Lancaster County Prison Inmate Search
Lancaster County Inmate Search: Finding Someone at the King Street Prison
Police across this county bring the adults they arrest to the Lancaster County Prison, 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Men and women are booked there, and the one building holds an intake unit, housing from maximum to minimum security, and a work release unit. Start here to locate the person, then move on to charges, lawyers, visits, deposits, calls, mail, property, court dates and every police agency.
Start with the official inmate locator. Click "I AGREE" on the notice, then search by name or by date of birth. A birth date gives the cleanest match. The county says the locator will change as the prison moves to a new case system, so a very fresh booking may lag.
Next, call the prison at 717-299-7800 and press 2 for inmate information. That recording can share the charges and the bail amount. To post bail, read our bail page, and to track hearings, open our court page.
1. What steps work best on the Lancaster County Prison locator?
Here is how to search, step by step:
- Pull up the inmate locator in any web browser.
- Read the notice about criminal history records and click "I AGREE."
- Type the person's last and first name, or their date of birth. The county suggests using the birth date.
- Check each match carefully. Common names can bring up several people.
- Write down any ID or booking number you see. Mail and money both need the person's ID number.
Every person booked gets a 5-digit Telephone ID number, called a TID, which is used for calls. If the search gives you trouble, call 717-299-7800 and press 2 to reach the inmate information line.
↑ Back to the question list2. Why can't I find their name in the search?
A missing name does not always mean the person went home. Common reasons:
- Too soon. Booking takes time, and the first hearing usually comes within about six hours.
- Released. A district judge may have let them go on their own promise or on bail.
- Moved. A transfer could place them in a state prison, federal custody or a jail in a neighboring county.
- Under 18. Youth go to the county's juvenile center, which is separate from the adult search.
- A spelling issue. Try the birth date instead of the name.
Call the prison at 717-299-7800 to ask. If you think they are still with the police, call the county 911 center's police non-emergency line, 717-664-1180, and ask which department made the arrest.
↑ Back to the question list3. Which jail could they be held in?
Adults charged here are held at the county prison, 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-7800. A warden runs it for the county Prison Board, and the state inspected it in February 2025. It is one building with several parts:
- Intake unit: new arrivals stay here for up to 14 work days while they are screened.
- Main housing: a classification committee then assigns each person to maximum, medium or minimum security.
- Work release unit: for people allowed to leave for jobs. It has its own line, 717-299-7809.
A few other places are possible:
- Youth: the Youth Intervention Center, 235 Circle Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-7821.
- Federal charges: FDC Philadelphia, 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, 215-521-4000.
Someone with a warrant from a nearby county may be sent to that county's jail:
- Berks County Jail, 1287 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533, 610-208-4800
- Chester County Prison, 501 South Wawaset Road, West Chester, PA 19382, 610-344-5040
- York County Prison, 3400 Concord Road, York, PA 17402, 717-840-7580
- Dauphin County Prison, 501 Mall Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111
- Lebanon County Correctional Facility, 730 East Walnut Street, Lebanon, PA 17042
For the Dauphin and Lebanon jails, ask the prison here whether a transfer was made and how to reach that jail.
↑ Back to the question list4. Does the locator show mugshots?
Every new arrival is photographed at booking. Staff also take fingerprints, a video image and an iris scan. Whether a booking photo is shared with the public depends on county practice and on recent Pennsylvania court rulings, so do not count on seeing one.
News outlets seeking a booking photo may contact the prison at 717-299-7800 or the arresting department. For someone in ICE custody, photo requests go through ICE's records request page. The federal government usually keeps its booking photos private, though a Marshals fugitive notice sometimes includes one.
↑ Back to the question list5. What happens during booking at the prison?
Booking at the prison follows a set routine:
- A search, fingerprints, photos, a video image and an iris scan. A female officer searches women.
- A medical screening and a short treatment interview.
- A shower, a phone call, a hygiene kit, footwear, underwear and a rules handbook.
- Forms to fill out, including a visitor list and a request for a public defender.
New arrivals stay in the intake unit for up to 14 work days. A classification committee then places them at maximum, medium or minimum security. A $35.00 processing fee is charged for each new stay.
↑ Back to the question list6. Will the state warn me when they leave custody?
Yes. PA SAVIN is the state's free alert service, run on VINELink. Search the person's name to see whether they are in custody and where. Then register to be told by phone, text or email if they are released, moved or escape. County jails, state prisons and state parole are all included.
- Phone sign-up: 866-972-7284, open 24 hours
- TTY: 866-847-1298
- Signing up stays private from the person in custody.
