How to Find Someone in Custody in Pennsylvania

There is no single 'Pennsylvania inmate search.' State prisons, county jails, and federal facilities each keep their own rosters. The good news: all three layers are checkable online, free, from official sources listed here.

  • State custody: start with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections locator (cor.pa.gov) — name or ID number searches, current facility, and in most cases projected release dates.
  • County jails: 23 Pennsylvania counties post their own jail rosters, linked below — that's where you'll find anyone arrested recently or serving under a year.
  • Federal custody: the Bureau of Prisons locator (bop.gov) covers federal defendants and anyone sentenced in US District Court — a separate population people forget to check.
  • Stay notified: VINELink sends automatic alerts when someone's custody status changes — transfer, release, or escape — in nearly every state.

Pennsylvania's locator covers state institutions; county prisons (Pennsylvania's term for jails) each run their own lookups. Content reviewed July 29, 2026 by the SearchSystems editorial team.

Official Pennsylvania Custody Lookups

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — Inmate Locator
Official Free
The official Pennsylvania state-custody search. Current facility, custody status, and release information for people serving state sentences.
🌐 cor.pa.gov
VINELink — Pennsylvania Custody Alerts
Official Free
Search custody status and register for automatic notification when someone is moved or released. Free, run for victims but open to anyone.
🌐 vinelink.com
Federal Bureau of Prisons — Inmate Locator
Official Free
Everyone in federal custody since 1982, searchable by name or register number. Covers federal sentences, which no state system lists.
🌐 bop.gov

Pennsylvania Counties With Online Jail Rosters

These counties publish their own booking or in-custody lists — click through for each county records page.

Adams Allegheny Armstrong Beaver Berks Bucks Butler Centre Clinton Columbia Delaware Lackawanna Lancaster Lehigh Luzerne Mifflin Montgomery Potter Schuylkill Washington Wayne Westmoreland York

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Pennsylvania inmate locator free?
Yes. Every official source on this page is free to search. Sites that charge for 'inmate reports' are reselling public data.
Why can't I find someone arrested yesterday?
Fresh arrests appear in the county jail's booking system first, sometimes hours later. State locators only list people after sentencing and transfer to state custody.
Does a locator listing mean the person was convicted?
No. Jail rosters include people awaiting trial who are presumed innocent. Check the court docket for the case outcome.
How do I send money or arrange a visit?
Each facility sets its own rules — the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections site covers state facilities, and each county sheriff posts local jail policies.

Related Pennsylvania Records

Custody is one piece: the Pennsylvania criminal records page covers official background checks, wants & warrants lists who's being looked for, and Pennsylvania court records hold the cases behind every custody entry.