SCI Somerset

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains a searchable public database of all of the inmates they have in custody.

In addition, the offender search contains information about prisoners, parolees, and probationers who are currently under supervision, and who have been discharged. It also contains those inmates who have absconded, or escaped.

The actual prison that an inmate is assigned to depends on factors such as security classification, remaining time of their sentence, gang affiliation, and location of their residence.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections began in 1790, when the first state prison, Walnut Street Prison, was built in Philadelphia.

Today the state of Pennsylvania's Prison System maintains 23 state correctional institutions, one motivational boot camp, 14 community corrections centers and 40 contract facilities.

With a staff of 15,000 correctional workers, as of the end of 2023 they oversee approximately 38,000 inmates, with another 35,000 on parole and probation.

The following will explain the instructions, tricks and hacks you can use to find any inmate in custody with the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Search Instructions

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides a limited amount of information you may want to know about any inmate in their system, however they do list every inmate. Inmates in custody have their crimes listed, as well as previous convictions. To look up an inmate (or parolee), you need the full last name.  

• You can also list any and all inmates (or parolee) by just filling in any one of the eleven fields.
• You can also list all inmates (or parolee) who share the same first letter of the last name.

The first set of results if you used the full last name will list their Name, Offender Number (DIN), Date of Birth, Race, Committing County and Facility. Click on the linked ID Number to get to the inmate's page.  

The inmate's page only has limited information, and includes the inmate's mugshots.

SCI Somerset uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 



You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender.

1. Online payments
2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
3. MoneyGram
4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
   The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
   Walmart
   7-11
   CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
Inmate's Correctional ID number and last name
The facility name or receive code.
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order - Deposit Slip >> English  Spanish

ALL money order deposit slips MUST have the following information CLEARLY TYPED in order for the funds to be posted to the inmate account: Handwritten forms are subject to delay.
• Correct inmate ID #
• Inmate name
• Sender’s name and address

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender. 

The kiosk also accepts deposits for GTL/Viapath (see phone accounts on this page)

If using a credit card, you can only add $300 per card every 72 hours to an inmate’s account on either one credit card or multiple cards.

If using a money order, the limit is $999.99 per money order. Senders can send multiple money orders at a time.

For cash/walk-in transactions using MoneyGram, a maximum limit is set at $5,000 per transaction.

The Pennsylvania DOC does not limit how much can be added to an inmate’s account.

Frequently Asked Questions

SCI Somerset Inmate Visitation Information and Schedules

INMATE VISITING PRIVILEGES

VISITOR GUIDE

Step 1 - Registration

First, before you can even register, your inmate has to add your name to their Visitors List.

An inmate's visitor's list may contain up to 50 names. Facility staff cannot tell you if you are on the list, you must be told by your inmate.

After you confirm you are on the list, you must Register and then when approved, shedule your visit.

Step 2 - The Visit

All visitors, regardless of age, must have proper identification in order to visit.

The number of visitors any inmate may have during in-person visits is four. 

The maximum number of visitors permitted to participate in a video visit is six.

An inmate in general population may have up to six video visits and four in-person visits per month.

In-person visits shall be no less than one hour in duration and shall occur during regularly scheduled visiting hours. Longer periods may be allowed depending upon the inmate's custody level and available space. Video visits are 45 minutes in duration and shall occur during the facility’s video visiting hours.

Do not bring anything into the visit.

Do not wear anything revealing or provocative. Men are to dress professionally.

All minors must have the appropriate visitor form signed by their parent/guardian and the incarcerated individual's counselor or unit manager to be eligible for a visit. Incarcerated parents are not permitted to sign these forms. Children ages five and younger may be held by the inmate on his/her lap.

