Berks County PA Jail

Berks County PA Jail basic information to help guide you through what you can do for your inmate while they are incarcerated. The facility's direct contact number: 610-208-4800

This facility is for adult inmates.

The Berks County PA Jail is a medium-security detention center located at 1287 Co Welfare Rd Leesport, PA which is operated locally by the Berks County Sheriff's Office and holds inmates awaiting trial or sentencing or both. Most of the sentenced inmates are here for less than two years. Berks County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, municipalities, the US Marshal's Service and the Leesport Police Department who do not have their own long-term lock-up.

The Berks County Jail System is intended to establish a secure institutional environment that serves to provide protection and safety for the citizens, staff and the legally incarcerated of Berks County.

Inmate Handbook – The rules and regulations described in this handbook do not cover all the situations that may arise. These rules and regulations are subject to change. When changes are necessary, notice will be provided through written announcements. No handbook can address every item or situation that might arise. Inmates are expected to address everyone with respect and courtesy. When addressing others, use their proper name or title. Inmates are encouraged to take advantage of programs offered for their personal growth and your positive reintegration into the community.

Many programs and opportunities are offered to you while you are in custody, in addition to those which are described as rights. These are privileges that may be restricted or denied to you as a result of abuse of the privilege, unacceptable institutional adjustment, or misconduct. These privileges may include but are not limited to:

• Commissary
• Dayroom activities
• Recreational activities
• General use of the collect call telephones
• Participation in programs
• Earned time

The Treatment Department at the Berks County Jail System classifies inmates and coordinates all inmate programs. Some programs are offered directly through department staff and others are offered through contracted agencies or volunteers overseen by the department. Programs include group counseling, individual counseling, drug and alcohol treatment, case management, and crisis counseling. Other program areas include Earned Time, Work Release, Institutional Employment, and Volunteer Services.

Each housing unit has a counselor or caseworker assigned to it and inmates have the ability to sign up and meet with the unit counselor Monday through Friday. If you have questions about a friend/family member who is incarcerated, contact the Treatment Department and you will be directed to the appropriate counselor or caseworker. Please note that we are not able to pass messages to inmates and that we can often only answer your questions in a general way in our attempts to assist you and our inmates.

visitation Info

Berks County Jail – Visitation

The visitation program is restricted by the security and operational requirements of the institution. You are eligible for visitation subject to these restrictions. You must provide a specific list of up to eight (8) “proposed” visitors. Visitation accurate and complete name, date of birth, address, telephone number, and relationship (mother, brother, child, step-child, grandchild, aunt, etc.) for all visitors on the Proposed Inmate Visitor List form. Approved visitors will be offered visiting privileges under the conditions noted below:

• Visits are to be conducted in an orderly and quiet manner
• All visitors, including minors, must be on the approved visitor's list
• Minors [those under the age of eighteen (18)] are permitted to visit only a parent/step-parent, legal guardian, spouse or sibling when placed on the visitation list
• All minors must be properly supervised and remain with an adult who is on your visitation list at all times and may not be left unattended in the visiting room, lobby, or vehicle on jail property at the time of commitment
• Disorderly visitors (including minors) will be asked to leave jail property (This may result in a loss of visiting privileges for all visitors in the party
• Violations of any visiting regulation or failure to cooperate with staff in any way during a visit may result in a restriction or loss of your visiting privileges )
• You are permitted no more than three (3) visitors per visit
• Anyone released from jail within the past two (2) years will not be permitted to visit you
• Those on parole must provide written approval to visit you from their parole officer
• You must have completed the quarantine period to be eligible for a visit
• You are permitted to have no more than two (2) visits lasting at least thirty (30) minutes in length each week
• You are permitted to have one (1) visit per week, assigned by your room designation, lasting no longer than fifty (50) minutes
• Contact visitation is not permitted
• All visitors are to report directly to the front lobby to sign in and are to immediately leave the jail property once the visit is over

