York County Prison

York County Prison Information

Overview of York County Prison

York County Prison (YCP) first opened in 1979 in York, Pennsylvania. The facility is owned and operated by York County. Since 1994, YCP has housed detainees overseen by the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement's (ICE) Philadelphia Field Office as part of the Enforcement and Removal Operations program. The prison adheres to the Performance-Based National Detention Standards implemented in 2008 by ICE.

Daily operations at YCP are managed by a warden along with various support personnel including food services, medical providers, and commissary services. The facility does not currently hold any accreditations from external organizations. 

## Detailed Facility Information

York County Prison is located at 3400 Concord Rd in York, PA. The current detainee bed capacity is approximately 800 as of 2021 according to ICE statistics. Along with ICE immigrant detainees, the facility houses inmates from York County who are either awaiting trial, sentenced for low-level crimes, or on work release programs. 

The prison facility has separate cell blocks for general population inmates versus those requiring protective custody or administrative segregation. Housing units contain cells, common areas, kiosks for commissary orders, telephones, and showers. The prison can accommodate inmates with disabilities in certain cell blocks equipped with wheelchair accessible features.

Medical care is provided by PrimeCare Medical professionals. A full healthcare clinic is operated on-site along with 24/7 medical staff. Mental health services are also available through counseling and targeted treatment programs. 

The food services vendor Keefe Group supplies meals to inmates three times per day. Special dietary needs due to medical conditions or religious beliefs are accommodated as well. Inmates can also purchase snack foods and personal items through the commissary run by Keefe Commissary Network using their prison accounts.

Various educational, vocational, treatment, and rehabilitation programs are offered by partnerships with external organizations, volunteers, and prison staff. Classrooms and programming spaces exist to facilitate programs and services. Contact visitation rooms allow inmates to meet with attorneys and visitors in-person during scheduled hours.

## Inmate Rules and Procedures

Inmates at York County Prison must follow specific regulations and protocols around finances, communication, property, and conduct:

### Inmate Accounts 

All funds that an inmate has on their person upon admission or that are mailed to them by family and friends are deposited into the inmate's facility account. This includes cash, money orders, or traveler's checks. Personal checks and cash sent loose in greeting cards are prohibited for security reasons. 

Inmates receive a receipt for every transaction made on their account. Friends and family can deposit money either online through vendor websites, at lobby kiosks, by mailing certain accepted payment types, or by visiting the Business Office during limited hours. However, accounts cannot be set up for inmates to transfer funds between each other.

### Mail Privileges 

Inmates can send and receive mail to maintain contact with approved individuals in the community. All incoming general correspondence is digitally scanned by TextBehind and delivered to inmates as printed copies. 

Legal mail can be sent to the facility electronically via a secure email system that permits properly verified and registered attorneys to communicate confidentially with their incarcerated clients. For security purposes, every item of incoming mail is inspected by staff before delivery including books and publications.

There are weekly limits imposed on the number of letters that can be sent out at the inmate's expense depending on their assigned housing unit. Stamps or postage are not provided by the facility itself. 

### Telephone Usage

Common area phones are provided in each housing unit for inmate use. All calls made are recorded and monitored, except approved unmonitored legal calls. Every call is limited to 20 minutes duration. Abusing telephone privileges by excessively long calls may result in restrictions.

Friends and family must set up prepaid accounts with vendors like GTL and Securus in order to receive calls from inmates. The costs are paid by those receiving the calls, as inmates cannot call cell phones or outside numbers directly.

### Personal Property Rules

Inmates at YCP have strict limits on the personal property items allowed in their possession. All clothing, shoes, electronics, appliances, books, etc. must be purchased through the facility commissary system. 

Inmates appearing in court can have appropriate court attire brought to the prison during approved hours. These court clothes must be removed promptly after the court appearance concludes. 

Any personal property left at the time of release must be picked up by visitors within short time periods or they will be permanently disposed of by prison staff.

### PREA Protections 

York County Prison has zero tolerance for sexual abuse, assault, misconduct, or harassment as outlined in the federal Prison Rape Elimination Act (PREA). Inmates have the right to report any incidents safely and confidentially to facility staff, medical professionals, counselors, or an external victim advocate service.

