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  1. Berks County Court
  2. Berks County Inmate Search

Berks County, Pennsylvania Inmate Search

An inmate search in Berks County is the process of locating individuals presently held in the Berks County Jail System. The jail system in Berks County is led by the Warden and is overseen by the Berks County Prison Board. The Prison Board was created in accordance with Title 61 Pa. C.S.A., which mandates counties of the 3rd, 4th, and 5th classes to form a board that oversees the county jail. The Berks County Prison Board consists of

The Berks County Jail System provides several ways individuals can conduct an inmate search in the county. A search typically displays the inmate’s identifying information and custody details.

How to Find an Inmate in Berks County Jail

The Berks County Correctional Facility is the county’s primary detention center. So, individuals searching for an inmate in the county will most likely find them housed in the facility. To access information about an inmate, individuals may confirm an inmate’s incarceration in the Berks County Jail System by calling (610) 208-4800. Individuals may also use the Jail System’s Inmate Locator to find an inmate in the correctional facility.

Although the Sheriff’s Office is not directly in charge of the jail, the department offers a mobile app for the public to search for inmates. To access inmate information in person, one may need to submit the Open Records Request form to the Berks County Open Records Officer’s Office by mail, email, fax, or in person. While filling out the form, requesters should ensure they include the inmate’s full name, date of birth, and their Berks County jail number to get the most accurate results.

Inmate records are also maintained at the county jail; however, individuals generally cannot walk in as visitors to request information or see an inmate, as all in-person interactions are usually pre-scheduled.

Below is the Berks County jail address.

Berks County Jail System

1287 County Welfare Road

Leesport, PA 19533

Inmate Name - BCJS#

How to Use the Berks County Jail Roster

The Berks County jail roster, containing active inmate records, is primarily maintained by the Berks County Jail System. The jail system maintains an Inmate Locator tool that provides online access to the jail roster. To access the Inmate Locator tool, individuals will have to first visit the Berks County Jail System’s website. Users will find the Inmate Locator tool near the bottom of the webpage and can click it to open the search interface. Individuals may then select Pennsylvania on the page and search using the inmate’s name or ID number.

Alternatively, individuals may access the jail roster through the Sheriff’s mobile app. To download the mobile app, researchers should visit the Sheriff’s website and scroll to the "Featured Information" section, where the download button is located. Individuals who opt to access the roster by phone should use extensions 4837 or 4838 to obtain specific booking information.

What Information is Included in the Berks County Inmate Roster

When an individual conducts an inmate search, they typically encounter information about the inmate’s detention, including personal details. This information is usually public information that is maintained and disclosed in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Information found in a roster includes

  • Identifying information: The inmate’s full name, gender, race, and date of birth
  • Booking details: Date and time of arrest, the inmate’s jail ID, and bond information
  • Arrest details: Date of the arrest and arresting agency
  • List of the charges and offenses committed

An inmate’s record may contain additional details that are not publicly accessible under the Right-to-Know Law. These restrictions apply to sensitive data such as:

  • Medical and psychiatric records
  • Visitors’ lists
  • Sensitive personal information
  • Information pertaining to a juvenile

Contact Details for Berks County Jail or Sheriff’s Office

Individuals who want to contact the Berks County jail or obtain information about inmate services may use the following contact details:

Berks County Jail System
 1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533
Phone: (610) 208-4800
Booking Division phone extension: 4837/4838
Commissary phone extension: 4050
Inmate Accounts extensions: 4015 or 4017

Jail Facility Overview in Berks County

The Berks County Correctional Facility serves as the county’s central detention facility. Unlike many counties in other states where a Sheriff runs the jail, Berks County uses a professional Warden model overseen by a Prison Board. The facility houses both pre-trial detainees and individuals sentenced to county time (usually for sentences of two years or less). The facility is a high-security environment with specialized units for medical care and mental health, as well as a Community Reentry Center (CRC) for work-release programs.

Agency

Office and Mail Address

Phone Number

Office Hours

Email

Berks County Correctional Facility

1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

(610) 208-4800

24 hours a day, every day

Individuals may email the facility using the online form on the Contact page.

How to Send Money to an Inmate in the Berks County Jail

There are two primary ways to send money to an inmate in the Berks County jail: online and via mailed money orders. Online deposits are made through a third-party vendor. Individuals may make deposits on the vendor’s website or by phone. Online deposits are more convenient and faster, usually posting to the inmate’s account the next business day, unless it is a holiday.

