Philadelphia Detention Center
Find messaging, video, and phone options for Philadelphia Detention Center. Compare providers and discover what communication services are available. Free, no account required.
- Facility Type
- County Facility
- Security Level
- Pretrial / Sentenced
- Inmate Capacity
- 3,000 approx.
- Established
- 1963
- Operated By
- Philadelphia Department of Prisons
Philadelphia Detention Center Inmate Communication Overview
The Philadelphia Detention Center is one of several facilities operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, located in the Northeast Philadelphia neighborhood near State Road, roughly 10 miles from Center City. Philadelphia has its own city-run prison system separate from the Pennsylvania state correctional system, reflecting the city's status as a consolidated city-county. The Philadelphia prison system includes the Detention Center, the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, the House of Correction, and other facilities. The Detention Center primarily houses pretrial detainees and some sentenced individuals serving shorter terms in the city system.
Communication at Philadelphia Detention Center and other Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities is managed through GTL. Phone calls, video visitation, and messaging all run through the GTL platform, which means families can use a single account to access all services. For phone calls, funding a GTL prepaid account linked to your phone number allows you to receive inmate-initiated calls. Video visits are available remotely through GTL. Because the Philadelphia prison system is city-operated rather than county or state, it functions independently from both the Pennsylvania state system and the federal system.
An important distinction for Philadelphia families: the Philadelphia Department of Prisons uses GTL, which is different from what Pennsylvania state prisons use. If someone serving time at a Philadelphia facility is later transferred to a Pennsylvania DOC state prison (SCI), communication will shift to JPay for messaging and GTL under a different contract for phone. Keeping track of which system your loved one is in, city, state, or federal, ensures you are funding the correct accounts. The Philadelphia Department of Prisons provides an inmate locator to confirm current housing location across city facilities.
Facility Information
Contact details and location information for this correctional facility.
Address
8001 State Road, Philadelphia, PA 19136
Main Phone
(215) 685-8400
Administrative line — not for inmate calls
Official Website
Visit official siteCommunication Options
Available communication services at Philadelphia Detention Center.
Messaging
Electronic messages to and from the inmate.
Provider: GTL
Electronic messaging available via GTL across Philadelphia city prisons.
Video Calls
Remote or in-person video visitation.
Provider: GTL
Remote video visits available. Schedule in advance through GTL.
Photo Sharing
Send approved digital or physical photos.
Physical photo mail subject to Philadelphia Department of Prisons restrictions. No digital service.
Phone Calls
Inmate-initiated phone calls to approved numbers.
Provider: GTL
Fund a GTL prepaid account to receive inmate-initiated calls.
Money Transfer
Send funds to commissary or phone accounts.
Provider: GTL
Commissary deposits via GTL or AccessCorrections.
Communication Providers at Philadelphia Detention Center
These providers operate communication services at this facility. Each may cover different services.
GTL
Primary provider for all Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities. One GTL account covers all city facilities.
View GTL ServicesCommunication Rules at Philadelphia Detention Center
- GTL serves Philadelphia city prisons. Pennsylvania state prisons (SCIs) use a different system.
- Philadelphia has its own city-run prison system, it is separate from state and federal systems.
- One GTL account covers all Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities.
- All calls, messages, and visits are monitored.
- Senders must be on the inmate's approved contact list.
Related Facilities
Other correctional facilities with communication guides.
Frequently Asked Questions: Philadelphia Detention Center
Common questions from families about communication at this facility.
- How do I contact someone at the Philadelphia Detention Center?
- All communication services, phone, video, messaging, and money, are through GTL. Create an account at telmate.com or through the GTL Connect app. One GTL account works across all Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities.
- Is the Philadelphia prison system the same as a Pennsylvania state prison?
- No. Philadelphia has its own city-run Department of Prisons, which is entirely separate from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections state prisons (SCIs). City facilities use GTL. Pennsylvania state prisons use JPay for messaging and a different contract for phones. Confirm which system your loved one is in before setting up accounts.
- Can I do a video visit with someone at the Philadelphia Detention Center?
- Yes, remote video visits are available through GTL. Log into your account, search for the Philadelphia Detention Center, and select an available time slot. Schedule in advance as slots can fill quickly.
- How do I find out which Philadelphia facility my loved one is in?
- The Philadelphia Department of Prisons provides an inmate locator on their website at phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-department-of-prisons. You can search by name to find current housing location. Knowing the specific facility is important when scheduling visits.
- How do I send money to a Philadelphia Detention Center inmate?
- Commissary deposits are processed through GTL at telmate.com or through AccessCorrections. Add funds via debit or credit card. Processing typically takes one business day.
- How do I find or search for an inmate at Philadelphia Detention Center?
- Use the Philadelphia Department of Prisons inmate locator on phila.gov to confirm your loved one is housed at this facility. If the inmate does not appear, allow 24 to 72 hours after booking and try alternate spellings.
- How do I send mail to an inmate at Philadelphia Detention Center?
- Include the inmate's full name and ID on every envelope and follow the facility's mail rules. Confirm the current mailing address on the facility's official page before sending.
- Can I receive incoming calls from an inmate at Philadelphia Detention Center?
- No. Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. The inmate must call you, and your number must be on their approved list.
- How do I block or stop calls from an inmate at Philadelphia Detention Center?
- Contact the facility's phone provider and ask to block the number, or block the number through your own phone carrier. You can also ask the facility to remove your number from the inmate's approved list.
- How do I schedule or cancel a video visit at Philadelphia Detention Center?
- Schedule video visits through the facility's video visit provider or visitation system. Cancel the same way, as early as possible, and check the facility's visitation page for its cancellation rules.
Troubleshooting at Philadelphia Detention Center
Fix the most common problems families hit with calls, video visits, money, and messaging.
- Why am I not receiving calls from an inmate?
- Inmates can only call out, so you cannot call an inmate directly. If expected calls are not coming through, check your phone's spam or silence-unknown-callers setting, since carriers often block jail numbers. Save the facility's number as a contact, confirm your number is on the inmate's approved list, and check whether your carrier blocks collect or prepaid calls. If several expected calls fail, contact the facility's phone provider support.
- Why is my inmate not showing up in search?
- New arrivals can take 24 to 72 hours to appear in search results, and people in transfer may temporarily disappear from listings. Try alternate spellings and name variations, and make sure you are searching the right system: the federal BOP locator only covers federal inmates, while county and state searches are separate. Some records are withheld for protective custody or sealed cases. If it has been more than a few days, call the facility's records office.
- I sent money but it is not showing in the inmate's account. What should I do?
- Allow processing time first. Electronic deposits can take hours and money orders can take much longer. Check your receipt and confirm the inmate's name and ID matched. Do not send a second payment until the first one is traced, since duplicate payments are hard to reverse. Contact the money-transfer provider's support with your receipt or confirmation number. If the inmate was recently transferred, funds may follow after a delay.
- Why was my video visit cancelled or cut off?
- Most cancellations come from connection problems or conduct-rule violations. Stay in frame, keep your ID ready, follow the dress code, keep other people off camera, and avoid profanity. Visits can also be cancelled for facility lockdowns or schedule changes. For refunds, contact the video provider's support with your visit details.
- What should I do if the facility changed its communications provider?
- Create an account with the new provider, since old accounts and balances do not transfer automatically. Ask the old provider whether refunds are available for unused balances. Confirm the new provider's phone, video, and messaging setup before your next visit or call.
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