C-2 unit, H-unit, I-unit, J-unit, L-unit, F-unit (PC only), PC overflow

• Sunday, Wednesday & Friday
• 8:00am – 8:00pm

C-1 unit, F-unit, G-unit, K-unit, M-unit, N-unit, O-unit

• Tuesday, Thursday & Saturday
• 8:00am – 8:00pm

Disciplinary – D-unit, F-unit, N/O-unit

• Visitation Days: Assigned by cell
• Visitation Times – Contact the Treatment Department

Quarantine – No visits

**Effective 7/16/19, visitation for A and B Units is on a modified schedule.

A-Unit: Sunday (8:00AM-2:00PM), Wednesday (2:00PM-8:00PM) & Friday (8:00AM – 8:00PM)

B-Unit: Tuesday (2:00PM-8:00PM), Thursday (8:00AM-8:00PM) & Saturday (8:00AM – 2:00PM)

 

**Effective 11/9/19, visitation for A and B Units is on a modified schedule.

 

A-Unit: Sunday (8:00AM-8:00PM), Wednesday (8:00AM-8:00PM) & Friday (8:00AM – 8:00PM)

 

B-Unit: Tuesday (8:00AM-8:00PM), Thursday (8:00AM-8:00PM) & Saturday (8:00AM – 8:00PM)

 

Below is a synopsis of the visitation rules of the Berks County Jail System.

*As a visitor you give up certain rights while you are on Berks County Jail System property*

Visits are a privilege that may be revoked by jail staff, at any time, for cause. We will not tolerate abuse or foul language. If this occurs, a visitor will be asked to leave the premises. No exceptions will be made, and the Warden will not accept appeals.

If you have been incarcerated in Berks County Jail System in the past two years, you will not be permitted to visit.

When visiting the jail, please adhere to the following guidelines, established for the security of our institution as well as the safety and well being of staff, inmates, and visitors.

• no weapons of any kind
• no unauthorized photography or video recording
• no medication or drugs of any kind, no alcohol or any item that contains alcohol (i.e., cough syrup)
• no cellular telephones
• no loitering
• no contact with inmate workers

Upon your arrival, please report to staff and provide your name and identification. Lockers are provided for storage of personal items during your visit. All packages and/or purses are subject to search.

There is a dress code for visitors. Some guidelines include: No Halter tops, half shirts, tube tops, “short shorts”, micro-mini skirts, fishnet stockings, see-through blouses, or provocative garments; blouses, shirts, and tops must extend to or beyond the beltline. Visitors may not wear gang-style clothing or colors. Jail staff reserve the right to deny anyone visiting privileges because of inappropriate attire.

Proper identification, a photo identification card with a valid current address, is required. (A PA Driver’s License, PA Identification card, active military ID or a foreign passport with an address.)

You are authorized to park in one of the three lower parking lots and report directly to the lobby desk. You are to wait in the lobby or in your car. You are not permitted to loiter anywhere on Jail System property or in the parking lot (doing so may result in you being asked to leave the premises).

There are vending machines in the visitation corridor for your use; you may bring no food or beverages of your own into the institution.

Any violation of regulations may result in termination of a visit and suspension of future visitation privileges. Terminations and suspensions of visitation privileges will be reviewed by the Warden or Chief Deputy Warden. There is no appeal.

Friends & Family Visitors – To visit an inmate, you must first be on his/her visit list. Inmates choose who they want to have on their list and submit this list to Treatment Staff, who enter the visitors into the visit system. Treatment Staff cannot add you to an inmate’s visit list; it can only be at the request of the inmate. If you would like to visit someone and you are not on his/her visit list, please write to him/her and provide your full name, address, telephone number, and date of birth (this information is required to be an approved visitor).

Inmates are only permitted 2 visits each week.

Visitors over the age of 18 are required to have a valid picture identification card with a current address. Visitors under the age of 18 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and must be the child, stepchild, or grandchild of the inmate they are visiting. Visitors are required to dress appropriately and should not wear revealing clothing. Failure to adhere to the dress code will be cause for denial of visitation privileges.