Money orders, government checks, and payroll checks can be mailed directly to the Inmate Accounts Department at the county jail. The mail must include the inmate’s name, inmate number (which may differ from the booking number), and the sender’s name and address. When sending money by mail, personal letters or photos should not be included as they would be destroyed.

When depositing, individuals can choose to send the money to the inmate’s trust fund account for commissary purchases or to their telephone account. Money may also be sent to the inmate’s tablet account for entertainment purposes, but this is processed through a separate private vendor.

Depositing money in person is no longer possible as of March 18, 2020, because the Inmate Banker Kiosk was put out of service.

Critical Funding Information

  • Individuals can only deposit a maximum of $300 per transaction.
  • Depositors can request a refund of funds in an inmate’s tablet account when they get discharged.
  • Funds in a designated account can only be used for the purpose for which that account was intended.

Deposit Fees

The following fees apply to each type of deposit:

  • Cash Transactions
    • $5.00 fee for deposits between $0 - $300
    • $2.50 fee for deposits under $5
  • Credit Card Transactions
    • $0 - $50 deposit: $4 fee
    • $50.01 - $100 deposit: $5.50 fee
    • $100.01 - $200 deposit: $8.50 fee
    • $200.01 - $300 deposit: $11.50 fee

Inmate Search by Jail Facility

In Berks County, there is only one primary facility where inmates are held, making it easier for individuals to locate a person behind bars. Individuals can search for an inmate by calling the Berks County jail system or using the Sheriff’s mobile app. However, such inquiries may only provide summaries of the inmate’s incarceration. For a more detailed report or specific parts of a record that may not be disclosable online or found using the Sheriff’s mobile app, individuals may make an Open Records Request to the county’s Open Records Officer.

Berks County Visitation Rules and Schedules

Inmates housed in the Berks County Jail are allowed to receive social visits from family and friends outside the jail. However, this is subject to certain procedures and regulations. Firstly, an inmate must pen down individuals they want to visit in their visitors’ list. The list must contain the person’s full name, address, telephone number, and date of birth. Anybody not listed will not be permitted to visit.

Visitation Scheduling

Approved visitors must schedule visits before visiting an inmate. Individuals may schedule a visit by calling (610) 208-4800 and selecting option 3 for visitation. A call to schedule may be made from 8:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The visit must be scheduled at least a day before; same-day appointments are not allowed. Visitors should ensure they speak to a receptionist to confirm the appointment when they call and avoid sending voicemail messages.

Visitation Criteria

Each inmate is permitted four 30-minute in-person visits per calendar month. In addition to in-person visits, inmates can have two free 15-minute video calls each week. Inmates are allowed up to two visitors per visit, including adults and children. All visitors, including children, must present a valid government-issued ID (e.g., driver’s license, state ID, military ID, passport with address).

Visitation Rules

  • Visitors are to arrive at least 15 minutes before their scheduled visit time and must stay in the vehicle until instructed to enter the lobby.
  • Loitering in the parking lot is prohibited.
  • Children should not be left unsupervised in the environment.
  • Visitors are to dress appropriately, not wearing any revealing or overly thick clothing.
  • Visitors are not permitted to carry weapons, drugs, alcohol, cell phones, cameras, or photography equipment into the facility.

Individuals Not Permitted to Visit

  • Individuals who have been incarcerated at Berks County Jail within the past two years.
  • Co-defendants involved in the same case.
  • Victims of the inmate’s crimes.
  • Individuals with active Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders against the inmate.
  • Individuals who have officially requested to receive no communication from the inmate.
  • Current/former employees of the Jail System.

Individuals can read through the Visitation Guidelines to obtain more information on visiting an inmate.

Mailing and Commissary Information

Individuals are permitted to send mail to an inmate in the Berks County Jail, but they must follow the appropriate guidelines so the mail is not returned or destroyed. Individuals sending mail must send it in the correct address format.

Important Notes

  • The inmate’s BCJS number, along with their full name, should be correctly written for accurate identification.
  • If the envelope is missing any information (like the return address or the BCJS#), it will be returned to the post office.
  • Any mail deemed inappropriate by the jail’s administration, such as mail containing contraband, will be refused and may not be delivered to the inmate.

The following items are contraband and should not be included in the mail.

  • Envelopes
  • Stamps
  • Copy paper
  • Writing paper
  • Clothing (including undergarments)
  • Sneakers
  • Cash or personal checks

Books, legal mail, and magazines should be sent in the following format

Berks County Jail System

1287 County Welfare Road

Leesport, PA 19533

All books/magazines/newspapers must be sent directly from the publisher or a bookstore; otherwise, they will be returned to the sender.