Please feed your baby before visiting. If you have a baby as a part of your visiting group, you may take these items into the visiting room:

 - Up to 3 UNOPENED, commercially prepared and vacuum-sealed containers of baby food per infant. All containers will be opened by the inspecting officers
 - Up to 3 clear plastic bottles of pre-mixed formula/white milk per infant
 - Up to 3 diapers per infant. Diapers must be loose so they can be inspected
 - Up to 3 pull-ups or training pants per infant
 - A reasonable number of wipes
 - Some prisons allow one each of the following: blanket, change of clothing, pacifier, teething ring, bib, empty sippy cup and a baby spoon. Check with the appropriate prison for its local policy.

VIDEO VISITATION IS WITH ZOOM. 

READ THE INSTRUCTIONS ON HOW TO ARRANGE A ZOOM VIDEO VISIT.

SCI Somerset Remote Video Visitation

Video visitation is free for all inmates and their families.

The rules for video visits are generally the same as those for in-person visits at a facility. All non-legal video visits are monitored and recorded.

All video visits must be scheduled online at least three days in advance.

Up to six visitors may participate in a video visit.

Each inmate is generally permitted six video visits per month, one of which may be on a weekend. The number of visits permitted may vary based on an individual’s custody status.

Schedule a visit - Read the Visitor Guide

Before your first video visit, read the appropriate guide below:

Join as a visitor using iPhone/iPad (iOS devices)
Join as a visitor using Android Phone/Tablet (Android devices)
Join as a visitor using Windows/Mac/Linux devices

If you are an attorney, legislator or other professional visitor:

Read the guide for joining as a professional visitor - Zoom Visit

The SCI Somerset Inmate Phone System is Securus. 

Sign up with Securus by clicking the banner below.

1.  AdvanceConnect – Good Option - You control all phone numbers your inmate can call.

This type of account offers you the following benefits:
•    You are able to receive inmate calls as long as funds are available in your account.
•    You can add multiple phone numbers to your account so your inmate can reach your home phone, work phone, cell phone, other relatives, neighbors, friends, etc.
•    Calls WILL connect to cell phones.

2.  Inmate Debit – Inmate can call anyone they choose (subject to jail's approval)

This type of account offers you the following benefits:
•    You can fund an Inmate Debit account without having your own calling account.
•    Inmates can call anyone on their approved calling list without requiring friends and family to create separate prepaid accounts.
•    Calls WILL connect to cell phones.
•    Funds placed in the Inmate Debit account will become the property of the inmate and friends & family members will not be able to receive refunds on this account. 

3. Direct Bill - You receive calls from your inmate, and the charges are billed to you monthly.

• Requires a credit check. 
• Costs more.
• Good for lawyers, bail bonds, long-term inmates, etc.

Resources
Contact Securus by Phone:  972-734-1111 or 800-844-6591
Contact Securus Online
Frequently Asked Questions
Submit a Question for Securus Online
Online Rate Quote

SCI Somerset Inmate & Family Voicemail

Securus Outbound Voicemail provides your inmate an opportunity to leave a message for their family and friends when a call to their mobile goes unanswered. Once the inmate leaves a voicemail, a text message containing a link will be sent to the dialed number. The recipient of the inmate's voicemail is then sent to a web form to pay and listen to the message. The voicemail will be available for up to 30 days after it is sent, and then another 30 days after it is paid for.

Securus Phone System Cost & Fees - *Subject to Change

ADVANCE CONNECT Phone Calls 
$0.21 per minute

INMATE DEBIT Phone Calls
$0.21 per minute

DIRECT BILL Phone Calls
$0.25 per minute

TRADITIONAL COLLECT Phone Calls
$0.25 per minute

VOICEMAIL Message
One minute - $0.75 per minute

For current online rate quote, go here.

SCI Somerset Inmate Mail Guidelines

PERSONAL MAIL

Postcards
The SCI Somerset allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature. It is best to only use blue or black ink. Always include your name and return address.

Envelopes
The SCI Somerset also allows envelopes to be mailed to inmates. It is best to only use blue or black ink.

Postcards and envelopes MUST HAVE the sender's full name and return address on the envelope. 

All personal mail is sent to A THIRD PARTY WHERE IT IS SCANNED AND FORWARDED DIGITALLY TO THE INMATES.