The Sheriff's Office website also sends visitors to VINELink from its "Who's in Jail?" button.
↑ Back to the question list7. What should I know about bail for this prison?
A Magisterial District Judge sets bail at the first hearing, often by video. Almost everyone has a right to bail in Pennsylvania (Pa. Const. art. I, § 14). The judge can choose release on a promise, release with rules, unsecured bail, $1-type nominal bail, or money bail (Pa.R.Crim.P. 524).
The county lists two places to post money bail: the district court office that set it, or the Clerk of Courts on the courthouse's second floor at 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-8275. Bring cash or a certified check. Bondsmen and real estate can also be used.
Every step, with office hours and refund rules, is on our bail page.
↑ Back to the question list8. Which charges are they facing?
Three ways work well:
- Call the prison's inmate information line at 717-299-7800, press 2, and listen for the charges.
- Search the free UJS docket search with the person's name and the county. The docket lists each charge and its grade, such as M2 or F3.
- Ask the person. At the first hearing they get a written copy of the criminal complaint.
The grade tells you how serious a charge is. A first-degree misdemeanor can bring up to 5 years. A first-degree felony can bring up to 20 years (18 Pa.C.S. §§ 1103-1104).
↑ Back to the question list9. How does someone at the prison get a lawyer?
Booking forms include a request for a public defender, so ask the person if they filled it out. Family members can also help gather papers.
Applications go to Bail Administration, 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-295-3584. The office is on the courthouse's fifth floor and takes applications weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. It needs the complaint and police affidavit, proof of 30 days of household income, a same-day bank balance, and proof of any medical bill or child support payments.
The defender can take the case at the first hearings, at trial, and at probation or parole hearings (16 P.S. § 9960.1 and following). A family that can pay may hire a private lawyer instead.
↑ Back to the question list10. How do Lancaster County Prison visits work?
Visits are by appointment only. Walk-ins are not allowed. To book:
- Find the person's housing unit, then call 717-299-7800 and press 1.
- Call on the day before the visit, between 8:00 a.m. and 8:00 p.m.
- Arrive 15 minutes early with a current government photo ID. Your address must match the one on the person's visitor list.
Each unit has its own visit day:
- Monday: 3-1. Tuesday: 3-2. Wednesday: 2-1.
- Thursday: 2-2, 3-5 and G-1 Work Party. Friday: G-2 and MHU.
- Saturday: 2-5, D-Block and Ad Seg. Sunday: C-Main and Work Release.
Visit slots run 8:00 to 9:00 a.m., 9:00 to 10:00 a.m., 1:00 to 2:00 p.m., 2:00 to 3:00 p.m., 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. and 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. Lockers cost $0.50 in quarters. Everyone goes through the metal detector twice. Dress modestly and wear shoes. Young visitors come only with a parent or a legal guardian, who may be asked to show guardianship papers. A former inmate must be out for 6 months before visiting. Our visiting page has more tips.
↑ Back to the question list11. What are the deposit options for a Lancaster County inmate?
The prison takes deposits three ways:
- Lobby kiosk in the prison's front vestibule. It takes cash, credit or debit, with a service fee.
- Online through the deposit service linked from the county's Finances page, with a fee.
- By mail, money orders or certified checks only. Write the person's name and ID number, and send it to Lancaster County Prison, Attn: Inmate Accounts, 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602.
Know where the money goes first. The $35.00 booking fee must be paid before store orders are allowed. All of a deposit can go to fees the person owes, or half for medical fees. Phone time, messages and tablet media are paid through the phone company's own account, which cannot be spent on store items. See our money page and commissary page for more.
↑ Back to the question list12. How do tablets, calls and e-messages work there?
Each person gets a tablet when they arrive. Every housing unit also has phones and kiosks. The prison's phone provider runs both calls and electronic messages.
- Calls, message stamps and tablet media are paid from a family-funded account with the provider. A fee applies.
- Three-way calls are against prison rules.
- Calls are tied to the person's 5-digit TID number.
Our phone page and messaging page explain more.
↑ Back to the question list13. What mail rules apply at the Lancaster County Prison?
Personal letters are no longer delivered to the prison building. The county says it stopped taking personal mail at the jail in June 2024. Call 717-299-7800 to get the current address for personal letters before you write.
Legal mail is different. A lawyer sends it to the prison, marked "LEGAL MAIL," showing the person's full name plus their ID number:
- Lancaster County Prison, 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602
- Staff open it while the person watches, and the person signs for it.
