Lancaster County Inmate Search
Law enforcement officers can apprehend and take a person into custody when they break any law or ordinance in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania. Per Title 234.4 of the Pennsylvania Code, law enforcement officers can arrest offenders in Lancaster County in two ways:
When a person is arrested in Lancaster County, the individual is taken into custody for processing and booking. Their fingerprints, photographs, and personal information are recorded and maintained as part of Lancaster Public Records. Soon after, the person will be presented before a judge who will explain their charges and set their bail amount and conditions. Subsequently, one of the following will happen:
- The defendant will be released if no charges are filed.
- The defendant will be asked to post bail/bond or be released on personal recognizance to appear for arraignment in the future.
- The defendants will remain in jail to attend their court trial(s).
All individuals not incarcerated while awaiting trial must have their trials within one year of the arrest. In contrast, those incarcerated while awaiting trial must have their trials within six months of detention.
After the trial, a guilty or not guilty verdict will be given. If found guilty, the defendant may receive a sentence of probation, incarceration in a Lancaster County jail or state prison, a mix of imprisonment and probation, fines and costs, restitution, or community service. Defendants can appeal their sentences.
Lancaster County Crime and Incarceration Statistics
The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System shows that 1,119 arrests occurred in Lancaster County in 2022. Offenders were arrested for crimes like murder, nonnegligent and negligent manslaughter, rape, simple assault, burglary, larceny, robbery, motor vehicle theft, aggravated assault, and arson.
Lancaster County Prison System
The Lancaster County Prison System is the correctional system for the Lancaster County area run by the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department. It has only one jail facility.
The Lancaster County prison system had an inmate population of 1,602 in 2020, of which 1,511 were males and 91 were females. That same year, Lancaster County had 124 inmates serving life sentences. Individuals can review the Lancaster County Inmate Handbook for more information about the Lancaster County Prison System.
How to Find an Inmate in Lancaster County
Individuals can find information about inmates incarcerated in Lancaster County using the Who's In Jail search tool on the county website. Interested persons must provide information like an inmate's first name, last name, date of birth, or PIN to conduct an inmate search.
Alternatively, individuals can get inmate information by calling the automated inmate information system at (717) 299-7800. After placing the call, individuals must press #2 for inmate information and search for an inmate by name or date of birth.
How Does a Lancaster County Inmate Search Work?
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) permits the dissemination of inmate information to members of the public. Hence, Lancaster County residents can obtain a lot of inmate data in the county, including:
- Full name
- PIN
- Birth date
- Sex
- Race
- Commit date
- Commit age
- Arresting agency
Where to Find a Lancaster County Inmate Locator
An inmate locator is a tool available from correctional facilities that members of the public can use to access inmate details in a jail or prison facility. Interested persons can access the Inmate Locator available on the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office website to search for inmates confined within the county jail system.
On the other hand, individuals can use the Inmate Locator maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to search for Lancaster County inmates booked in the state prison system. Individuals must enter an inmate's full name, number, parole number, race/ethnicity, or date of birth to obtain information.
Individuals can also retrieve inmate information from third-party websites. However, the inmate's full name and a U.S. state's name may be required to search. In addition, record seekers may need to pay a small search fee to access inmate records.
How to Send Money to a Lancaster County Inmate
All inmates in Lancaster County have Inmate accounts where they can receive funds by money order or certified check from family and friends. No personal checks are accepted at the Lancaster County jail. Instead, individuals can deposit into an inmate's account by cash or credit card at the kiosk in the prison lobby. Money orders and certified checks are only received by mail and can be sent daily from 6:00 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.
Alternatively, interested persons send funds to an inmate's account using an online tool provided by the Lancaster County jail. When inmates are discharged, they will be issued a debit card with the remaining money in their account. All money orders mailed to the prison must contain the inmate's name and PBN#. Individuals making cash deposits must pay a $3 deposit fee, while those using credit cards will pay processing fees based on the deposit amount. For instance:
- A $20 deposit attracts a $3 fee.
- A $50 deposit attracts a $5 fee.
- A $100 deposit attracts a $10 fee.
How to Visit a Lancaster County Inmate
Individuals must schedule a visit a day before visiting a Lancaster County Inmate. However, Saturday, Sunday, or Monday visits must be scheduled the Friday prior. Visitors can schedule a visit by calling the prison at (717) 299-7800 during working hours from Monday through Friday.
Only the persons named on an inmate's visitation list can visit. Furthermore, only two visitors, including children, are permitted per visit. Visitors must arrive 15 minutes prior. Visitors must comply with the following visitation rules and regulations during their time at the jail:
- Inmates can only receive one one-hour visit per week.
- No gums, food, or drinks are permitted.
- Only twenty-five (25) visitors are permitted to enter the lobby simultaneously.
- Only biological children of inmates are allowed to visit, and they must be with their parents or legal guardians.
- All visitors must come with a current/valid government agency photo identification like a driver's license or state-issued non-driver identification that shows their name, age, and address.
- Visitors must place their belongings in the lockers located in the lobby.
- No jewelry is permitted during visitation unless wedding bands, engagement rings, class/military rings, mother's rings, or medical alert necklaces/bracelets.
- All visitors must dress appropriately and have footwear. Wearing tank tops, hats, miniskirts, sleeveless shirts, see-through clothing, shirts with spaghetti strings, mini skirts, short shorts, tight-fitting clothing, hooded shirts, hats, or boots above the knees are not allowed.
- A person's visitation will be canceled if they leave the visitation room for any reason.
Individuals can review the Lancaster County Jail Visitation Guide for further information.
How to Send Jail Mail in Lancaster County
Mail packages can be sent to Lancaster County inmates via the kiosks/tablets in the housing units. Legal mail can be sent in paper form, but any personal paper mail will be returned to the sender. All incoming personal mail should be sent using this format:
Inmate's Full Name and ID #
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center-Lancaster County
P.O. Box 792
Lebanon, MO 65536
Inmates cannot take mail packages to the blocks. Also, family and friends cannot send greeting cards to inmates unless they are digital. Only greeting cards directly shipped from an approved vendor of Lancaster County Prison are accepted. Inmates are not permitted to receive drugs by mail. Mails must have the inmate's full name and PBN number for proper identification, sorting, and delivery. All incoming mail must carry a return address. The mail clerk will inspect all personal correspondence before delivery to the inmates.
Lancaster County Jails and Prisons
The Lancaster County jail/prison in Pennsylvania address and contact information is as follows:
Lancaster County Prison
625 East King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: (717) 299-7800,
(717) 299-7809 (work release)
Fax: 717-299-781
