Pennsylvania Jail Roster Records
Pennsylvania jail roster records give the public a way to find out who is currently held in a county jail or state correctional facility. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections runs a free inmate locator that is updated daily. Each of the 67 counties also manages its own jail, and many post their jail roster online or make it available by phone. You can search state and county records using tools described on this page. Whether you are looking for a recent booking or trying to locate someone in custody, Pennsylvania offers several ways to find that information.
Pennsylvania Jail Roster Quick Facts
What Is a Pennsylvania Jail Roster
A jail roster is a list of individuals who are currently in custody at a correctional facility. In Pennsylvania, two separate systems hold people who have been arrested or convicted. County jails hold people who are awaiting trial, serving short sentences, or being held on other local charges. State correctional facilities hold people who have been sentenced to more than two years under Pennsylvania law. Each system keeps its own records, and each type of roster is accessed in a different way.
Pennsylvania jail rosters can include the person's name, date of birth, booking date, charges, and current housing location within the facility. Some counties also list the bail amount set by the court. The information available varies by county. State-level inmate records tend to be more detailed because the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates under a centralized system. County records depend on the individual jail's record-keeping practices and technology.
Jail roster data is considered a public record in Pennsylvania under the Right-to-Know Law. You can request records from county jails directly. Many facilities now post their roster data online so you can search without making a formal request.
Pennsylvania DOC Inmate Locator
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is the largest agency in the Commonwealth. It operates correctional facilities around the clock across the state. The DOC provides education, treatment, and rehabilitation programs for people in its custody. Its mission focuses on public safety and preparing incarcerated individuals to return to their communities.
The DOC offers a free tool for anyone who needs to locate a state inmate. The Pennsylvania DOC Inmate and Parolee Locator lets you search by last name or inmate number. For common last names, adding a first name helps narrow the results. The locator is updated daily and covers current state-sentenced inmates as well as parolees. It does not include people held in county jails or in facilities in other states.
The DOC inmate locator is one of the fastest ways to find a state inmate in Pennsylvania. Disable pop-up blockers before using the site, and try a different browser if you have trouble loading results.
The locator does not share private information. Information such as a person's address history or medical details is not displayed. Some data in the system may be self-reported by the inmate and has not been independently verified. If you need help using the locator, you can email ra-contactdoc@pa.gov for assistance from the department.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections main page provides links to all DOC programs and tools, including the inmate locator, facility listings, and reentry services.
Note: The DOC locator only shows people in state custody. For someone held in a county jail, you need to contact that county's facility directly.
Pennsylvania PATCH Criminal History Records
The Pennsylvania State Police runs the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system. PATCH lets agencies, businesses, and individuals request criminal background checks against the State Police Central Repository. The system checks whether a person has a criminal history in Pennsylvania. It is separate from the jail roster but closely related to the same records system that tracks arrests and convictions.
The PATCH overview page on the Pennsylvania State Police website explains who can use the system and how to submit a request for criminal history information.
You submit PATCH requests through ePATCH at epatch.pa.gov. When you search, one of two things happens. If the name and information you entered does not match anything in the database, you get an instant "No Record" result. About 85% of searches return this result right away. If the system finds a possible match, you get a "Request Under Review" notice. This does not mean the person has a record. A manual review follows, and you receive an email when the result is ready. Results are updated within two to four weeks for most users.
The ePATCH website at epatch.pa.gov is where you submit all PATCH requests. You must print your results from your own computer, as the PATCH unit no longer mails out check results.
Registered users are companies or agencies that need checks regularly. They are billed in 30-day cycles. Non-registered users are individuals who submit up to 10 checks in a single session. For help, call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972). Pennsylvania's Criminal History Information Act in Chapter 91 of Title 18 governs how this data is collected and shared. Criminal justice agencies can access full criminal history record information, while individuals and non-criminal justice agencies receive an edited version based on the law.
Pennsylvania UJS Portal Jail Roster Lookup
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal gives public access to court records across all levels of the state court system. You can search docket sheets for magisterial district judge courts, Philadelphia Municipal Court, Courts of Common Pleas, and appellate courts. The portal is free to use and does not require you to create an account for basic searches.
The UJS Web Portal homepage provides access to docket searches, court calendars, and other public case information for all levels of the Pennsylvania court system.