Amazon packages are refused. They go back to the driver or are thrown away. Our mail page has general tips.
↑ Back to the question list14. Where do their clothes and valuables go?
Most personal items are stored at booking. They may hang on to a few things: eyeglasses, a wedding ring, small religious items, approved photos, business cards and a list of addresses.
- Pick up stored property within 30 days of release. After that, it counts as abandoned.
- If the prison loses an item, it pays back no more than $25.00.
- Money left on the account is returned on a debit card at release. After a transfer, a check is sent to the new facility.
Before you go, call 717-299-7800. Ask what hours property is handed out and whether the person must sign a pickup form for you.
↑ Back to the question list15. Who do I call about a health or safety worry?
Medical staff screen everyone at booking. Care is never refused because the $35 booking fee is unpaid. Small fees apply:
- $3.00 nursing administrative fee
- $5.00 to see a nurse practitioner, physician assistant, doctor or dentist
- $5.00 to see the doctor without a nurse's referral; a referral after sick call is free
Worried someone may hurt themselves? The prison runs a safety hotline at 717-664-5433, answered 24 hours a day. For a death or serious illness in the family, call the Chaplain's Office at 717-295-2089 so the news can be passed on. To report sexual abuse or harassment, use the PREA hotline, 844-429-5412.
↑ Back to the question list16. Is a warrant out for them, and who serves it?
Two Sheriff's Office units handle warrants: one for Common Pleas bench warrants, and the District Court Warrant Control Unit for warrants from the 19 district judges. Police departments and constables also serve them. Ask the Sheriff at 717-299-8200, or look at the Sheriff's most wanted page, the district court warrant page and the District Attorney's CrimeWatch. Beyond the county, check the PSP Ten Most Wanted, the Marshals' top 15 and FBI fugitives. A district court warrant is settled with the office named on the notice. For a bench warrant, a lawyer can arrange surrender at the courthouse, 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. The Clerk of Courts takes calls at 717-299-8275.
↑ Back to the question list17. Where can I see the calendar for their case?
The UJS case search is free and needs no account. Search by name and county, open the docket, and look under the calendar events. That section shows the date, time and courtroom.
- A preliminary hearing must come within 14 days of the first hearing for someone held in jail. Someone released gets up to 21 days (Pa.R.Crim.P. 540).
- For courthouse hearings, try the court's online court calendar.
- Court Administration can help by phone at 717-299-8041.
Our criminal court page lists all 19 district court offices with phones.
↑ Back to the question list18. What if the case against them is federal?
The Eastern District of Pennsylvania covers this county in federal court. Judges for cases from here sit in Reading, Allentown or Easton. Freedom before trial hinges on a detention hearing, held by a federal judge soon after the arrest (18 U.S.C. 3142).
Federal detainees awaiting trial go wherever the Marshals send them. Reach the U.S. Marshals Service in Philadelphia at 601 Market Street, Room 2110, Philadelphia, PA 19106, 215-597-7272, to ask where they are. FDC Philadelphia, 700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106, 215-521-4000, holds many people facing federal charges in this district.
After sentencing, look them up by name on the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator.
↑ Back to the question list19. How do I track a person moved into ICE custody?
Here is the usual order of events with ICE:
- ICE asks the county prison, through Form I-247A, not to let the person walk out yet.
- The prison may keep the person up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- If ICE picks them up, they leave county custody.
- Search the ICE Online Detainee Locator with their name and country of birth.
Galarza v. Szalczyk (3d Cir. 2014), decided by the federal appeals court over Pennsylvania, found that a detainer asks for help but does not command it. A county that holds someone only on a detainer can answer for that choice, so each jail follows its own rule. Ask the prison at 717-299-7800. ICE's Philadelphia Field Office handles the state: 114 North 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107, 215-656-7164.
↑ Back to the question list20. How do I find someone sent to a state prison?
State prison is where people go when the top end of their sentence reaches five years or more. Most with a top end of two to five years go there too (42 Pa.C.S. § 9762).
New state inmates first go to a reception and classification center, for weeks or months, before their long-term prison. To find them:
- Use the Department of Corrections inmate locator.
- Call the department at 1920 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, 717-728-2573. Staff share details only with the person's listed next of kin.
- Read our Pennsylvania state prisons pages.
State prison mail is handled off site. Write the envelope in this order:
- Smart Communications/PA DOC
- the inmate's name and number
- SCI plus the prison's name
- PO Box 33028, St Petersburg, FL 33733
21. Where is a Lancaster County youth held after arrest?
Nobody under 18 is held at the adult prison. A youth ordered into detention goes to the Youth Intervention Center, 235 Circle Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-7821. It holds boys and girls ages 10 to 18.