All allegations are investigated fully by the prison administration. Those found guilty of violations face loss of privileges, disciplinary segregation, and possible criminal charges. Ongoing education is provided to both inmates and staff on awareness, prevention, and reporting of any incidents.

## Visitation Rules and Schedules

York County Prison permits visitation with inmates by approved family members, friends, attorneys, and other officials. All visitors must consent to security screening procedures before being granted access to visiting areas.

### General Visitor Policies

- Valid photo ID is required of all adult visitors aged 18 and older
- Security screening includes x-ray machines, metal detectors, drug-sniffing dogs
- Proper attire meeting dress code requirements must be worn  
- Use of restrooms may require additional screening upon exit and re-entry
- Lockers provided to secure prohibited items not allowed inside 
- Physical contact between inmates and visitors is strictly prohibited
- Visitors who cause disruptions or violate rules will be ejected immediately 

### Inmate Visiting Schedules 

**General Population Housing Units**

- Male Inmates: 1:00pm - 3:30pm Daily 
- Female Inmates: 
    - 9:15am - 11:30am Daily
    - 1:00pm - 3:30pm Daily

**Protective Custody Housing Units**  

- 8:15am - 9:15am Daily

**Children's Visitation** 

- Female Inmates: 
    - Sundays 1:00pm - 3:30pm
- All Inmates:
    - Thursdays/Fridays 3:30pm - 5:15pm

**Video Visitation**

- Available by remote video conference, appointments required
- Personal visits: $15 for 30 minutes 
- Professional visits: 
    - $25 for 30 minutes
    - $50 for 60 minutes

**Work Release Center Visitation** 

- 10:00am – 11:30am Daily
- 1:00pm - 3:30pm Daily  
- 6:30pm – 8:30pm Daily (males only)

## Bail and Bond Procedures 

If an inmate is granted bail during their case proceedings, there are specific procedures for paying the bail amount set by the court:

- The Clerk of Courts Office can accept bail payments directly on weekdays during business hours.
- After hours, a professional bail bondsman licensed in Pennsylvania can pay the bail fee.
- Accepted payment types include cash, certified bank check, credit cards, and insurance bonds.
- If approved, real estate equity can also be used to cover bail costs.  

Once bail is posted properly, the defendant will be released from custody at York County Prison pending trial.

If bail is paid by a friend, family member or other third party, the amount will be refunded within 40 days after the case ends, minus any court fees or fines owed. If the defendant pays their own bail, the refund instead goes towards settling those balances first.

## Inmate Programming and Education

York County Prison provides various programs focused on education, vocational skills, rehabilitation, and reentry preparation:

### Work Release Opportunities

The Work Release Program allows inmates to maintain employment while completing their sentence. Participants must meet eligibility criteria and pass background checks. Once approved, inmates can leave on weekday shifts but must return to the prison afterwards. 

Strict rules govern conduct, transportation, work hours, type of employment, and related factors. Self-employment is permitted under certain conditions and prior approval. Unemployed inmates can also apply for new jobs able to accommodate their temporary work release status.  

### Educational Courses  

Academic instruction is available in adult basic education, ESL classes, GED test preparation, and high school completion for inmates under 21 without a diploma. Tutoring addresses basic literacy needs up through college prep-level math, science, English, and social studies. Tablet computers preloaded with educational software are also utilized.

Several term-limited vocational training programs give inmates the chance to gain certifications and skills in industries like:

- Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning  
- Commercial Food Service and Culinary Arts
- Welding Fabrication
- Warehousing and Supply Chain Logistics

### Treatment and Rehabilitation Programs

A range of therapy programs and peer support groups assist inmates struggling with addiction, anger issues, and past trauma:

- Alcoholics Anonymous and Narcotics Anonymous meetings
- Relapse prevention planning for addiction 
- Celebrate Recovery faith-based support group
- Cognitive behavioral therapy for criminal thinking
- Anger management and violence prevention
- Batterer's intervention for domestic violence offenders
- Parenting, family reunification, and child literacy classes

Case managers help inmates develop comprehensive reentry plans for securing housing, employment, healthcare, transportation, and other needs upon release. Ongoing community supervision is also coordinated by parole and probation officers.

