Search Pennsylvania Released Inmate Records
Pennsylvania released inmates can be searched through several public tools maintained by state and county agencies. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections runs the PADOC Inmate Locator, which holds records on people currently housed in state facilities as well as those recently released. County jails across all 67 Pennsylvania counties maintain their own separate rosters. This guide covers every major resource for finding released inmate records, jail records, and custody information in Pennsylvania, including online search tools, victim notification services, and public records requests.
Pennsylvania Released Inmates Quick Facts
PADOC Inmate Locator for Pennsylvania Released Inmates
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates the PADOC Inmate Locator as the primary online tool for finding state-level inmate records. It is updated every day. The locator holds information on people who are currently incarcerated in a state prison as well as individuals who have been released from PADOC custody. You can search by last name, first name, inmate number (DIN), or parole number. Additional filters let you narrow results by gender, date of birth, race, committing county, current location, citizenship, and age range. The tool is free to use and does not require an account.
Each record in the PADOC system shows the full name, known aliases, date of birth, race, gender, current facility or release status, committing county, a mugshot image when available, sentence details, projected release date, and parole status. This level of detail makes it one of the most complete released inmate databases in the state. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections can be reached at 1920 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, by phone at (717) 728-2573, or by email at ra-contactdoc@pa.gov.
The PADOC Inmate Locator is limited to state prison records. It does not include county jail inmates, federal prison inmates, or juvenile offenders. If you are looking for someone held at a county facility, you will need to contact that county's jail directly or use its local online roster if one is available.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains the PADOC Inmate Locator for searching state prison inmate records and released inmates.
The locator is updated daily and allows searches by name, inmate number, parole number, and several other filters.
Note: The PADOC Inmate Locator covers only state prison inmates and does not reflect county jail booking records or federal detention records in Pennsylvania.
County Jail Records Across Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 67 counties, and each one runs its own jail system separate from the state Department of Corrections. County jails hold people who are awaiting trial, serving sentences of less than two years, or waiting for transfer to a state facility. Because each county operates independently, there is no single statewide database for county jail records. You have to search county by county.
Many larger counties in Pennsylvania make their jail rosters available online. Allegheny County, Philadelphia, Bucks County, Lancaster County, and several others post searchable inmate rosters on their sheriff or jail websites. Smaller counties may not have online access. In those cases, you can call the county jail directly or submit a written public records request under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law to get booking records and released inmate information.
The full DOC homepage at cor.pa.gov provides links to all PADOC facilities, policy documents, and inmate-related services available in Pennsylvania.
The DOC site also lists contact information for every state correctional institution across Pennsylvania.
How to Search Released Inmates in Pennsylvania
Searching for released inmates in Pennsylvania starts with knowing whether the person served time in a state prison or a county jail. State inmates go through PADOC, which operates all 27 state correctional institutions. County inmates are managed locally. That distinction determines where you search first.
To use the PADOC Inmate Locator, go to inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov and enter at least a last name. The system returns a list of matches with basic identifying information. Click on a name to see the full inmate record including facility, sentence data, and projected release or actual release details. If the person was released from state custody, their record typically remains in the system and shows a release date and parole status. This makes the locator useful not just for finding current inmates but also for verifying released inmate information in Pennsylvania.
For county jail records, go to the website of the county sheriff or county jail. Many sites have an inmate search tool on the main page. If you cannot find it online, call the jail directly and ask for booking records or released inmate information by name. Staff can usually confirm whether someone was held there and provide basic release dates.
The DOC Inmate Locator page explains the search process in detail and links directly to the PADOC search tool for Pennsylvania inmate records.
The page also explains what data is available and clarifies which types of inmates are not included in the state system.
Court records from the Unified Judicial System are another useful source. The UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives access to criminal case dockets from all 67 counties. You can search by name, case number, or incident number. Case dockets show charges, sentencing information, and case status, which can help confirm when someone was released or what the outcome of their case was in Pennsylvania.
The UJS Case Search tool lets you look up criminal case dockets and sentencing records across all Pennsylvania courts at no cost.
Results include case status, charges, and disposition details that can supplement inmate locator searches in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania SAVIN Inmate Custody Notifications
PA SAVIN (Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification) is a free service that notifies registered users when an inmate's custody status changes. It covers state prisons and most county jails across Pennsylvania. You can register to receive alerts by phone, email, or TTY when someone is released, transferred, or has a change in their custody status.