Juvenile Probation handles the case at 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-8161. Call there for the hearing date. Youth cases stay off the public UJS portal.
One exception matters. Age 15 is the line for a few very serious charges. From that age, a murder charge, or certain violent crimes with a deadly weapon, opens the case in adult court (42 Pa.C.S. § 6302).
↑ Back to the question list22. Which Lancaster County police force booked them?
Lancaster County-Wide Communications dispatches police across the county, home to about 563,159 people (Census estimate, July 1, 2025). Its police non-emergency line is 717-664-1180, with an alternative number of 800-957-2677. Some departments below list a mailing address.
City and inner suburbs
- Lancaster City Police, 39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603, 717-735-3300
- Lancaster Township Police, 1250 Maple Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17603, 717-291-1213
- Manheim Township Police, 1825 Municipal Drive, Lancaster, PA 17601, 717-569-6401
- East Lampeter Township Police, 2250 Old Philadelphia Pike, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-291-4676
- West Lampeter Township Police, PO Box 296, Lampeter, PA 17537, 717-464-2421
- Manor Township Police, 950 West Fairway Drive, Lancaster, PA 17603, 717-299-5231
- Millersville Borough Police, 100 Municipal Drive, Millersville, PA 17551, 717-872-4657
- East Hempfield Township Police, PO Box 128, Landisville, PA 17538, 717-898-3103
- West Hempfield Township Police, 3401 Marietta Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17601, 717-285-5191
West, along the Susquehanna
- Columbia Borough Police, PO Box 509, Columbia, PA 17512, 717-684-7735
- Susquehanna Regional Police, 188 Rock Point Road, Marietta, PA 17547, 717-426-1164
- Mount Joy Borough Police, 21 East Main Street, Mount Joy, PA 17552, 717-653-1650
- Elizabethtown Borough Police, 600 South Hanover Street, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, 717-367-6540
- Northwest Regional Police, 8855 Elizabethtown Road, Elizabethtown, PA 17022, 717-367-8481
North
- Manheim Borough Police, 211 North Charlotte Street, Manheim, PA 17545, 717-665-2481
- Lititz Borough Police, 7 South Broad Street, Lititz, PA 17543, 717-626-6393
- Ephrata Police, 124 South State Street, Ephrata, PA 17522, 717-738-9200
- Northern Regional Police, 860 Durlach Road, Stevens, PA 17578, 717-733-0965
- East Cocalico Township Police, 100 Hill Road, Denver, PA 17517, 717-336-1725
East
- West Earl Township Police, PO Box 787, Brownstown, PA 17508, 717-859-1411
- East Earl Township Police, 128 Toddy Drive, East Earl, PA 17519, 717-354-2211
- Eastern Lancaster County School District Police, 669 East Main Street, New Holland, PA 17557, 717-354-1540
South
- Strasburg Borough Police, 145 Precision Avenue, Strasburg, PA 17579, 717-687-7128
- Pequea Township Police, 53 Marticville Road, Willow Street, PA 17584, 717-945-7546
- Quarryville Borough Police, 300 Saint Catherine Street, Quarryville, PA 17566, 717-786-2101
- Christiana Borough Police, PO Box 135, Christiana, PA 17509, 610-593-2234
County, state, campus and other agencies
- Sheriff's Office, 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-8200
- County Detectives, part of the District Attorney's Office, 50 North Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-8100
- Constables serve papers for the district courts. Their mailing address is PO Box 7934, Lancaster, PA 17604, so ask the district court office that sent the paper.
- Pennsylvania State Police, Troop J station, 2099 Lincoln Highway East, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-299-7650
- Millersville University Police, Boyer Building, 37 West Frederick Street, Millersville, PA 17551, 717-871-4357
- Franklin and Marshall College Public Safety, PO Box 3003, Lancaster, PA 17604, 717-291-3939
- Amtrak Police, 53 McGovern Avenue, Lancaster, PA 17602, 717-291-5005
- Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, 255 West Brubaker Valley Road, Lititz, PA 17543, 717-626-0228
- Pennsylvania Game Commission, 253 Snyder Road, Reading, PA 19605, 610-926-3136
- School security teams: Elizabethtown School District 717-367-1533, Warwick School District 717-626-3700, and IU 13 Safety and Security 717-947-1600
If your town is missing from these lists, the 911 center's non-emergency line can name the agency that patrols it. Towns with no force of their own rely on a regional department or the State Police.