## Conclusion

York County Prison is a full-service county detention facility that also contracts with ICE to house immigrant detainees. Comprehensive policies and procedures govern daily facility operations, inmate rules, visitation, and security matters. 

A diverse range of educational, vocational, therapeutic, and rehabilitative programming aims to facilitate personal development and community reintegration. York County Prison balances its obligations for secure custodial detention with opportunities for positive change.

## Frequently Asked Questions 

### What are the rules for sending inmate mail?

Non-legal mail must be sent through TextBehind and arrives as scanned printouts. Legal mail can be sent electronically through the prison's secure email system or by postal mail. Limits exist on number of letters sent per week.

### How do I schedule video visitation? 

Remote video visits must be scheduled online in advance. Personal visits are $15 for 30 minutes. Attorney visits range from $25-$50 depending on duration. Proper ID is required.

### Can I visit someone in protective custody?

Yes, visitors approved to see inmates in protective custody units must arrive during the designated visiting hours from 8:15am to 9:15am daily.

### What education programs are offered?

YCP provides adult basic ed, GED prep, ESL, vocational programs like HVAC, culinary arts, welding, warehousing, and more. Inmates under 21 can enroll in high school courses.

### How long does it take to get a bail refund? 

If posted by a third party, bail is refunded within 40 days after case disposition. If paid by defendant, refunds go towards fines and fees first.

Phone: 717-840-7253

Physical Address:
York County Prison
3401 Concord Road
York, PA 17402

Mailing Address (personal mail):
Inmate's Full Name & A-Number
York County Prison
3401 Concord Road
York, PA 17402

Other Jails and Prisons

Search York County Prison Inmates

Search York County Prison Inmates

How Do You Find Someone in the York County Prison?

How to Find Someone in the Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) Detainee Locator

When someone that is not a US Citizen gets arrested in the United States, and they are here illegally, depending on what state or city they are arrested in, the person may be turned over to ICE. 

Many states such as New York and California, as well as hundreds of US cities, have declared themselves 'sanctuary cities' and do not turn over foreigners here illegally, even if they are committing crimes in their jurisdiction.

However, when an alien here illegally is turned over to ICE, and sent to one of the over 100 Immigration Detention Centers in the United States, the only way to try and locate where they are being detained is using the Online Detainee Locator System.


There are two ways to search for an ICE Detainee:

You can look them up using their assigned A-Number.

  • An A-Number is a 9-digit number that either looks like this: A-123456789, or like this 123-456-789. This is required if you do not know their name.
    It is also called a Registration Number when on a visa, or a USCIS# when on a Green Card.
    If for whatever reason the A-Number you have does not have 9-digits, you need to add 0s (zeroes) to the front of the number until the number has 9-digits.

    That number might then look like this:  001234567.


You can also try and look them up by using their name.

  • In order for this to be effective, you need to have the exact name that is either on their paperwork, or the the name with the exact spelling that they gave ICE. This is required.
  • You also need to know the country of their birth, or the country of their birth that they gave ICE. This is required.
  • Knowing their Date of Birth is helpful but not required to find them in the system.


Important things to know about using the ICE Detainee Locator

  • You do not need to set up an account to use the Detainee Locator System.
  • A-Number stands for 'Alien Registration Number'.
  • The System does not have information on all detainees in custody.
  • Juvenile names are NOT in the System.
  • The Detainee Locator System is updated every 8 hours, sometimes sooner.
  • If the detainee is being moved to a new facility, the new location will not be shown until they have arrived and are processed. 
  • No warnings or prior notice are given in advance of a detainee being moved.
  • While being transferred to a different facility they may still be shown online as being in the original facility.
  • If you are planning a visit, always call before you come to confirm the detainee is still at the facility and has not been moved.
  • To visit a detainee you must have some type of government issued photo ID, or other identification when photo identification is unavailable for religious reasons.
  • If you are unable to find the detainee using the System, contact the ICE Office of Enforcement and Removal Operations (ERO) in the area where you believe the person's immigration case was initiated or the Detainee Reporting and Information Line (DRIL) at 888-351-4024.

