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Delaware County PA Inmate Search

County Jail, Custody Records & Official Inmate Lookup Resources

Trying to find someone arrested in Delaware County? We'll help you figure out where to start and what bail steps may come next.

Private company, not a government inmate search. Confirm custody with the official agency.

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24/7: (215) 870-8197County Jail ContactState & Federal LocatorsCourt Docket Resources

Confidential Bail Request

Find an Inmate or Request Bail Assistance

Tell us who you're trying to locate and where the arrest may have happened. Our team can review your request, help identify the appropriate next steps, and contact you using the information you provide. Center City Bail Bonds does not operate an official inmate database. Custody and release information must be verified with the responsible agency.

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Who Needs to Be Bailed Out?

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Which Official System Has the Record?

County jail, state prison, federal custody and court records are separate systems kept by different organizations. Start with the category that fits the situation.

This guide covers Delaware County, Pennsylvania. Adult county custody is confirmed through the George W. Hill Correctional Facility in Thornton; the county does not publish a government-hosted public custody roster.

SCI Chester is a Pennsylvania state prison, not the county jail, and court dockets do not establish current custody.

Official Inmate Search & Custody Resources

  • County Custody

    Contact County Correctional Facility

    Call George W. Hill Correctional Facility at 610-361-3200 to ask whether an adult is currently held there. The county publishes no government-hosted public live roster.

    Call 610-361-3200

  • Court Records

    Search Pennsylvania Court Records

    Official UJS portal for criminal dockets across the 26 Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas. Shows case information, not current custody.

    Search Court Records (official site, opens in a new tab)

  • State Custody

    Pennsylvania State Inmate Locator

    Official PA Department of Corrections locator for state prison and parole custody, including SCI Chester. It does not cover the county jail.

    State Custody Lookup (official site, opens in a new tab)

  • Center City Guide

    View George W. Hill Jail Guide

    Our detailed guide to the Correctional Facility: address, visiting, mail, bail posting and release information.

    View Jail Guide
  • A

    Recently Arrested or Police Custody

    When it applies
    The arrest was recent and the person may not have been arraigned or transferred.
    What may be available
    Status may only be known to the arresting agency.
    Who holds the record
    One of the county's municipal police departments or the Pennsylvania State Police.
    Next action
    Contact the police department for the municipality where the incident happened. The county publishes a municipality directory.
    Limitations
    No public online record may exist yet. Do not assume transfer to the county jail.
    County Municipality Directory (official site, opens in a new tab)
  • B

    George W. Hill Correctional Facility

    When it applies
    An adult has been committed to county custody after arraignment or is serving a county sentence.
    What may be available
    Whether the person is held there, confirmed through the facility's Records Department.
    Who holds the record
    Delaware County Correctional Facility (county-operated).
    Next action
    Call 610-361-3200 with the person's full legal name and date of birth. Proof-of-incarceration requests: extension 300.
    Limitations
    The county does not publish a government-hosted public live roster. The facility confirms custody subject to access rules.
    Official Website (official site, opens in a new tab)Records Department (official site, opens in a new tab)Jail Guide
  • C

    SCI Chester (State Prison)

    When it applies
    The person is serving a state sentence at SCI Chester or is under state parole supervision.
    What may be available
    State custody and parole information published by the DOC.
    Who holds the record
    Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
    Next action
    Use the official DOC locator by last name or inmate number.
    Limitations
    SCI Chester is a state prison, not the county jail. State results are not George W. Hill records.
    State Custody Lookup (official site, opens in a new tab)SCI Chester (DOC) (official site, opens in a new tab)
  • D

    Federal Custody

    When it applies
    The case is federal or the person is held by federal authorities.
    What may be available
    Federal inmate location published by the Bureau of Prisons.
    Who holds the record
    Federal Bureau of Prisons.
    Next action
    Use the official Bureau of Prisons locator.
    Limitations
    Does not include county or state custody. Recent federal arrests may not appear.
    Federal Custody Lookup (official site, opens in a new tab)
  • E

    Criminal Court Records

    When it applies
    You need the docket, court assignment or scheduled hearings.
    What may be available
    Docket numbers, charges filed, court, bail entries and hearing dates.
    Who holds the record
    Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System.
    Next action
    Search UJS by name or docket number, then confirm the assigned court with the district court office.
    Limitations
    A docket does not confirm current custody, release status or bail eligibility.
    Search Court Records (official site, opens in a new tab)View Local Court Guide

How to Search for an Inmate in Delaware County

Records are maintained by different offices and do not update instantly or at the same time.

  1. 01

    Gather Identifying Details

    Full legal name with middle name, date of birth and known spellings. The facility's Records Department confirms custody subject to access rules, so extra detail helps avoid a mistaken match.

