Berks County Jail System

To search for an inmate in the Berks County Jail System, review their criminal charges, the amount of their bond, when they can get visits, or even view their mugshot, go to the Official Jail Inmate Roster, or call the jail at 610-208-4800 for the information you are looking for. You can also look up an offender's Criminal Court Case online in Berks County or any other county in Pennsylvania.

Berks County Jail System Inmate Search

The Berks County Jail System maintains an average of 1396 offenders in custody on any given day. The Berks County Jail System has a monthly turnover of 40% of their inmate population, another 30% turnover every 90 days, another 20% every six months, and approximately 10% stay incarcerated between six and twelve months. Every year Berks County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain approximately 29,200 offenders.

The following charts of Berks County inmate population demographics are updated daily. The information shown is for today. For research purposes we have broken down the inmates by sex, age, ethnicity, and criminal charges.

The information is compiled from the Berks County Corrections Department, the state of Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, as well as the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau records. It represents every person in custody in Berks County.

For complete information on how to get directions, bond, visit, mail, send and receive email and texts, receive phone calls, and send money or commissary to an inmate, find arrest information for Berks County and other counties surrounding this one, scroll down this page. We have a section for each.

We also provide photos of the jail that we have collected over the years.

How do you pay bail for someone who has been arrested in Berks County?

When an offender is arrested and brought to the Berks County Jail System in Leesport for booking, there are several outcomes after being processed.

1. The offender will be released with no bail, promising to return on a specific date to appear before a judge in either Municipal or Berks County Court.
2. The offender is ordered to remain in jail until their court date.
3. The offender is allowed to be released after paying a specified bond or bail.  Call 610-208-4800 to get the exact amount.

The payment of an offender's bail or bond can take many shapes.

• A cash bond is paid in full at the jail's bonding window or the clerk of court, usually by cash, cashier's check or money order, and many jails also take debit or credit cards through a lobby kiosk or an online bond vendor for an added fee; bring the inmate's full name and booking number, and the jail's number is 610-208-4800.
• It can be paid using a bail company, licensed to do business in Berks County.
• Many courts accept land or a home as bond collateral; the owner shows clear title and equity of at least the bond amount, often double, using a deed and a recent tax or appraisal value, and the court that set bail approves the property.

For detailed Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the entire bail process in Berks County Pennsylvania, check out the Berks County Jail System Bail Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System? What is the Schedule?

Berks County Jail System ON-SITE (at the jail) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

• To schedule a visit, call (610) 208-4800 select option 3 for "visitation" and speak with a receptionist between the hours of 8:30am-3:00pm Monday – Friday.
• If two individuals wish to visit at the same time, one of the individuals must schedule both parties. You will need to give the name of the inmate you wish to visit and provide the first and last name of all visitors. You will also be assigned a parking space number, which you must use the day of your visit.
• Each inmate will be permitted three (3) thirty (30) minute visits per calendar month. Inmates will be permitted three (3) visitors at each visit. 
• Inmates are permitted two (2) visitors at each visit.  Both visitors must be scheduled and MUST be on the inmate’s approved visitation list- there are no exceptions to this rule. 
• Visitors must arrive at the jail no more than 15 minutes prior to their scheduled visit time. 
• Expect to wear a mask, so bring one.
• Visitors over the age of 18 are required to have a valid picture identification card with a current address. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must be the child, stepchild, sibling, or grandchild of the inmate they are visiting.
• On-site Visits are free.
• Visits are 30 minutes.
• Visitation schedule subject to change.

Berks County Jail System REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

Berks County Jail System uses Viapath / GettingOut for their Remote Video Visitation and/or Visit Scheduling. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate:
1.  Using the Viapath/GettingOut/GTL Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the GettingOut or GTL apps.

How it Works with GettingOut
1.  Register an account.
2. Select Berks County Jail System
3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.   

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Berks County Jail System.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number .
5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut
If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115.
GettingOut online contact form
The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Berks County Jail System?

To visit an inmate in Berks County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:

Other than 'at the jail' visits between you and your inmate, which is explained and outlined in detail on our Visit Inmate Page, Berks County remote video inmate visitation can be done using the services of Viapath / GettingOut. 



There are three ways to remotely visit your inmate in Berks County Jail System:
1.  Using the GettingOut Kiosk at the jail.
2. Using your computer from home.
3. Using your phone on the Viapath / GettingOut apps.

