Franklin County PA Jail

County Jail

Last Updated: July 14, 2023
Address
1804 Opportunity Ave, Chambersburg, PA 17201-3091
Beds
199
County
Franklin
Phone
717-264-9513
Fax
717-264-2664

Franklin Co Jail is for County Jail offenders sentenced up to twenty four months.

All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for County - medium facility.

The phone carrier is Global Tel Link (GTL) - ConnectNetwork, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.

If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders

Satellite View of Franklin County PA Jail

You can support your loved ones at Franklin Co Jail on InmateAid, if you have any immediate questions contact the facility directly at 717-264-9513.

The Franklin Co Jail is a low/medium-security detention center located at 1804 Opportunity Ave Chambersburg, PA which is operated locally by the Franklin 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. Franklin County accepts inmates from surrounding towns, Chambersburg Police Department, and the US Marshal's Service.

New detainees arrive at the jail regularly, with some being released on bail, placed under pretrial services caseloads, supervised by probation agencies, or released on recognizance with a court appearance agreement. Those who are not released await their court appearances at the jail, receiving accommodations including bedding and meals. You can see all the arrest records for Pennsylvania here.

FCJ Weekender Incarceration Program - In attempting to continue our goal to use the jail beds in the most efficient manner available, save tax dollars and allow offenders to maintain adequate employment, we have developed a weekend incarceration program. This program includes a mandatory participation in community service.

Local government entities, as well as churches and non-profits, will have the ability to use offenders in this program for their projects. Needs such as spring clean up, painting projects and the like are good applications for this program.

Using the form provided, agencies can make a request for weekender volunteers. Weekender Community Service Program Agreement. This form can be faxed or mailed to the Jail. Volunteers will be available on a first-come, first-serve basis.

Direct Supervision - Our move is not just a physical one, rather we have adopted the philosophy of Direct Supervision. In essence, when an individual comes through our door, we are going to assume that they will behave like a normal adult. Should they do so, they will be on a housing unit where they are out of their cell all day, have free access to the phone, television, shower, exercise yard and programs.

Should they choose not to, their privileges will be removed. This operational philosophy has been proved to be effective throughout the country, and we look forward to making it work in Franklin County. As this is a significant change from our current mode of operation, we ask that you would encourage your loved one to adhere to the rules and regulations.

Program Opportunities - One of the biggest benefits to the new jail is a significant increase in program space, and therefore programs. Our programs are all research-based and proved effective .

The two primary building blocks of our approach are Education and Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT).

Education - This program includes 70 hours per week (2 instructors 35 hours of program time each), of General Equivalent Diploma (GED), Adult Basic Education (ABE), English as a Second Language (ESL), and basic reading competency.

This program is operated by Manito, Inc. Nearly 50% of our inmates do not have a high-school diploma. Additionally, in accordance with PA Act 30 of 1997, we offer an actual high-school program for all inmates under the age of 20, who have not graduated. This program is operated by the Lincoln Intermediate Unit.

Moral Reconation Therapy (MRT) - The Cognitive Behavioral Therapy that we offer is called MRT. Research indicates that this approach reduces recidivism. Read more about MRT here. This is also the primary approach of the Day Reporting Center (DRC), therefore an individual can begin the steps while incarcerated, and continue after release in the DRC, thereby creating a continuum of treatment throughout our system.

Medical Services - Our medical service provider (PrimeCare Medical, Inc) provides all medical, dental and mental health service staff. We are a National Commission on Correctional Health Care

Other Programs Offered - They also offer Stress and Anger Management, Life Skills, Drug and Alcohol Education, Sex Offender Therapy and Job Retention. Later in the year, they plan to offer a Batterers Group.

Additionally, there are several work opportunities, to include the availability of receiving Serv Safe certification through Canteen (our food service vendor).

Franklin County PA Jail - Inmate's Rights and Responsibilities

Inmate Locator

Franklin County PA Jail publishes the names of the inmates currently in their facility in Pennsylvania. Your search should start with this locator first to see if your loved one is there.

The second box is the InmateAid Inmate Search. This database of inmates is user-generated content to access and utilize any or all of the InmateAid services. If you need our assistance creating your inmate profile to keep in touch, email us at aid@inmateaid.com and we will assist you in locating your inmate.

As a last resort, you might have to pay for that information if we do not have it. The Arrest Record Search will cost you a small amount, but their data is the freshest available and for that reason, they charge to access it.

Covid Visitation Information

UPDATE: As of Tuesday, November 24, 2020, visitation is suspended in an effort to reduce COVID-19 exposure.

Visitation Information

Franklin County PA Jail - Visitation

Social Visitation

General Procedures:

  • Inmates on the quarantine units will not be permitted visits. Once an inmate clears quarantine, they will be available for visits.
  • Inmates will only be permitted one (1) visit per week for a half hour (30 minutes) in length.
  • Visits will be Monday through Friday from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm (1800-2100) with the last visit scheduled at 8:30 pm (2030).
  • Visits can be scheduled by calling the Lobby, Monday through Friday, between 2:30 pm and 9:00 pm (1430-2100).
  • There will be two (2) visits per housing unit every half hour (30 minutes).
  • Each visit will be limited to two (2) visitors.
  • Only the two (2) visitor phones on the end will be used. The three (3) remaining phones will not be used for visits.
  • Inmates and visitors will be responsible for sanitizing the visitor stations before and after their visit.
  • Inmates and visitors are required to wear a mask during the visits.

Visitor Procedures:

  • Upon arrival, visitors will remain outside the Lobby until requested by the Lobby Officer to enter. When the Lobby Officer allows the visitor to enter, they will sign in and provide the Lobby Officer with their ID.
  • Visiting minors will be asked to provide a birth certificate (or copy) as their form of ID.
  • Visitors will be asked to provide a phone number that can be used to contact them when the visitation room is available.
  • If the visiting room is unavailable at that time, they will leave the Lobby and be told to remain onsite in their car or outside.
  • When the room is available, the Lobby Officer will call the visitor and inform them to enter the Lobby for their scheduled visit.
  • Normal clearance procedures for visitors will be followed including temperature checks and answering the screening questions.
  • Masks will be worn correctly at all times inside Franklin County Jail.

Scheduling a Visit:

  • A calendar/log will be created for the scheduling of inmate visits.
  • Visitors can schedule visits in advance by calling the Lobby Officer Monday through Friday between 2:30 pm (1430) and 9:00 pm (2100).
  • When a visit is scheduled, the Lobby Officer will document the names and phone numbers of the visitors.
  • Lobby Officers will document all information in the visitation calendar/log provided.
  • All visits must be scheduled. No walk-in visits will be permitted.

Successful social visiting at the Franklin County Jail during the pandemic relies upon the diligence of inmates and visitors. We thank you for continuing to maintain proper hygiene, face masking and social distancing measures.

Ask The Inmate

Ask a former inmate questions at no charge. The inmate answering has spent considerable time in the federal prison system, state and county jails, and in a prison that was run by the private prison entity CCA. Ask your question or browse previous questions in response to comments or further questions of members of the InmateAid community.