Lancaster County, Pennsylvania Inmate Search
In Lancaster County, the Lancaster County Prison Board operates the county jail and provides an official public inmate search to locate individuals incarcerated there. Public inmate searches typically yield basic identifying details, such as name, age, gender, race, and arresting agency.
At the state level, requesters typically search for individuals incarcerated in Pennsylvania state prisons using the Pennsylvania DOC Inmate/Department Supervised Individual Locator. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers a separate federal inmate locator for individuals in federal custody.
Although some city police departments, especially in larger or incorporated cities, may run their own jail rosters, this is not the case in Lancaster County. Prominent police departments, such as the Lancaster City and Ephrata Police Departments, do not maintain separate public jail rosters. These police departments typically book arrested persons into the county jail. This means the Lancaster County Prison’s public-facing custody tools represent the best starting point for finding who is in custody.
How to Find an Inmate in Lancaster County Jail
In Lancaster County, the Lancaster County Prison handles inmate housing, not the Sheriff’s Office. To find someone in Lancaster County Prison, requesters use the county’s official public inmate search (Who’s In Jail) or call the automated system at 717-299-7800.
Step-by-step search process:
- Visit the official Lancaster County Prison inmate-search page.
- Enter the first character of the last name; this is a required field.
- Requesters may also add the first name, date of birth, or PIN number to narrow the results.
- Those who prefer the phone lookup option are expected to call 717-299-7800, then press #2 for inmate information, and search by name or date of birth.
Searches conducted using the public inmate search typically yield inmates’ identifying details, such as name, birth date, race, sex, PIN, as well as booking information, like commit date and arresting agency. The automated inmate-information line may provide details on charges, bail, visitation, and funding for the inmate’s phone account.
Interested parties who undergo the steps above and still cannot obtain relevant information may contact the County Jail at the following address:
Lancaster County Prison
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 717-299-7800
How to Use the Lancaster County Jail Roster
To use the Lancaster County public inmate search (Who’s In Jail?):
- Go to the county’s official inmate search page. On Lancaster County’s prison pages, the search tool appears under the "Who’s In Jail?" section.
- Enter the inmate’s last name. The first character of the last name is required; the other search fields are optional.
- Input more details to narrow the results, e.g., last name, first name, date of birth, and PIN.
- Use the date of birth if the name is common. The county’s automated inmate information page states that inquirers may search by name or date of birth. However, the date of birth is more helpful in situations when more than one person has a similar or identical name.
- Review the inmate information carefully. Once the right individual has been found, the roster may be used to confirm their identity and provide basic custody-related details.
If the online public inmate search tool is unavailable, requesters may use the county’s phone system. To use the phone look-up option, call 717-299-7800, press #2, and then search by name or date of birth. Those seeking in-person assistance may contact the prison directly at:
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 717-299-7800.
What Information is Included in the Lancaster County Inmate Roster
In Lancaster County, the inmate roster usually contains inmate details, such as:
- PIN: This is the internal identification number that is unique to a person in the jail system.
- Name: The full legal name of an individual currently detained, as recorded during the booking process.
- Personal identifying information (e.g., birth date, race, and sex): These are basic characteristics recorded to help distinguish one individual from another during booking or identification processes.
- Commit date: The date the facility received the person into custody for the relevant booking/commitment.
- Commit age: The person’s age at the time of commitment to Lancaster County Prison.
- Arresting agency: The law enforcement agency that arrested the person or brought the case leading to that custody event, such as a city police department, township police department, or sheriff’s office.
Although the Right-to-Know law (RTKL) provides public access to public records maintained by state and local agencies, information posted on inmate search sites is subject to exceptions in the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 9101 et seq. This means that the result, sensitive criminal-history, investigative, or otherwise protected information may not appear in the public inmate roster.
Contact Details for Lancaster County Jail or Sheriff’s Office
For Lancaster County jail matters, the primary point of contact is Lancaster County Prison, not the Sheriff’s Office. The Lancaster County Prison manages inmate custody, visitation, and records.
Lancaster County Prison
625 E. King St.
Lancaster, PA 17602
Phone: 717-299-7800
Work Release: 717-299-7809
Fax: 717-299-7813
Office or service | Address | Main phone | Other contact details | Website/directory info |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Lancaster County Prison | 625 E. King St., Lancaster, PA 17602 | Work release: 717-299-7809; Fax: 717-299-7813 | Official county prison page includes inmate lookup, visitation, finances, and inmate-contact resources | |
Automated inmate information | Not a walk-in location; tied to Lancaster County Prison | 717-299-7800, then press #2 | Search by name or date of birth | Official "Who’s In Jail?" page |
Jail Facility Overview in Lancaster County
Lancaster County’s detention system comprises one large county-operated adult jail and a separate county juvenile facility. Located on East King Street in Lancaster, the Lancaster County Prison holds male and female inmates awaiting trial and those serving county sentences. According to a county audit report, the Lancaster County Prison has an official capacity of 1,102 beds, making it the county’s primary adult detention facility.
Lancaster County also operates a separate facility for juvenile detention and short-term youth placement, the Youth Intervention Center. The facility provides detention, shelter care, and alternative programming for males and females ages 10 to 18. According to the official Youth Intervention Center page, the detention program has 48 beds, the shelter program has 36 beds, and the P.U.L.S.E. Weekend Program has 12 beds.
