Perform a Free Pennsylvania Parole Search (Absconder Lookup)

Run a free Pennsylvania parole search now to find out if an offender is currently under this type of supervision.

Probation is sometimes granted for minor crimes rather than having the offender serve time in jail. In contrast, those incarcerated for a more serious offense may be granted early release on parole, depending on their conduct and the nature of the crime. This information is a matter of public record and is accessible to anyone without needing to provide a reason for the search.

This streamlined resource covers the best tools for looking up crucial details about parolees, probationers, and inmates in Pennsylvania.

How To Conduct a Pennsylvania Parole Search for Free

The State’s Department of Corrections provides a convenient online database for anyone wishing to conduct a parole search in Pennsylvania. You can use the Inmate/Parolee Locator to discover if someone is on parole by directly going to the search page and selecting “Parolee Locator.”¹

The search form asks for several details, but they aren’t compulsory. It’s possible to conduct a search with just a last name, but providing more details will help to narrow the results.

Enter as many details as possible and then click “Search.” The results page will show a table of parolees, giving their name, parole number, race/ethnicity and date of birth. Click on a parole number to see:

• A photograph of the parolee
• Their inmate number
• A list of their known aliases
• Details of the parolee’s height, weight, and age
• The date they were released on parole

In some cases, the names shown on the results page will differ from the name that was entered on the search form. This is because the search results include all known aliases for an inmate or parolee. The main result shown on the search page is the name of the inmate who was committed.

For more information, you may consider reaching out to the Pennsylvania Department of Correction at:

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
Central Office
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050

Phone: 717.728.2573
Email: ra-contactdoc@pa.gov

Additionally, contacting the Pennsylvania Parole Offices may help with the search.²

For general inquiries, you may contact them by phone at ​717.787.5699 or through their online contact form.³ Having information such as the parolee’s name can facilitate the search.

See Who Violated Parole or Is on Pennsylvania’s Most Wanted Absconders List

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also maintains a list of known absconders.⁴ Absconding is a form of parole violation where a parolee has failed to report to their parole officer. When using the Inmate/Parolee Locator search page to perform a parole search in Pennsylvania, absconders will be highlighted in red in the search results.

There are many other reasons someone could be classified as being in violation of their parole, such as if they have engaged in criminal activities while on release. The Pennsylvania Parole Board maintains a list of most-wanted absconders.⁵

Anyone with information about the whereabouts of individuals on this list is asked to contact the Parole Board by emailing ra-pbpopc@pa.gov or calling the 24/7 Operations Monitoring Center at 800-932-4857.

Look Up Inmates in a Pennsylvania State Prison

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also provides a database of current inmates.⁶ Simply visit the search page and select “Inmate Locator” to use the search tool.

Enter as much information as possible about the offender. It’s possible to search with only a first name or a surname. However, the search will return a maximum of 500 results.

If the inmate has a common name, it’s useful to provide other details to narrow the results, such as the offender’s gender, race/ethnicity, the county in which they were committed or approximate age. The results page will show any inmates who have a name or known alias matching the details provided.

To view more information about an inmate, click on the inmate number. This will show the person’s name and known aliases, their photograph and other details, such as the committing county and the prison they’re currently being held in.

If the results of a parole search in Pennsylvania indicate that the offender is still in prison, it may be possible to contact them to arrange visitation or send money. The Department of Corrections provides a list of state prisons that friends and family members of inmates can use to find visitation policies.

Both in-person and video visits must be scheduled at least three days in advance. Details of how to schedule a Pennsylvania state prison visit and a visitor guide are provided on the DOC website.⁷

Friends and family members can also send money to inmates in state prisons. This can be done online using the JPay system or via lobby kiosks provided at each state prison.

There is a limit of $300 every 72 hours when sending funds using a credit card or $999.99 per money order. There is no upper limit to the amount of funds that an inmate can have in their account.

Inmates can connect with their loved ones by phone, messaging, eCards and VideoGrams by using the Securus platform. Each inmate must set up their own account prior to using it. Interested parties should read the terms and conditions before opening an account.

Search for Parole Hearings & Reach Out to Pennsylvania Parole Officers

Inmates are not guaranteed to be released on parole after serving part of their sentence. They must go through a parole interview and have their case reviewed by the Parole Board.

In Pennsylvania, the date of a parole interview is not available to the general public. The month and year of the hearing are published, but only the incarcerated individual is provided with exact details about when the parole hearing will take place.

The Parole Board consists of nine people, and decisions can be made either by a majority decision of the board or through a two-person panel.

Once the inmate receives a copy of the Board Action, interested parties can also request copies. Inquirers must make this request through the Parole Board’s online portal and include the inmate’s name, parole number, name in the institution where the inmate is housed, and a list of the board actions requested.⁸

While the parole board only provides the exact date and time of the parole hearing, certain victims also have the right to know this information. Eligible victims can register with the Office of Victim Advocates to receive notifications. This notification gives victims time to provide input to the Parole Board before they render their decision.

When someone is released on parole, they will be assigned a parole agent. This person is the first point of contact for the parolee if they have any issues while they’re on parole.

If a family member, friend or a victim of crime has concerns about a parolee, they can contact the parole office that serves the county in which the person was released on parole. The Pennsylvania Parole Board provides a list of district parole offices, the counties they serve and their contact details.⁹

Track Down Free Details of Pennsylvania Probationers

It’s possible to find out if someone was released on probation after being convicted of a crime by checking court records.

Probation differs from parole in that parole is reserved for people who have been convicted of a serious offense and who have spent some time in custody. In contrast, probation is reserved for lesser offenses, where a person could be rehabilitated in the community without spending time in jail.

Individuals can find out if someone was released on probation in Pennsylvania by searching statewide court case records. The Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free access to court case information, including docket sheets, for courts in Pennsylvania.¹⁰

Criminal Courts of Common Pleas are included in the database.¹¹

Searchers can look up cases by the name of one of the involved parties, the case number or the court that the case was tried in. Clicking on a case in the results table will show information, including more details about the involved parties and the outcome of the case. It also gives the option to download and print the docket sheet.

Individuals who are on probation must report to a probation officer on a regular basis. If someone has concerns about a person who is on probation, they can contact the relevant county probation office to have the concerns passed on to the offender’s probation officer.

For instance, requesters can find information about individuals on probation in Allegheny County by contacting the county’s probation office or the county’s Department of Court Records.

Allegheny County Adult Probation & Parole Office
564 Forbes Avenue, 12th Floor
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: 412-350-2320

Department of Court Records 
Criminal Division
Allegheny County Courthouse
236 Grant Street, Room 114
Pittsburgh, PA 15219

Phone: 412-350-5320

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides a list of county probation and parole offices, along with their contact details. These offices serve adult offenders only.¹²

Interested parties looking for information at the city level can contact the local probation office. For instance, those seeking information about an individual on probation in Philadelphia can contact the city’s adult probation office.

Philadelphia Adult Probation & Parole Department
1401 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 17102

Phone: 215-683-1000

Parole and probation information are matters of public record in Pennsylvania, and there’s a lot of help available for victims of crime who would like to be kept updated with the whereabouts of an offender; by using the lookup tools linked throughout this resource, anyone can conduct a free Pennsylvania parole search or find out which prison an offender is in.

Tip: To learn more knowledge about parole and probation, court records, warrants, mugshots, background checks, and more, also check out the tutorial on acquiring criminal and arrest history in Pennsylvania.