Postcards and envelopes MUST be mailed to the following address:
Smart Communications / PA DOC
Inmate Name / Inmate Number
SCI Somerset
PO Box 33028
St Petersburg, Florida 33733

PHOTOS
All photographs sent to an inmate must contain a full return address with a first and last name of the sender on the envelope. It must also contain the full and correct inmate name and inmate number on the envelope. Upon arriving at Smart Communications the mail containing photographs will be opened and scanned into an electronic document. The electronic document will then be made available to the facility mailroom for printing. The mail containing photographs will then be printed and delivered to the inmate by the facility mailroom.

Photographs are limited to 25 photos per mailing. If more than 25 photos are contained within one mailing, they will be confiscated. Original photographs should not be sent to Smart Communications or any State Correctional Institution. Originals will not be returned if confiscated. Photographs containing obscenity, explicit sexual material, or nudity are prohibited. 

Legal Mail

Send all Legal Mail to this Address:
Inmate Name / Inmate #
Confirm Mailing Address here

Newspapers
Newspapers may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher.

Magazines
News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate.

Books
The SCI Somerset allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble or Books-A-Million. You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address noted.
Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the SCI Somerset standards will be disposed of. 
Hard cover books will not be accepted by the jail due to their potential to be used as a weapon.

All newspapers, magazines and books are to be shipped to:
Inmate name, Inmate #
268 Bricker Road
Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667

SCI Somerset uses the services of JPAY for you to send money to an inmate's trust fund / commissary account. 

SAMPLE COMMISSARY MENU



You can send money to an inmate/offender's commissary/spendable account through the Send Money page.
There are several ways to send money to an inmate/offender.

1. Online payments
2. Over the phone by calling 800-574-5729
3. MoneyGram
4. If you wish to send cash you can use MoneyGram. MoneyGram has many convenient locations nationwide.
   The following establishments will always have MoneyGram services:
   Walmart
   7-11
   CVS Pharmacy

You will need:
Inmate's Correctional ID number and last name
The facility name or receive code.
You can visit the MoneyGram website to find locations near you.

        5. Money Order - Inmate's Name must be on the Money Order - Deposit Slip >> English  Spanish

ALL money order deposit slips MUST have the following information CLEARLY TYPED in order for the funds to be posted to the inmate account: Handwritten forms are subject to delay.
• Correct inmate ID #
• Inmate name
• Sender’s name and address

        6. Lobby Kiosk
            You can use a debit or credit card in the lobby kiosk to send funds to an inmate/offender. 

The kiosk also accepts deposits for GTL/Viapath (see phone accounts on this page)

If using a credit card, you can only add $300 per card every 72 hours to an inmate’s account on either one credit card or multiple cards.

If using a money order, the limit is $999.99 per money order. Senders can send multiple money orders at a time.

For cash/walk-in transactions using MoneyGram, a maximum limit is set at $5,000 per transaction.

The Pennsylvania DOC does not limit how much can be added to an inmate’s account.

Frequently Asked Questions

SAMPLE COMMISSARY MENU

How to Email an Inmate at the SCI Somerset

Follow these instructions on how to arrange secure messaging (aka email and texting) of an inmate at the SCI Somerset

• Sign in to GTL, or Register if you haven't already.
• Select SCI Somerset.
• Select your Inmate.
• Using a credit or debit card, purchase credits to send messages, and, depending on the facility, purchase additional credits to receive responses from your inmate.
  Compose a message, attach credits for a reply…and send!

You can also send photos and videos to your inmate, along with your message. These can only be sent from the GTL app. (iphone, Android)
The cost to send messages and photos is approximately $1.00, and videos are $3.00.
If you have any questions, call customer service 24/7 at 877-650-4249.