To remotely visit an inmate in Berks County follow these steps:
1.  Start by confirming that Berks County Jail System's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Berks County here.
2.  The next step is to create an account here for Viapath / GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account.
4. Last, select Berks County Jail System, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Other Berks County Services provided by GettingOut:
 - Phone Calls & Voicemail 
 - Email, Photo & Video Sharing
-  Inmate Tablet Rental
-  Deposits

Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Berks County Jail System Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115.

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Berks County, can be found on our Visit Inmate Page.

Berks County Jail System Phone: 610-208-4800

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Inmate Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

Can I Use My Computer or Phone to Have a Remote Video Visit with an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System?

Berks County Jail System REMOTE (at home) VIDEO VISITATION SCHEDULE

• All visits must be scheduled at least 24 hours in advance.
• Visitation Schedule subject to change.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Video Remote Visitation Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

How Do You Deposit Money for an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System?

There are five choices for putting money on an inmate's books that can be used for communication services:

1. Commissary money in the form of a money order may be mailed to:
AdvancePay Service Department
P.O. Box 911722
Denver, CO 80291-1722

2. You may use cash or credit/debit cards at any time by using the kiosk located in the front lobby.  The fee for the use of the ATM is generally $1.50 per transaction for cash and 10% fee for credit/debit cards.

3. Commissary money can also be added to an inmates account at any time using any of these methods online.

4. Cash deposits to ConnectNetwork are now available at 26,000 retail locations nationwide including Walmart, ACE, Kmart, Kroger, and more. You’ll start the payment process online in your ConnectNetwork account, then complete your transaction with cash at a participating local retail store. Plus, many of these stores are open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. Find a retail store near you.

5. You can call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249 and get instructions for depositing money over the phone using a debit or credit card.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Inmate Money and Trust Fund Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

How Do I Receive Phone Calls from an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System?

How Do Inmates in Berks County Jail System Make or Receive Phone Calls?

To receive phone calls from inmates in Berks County, or to assist them in making phone calls to other people, follow these steps:

1.  Start by confirming that Berks County Jail System has the phone service you need to communicate with your inmate by the facility lookup here.
2. In the meantime, you can create an account here for Viapath / GettingOut.
3. Then add funds to your account. This account can be controlled by just you, or by both you and your inmate.
4. Last, select Berks County Jail System, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Services vary by jail. GettingOut shows what this facility offers.

Phone & Voicemail Fees
Call rates, deposit fees and voicemail prices depend on the jail's contract. Check them on GettingOut or by calling 866-516-0115 before you add money.

Note: Rates are subject to change.

Types of Phone Calls

Prepaid calls (Direct Calls)
With Prepaid Calls you add money to a GettingOut account so the inmate can call your number. Ask GettingOut which other account types are offered at this jail.

Customer Service
If you have any questions about the Berks County Jail System GettingOut phone services, you can call them at 866-516-0115.

* All the information you need to understand making and receiving phone calls with inmates in Berks County, can be found on our Inmate Phone Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Inmate Phone Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

How do I Mail an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System, and what can I send them?

Berks County Jail System Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
Check the Berks County Jail System's mail rules before sending postcards or books. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The Berks County Jail System also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
(Do not abbreviate the name.)

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
Check the Berks County Jail System's mail rules before sending postcards or books.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Berks County Jail System standards will be disposed of.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

Berks County Jail System Inmate Mail Guidelines

Postcards
Check the Berks County Jail System's mail rules before sending postcards or books.

Envelopes
The Berks County Jail System also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
P.O. Box 247
Phoenix, MD 21131
(Do not abbreviate the name.)

Legal Mail

Send all legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

Newspapers
Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
Check the Berks County Jail System's mail rules before sending postcards or books.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Berks County Jail System standards will be disposed of.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate's Full Name & BCJS# (call 610-208-4800 for this)
Inmate Name - BCJS #
Berks County Jail System
1287 County Welfare Road
Leesport, PA 19533

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Inmate Mail Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

Can I purchase Commissary Online for an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System, and what can I purchase?

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Commissary Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

How Can I Communicate with an Inmate in the Berks County Jail System using an Online Messaging Service?

Emailing and Texting Messages, Photos & Videograms

Berks County Jail System contracts with Viapath/GettingOut, the same service that handles Inmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.


If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Berks County Jail System,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

How Messaging Works
1.  Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
2. After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.

How Uploading Photos Works
1.  Select the Photos Tab.
2. Select “Take New Photo” or “Upload New Photo”.
3. Take a new photo with your webcam, or select "Choose File" to upload a photo from your computer.
4. Give your photo a Title or add it to the "Gallery" of your choice.
5. Select the "Share" button.
6. Select your inmate(s) and then select "Share".
7. Once the photo is approved, it will be shared with your inmate(s).