Court records in the UJS portal can show whether someone has been charged, what the charges are, and the current status of their case. This information connects directly to jail roster data because people who are booked into county jails often have active cases in the court system. Searching by name, date of birth, or state ID number can surface recent bookings linked to pending cases. You can also search the UJS case search tool directly if you have a case number or offense tracking number.
The UJS case search page allows searches by participant name, docket number, SID, police incident number, and other identifiers across Pennsylvania courts.
The free PAeDocket app offers the same search capability on mobile devices. You can download it from any major app store by searching "PAeDocket." Keep in mind that the UJS portal is not a substitute for a certified criminal background check. For an official background check, use the PATCH system through the Pennsylvania State Police.
Note: Public docket sheet information from the UJS portal should not be used in place of a formal criminal history background check from the Pennsylvania State Police.
VINELink Pennsylvania Jail Roster Search
VINELink is a national tool that lets you search for inmates held in county jails, state prisons, and federal facilities. It is one of the most thorough online resources for locating a prisoner. The site is funded through victims' services programs. Its main purpose is to notify victims when an offender is transferred or released from custody in Pennsylvania.
To use VINELink for a Pennsylvania jail roster search, go to the site and select Pennsylvania. You will see which county and state databases are available online. For databases not yet online, the site provides a phone number you can call to get the information you need. VINELink covers both county jails and state correctional facilities, making it useful when you are not sure where someone is being held.
VINELink's Pennsylvania page shows available inmate databases and provides contact numbers for facilities not listed online, covering the full range of PA jail roster records.
Pennsylvania Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry
The Pennsylvania State Police Megan's Law website provides information about registered sex offenders in the Commonwealth. The Pennsylvania General Assembly established this registry to give the public access to information about people who have been convicted of certain sexual offenses. The registry is intended only for the purpose of public protection.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.28 and § 9799.63, the State Police are required to maintain this website and keep it current. The registry shows offenders who live, work, attend school, or are transient within Pennsylvania. You can search by name, zip code, county, or by viewing a map. The registry is not directly a jail roster, but it does show where registered offenders currently reside and can indicate whether someone is under active supervision.
The Pennsylvania Megan's Law registry search page allows lookups by name, location, and map view for registered sex offenders living or working in Pennsylvania.
Anyone who uses Megan's Law registry information to threaten, intimidate, or harass a registrant or their family may face criminal prosecution or civil liability under Pennsylvania law. The registry is a public safety tool and nothing more.
Pennsylvania Probation and Parole Records
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole supervises people who have been released from state custody under conditions set by the board. This includes parolees and those on probation ordered by the courts. The board's website includes search tools for finding parole absconders, which are people on parole who have failed to report as required.
Absconder listings on the board's site are available in text-only or photo format. The site also links to other fugitive search resources at the state and national level. If you are trying to locate a parolee and believe they may have absconded, the listing on the board's site is a useful first stop. The DOC's inmate locator also covers current parolees who are under active supervision and can be found through that tool.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole site provides access to absconder listings and links to other fugitive resources connected to PA jail roster supervision records.
Note: A parolee's last known address may still appear in the board's files even if they have absconded. The assigned officer may be able to forward mail or make contact on behalf of a social worker or caseworker.
Pennsylvania Open Records and Jail Roster Access
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law governs access to public records held by government agencies, including county jails and correctional facilities. The Office of Open Records administers this law and handles appeals from requesters who are unhappy with an agency's response. The OOR provides guides for filing requests, appealing decisions, and understanding exemptions. You can also reach the office at openrecords@pa.gov.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records website at openrecords.pa.gov provides filing guides, appeal procedures, and recent decisions related to public record access across the Commonwealth.
Jail rosters fall under the Right-to-Know Law as public records. A county jail must respond to a records request within five business days. If they deny the request or fail to respond, you can appeal to the Office of Open Records. The OOR also offers mediation for disputes between requesters and agencies. This gives you a path to access a jail roster even when a facility does not post one online.
Some information within jail roster records may be exempt from disclosure. Personal details like Social Security numbers and medical information are typically withheld. The name of the person in custody, their booking date, and the charges against them are generally public. Pennsylvania courts and jails must follow the Right-to-Know Law when responding to your request.