  2. 02

    Identify the Arresting Agency

    Delaware County has 49 municipalities with their own police departments, and Pennsylvania State Police may also make arrests. The incident location matters more than a mailing address.

  3. 03

    Check County Custody

    If arraignment has happened and the person was not released, call George W. Hill at 610-361-3200 to ask whether they are held there. The county publishes no public live roster.

  4. 04

    Use State or Federal Locators

    If a state sentence, parole or federal case is possible, use the PA DOC or BOP locator. Those systems do not include George W. Hill or any county custody.

  5. 05

    Review the Court Docket

    Search the UJS portal for the docket and identify which of the county's 26 Magisterial District Courts or the Court of Common Pleas has the case, plus hearing dates.

  6. 06

    Confirm With the Authority

    Confirm custody with the facility, and bail and next court action with the court or the Office of Judicial Support before traveling.

Why an Inmate Record May Not Appear

A missing result is not proof that someone was released, and a result is not proof of current custody.

  • Initial Police Processing

    The person may still be with the arresting agency awaiting preliminary arraignment.

  • No Public County Roster

    Delaware County does not publish a government-hosted public live custody roster, so a name will not appear in any official county search. Call the facility to confirm.

  • Spelling or Search Details

    Misspellings, nicknames, hyphenated or middle names can prevent a match.

  • Different Jurisdiction

    The arrest may have been in another county, by a state agency or a federal agency.

  • County vs. State Database

    The PA DOC locator does not include county jail detainees, including people at George W. Hill.

  • Release or Transfer

    The person may have been released, transferred or moved to another facility.

  • Public Access Limits

    Some records, including juvenile matters, are not publicly searchable.

  • Court vs. Custody Records

    A docket may exist while custody status remains unconfirmed, or the reverse.

County Jail and Holding Facilities

Adult County Jail

George W. Hill Correctional Facility

The county's adult correctional facility in Thornton, holding adults awaiting trial and people serving county sentences. It is operated by Delaware County; oversight is provided by the county's Jail Oversight Board.

Not every recent arrest is transferred there; some people are released at preliminary arraignment or held by another jurisdiction. SCI Chester in the City of Chester is a separate state prison, not the county jail.

500 Cheyney Road, Thornton, PA 19373

610-361-3200

  • The county does not publish a government-hosted public live roster; the Records Department confirms custody subject to access rules.
  • Have the full legal name and date of birth ready when calling. Proof of incarceration: extension 300. Release questions: extensions 316 and 317.
  • Confirm custody, visitation and release information directly; policies can change. Administrative mailing address: P.O. Box 23, Thornton, PA 19373.
Official Website (official site, opens in a new tab)Records Department (official site, opens in a new tab)Jail Guide

  • State Prison

    SCI Chester

    A Pennsylvania state correctional institution at 500 East 4th Street, Chester, PA 19013, phone 610-490-5412. It is operated by the Department of Corrections and is not the county jail; use the state locator for state custody.

    SCI Chester (DOC) (official site, opens in a new tab)

  • Courthouse

    Delaware County Sheriff's Office

    Provides courtroom security and civil process at the Courthouse, Room 101, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063, phone 610-891-4296. The Sheriff is not the operator of the county jail; jail administration is handled by Delaware County.

    Sheriff's Office (official site, opens in a new tab)

Visitation and Inmate Services

Details below are attributed to Delaware County's official pages. Fees, schedules and permitted items can change; confirm on the official page before acting.

Court Records and Bail Status

Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal provides criminal docket information for the county's 26 Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas of Delaware County (32nd Judicial District).

Use court records to find the case and court, then confirm custody separately with the facility.

  • Docket Searches

    Search by participant name or docket number on the UJS portal.

  • Court Case Assignments

    The docket shows which Magisterial District Court or Common Pleas court has the case.

  • Preliminary Arraignment

    Usually where bail and release conditions are first set by a magisterial district judge.

  • Bail Orders

    Bail type, amount and conditions may appear on the docket; confirm current terms with the court.

  • Court Hearing Dates

    Scheduled proceedings can change; confirm dates with the court office.

  • Custody Confirmation

    A docket does not confirm where a person is currently held. Call the facility.

Search Court Records (official site, opens in a new tab)Courthouse Directory (26 District Courts) Delaware County Courthouse Guide Official MDJ Directory (PDF) (official site, opens in a new tab)Office of Judicial Support (official site, opens in a new tab)

Bail and Release After You Find Someone

In Pennsylvania, a judicial authority decides bail and release conditions. The county's Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit interviews defendants and recommends, but magisterial district judges and Court of Common Pleas judges set the conditions. County payment procedures are separate from any private commercial arrangement.

