Potter County Pennsylvania Inmate Population
Potter County inmate population records are kept by the Potter County Jail in Coudersport, Pennsylvania. Potter County is one of the most rural and sparsely populated counties in the state, with a small county jail that handles local pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. This page explains how to search for a person in Potter County custody, what resources the county provides for inmate information, and how to use state-level tools when someone has been transferred out of the Potter County Jail.
Potter County Quick Facts
Potter County Jail in Coudersport
The Potter County Jail is located at 1 E. 2nd Street, Coudersport, PA 16915. The phone number is 814-274-8230 and the fax is 814-274-8232. This is the same address as the Potter County Sheriff's Office, as both operate from the same facility in the county seat. The jail handles booking, holding, and releasing inmates charged with crimes in Potter County courts.
Potter County is a small, rural county in north-central Pennsylvania. It is bordered by Tioga, Lycoming, Clinton, Cameron, and McKean counties. The county jail reflects the size of the community: it is a smaller facility with a limited inmate population compared to urban counties. However, the Potter County Jail still houses pre-trial detainees and inmates serving shorter local sentences.
Because Potter County is small, the jail has limited staff and programs compared to larger county facilities. If you need to reach someone in the Potter County inmate population, calling the jail directly at 814-274-8230 is the most reliable method. Staff can confirm whether a person is in custody and provide basic status information during business hours.
Note: Given Potter County's small size, calling ahead before visiting is especially important, as hours and visiting schedules may be more limited than at larger county facilities.
Using State Tools to Find Potter County Inmates
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an official inmate locator for all inmates held at state facilities. The PADOC Inmate Locator is used when a Potter County inmate has been sentenced to state prison and transferred out of the local jail. The image below shows the PA DOC direct locator portal, which is searchable by name or inmate number.
The PA DOC locator is updated daily and covers all 24 state correctional institutions in Pennsylvania. If a Potter County inmate received a sentence longer than two years, they are likely in the state system. The locator shows the inmate's current location, sentence information, and release date if applicable.
Potter County residents who face state charges may be transferred to a state correctional institution anywhere in Pennsylvania. The PA DOC inmate locator at pa.gov lets you track where a specific person is currently held within the state prison system, regardless of which county their charges originated from.
Potter County Sheriff and Inmate Population
Sheriff Kevin L. Dush heads the Potter County Sheriff's Office at 1 E. 2nd Street, Coudersport, PA 16915. The Sheriff's Office phone number is 814-274-8230. The Sheriff's Office handles warrant service, civil process, jail transport, fingerprinting, and county law enforcement in Potter County. These activities directly affect who enters and exits the local inmate population.
When the Potter County Sheriff's Office executes warrants, the subjects are typically booked into the Potter County Jail. The Sheriff's Office also transports inmates to court appearances and to state facilities when transfers are ordered. For questions about active warrants or law enforcement activity in Potter County, contact the Sheriff's Office at 814-274-8230.
The Unified Judicial System Portal covers Potter County criminal court records. You can search by name to find active cases, pending charges, and court dates. This is useful for understanding a person's case status if they are in the Potter County inmate population. The UJS search is free and available to the public without login.
Pennsylvania DOC and Potter County Transfers
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is the state agency responsible for inmates serving sentences of more than two years. When Potter County courts impose state prison sentences, the PA DOC takes custody of those inmates. The image below shows the main PA DOC website, which serves as the hub for state-level inmate information across all Pennsylvania counties, including Potter County.
The PA DOC operates 24 state correctional institutions across Pennsylvania and holds over 36,000 inmates. Potter County courts regularly transfer sentenced individuals to state custody when the sentence length requires it. From there, the PA DOC places the inmate at whichever state facility best fits their classification and program needs. You can contact the PA DOC at ra-contactdoc@pa.gov for questions about state inmates with ties to Potter County.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at pbpp.pa.gov oversees state parole supervision for inmates released from PA DOC custody. When a Potter County inmate finishes their state prison sentence and is paroled, the PBPP monitors their supervision in the community. For questions about parole supervision, contact the PBPP directly.
Note: Potter County does not currently have an online inmate roster, so direct contact with the jail or use of the state PA DOC locator is the best approach for inmate searches.
Accessing Potter County Inmate Records
Potter County inmate records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. Sections 67.101 through 67.3104. Basic information about inmates held in Potter County, including name, charges, and custody status, is generally accessible. Requests for more detailed records go through the Potter County Open Records Officer.
To submit a public records request for Potter County inmate information, contact the Open Records Officer through the Potter County courthouse or jail at 1 E. 2nd Street, Coudersport, PA 16915. Potter County is a small office with limited staff, so calling ahead at 814-274-8230 before submitting a request is recommended. The county has five business days to respond to most Right-to-Know requests. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Criminal history records for individuals with Potter County charges or convictions are maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police. You can request a criminal history check at psp.pa.gov under the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. A PA State Police criminal history check covers all counties, including Potter County, and is one of the most complete sources for statewide criminal record information.
Nearby Counties
Potter County sits in north-central Pennsylvania and is bordered by several counties. If you are looking for an inmate and are not sure which county has them in custody, check the surrounding areas. Each county operates its own jail and inmate population records.