Lancaster County Jail Roster
The county inmate path begins with the Sheriff's public link to Who's In Jail? and the separate Lancaster County Prison inmate search. The county says the phone system also gives inmate information when callers press option 2 and search by name or date of birth. Date of birth is recommended because a common name can match more than one person. The online roster is captcha-gated and requires acceptance of the policy page before the search screen appears.
The roster is a local custody tool. It is useful for current Lancaster County Prison status, charges, bail, visitation, and phone-account funding details, but it is not a statewide prison index. Pennsylvania's DOC locator is a separate daily updated search for state-sentenced inmates and parolees. VINE is also separate; it is a free, confidential custody and criminal case notification service for Pennsylvania users who need change alerts instead of a one-time roster result.
The county also places the roster inside a public-records and criminal-history framework. The inmate policy page cites CHRIA, Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, and warns that officers should not arrest or detain a person based only on the database. That warning is practical for the public too. Names, dates, and custody status should be checked against the official profile, the prison phone system, and court dockets when bail, hearing dates, or charges affect a decision.
The county inmate search policy page is the source for the roster rules.
The county's Who's In Jail page explains the public lookup limits and CHRIA notice before a user reaches the roster.
Search Lancaster County Inmates
The public ATIMS search is the most direct online route for a Lancaster County inmate lookup. It may be blocked from automated queries by captcha, so a person searching for a current inmate should use a browser and be ready to accept the displayed terms. If the online search is unavailable, the phone lookup remains important because the county says callers can obtain charges, bail, visitation, and phone account funding information through the automated line.
- Open the Lancaster County Prison inmate search and complete the captcha screen.
- Accept the policy page if the roster asks for agreement before search access.
- Search by last name, first name, birth date, or PIN when known. Use date of birth to reduce false matches.
- Review the result for custody status, commit date, arresting agency, and any profile detail available.
- If the online tool fails or the person has moved, call the prison information line or check the Pennsylvania DOC locator and VINE.
The public roster screen is the official online source for current Lancaster County custody lookup.
The Lancaster County Prison public inmate search is the official online roster entry point.
Lancaster County Inmate Fields
The research captured the visible roster fields and the policy actions that gate access. The county specifically recommends date of birth for phone search, and the online app exposes name, birth date, and PIN inputs. A PIN can be helpful when family or counsel already has it from a prior contact, but most public users will start with name and date of birth.
| Field Label | Type | Required | Options / Format Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| I'm not a robot | Captcha | Yes | Required before search page access. |
| First Name | Text | Optional | Visible app search input. |
| Last Name | Text | Optional | Most useful with birth date for common names. |
| Birth Date | Date | Optional | DOB is recommended by the county for phone search. |
| PIN | Text | Optional | Visible app search input. |
| I Agree / I Disagree | Buttons | Yes | Must accept the policy page before online search. |
Note: The roster is public-facing under CHRIA, but sealed court matters and non-local custody may not appear in this county tool.
Lancaster Inmate Profile Data
Live inmate records were not captured in the research because the ATIMS site is captcha-gated. The visible app fields and bundled model names still show the kind of public profile data a user may see after a valid search. The county phone system confirms that charges, bail, visitation, and phone-account funding data can be provided for an inmate, so those categories should be verified through the official roster or prison phone line before action is taken.
| Field | What It Shows |
|---|---|
| PIN | County jail identifier visible in search or profile data when available. |
| Name and birth date | Identity fields used to distinguish people with similar names. |
| Race, sex, and commit age | Demographic and age fields exposed in the public app model. |
| Commit date | The date the person entered local custody for the listed commitment. |
| Arresting agency | The agency tied to the custody entry or arrest record. |
| Overall bail amount | Summary bail information when available for the custody profile. |
| Next court date | Upcoming court event linked to the custody profile when exposed. |
| Housing unit or location | Facility location data used for visitation and jail operations. |
Lancaster County Prison Facility
Lancaster County Prison is the local jail facility for the inmate roster. The prison landing page names the warden, lists key phone numbers, links prison resources, and posts current operational notices. The research also notes that Prison Board minutes from March 16, 2023 listed a DOC-approved housing capacity of 1,085 and a population that morning of 709. The county prison page says a February 2025 DOC Title 37 Chapter 95 inspection found the facility compliant with all sections through the next scheduled inspection in 2027.