SCI Somerset either allows, or may soon be allowing inmates access to tablets to use for the services provided by GTL (aka Viapath Technologies)

Follow the instructions below to get a tablet for your inmate at SCI Somerset

The devices are similar to common handheld tablets, but are made exclusively by GTL and Viapath.
Tablets offer specialized content and services for inmates to use during their stay at SCI Somerset, such as:

• Music
• Books
• Games
• Education
• News
• Radio
• Television
• Read mail and messages
• Video visits

Free services are already available for use on the device at SCI Somerset.
Subscription services are funded separately by family and friends with deposits made into an inmate’s Debit Link account.
SCI Somerset Inmates will then be able to purchase subscription services and premium content to enjoy.

What It Costs
Tablet devices include some services and the content is free.
The subscription services require additional funding.
There may be multiple options such as 7-day or 30-day subscriptions.
Costs are dependent upon the available services and what the SCI Somerset charges.

To estimate costs for tablets and other services such as phone calls, sign in to your account and click “Rate & Fees Calculator” in the footer (bottom of the page).

Once an inmate is convicted and sentenced for a violation of that state’s felony laws (and their sentence is more than one year in length), they are moved from the City or County Jail and sent to a State Prison in Pennsylvania. If the violation they are convicted of is a federal crime, they will be sent to a Federal Prison, but will not necessarily be doing their time in Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania State Prisons are operated and maintained by the state government and are used to confine and rehabilitate criminals. State prisons are funded by state tax money. The fund is used to provide food and clothes to inmates and to hire employees to keep the prison running. Inmates in state prison enjoy certain privileges such as TV use and recreation, both indoor and outdoor. The number of privileges allowed depends on the security level of the prison, the inmate and the overall needs of the prison on a specific day.

Pennsylvania has minimum, medium and maximum security prisons. The Corrections Department in Pennsylvania also maintains low (or no) security residential settings and camps where inmates assist in state property maintenance and duties such as fighting fires. Almost all prisons provide ‘jobs’ where an inmate can earn a small hourly wage and even learn a trade. Some prisons even contract with call centers and handle phone calls on issues related to their state government. Criminals who have committed a violent crime or killed someone are likely housed in a maximum security prison. If the inmate in these prisons behave, they are also eligible to recreate and/or work as well.

In Pennsylvania Prisons rehabilitation is the stated goal but the reality is that they exist to punish inmates for their crimes and keep them from hurting or harming innocent people on the outside who follow the laws and live and act responsibly. The fact is that most prison systems are underfunded, overcrowded and are not able to spend time and money rehabilitating offenders. This is not the fault of the people hired to work in prisons, they are just victims of the lack of resources due to budgeting constraints.

State Inmate

Most states have Department of Corrections websites that allow you to type in a felon's first and last name and pull up inmates in that state.

If you need to find a sentenced inmate serving time in a state other than Pennsylvania, go here. To find an inmate in Pennsylvania, just scroll to the top of the page and click on the Inmate Search button.

Once you locate them click next to the inmate's name or on the link provided and it will show you which prison the inmate is housed in. If the inmate is no longer incarcerated, but is on parole/probation or discharged, it will tell you that as well. In addition, many state prison inmate pages show recent mug shots.

Federal Inmate

The federal prison system has its own inmate locator called the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Type in the inmate's name and it will tell you where he or she is incarcerated and their projected release date. It also lists released federal prison inmates and the date they were released.

Federal inmates who are moved from one prison to another will show as "No longer in federal custody" on the system until they reach their next federal prison destination. This movement can take a few days to several months to complete, so keep checking back to find out where the inmate was taken.

ICE Inmates

The ICE Detainee Lookup allows friends, family members and interested parties to locate illegal and/or undocumented immigrants that are in the United States without permission.

Has the Inmate been recently arrested?... Try a County Jail

In many cases, the person you are looking for has either not been convicted or sentenced or has been sentenced and is awaiting transport to a State or Federal Prison and is still incarcerated in a City or County Jail.

To locate that person, go here to first find the State, and then the County where they were originally arrested or have been transported to. From there you can begin your search in our databases that contain the names and information of millions of inmates.

Jailexchange.com has all information on every jail and prison in the United States.