Name | Address | Office hours | |
|---|---|---|---|
Lancaster County Prison | 625 E. King St., Lancaster, PA 17602 | Not publicly posted on the official prison page | No general public prison email published |
Youth Intervention Center | 235 Circle Ave., Lancaster, PA 17602 | Not publicly posted on the official facility page I reviewed | Director: frederid@lancastercountypa.gov; Business Administrator: kauffmat@lancastercountypa.gov |
How to Send Money to an Inmate in Lancaster County Prison?
Family and friends wishing to send money to inmates at the Lancaster County Prison may use any of the following deposit options:
- Use the lobby kiosk. Depositors may fund an inmate’s trust account through the kiosk in the Lancaster County Prison vestibule. The kiosk accepts cash, credit, or debit cards. A service fee applies to kiosk deposits.
- Send money online. Family and friends may visit the JailATM website to fund an inmate’s account. Service fee typically applies.
- Send a certified bank check or money order by mail. Depositors may mail certified bank checks or money orders, including the incarcerated individual’s name and identification number, to:
Lancaster County Prison
Attn: Inmate Accounts
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
It is worth noting that the funding options above are separate from communication-related expenses (e.g., phone calls, eMessaging stamps, and tablet media) provided by Securus Technologies.
Inmate Search by Jail Facility
The Lancaster Prison Board operates the Lancaster County Prison, which is searchable through a single online inmate search system. This means that all inmates’ information is stored in the same database. Although the county lists a work-release contact number, the program does not have a separate public inmate search portal. Likewise, the county’s juvenile facility, the Youth Intervention Center, does not have a public roster-style search tool for juveniles housed in the facility. To obtain custody information for juveniles, families typically need to contact the relevant juvenile detention or juvenile court channels for guidance, as access to juvenile detention records is more restricted than to adult custody records.
Lancaster County Visitation Rules and Schedules
Who Can Visit
- Visitors must be scheduled in advance. Lancaster County Prison does not allow walk-in visits.
- A visitor must be on the inmate’s visitation list because the prison requires the visitor’s ID and address to match the inmate’s visitation list at check-in.
- Former inmates must wait at least six months before they are allowed back for visits.
- Minors may visit, but they must be accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. The accompanying adult must present documentation of guardianship.
- Inmates being held on sexual charges are not allowed to visit with minors unless directed by the courts.
ID Requirements and Approval
- Visitors must provide a current government-issued picture ID.
- The address on the ID must match the inmate’s visitation list.
- All visitors must pass through the metal detector, and the prison allows only two opportunities to clear screening.
- Anyone with a medical device or implant must provide supporting documentation.
Dress Code and Behavior Expectations
- Visitors are expected to dress modestly so that commonly understood private body areas remain concealed.
- Footwear is required.
- Jewelry, safety pins, decorative pins, and hair accessories must clear the metal detector.
- Visitors should note that an underwire bra may cause them to fail screening.
- Shirts with alcohol- or drug-related logos are prohibited.
- If a visitor leaves the visitation room for any reason, the rest of the visit is canceled.
- Video and audio surveillance are always monitored, and failure to follow the rules may result in the revocation of visitation privileges.
Visitation Duration and Schedule
Visitors are expected to call 717-299-7800, Option 1, on the designated day before visitation, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
Housed on | Visit on | Call on |
|---|---|---|
Monday | Sunday | |
Tuesday | Monday | |
Wednesday | Tuesday | |
Thursday | Wednesday | |
Thursday | Wednesday | |
G-1 Work Party | Thursday | Wednesday |
G-2 | Friday | Thursday |
MHU | Friday | Thursday |
Saturday | Friday | |
D-Block | Saturday | Friday |
Ad Seg | Saturday | Friday |
C-Main | Sunday | Saturday |
Work Release | Sunday | Saturday |
Visitation hours
- 8:00 a.m - 9:00 a.m., 9:00 a.m. - 10:00 a.m.
- 1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m., 2:00 p.m - 3:00 p.m., 6:30 p.m. - 7:30 p.m., 7:30 p.m. - 8:30 p.m
Mailing and Commissary Information
Lancaster County distinguishes between personal mail and legal mail, with different addresses and rules. As of June 2024, the county jail no longer accepts personal mail. It still accepts legal mail, but the envelope must be clearly marked "LEGAL MAIL."
Individuals sending legal mail are expected to use the format below:
Lancaster County Prison
Incarcerated Individual’s Full Name and ID # - LEGAL MAIL
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
For ordinary personal correspondence, the safest step is to use the prison’s inmate contact resources or call the facility before mailing anything other than legal mail, since personal mail is no longer accepted by the jail.
For money deposits and commissary use, Lancaster County offers family and friends three main options:
- Option 1: Use the lobby kiosk. Family and friends may fund an inmate’s trust account through the kiosk in the Lancaster County Prison vestibule, which accepts cash, credit, or debit cards. Service fee applies.
- Option 2: Send money online. Senders may also fund an inmate’s commissary account online via the JailATM website. Service fee typically applies.
- Option 3: Send a certified bank check or money order by mail. Depositors may mail certified bank checks or money orders, including the inmate’s name and identification number, to:
Lancaster County Prison
Attn: Inmate Accounts
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
Depositors should note that Lancaster County handles commissary money and phone or tablet services differently. The county uses Securus Technologies for phone calls, eMessaging stamps, and tablet media; this service is not commissary. Individuals wishing to fund an inmate’s commissary account should use the appropriate method: the vestibule kiosk, JailATM, or an approved money order or certified check by mail.