The Sheriff's Office is not the prison account vendor, but its public notices still matter for inmate and bail-related searches. The sheriff page warns that the office will never call or email demanding online or telephone payment for court costs, bail, jury failure-to-appear fines, or similar fees. It also warns against gift cards and money cards. Anyone who finds a custody result and then receives a payment demand should verify the demand with the originating court, prison, or sheriff contact before sending money.
Lancaster County Prison
625 E. King St.
Lancaster, PA 17602
717-299-7800
Work release: 717-299-7809
Safety concern hotline: 717-664-LIFE / 717-664-5433
Visitation scheduling: option 1, prior day, 8 a.m.-8 p.m.
Lancaster County Sheriff's Office
50 N. Duke Street, P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster, PA 17608
717-299-8200
Sheriff Christopher Leppler; Chief Marc Shaffer
The county Prison page collects the facility contact numbers, notices, and resource links for Lancaster County inmate records work.
Lancaster Inmate Visitation Rules
Visitation is scheduled by phone only. The county says visits must be scheduled the day before the visit, no walk-ins are allowed, and callers use 717-299-7800, option 1, during the listed scheduling window. Visitors must arrive 15 minutes before the scheduled time, line up outside at the ramp entrance one at a time unless weather changes that process, bring a government photo ID, and match the address on the inmate's visitation list.
| Item | Rule |
|---|---|
| Scheduling | Call the day prior; no walk-ins. |
| Phone | 717-299-7800, option 1, 8 a.m.-8 p.m. on the designated prior day. |
| Visit slots | 8-9 a.m.; 9-10 a.m.; 1-2 p.m.; 2-3 p.m.; 6:30-7:30 p.m.; 7:30-8:30 p.m. |
| Unit schedule | 3-1 Monday; 3-2 Tuesday; 2-1 Wednesday; 2-2, 3-5, G-1 Work Party Thursday; G-2, MHU Friday; 2-5, D-Block, Ad Seg Saturday; C-Main, Work Release Sunday. |
| Formerly incarcerated visitors | Must be six months removed before visiting. |
| Arrival | Arrive 15 minutes early and confirm current instructions when calling. |
| Security | Photo ID, metal detector screening, dress rules, and contraband rules apply. |
The official Lancaster County Prison visitation page gives the current scheduling rules and unit visit schedule.
Mail and Phone Contact
Personal mail changed in June 2024. The county says personal mail is no longer accepted directly by the jail and directs personal mail through the listed digital mail process. Legal mail still goes directly to Lancaster County Prison, addressed to the incarcerated individual's full name and ID number, marked LEGAL MAIL, at 625 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Legal mail is delivered unopened for confidentiality, then opened by the incarcerated person in front of staff.
Phone and messaging access use Securus. Tablets are issued at commitment, and units have kiosks and phones. Three-way calls are prohibited. For a family death or serious illness emergency, the research lists the Prison Chaplain's Office at 717-295-2089.
The phone system can also bridge gaps when the roster is unavailable, a captcha blocks access, or a name search returns too many results. The county states that callers may search by name or date of birth, with date of birth recommended. That route is especially useful before scheduling a visit because visitation depends on the inmate's list, address match, housing unit, and current custody status.
The county's Contacting Incarcerated Individuals page explains mail, legal mail, tablets, phones, and Securus messaging.
Lancaster Inmate Funds
The prison Finances page says an account is created at commitment through a contracted account system with real-time updates. Money found on a newly incarcerated person is placed into that account. Family or friends may deposit cash, credit, or debit card at the kiosk in the Lancaster County Prison vestibule, deposit online through JailATM, or mail a money order or certified check to Lancaster County Prison, Attn: Inmate Accounts, 625 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602, with the incarcerated person's name and ID.
Securus covers phone calls, eMessaging stamps, and tablet media, but it does not cover commissary. The county lists a $35 processing fee on each new incarceration or re-incarceration, and commissary or financial privileges are not available until that fee is paid. Medical and dental fees include a $3 nursing administrative fee and a $5 NP, PA, doctor, or dentist fee, but the county states legitimate essential care is not denied solely for inability to pay.
Funds are returned by debit card when a person is released. If the person is transferred to another institution, the county says a check is sent to the receiving institution. That means a family member checking Lancaster County inmate records should not assume that a missing commissary option means the person has no funds. It may mean the person has been released, moved, or shifted into a different custody system.
The official Prison Finances page lists account deposits, JailATM, commissary funding, and release payment details.
Note: For state-sentenced inmates or parolees, use the Pennsylvania DOC locator rather than the Lancaster County Prison roster.