Pamphlets in various languages with Instructions on how to use the Online Detainee Locator System:

⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less
Directions / Map to the York County Prison
Understanding US Immigration and Customs Enforcement

What is an ICE Detention Center?

Men, women, and children that are in the United States illegally and are apprehended by the US Border Patrol or ICE will most likely be placed in removal proceedings and may be detained in one of the more than 200 jails and detention centers that make up ICE’s detention system.

Many of the illegal immigrants that are detained are held in county and local jails that contract with ICE to detain immigrants. The rest are held in dedicated immigration detention facilities run by ICE or contracted to private prison corporations, including family detention centers that hold mothers and children.

What Determines if an Illegal Immigrant gets Detained?

ICE will typically detain an immigrant because DHS (Homeland Security) believes that an illegal immigrant is either a “flight risk” and may move to another location within the U.S. or that they pose a public safety threat. Detaining the person allows the government to guarantee that the person will show up for their hearing before an Immigration Court.

Some of the reasons that causes an illegal immigrant to get arrested and held in detention prior to their day in court is as follows:

The illegal immigrant has:

  • committed a crime, or multiple crimes
  • arrived at the border without a visa prior to formally applying for asylum or refugee status
  • an outstanding removal (deportation) order on record, either pending or past due, or
  • missed prior immigration hearing dates.

 

How do you find someone that is in an ICE Detention Center?

The first step to finding out if an illegal immigrant is in ICE or DHS custody is by using the ICE Detainee Locator.

It’s easier to find the person if you have an Alien Number (A#), if one exists. A green card or work permit will show this number. If you don’t have an A# the person is much more difficult to locate.

The information you will need is as follows:

  • the person’s full name as it appears in the ICE System. The exact spelling and the order of how the name is listed is required.
  • the person’s date of birth
  • the person’s country of birth

If you are having difficulty, try different spellings and the order of how the name is listed.

If the illegal immigrant was only recently detained, the ICE Detainee Locator may not be updated with the latest information. Keep in mind that ICE does not give information (online or over the phone) for people under 18 years of age. In such cases, you can only get information on them from the ICE Enforcement and Removal Operations field office nearest you.

If the person you are looking for is not in an ICE Detention Center, they may have been taken to a local jail that contracts with ICE, so contact their local City and County Jail, all which can be found here.

Another option, short of the expense of hiring an Immigration Lawyer, is to go to this website and use their online form to get their help.

Once an illegal immigrant is located and you find out the facility where they are being held you need to find out the Deportation Officer that has been assigned to their case. The Officer can tell you how to call or visit the detainee, or pay for the detainee to be able to call you, or how you can send any needed items such as clothing, prescriptions, etc.

The last option, and the most expensive, is to hire an experienced immigration attorney to assist you in tracking down the Deportation Officer. If the person being detained requires specific medical care, an attorney can ensure that they receive that care.

If the detained illegal immigrant has been deported from America previously or has an outstanding removal order - in which case they have no right to see an immigration judge - they can be removed within a few days, or even hours, of the initial arrest.

Even if the government does not immediately remove the person, it is possible that they can be moved around to different Detention Centers. There is never a warning that a person is being moved around and during the transfer there is a complete blackout of any information.

How long are people held in ICE Immigration Detention Centers?

The time that an illegal immigrant is held in an ICE Detention Center can vary. It all depends on several factors such as the individual’s personal situation, criminal record, the severity of the crime they are being charged with, previous deportations and the current caseload that the Detention Center is dealing with.

This image portrays the most recent data available on the time a detained illegal immigrant remains in custody before their release and/or deportation.

Can you visit someone in ICE Detention Centers?

The short answer is yes. The person visiting an illegal immigrant in an ICE Detention Center must be lawfully present in the United States. In other words the visitor must have some form of currently valid immigration status at the time of the visit. A detention center or jail will not allow the visit unless visitor can show valid I.D. and offer proof that they are lawfully in the United States.