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

How to Communicate with an Berks County Jail System Inmate by Mail and by Email

To mail or email an inmate in Berks County follow these steps:

When mailing a letter or postcard to an inmate, please follow these instructions:

• All mail sent to an inmate at the Berks County Jail System must include the sender's name and mailing address in the top left corner of the envelope or postcard.
• All mail must include the facility's address, as well as the inmate's name and assigned number.
• Failure to include your return address will most likely result in your mail NOT being delivered and your letter destroyed.
• The Berks County Jail System has a zero-tolerance policy regarding mail violations. 
• All the information you need to understand mail and email policies can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

Emailing Messages & Photos

Facility_name_1} contracts with Viapath/GTL/GettingOut, the same service that handles iInmate Phone Systems and Video Visitation, for sending secure messages and photos between you and your inmate.
 
If you are not already registered, do so here, or Log in.

Then use the Facility Finder to:
1.  Select Berks County Jail System,
2. Add your inmate to your list of contacts,
3. Add a credit or debit card to cover your costs.

• Messages can be up to 500 characters long, including punctuation. At the bottom of your message there is a 'character countdown' feature.  
• After you click the “CONTINUE” button, you can review the cost to send your message to your inmate. You can also attach credits for your inmate to reply to your message.  Be sure to accept the Terms and Conditions and click the “SEND” button for your message to be successfully delivered to your inmate.
• You can also send your Berks County inmate photos and videos.

Customer Service Questions
Call   866-516-0115

Go here to this FAQ to get answers to how the transition to ViaPath from GTL and gettingout will affect your account.

All the information you need to understand mail and email policies for Berks County can be found on our Inmate Mail Page and our Text/Email an Inmate Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Text and Email Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

Do Inmates in the Berks County Jail System have Access to Tablets or Computers?

Berks County Jail System allows inmates access to tablets to use for the services provided by Viapath / gettingout.

The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GettingOut, a GTL / Viapath company.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at Berks County Jail System, such as:

• Music
• Books
• Games
• Education
• News
• Radio
• Television
• Read mail and messages
• Video visits

-  Free services are already available for use on the device at Berks County Jail System.
-  Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
-  Berks County Jail System Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.

What Does a Tablet Cost?

To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page), but the following gives you a general idea.

Game Center:

30-Day Subscription: $4.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($5.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($3.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($2.49)

Unlimited eBooks:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $1.00 service infrastructure charge ($2.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($1.74)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.49, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

Streaming Music:

Thirty-Day Subscription: $8.99, with an additional $16.00 service infrastructure charge ($24.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $5.99, with an additional $9.00 service infrastructure charge ($14.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $2.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($7.99)

Newsfeed

Thirty-Day Subscription: $3.99, with an additional $6.00 service infrastructure charge ($9.99)

Fourteen-Day Subscription: $1.99, with an additional $5.00 service infrastructure charge ($6.99)

Seven-Day Subscription: $0.99, with an additional $3.00 service infrastructure charge ($3.99)

Same Day Subscription Services

Game Center: $0.99, with an additional $0.50 service infrastructure charge ($1.49)

Unlimited eBooks: $0.25, (Total = 0.25)

Newsfeed: $0.24, with an additional $0.75 service infrastructure charge ($0.99)

FM Radio: $0.24, with an additional $0.25 service infrastructure charge ($0.49)

All Subscription and message credit pricing is subject to state and local taxes. 

Replacement Components - should your inmate break it...

Tablet: $249.99 per each

Charger: $8.99 per each

Earbuds: $2.99 per each

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Berks County Jail System

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

1.  First, Register or Sign In to Viapath/GettingOut/GTL

2.  Purchase the services you want for your Berks County Jail System inmate.
3. All inmates have free access to the tablets to read their letters from family & friends, but there are many other services available to keep your inmate busy while incarcerated... such as Games, Books, Music and Movies. These other services come with fees that you can pay for when you pay for phone service.

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our Tablet Rental Page.

We’ve compiled a list of Frequently Asked Questions and Answers for everything you need to know about Berks County Jail System’s Tablet Policies, Rules and Guidelines. If you still have questions after reviewing these FAQs, call 610-208-4800 for further assistance.

What are the other City and County Jails in Berks County?

Berks County County Jails

Berks County Juvenile Facilities

What are the other Jails in the Neighboring Counties surrounding Berks County?