↑ Back to the question listLancaster County Prison Inmate Services Information
Phone: 717-299-7800
Physical Address:
625 E. King St.
Lancaster, PA 17602
Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & ID Number
C/O Securus Digital Mail Center-Lancaster, PA Jail
PO BOX 25958
Tampa, FL 33622
Mailing Address (legal mail or subscriptions):
Inmate's Full Name & ID Number
Lancaster County Prison
625 E. King Street
Lancaster, PA 17602
(Mark legal mail "LEGAL MAIL")
Every year Lancaster County law enforcement agencies arrest and detain 23,140 offenders, and maintain an average of 1,157 inmates (county-wide) in their custody on any given day.
The weekly turnover rate of inmates is approximately 55%, meaning that every week more than half of these inmates are released and then replaced with new offenders being booked into jail.
The charts below break down the men, women, races, ethnicities and the types of crimes that people are arrested and incarcerated for in both Lancaster County and state prisons throughout the country. This information is compiled from local police and the Lancaster County Sheriff's Department, as well as the state of Pennsylvania and the United States Department of Justice and Census Bureau.
If you are looking for a prisoner in Pennsylvania or Federal custody, click on the appropriate institution below.
If you are searching for an inmate being held in another county in Pennsylvania, click below.
STATE OF Pennsylvania COUNTY JAILS
If you are searching for a prisoner in a Pennsylvania State Prison click below.
Pennsylvania Prison Inmate Search
If you are searching for a United States Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate click below.
Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Search
For ICE Detainees (Immigration) being held at a detention facility in the United States, click below.
Lancaster County Inmate Race & Ethnicity - 11/10/2026
| Race | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| White | 583 | 68.51% |
| Black | 57 | 6.70% |
| Hispanic or Latino | 175 | 20.56% |
| American Indian/Native Alaskan | 4 | 0.47% |
| Asian | 22 | 2.59% |
| Pacific Islander/Native Hawaiian | 4 | 0.47% |
| Other | 6 | 0.71% |
| Total | 851 | 100.0% |
Lancaster County Inmate Criminal Charges - 11/10/2026
(many inmates have multiple charges)
| Charge | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Felony (3rd Degree) | 198 | 23.27% |
| Felony (2rd Degree) | 175 | 20.56% |
| Felony (1st Degree) | 71 | 8.34% |
| State Jail Felony | 59 | 6.93% |
| Felony (Uncategorized) | 166 | 19.51% |
| Misdemeanor (Class A) | 182 | 21.39% |
| Misdemeanor (Class C) | 0 | 0.00% |
| Holds | 0 | 0.00% |
| Uncategorized | 0 | 0.00% |
Lancaster County Inmate Sex - 11/10/2026
| Sex | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Male | 749 | 88.01% |
| Female | 102 | 11.99% |
| Total | 851 | 100.0% |
Lancaster County Inmate Age - 11/10/2026
| Age | Inmates | % Total |
|---|---|---|
| Under 18 | 8 | 0.94% |
| 18-20 | 44 | 5.17% |
| 21-24 | 78 | 9.17% |
| 25-30 | 176 | 20.68% |
| 31-35 | 157 | 18.45% |
| 36-40 | 134 | 15.75% |
| 41-45 | 102 | 11.99% |
| 46-50 | 50 | 5.88% |
| 51-55 | 45 | 5.29% |
| 56-60 | 36 | 4.23% |
| 61-65 | 13 | 1.53% |
| 66-75 | 7 | 0.82% |
| 76-85 | 1 | 0.12% |
| Total | 851 | 100.0% |
- Jail (Main): 717-299-7800
- Lancaster County Sheriff: 717-299-8200
- Work Release: 717-299-7809
The Lancaster County Prison serves the following cities and towns of Lancaster County: Adamstown, Akron, Brecknock, Brownstown, Christiana, Clay, Claysburg, Colerain, Columbia, Conestoga, Conoy, Denver, Drumore, East Cocalico, East Donegal, East Earl, East Hempfield, East Lampeter, Elizabethtown, Ephrata, Fulton, Lancaster, Leacock, Lititz, Little Britain, Manheim, Manor, Marietta, Millersville, Mount Joy, Mountville, New Holland, Paradise, Penn, Penryn, Providence, Quarryville, Rapho, Sadsbury, Strasburg, Terre Hill, Upper Leacock, Warwick, West Cocalico, West Donegal, West Earl, West Hempfield and West Lampeter.