Pennsylvania Prison Communication Directory

Who provides phone, email, money, and mail services in Pennsylvania state prisons?

Phone calls run through Securus. Create a phone account at securustech.net, or call Securus at 800-844-6591. Securus calls may appear as spam, so save the number in your contacts or tell your cell carrier it is an authorized number. Email runs through ViaPath Technologies: create an account at web.connectnetwork.com, or call ViaPath Friends and Family Customer Service at 1-877-650-4249. All emails are reviewed for appropriate content. Money runs through JPay: deposit on the JPay website, by phone at 800-574-5729, by money order sent to JPay, or at lobby kiosks at each state prison. Mail runs through Smart Communications, not to the prison. The PA DOC contact page does not publish a per-minute phone rate, so check your Securus account for current rates.

How do visits work in Pennsylvania state prisons?

Visits are in person or by video, and all visits must be scheduled at least two days in advance through the Inmate Visitation System (IVS). You must create an IVS account and be on the inmate's authorized visitor list to schedule. In-person visits: up to four per month including one weekend visit, guaranteed at least one hour, maximum four visitors per visit (two at Quehanna Boot Camp). Video visits are free: up to six per month including one weekend visit, with up to six visitors able to join. Visit limits may vary by custody status. Video visits are monitored and recorded, except visits with legal counsel. If the facility cancels a visit, you get an email at the address on your IVS account. For scheduling questions, contact the facility or email RA-CRDOCINMATEVSS@pa.gov.

How do mail and money differ between state prisons and county jails in Pennsylvania?

In state prisons, general mail goes to Smart Communications/PA DOC, Inmate Name/Inmate Number, State Correctional Institution, PO Box 33028, St. Petersburg, FL 33733. Publications and photo books go to the Security Processing Center, 268 Bricker Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667. Official documents and original transactional paperwork go to the institution's business office. Legal mail needs a DOC-issued attorney or court control number. Money goes through JPay, and money orders are not accepted at state prisons. County jails set their own contracts and may use completely different vendors and mail routes. For example, Allegheny County Jail uses GTL for phone calls, with 30 minutes of free calls per day, per the county's own page. Check the specific jail's page before setting up any account.