If you want to become a volunteer that visits illegal immigrants in order to offer emotional support, it may be possible. You can join one of these visitation networks by going here and contacting the network in your area.

What crimes can cause an illegal immigrant to be deported?

(The following information comes from Nolo.com, a trusted legal resource)

  • Conviction of a crime involving moral turpitude (see list). This includes any attempt or conspiracy to commit such a crime. It does not include crimes that were committed that the illegal immigrant committed when they were under the age of 18 years, however the person must have been released from jail more than five years before applying for a visa or other immigration benefit. It also does not include crimes for which the maximum penalty did not exceed one year in prison and the person was not, in fact, sentenced to more than six months in prison.
  • Conviction or admission of a controlled substance violation, whether under U.S. or foreign law. This includes any conspiracy to commit such a crime.
  • Convictions for two or more crimes (other than purely political ones) for which the prison sentences totaled at least five years. This multiple-offense ground of inadmissibility applies whether or not the convictions came from a single trial and whether or not the offenses arose from a single scheme of misconduct or involved moral turpitude.
  • Conviction of or participation in (according to the reasonable belief of the U.S. government) controlled substance trafficking. This includes anyone who knowingly aided, abetted, assisted, conspired, or colluded in illicit drug trafficking. It also includes the spouse, son, or daughter of the inadmissible applicant if that person has, within the last five years, received any financial or other benefit from the illicit activities, and knew or reasonably should have known where the money or benefit came from.
  • Having the purpose of engaging in prostitution or commercialized vice upon coming to the United States, or a history, within the previous ten years, of having engaged in prostitution.
  • Procurement or attempted procurement or importation of prostitutes, directly or indirectly, or receipt of proceeds of prostitution, any of which occurred within the previous ten years.
  • Assertion of immunity from prosecution after committing a serious criminal offense in the U.S., if the person was thus able to depart the U.S. and has not since submitted fully to the jurisdiction of the relevant U.S. Court.
  • Commission of particularly severe violations of religious freedom while serving as a foreign government official.
  • Commission of or conspiracy to commit human trafficking offenses, within or outside the U.S., or being a knowing aider, abettor, assister, conspirator, or colluder with such a trafficker according to the knowledge or reasonable belief of the U.S. government. Also inadmissible are the spouse, son, or daughter the applicant if they, within the previous five years (but when older than children), received financial or other benefits from the illicit activity and knew or reasonably should have known that the money or other benefit came from the illicit activity.
  • Conviction of an aggravated felony, if the person was removed from the U.S. and seeks to return (this ground of inadmissibility lasts for 20 years)
  • Seeking to enter the U.S. to engage in money laundering, or a history of having laundered money, or having been (according to the knowledge of the U.S. government) a knowing aider, abettor, assister, conspirator, or colluder with money launderers.

These are the straightforward crimes that are mentioned in the immigration law. The statute also lists a number of security violations, such as involvement in espionage, sabotage, terrorism, Nazi persecution, totalitarian parties, and so forth.

Once an illegal immigrant is deported, how long before they can come back to the United States?

If an illegal immigrant has a deportation or removal order in their immigration file, it's possible that they won’t be allowed to enter the U.S. for five, ten, or even 20 years.

The applicable law comes from Section 212 of the Immigration and Nationality Act (I.N.A.).

Five-Year Ban: If they were summarily removed or deported upon arrival at a U.S. port of entry because they were found inadmissible, or if they came to the U.S. but were immediately put into removal proceedings and then removed or deported, they may be ineligible to return to the U.S. for five years. The five-year ban also applies if they failed to show up for their removal hearing in the United States.

Ten-Year Ban: If a ‘removal order’ was issued at the conclusion of their removal hearing in Immigration Court, they may not be able to return for ten years after their removal or departure.

Twenty-Year Ban: If they were convicted of an aggravated felony or have received more than one order of removal, they are barred from returning to the U.S. for 20 years. And if they entered without permission after having been removed, or illegally reentered the U.S. after having previously been in the U.S. unlawfully for more than one year, they may be barred from entering the United States for 20 years or permanently.

⇓ Learn more ⇓ Show less

This facility, known as "York County Prison" is also known as ICE Detention Facility, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.