To use PA SAVIN, go to pavictimhelp.org or call 1-866-9-PASAVIN (1-866-972-7284) any time of day. The automated phone line gives you 24/7 access to current custody status. You can also register for automatic notifications so you do not have to check manually. The service is available to anyone, not just crime victims, and it costs nothing to use in Pennsylvania. This is one of the most direct ways to track when a specific person is released from custody.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole works alongside PADOC to manage the supervision of released inmates on parole across the state.
The board's site includes information on parole conditions, supervision offices, and how to report a parole violation in Pennsylvania.
Public Records Access and Released Inmate Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law establishes the public's right to inspect and copy government records. All agency records are presumed to be public unless a specific exemption applies. This framework governs access to incarceration records, booking records, and other documents held by state and county agencies. You do not need a lawyer to submit a request, and you do not need to be named in the records you are requesting.
To request records under the Right-to-Know Law, submit a written request to the Agency Open Records Officer (AORO) at the specific agency that holds the records. For PADOC records, that is the Department of Corrections in Harrisburg. For county jail records, that is the county sheriff or jail administration. The agency must respond within five business days. They can extend the deadline by up to 30 days with written notice. Photocopies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $1 per record. Prepayment is required if the estimated total exceeds $100. If your request is denied, you can appeal within 15 business days.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles Right-to-Know appeals and publishes advisory opinions on what records are public in Pennsylvania.
The office is located at 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101, and can be reached at 717-346-9903 or openrecords@pa.gov.
You can download the standard Right-to-Know request form from the Office of Open Records. The RTK Standard Form makes it easier to submit a complete and properly formatted request for inmate records or other government documents in Pennsylvania.
The standard RTK form page at openrecords.pa.gov walks you through filling out a Right-to-Know request for any Pennsylvania agency, including correctional facilities.
Submitting the form correctly can reduce delays and improve the chances of a timely response from the agency in Pennsylvania.
Note: Some details in inmate records may be withheld under exemptions in Section 708 of the Right-to-Know Law, but the basic facts of custody, release dates, and charges are generally accessible in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania PATCH Criminal History Records
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system is maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police. It allows you to search criminal history records for anyone who has been arrested, charged, or convicted in Pennsylvania. This includes records tied to incarceration in state prisons and county jails. PATCH results include charges, dispositions, and sentencing information drawn from court and law enforcement records across the state.
Online searches through the PATCH system cost $22 per search for members of the public. Go to epatch.state.pa.us to submit a search request online. You can also submit a written request using Form SP 4-164, mailed to the Pennsylvania State Police at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758, with a fee of $15. For phone inquiries, call 1-888-783-7972, also listed as 1-888-QUERY-PA. Results include any criminal history record tied to the individual in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania State Police oversees PATCH and maintains the statewide criminal history database used by agencies and the public to verify criminal records.
The State Police site also provides information on sex offender registration, gun permits, and other law enforcement resources in Pennsylvania.
PATCH records are governed by the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), found at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 et seq. This law controls how criminal history data is collected, stored, and shared across Pennsylvania agencies and with the public.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency supports data collection and policy development related to incarceration and released inmate outcomes across the state.
The commission publishes statewide reports on prison population trends, recidivism rates, and criminal justice statistics for Pennsylvania.
Clean Slate and Expungement of Pennsylvania Inmate Records
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law, Act 56 of 2018, allows for the automatic sealing of certain criminal records. Non-violent misdemeanor convictions are automatically sealed after 10 years with no new arrests. Charges that did not result in a conviction are sealed after 60 days. Sealed records are not visible to the public, which affects what shows up in inmate record searches and criminal history checks in Pennsylvania.
Expungement is a separate process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. It covers dismissed charges, not guilty verdicts, and summary convictions after five years without a new arrest. People age 70 and older with at least 10 arrest-free years may also qualify for expungement of their entire record. Once a record is expunged in Pennsylvania, it is removed from public databases including PATCH. This means a search may return no results even when someone has a prior criminal or incarceration history in the state.
If you are searching for released inmate records and find nothing in the database, it is possible the record has been sealed or expunged under Pennsylvania law. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us may still show case information depending on the type of action taken. Court clerks can sometimes confirm whether a record was expunged without revealing the underlying details.
The UJS Web Portal gives public access to criminal case dockets, court calendars, and sentencing records for all Pennsylvania counties.
The portal is free to use and does not require registration to search for names or case numbers in Pennsylvania.
Browse Pennsylvania Released Inmates by County
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties maintains its own jail and court system. Select a county below to find local inmate records, jail rosters, and released inmate resources for that area.
Pennsylvania Released Inmates by City
Major cities in Pennsylvania each have local jails, court systems, and law enforcement agencies that maintain inmate records. Select a city below to find released inmate resources for that area.