Pennsylvania State Archives Prison Records
Pennsylvania was among the first governments to replace corporal punishment with incarceration as a response to crime. The Commonwealth built the Western State Penitentiary in Pittsburgh in 1818 and authorized the Eastern State Penitentiary in Philadelphia in 1821. These early facilities generated extensive records that are now preserved at the Pennsylvania State Archives.
The Eastern State Penitentiary records cover inmates from the early 1800s through the early 1900s. These include Admission and Discharge Books from 1844 to 1888, Convict Reception Registers from 1842 through 1929 in several date ranges, Descriptive Registers from 1829 to 1903, and Discharge Descriptive Dockets from 1873 to 1934. Many of these records are available as digital images through the archives research portal.
The State Archives prison records guide lists all available record groups for both Eastern and Western State Penitentiaries, including digital images available for online research.
The Western State Penitentiary records cover inmates from western Pennsylvania counties including Allegheny, Armstrong, Beaver, Butler, Crawford, Erie, Fayette, and others. Available records include Convict Description and Receiving Dockets from 1872 to 1957 and Descriptive Books going back to 1826. Researchers studying historical incarceration in Pennsylvania will find these archives an important resource. These records do not reflect current jail rosters but provide a window into the history of incarceration in the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania Crime Data and Jail Roster Statistics
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) serves as the justice planning and policy agency for the Commonwealth. It was created by the Act of November 22, 1978 (P.L.1166, No.274). PCCD coordinates planning across law enforcement, courts, prisons, and parole. It also manages grant programs and collects statewide criminal justice data.
The PCCD website provides access to criminal justice data, grant programs, and policy reports that help track trends in incarceration and jail populations across Pennsylvania.
In 2009, PCCD launched a web-based criminal justice clearinghouse with data from every major component of the Pennsylvania justice system. The clearinghouse includes data from law enforcement, courts, prisons, and parole. It provides raw data for researchers and detailed trend reports covering criminal justice activity in Pennsylvania since the early 1980s. PCCD is located at 3101 North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17110. You can reach them by phone at 717-705-0888 or by email at RA-PCCD_ExecutiveOfc@pa.gov.
The PCCD also serves as the State Administrative Agency for Bureau of Justice Assistance funding. It supports local programs focused on prevention, reintegration, and community safety throughout Pennsylvania. The data it publishes can help put current jail roster numbers in context by showing how inmate populations and booking trends have changed over time.
Note: PCCD data provides statewide trends, not individual-level jail roster lookups. For current inmate searches, use the DOC locator, VINELink, or your county jail directly.
Pennsylvania County Jail Rosters by County
Pennsylvania has 67 county jails, each operated by its county government. County jails hold people who have been arrested and not yet posted bail, people awaiting trial, and people serving sentences of two years or less. Each county jail keeps its own jail roster. Some counties post their roster online and update it daily or in near real time. Others require a phone call or a formal Right-to-Know request to access the same data.
To find a county jail roster in Pennsylvania, start by searching for the name of the county followed by "jail roster" or "inmate search." Most county sheriff's offices and jail websites have a search tool or at least a contact number for roster requests. You can also use VINELink to find out which counties have online databases available. For counties without an online roster, VINELink lists the phone number for that facility.
Some of the largest county jail systems in Pennsylvania include Philadelphia, Allegheny, Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lancaster, and Lehigh counties. These facilities often have dedicated online portals for searching their jail roster. Smaller counties may have limited online access but can still provide roster information over the phone or through a public records request.
- Philadelphia County - Philadelphia Prison System
- Allegheny County - Allegheny County Jail
- Bucks County - Bucks County Correctional Facility
- Chester County - Chester County Prison
- Delaware County - Delaware County Prison
- Lancaster County - Lancaster County Prison
- Lehigh County - Lehigh County Jail
Pennsylvania's criminal statutes, including the Criminal History Information Act in Chapter 91 of Title 18, govern how jail roster and criminal history data must be collected, stored, and disclosed to the public.
Browse Pennsylvania Jail Rosters by County
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties operates its own jail. Select a county below to find local jail roster resources and contact information for that area.
Pennsylvania Jail Roster Records by City
Residents of major Pennsylvania cities are booked at their county jail. Select a city below to find jail roster tools and information for that area.