Allegheny County Jail Roster and Inmate Lookup
Allegheny County inmate population records are maintained by the county jail in Pittsburgh and by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for state inmates. The Allegheny County Jail is one of the largest county facilities in Pennsylvania, housing more than 2,000 incarcerated individuals on any given day. Searching the official jail roster or the statewide PADOC locator can help you find a specific person in custody. This page covers how to access Allegheny County inmate records, use the online jail roster, and request public records. All primary search tools are free to use.
Allegheny County Quick Facts
Allegheny County Jail Roster Online Search
The Allegheny County jail roster is available online and refreshed multiple times each day. You can search by name, booking date, or identification number. Records show the full name, booking number, date of arrest, charges, bail or bond details, housing location, and release or transfer date. Booking photos are included when available under county regulations. The system is part of Pennsylvania's public records framework and is open to anyone seeking information about the current inmate population.
The following image shows the Allegheny County jail roster search interface, the most direct way to find someone currently held at the county jail in Pittsburgh.
This view of the jail roster page at alleghenycountycourts.org shows how to enter search terms and what information appears in results. It is the fastest way to confirm whether a person is currently in the Allegheny County inmate population.
The roster is maintained by Allegheny County Courts and reflects the current population at the jail on Second Avenue. Bond amounts appear in the results when applicable, and release dates are updated as individuals are processed out of the facility. Historical booking records may also be available for individuals who have since been released or transferred.
Allegheny County Jail Facility Information
The Allegheny County Jail is located at 950 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The main phone number is 412-350-2000, available 24 hours a day. For adult probation inquiries, call 412-350-2320. For bail information, call 412-350-4732. Warden Orlando Harper oversees all operations at the facility. The jail opened in 1995 as a replacement for the historic facility on Ross Street and can house over 2,500 incarcerated individuals.
The facility operates several security levels under one roof. These include general population, maximum security housing, a medical and mental health ward, and administrative segregation. Programs at the jail include GED preparation, substance abuse counseling, and life skills workshops. Medical and mental health services are provided on-site for all inmates. Reentry services help individuals nearing release plan for life after custody.
The following image shows the official Allegheny County jail facility page, which provides information on visitation, services, and inmate programs.
This page at alleghenycounty.us/jail covers everything from inmate account management to mail procedures, visitation scheduling, and property release. Families of incarcerated individuals will find the facility information section especially useful.
Visitation at the Allegheny County Jail is conducted through both video and in-person systems. Professional visitors such as attorneys and clergy follow separate scheduling procedures. Inmate mail is screened and processed daily. Commissary is managed through a third-party vendor, and inmate accounts can be funded through approved methods listed on the county website.
Note: The Allegheny County Jail inmate population does not appear in the Pennsylvania DOC state locator. County jail inmates and state prison inmates are tracked in separate systems.
How to Search Allegheny County Inmate Records
Searching Allegheny County inmate records requires knowing which system covers the person you are looking for. Pre-trial detainees and those serving short local sentences appear in the county jail roster. People sentenced to more than two years are typically transferred to state custody and appear in the Pennsylvania Official Inmate Locator. Start with the county roster if you do not know which system applies.
For the state locator, enter the last name and optionally the first name. You can also enter an inmate number directly. Use the committing county filter and select Allegheny to limit results to people whose crimes originated in Allegheny County. Results show name, date of birth, inmate number, current location, and committing county. Click the inmate number to view a full profile including a photo and physical description. The locator is available around the clock and requires no registration. For technical issues, email ra-contactdoc@pa.gov.
Allegheny County Courts and Criminal Records
Criminal court records for Allegheny County are searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal and through the Allegheny County Courts website. The Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas handles all felony criminal cases. Magisterial District Courts handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and traffic matters. Both levels of the court system feed into the statewide UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us.
The following image shows the Allegheny County Courts website, which provides access to court calendars, docket search, and self-help resources for the public.
This view of alleghenycourts.us shows the Criminal Division, Civil Division, Family Division, and problem-solving courts including Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and Veterans Court. Online docket search is available at no cost for all divisions.
Allegheny County Courts offer online payment options for fines and costs. Court calendars and schedules are published online. Self-help resources are available for people representing themselves in criminal matters. Expungement and record sealing procedures, including those under the Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018), are explained on the courts website. Court interpreter services are available upon request for non-English speakers. Records not available online must be requested in person at the courthouse in Pittsburgh.
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, found at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, governs how criminal records are accessed and used throughout Allegheny County and the rest of the state. Employers who access criminal history records without following CHRIA procedures may face civil liability under section 9183 of the act. The Pennsylvania Courts website has further guidance on public access policies and record-keeping standards.
Open Records Requests in Allegheny County
Allegheny County has a designated Open Records Officer for handling public records requests under the Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. sections 67.101 through 67.3104. The Open Records Officer is Lori R. McMaster. The office is located at 542 Forbes Avenue, Suite 156, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. You can reach the office by phone at 412-350-4180 or by email at openrecords@alleghenycounty.us. An online submission form is also available through the county website at alleghenycounty.us.
Under state law, agencies have five business days to respond to a written request. They may extend this window by up to 30 days for complex or voluminous requests. Copies cost $0.25 per standard page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. Fees must be paid before records are released. If Allegheny County denies your request, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of receiving the denial.
For state correctional records, contact the DOC Right-to-Know Law Office at 1920 Technology Parkway, Mechanicsburg, PA 17050, phone (717) 728-7763. Each county department in Allegheny County has its own designated records officer. The county publishes an annual RTKL compliance report and maintains a records retention schedule available for public review.
Pennsylvania State Inmate Population Data
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides statistical data on the statewide inmate population through its reports and dashboards portal. This data covers all 24 State Correctional Institutions and includes population counts, demographic breakdowns, facility capacity, and recidivism tracking. Allegheny County consistently ranks among the top committing counties in the state based on the number of individuals sentenced to state custody. The data is useful for researchers, journalists, policymakers, and families trying to understand broader trends in the prison population.
The DOC website at cor.pa.gov is the main hub for information on state correctional programs, visitation guidelines, mail procedures, and inmate services. The department employs thousands of correctional staff and operates community corrections centers in addition to the 24 main SCIs. The DOC Stats Dashboard is produced in part by Recidiviz and includes an interactive map showing inmate releases by county and year. You can also track pending parole, parole approvals, and parole violator re-admissions through the DOC-PPB dashboard tool.
Federal Inmates in Allegheny County
Federal inmates from Allegheny County are not held at the county jail or state facilities. They are housed in federal Bureau of Prisons facilities, which have their own inmate tracking system. To find a federal inmate, use the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov. Search by full name or by a BOP register number, FBI number, or INS number. The tool returns the current age, inmate register number, race, sex, projected release date, and current facility with phone number. Records go back to 1982.
Federal facilities in Pennsylvania that may house Allegheny County defendants include USP Canaan in Wayne County, FCI McKean in Lewis Run, FCI Allenwood in White Deer, and FCI Schuylkill in Minersville. Federal sentences are governed by federal law and differ substantially from Pennsylvania state sentences. Release dates are subject to change based on federal time credit calculations, including adjustments from the First Step Act. The Pennsylvania State Police at psp.pa.gov maintains the central criminal history repository and can assist with background checks through the PATCH system for $22 per request.
Nearby Counties
Allegheny County neighbors several other counties in western Pennsylvania. Each has its own jail roster and inmate population data available online.