  1. 1Arrest and initial processing.
  2. 2Bail interview and preliminary arraignment before a magisterial district judge.
  3. 3Bail and conditions set by the judicial authority.
  4. 4Verification of release requirements and any holds.
  5. 5Payment, posting or other authorized release arrangement.
  6. 6Release processing and mandatory court appearances.

  • Court

    Who Determines Bail

    A magisterial district judge or the Court of Common Pleas. The county's Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit interviews and recommends; it does not decide.

  • Conditions

    Possible Conditions

    Courts may set monetary or nonmonetary conditions, or deny bail in limited circumstances.

  • County

    Where Bail Is Posted

    The Office of Judicial Support, Criminal Division handles the posting and return of bail: Government Center, Room 127, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063, 610-891-4370.

  • Facility

    After-Hours Payment at the Jail

    The county states George W. Hill accepts bail between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when there are no outstanding issues. Bring cash and identification, and arrange posting in advance with the Records Department (extension 316) during business hours.

  • Online

    PAePay Bail

    The county points to the Pennsylvania courts' PAePay Bail portal for eligible online payments. After paying, send the confirmation number to the Records Department so processing can begin.

  • Obligation

    Court Appearances

    Every scheduled court appearance remains mandatory after release. Release timing is not guaranteed and holds can delay it.

Commercial surety bonds are private arrangements, not county payments. No commercial rate, financing or calculator is shown while Center City's Delaware County authorization and terms remain under review.

Official sources:Office of Judicial Support(opens in a new tab)Bail and Releases(opens in a new tab)Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit(opens in a new tab)Pa.R.Crim.P. 528(opens in a new tab)

Delaware County Inmate Search FAQs

Answers about official custody searches, court records, jail services and bail in Delaware County.

Get Help Finding an Inmate
Call (215) 870-8197

Need help figuring out where to start? Contact Center City Bail Bonds for assistance with custody resources and bail-related next steps.

Delaware County does not publish a government-hosted public live custody roster, so no official county search page exists. Adult county custody is confirmed by calling George W. Hill Correctional Facility at 610-361-3200.

People often search for a "jail roster," but no government-hosted public live roster is published. Call the facility's Records Department, and use court records for case information.

Contact the police department for the municipality where the incident happened first. After preliminary arraignment, check the UJS docket and call George W. Hill to confirm custody.

The person may still be in police processing, held in another jurisdiction, released or transferred, or the spelling may differ. Also note that the county publishes no public roster at all. A missing result is not proof of release.

George W. Hill Correctional Facility, 500 Cheyney Road, Thornton, PA 19373, phone 610-361-3200. It is county-operated, with oversight by the county's Jail Oversight Board.

George W. Hill is Delaware County's county jail, holding adults awaiting trial or serving county sentences. SCI Chester at 500 East 4th Street in the City of Chester is a Pennsylvania state prison run by the Department of Corrections. They are different systems with different search tools.

The county jail holds adults awaiting trial or serving county sentences. The PA DOC locator covers state prisons, including SCI Chester, and parole, but not the county jail.

No. A docket shows case information. Confirm current custody with the facility.

Bail is set by a magisterial district judge or a Court of Common Pleas judge. The county's Pre-Trial/Bail Service Unit interviews defendants and presents recommendations but does not decide.

The Office of Judicial Support, Criminal Division handles posting and return of bail at Government Center, Room 127, 201 W. Front St., Media, PA 19063, 610-891-4370.

The county states George W. Hill accepts bail between 8:00 p.m. and 8:00 a.m. when there are no outstanding issues. Bring cash and identification, and arrange posting in advance with the Records Department at extension 316 during business hours.

Often, through Pennsylvania's official PAePay Bail service. The county asks you to send the confirmation number to the facility's Records Department so processing can begin. A confirmation is not proof of release.

There is no guaranteed time. The facility must verify the order and payment and check for other holds. Confirm release arrangements with the facility and the court before traveling.

The person submits a visitor list to their case manager, and approved visitors register online in advance. The county allows one visit weekly, either video or in-person, with up to three visitors. Drivers must arrive by vehicle; rideshare services are not allowed. Follow the county's official Visitation page and confirm before traveling.

Personal paper mail is scanned and must go to the county's off-site address in Phoenix, Maryland with the person's full name and ID number. Digital messages and tablets use the county's approved providers, and deposits follow the county's published instructions. Commissary deposits are never bail payments.

Full legal name, date of birth, arresting agency if known, approximate arrest date and location, and any docket or booking number. Proof-of-incarceration requests go to extension 300.

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(215) 870-8197

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