Washington County Released Inmate Lookup
Washington County released inmate records originate from the Washington County Correctional Facility in Washington, Pennsylvania. Washington County is in southwestern Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. The facility recorded over 1,300 Part 1 offense arrests in 2023, reflecting active law enforcement in the county. Searching for Washington County released inmates requires understanding recent policy changes and the alternative resources available. This page explains what is available, what has changed, and how to access records.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Correctional Facility
Washington County Correctional Facility is at 100 West Cherry Avenue, Washington, PA 15301. The phone number is 724-228-6845, and the fax is 724-250-6506. The facility serves as the primary county jail for Washington County and processes all county-level criminal bookings.
Washington County recorded 1,306 Part 1 offense arrests in 2023, a 21.49 percent increase from the prior year. Of those, 1,216 were adult arrests and 90 were juvenile arrests. These figures reflect the volume of booking activity at the Washington County Correctional Facility. Released inmate records from Washington County document individuals who passed through the facility during this period and were subsequently discharged.
| Facility |
Washington County Correctional Facility 100 West Cherry Avenue Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-228-6845 Fax: 724-250-6506 |
|---|---|
| Website | washingtoncopa.gov/correctional-facility |
| Records Email | InmateRecords@co.washington.pa.us |
Released Inmate Records in Washington County
Washington County has made a significant change to how it handles inmate record requests. The Washington County Correctional Facility no longer releases inmate records directly to the public. This policy aligns with legal determinations made in cases including Mezzacappa v. Northampton County, which addressed exemptions to the Right-to-Know Law for certain law enforcement records.
Right-to-Know Law requests submitted to Washington County for inmate records may be denied if the facility determines the records fall under an exemption. Law enforcement agencies and legal representatives can still access records through appropriate legal channels. Members of the public seeking Washington County released inmate records should use the alternative resources listed on this page.
You can email Washington County's inmate records team at InmateRecords@co.washington.pa.us to inquire about the status of a specific records request. This contact point may be the most direct route for initial inquiries before submitting a formal Right-to-Know request. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, still applies, and agencies must provide a written explanation if they deny access to records.
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 et seq., limits public access to certain criminal history data. Some released inmate information in Washington County may fall under these restrictions. Additionally, records sealed under the Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018) or expunged under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 will not appear in public searches regardless of how you submit your request.
Note: Given the restricted access policy at Washington County Correctional Facility, the statewide tools listed on this page are especially important for finding Washington County released inmate records.
Right-to-Know Requests in Washington County
You can still submit a Right-to-Know request to Washington County under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104. The county must respond within five business days. If it denies your request, it must provide a written explanation citing the specific legal exemption that applies.
Use the Pennsylvania standard RTK form available at openrecords.pa.gov/RTKL/StandardRTKForm.cfm when submitting your request. Be specific about the released inmate records you are seeking, including the person's name, approximate dates of custody, and the type of record you need.
If Washington County denies your request, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov or by calling (717) 346-9903. The OOR will review whether the denial was proper and can order the county to release records if the exemption does not apply.
Victim Notification and PA SAVIN in Washington County
PA SAVIN remains a key tool for tracking Washington County released inmates. It provides free, automatic notifications when an inmate's custody status changes, including release from Washington County Correctional Facility. The service is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
Register at pavictimhelp.org or call 1-866-972-7284. You will receive phone or email alerts when a Washington County inmate is released or transferred. This service is especially useful given the county's restricted records access policy, as it provides real-time notification without requiring a formal records request.
If a Washington County inmate is transferred to a state prison, you can track their status through the PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. The locator is updated daily and is free to use. It does not cover county jail records in Washington County.
Statewide Tools for Washington County
Given the restricted access to direct inmate records at Washington County Correctional Facility, statewide tools are particularly valuable. Each one covers a different part of the criminal justice system in Pennsylvania.
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov covers state prison inmates. If a Washington County released inmate later received a state sentence, their record may appear there. The PA DOC main site at cor.pa.gov provides additional context about the state prison system.
The Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us contains court records from Washington County and all other Pennsylvania counties. You can search by name or docket number. Criminal case records may reflect charges connected to Washington County Correctional Facility bookings. The portal is free to search.
PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us returns a statewide criminal history for $22 per person. Call 1-888-783-7972 for help. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains PATCH at psp.pa.gov.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at pbpp.pa.gov has information on individuals under state supervision after release from Washington County or state facilities.
Note: PA SAVIN and the PADOC Locator together provide the most accessible route to tracking Washington County released inmates when direct records requests are denied.
Cities in Washington County
Washington County is a southwestern Pennsylvania county with Washington as its county seat. The Washington County Correctional Facility serves all municipalities within the county. Most bookings that produce released inmate records in Washington County originate from arrests across the county and the City of Washington.
Nearby Counties
Washington County borders several other southwestern Pennsylvania counties. If you need to search released inmate records in neighboring areas, the counties below may hold relevant information.