jails in Bucks County
Contact information about each municipality jail in Bucks County can be retrieved through the respective police department that oversees the jail.
