visits at cfcf

On Monday, March 7, 2022, the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) will resume in-person civilian visits. Registration will begin on Friday, March 4.

The PDP has reached this decision as both hospital and infection rates continue to decline in the city and region. PDP will continue its ongoing mitigation efforts to reduce the risk of COVID-19 transmission and to keep our workforce and incarcerated population safe.

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Onsite Visitation Rules

• Each Incarcerated Individual is allowed 1 hour visit per week
• 1 Adult and 1 Child, (6 months to 17 years of age) can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. 
• Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.  
• Walk-ins are not permitted.   
• Visitation is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All appointments must be made 48 hours in advance and no more than seven days in advance of the visit.
• Holiday visits are only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.

Saturday Visits* Only for designated facility populations

Schedule visits from your Android Phone or Tablet

If you have an Android device, you can now use GTL VisMobile to register online, schedule visits, and manage your visitor group. Download here , or search "GTL Vismobile" in Google Play .

• Visitor ID or Email

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In-person visits to resume at Philadelphia prisons

As mask mandates and vaccine requirements are lifted due to falling covid numbers, in-person visitation will start again march 7..

• Mark Eichmann

The correctional complex on State Road in Philadelphia. (Emma Lee/WHYY)

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Visitation Scheduler System

Visitor log in, (log in using your keystone login), (by clicking log in, you agree to our terms of service and have read and acknowledge our privacy statement).

If you have trouble signing in, please reset your password by clicking on "Forgot Username / Password" in the Sign In box.

Please Note: The Keystone Login Help Desk is unable to assist with any questions or issues not related to the Keystone Login account. For questions regarding the Inmate Visitation System, please contact the facility where your loved one is located. You may also visit PA Department of Corrections for more information.

Inmate Visitation Overview

Pa doc visitation system.

Inmate Visitation Network Down: (Verizon Network Down - Inmates Joining Video Visits are Impacted) The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Visitation System is having network related issue, caused by higher level Verizon Network outage. Due to this outage Inmates scheduled for Video Visits may not be able to join the scheduled visit. This message will be updated once the network is restored.

Please Note

IVS scheduled maintenance will be conducted on Sunday, July 31, 2022 . As a result, all in-person and video visits previously scheduled to occur on this date have been canceled. The IVS public site will be unavailable throughout the maintenance window.

Upcoming scheduled maintenance notice

Due to planned system maintenance, IVS (Inmate Visitation System) will be unavailable on Thursday, January 13, 2022 from 10:00 pm ET until 12:00 am ET.

Please read Visitation Visitor Guide or visit PA DOC for more details. For questions regarding the Inmate Visitation System, please contact the facility where your loved one is located.

• All contact and video visits must be scheduled in advance. Visits must be scheduled at least 3 days in advance but cannot be scheduled beyond 60 days in advance.
• Up to 4 authorized visitors may participate in a contact visit and up to 6 authorized visitors may participate in a video visit.
• In order to add an inmate to your account that you wish to visit, you must be on the inmate’s authorized visitors list and a DC-313 must be present for any children participating.
• The frequency of the visits will be based on available timeslots and inmate’s housing status.
• An inmate in general population may receive up to 6 video visits and 4 contact visits per month. These quotas are subject to change based on operational needs.
• You will receive automatic email notifications for status changes to your account or visits.
• Visitor restrictions may apply to both contact and video visits and prevent you from scheduling.
• All video visits with non-attorneys are audio/video recorded and subject to review. Video visits with attorneys are not audio/video recorded.

Your Account

• All information used to register must be accurate as this information will be used to validate that you are on the authorized visitor list. If this information does not match, it may cause a delay in scheduling a visit.
• Minors are not required to create an account . Rather, a minor should be added under the parent/guardian’s account .
• All visitors over the age of 18 must create an account . This includes a minor that was previously linked to an account who has since turned 18 years of age.

Keystone Login Account (Keystone ID)

• The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is improving how it provides online services to citizens! Several state agencies are working together to allow you to establish a Keystone Account which creates a single way to access several different state programs. PA DOC Inmate Visitation System uses Keystone Account to authenticate and authorize the user .
• No Keystone Account: Create a new Keystone Account, by clicking on "Register A Keystone Account" in the Visitor Sign In box. Minor is not required to create an account.
• Already have a Keystone Account: Enter your existing Keystone Username and password, to Sign In.
• Please Note: The Keystone Login Help Desk is unable to assist with any questions or issues not related to the Keystone Login account. For questions regarding the Inmate Visitation System, please contact the facility where your loved one is located.

Inmate Visitation System Message

Please wait while we are completing your request....

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Curran- Fromhold Correctional Facility (Cfcf) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Opened in 1995, Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility is a prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, housing approximately 2,000 male inmates of all custody levels, with a focus on rehabilitation and providing safe, lawful, and humane correctional facilities.

Correctional Facility Prison Rehabilitation Facility Government Building Public Safety Facility

Contact Information

About curran- fromhold correctional facility (cfcf).

Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF), located in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, is a prison operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP). Opened in 1995, it houses approximately 2,000 male inmates of all custody levels. The facility consists of four housing buildings, each with eight housing units containing 32 cells per unit. CFCF focuses on rehabilitation and strives to provide safe, lawful, and humane correctional facilities.

Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF)

Location: Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

Type: Prison

Opened: 1995

Number of Housing Buildings: 4

Number of Housing Units per Building: 8

Number of Cells per Unit: 32

Capacity: Approximately 2,000 male inmates

Operated by: Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP)

Focus: Rehabilitation, safe, lawful, and humane correctional facilities

Inmate Population: All custody levels

Curran- Fromhold Correctional Facility (Cfcf) Services

Helpful resources.

Philadelphia Department of Prisons Staff Directory https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-department-of-prisons/about/staff/ Lists the names and titles of key personnel, including the deputy commissioner, chief of medical operations, and operations manager.

Philadelphia Department of Prisons Facilities https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-department-of-prisons/about/facilities/ Contact and visiting information for four correctional facilities in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania: Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center, Riverside Correctional Facility, Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, and the Detention Center.

Philadelphia Department of Prisons https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-department-of-prisons/ Information about the department's mission, facilities, and services, including contact information, resources, and leadership.

Visit an Incarcerated Person https://www.phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice/prisons-incarcerated-people-and-returning-citizens/finding-and-contacting-incarcerated-people/visit-an-incarcerated-person/ Information on scheduling visits with incarcerated individuals, including visiting hours for various facilities.

Other Jails & Prisons Nearby

Philadelphia House Of Correction State Road, Philadelphia, PA - 0.1 miles Opened in 1927, the House of Corrections is a correctional facility with a capacity of 1,250 inmates and focuses on rehabilitation.

Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center State Road, Philadelphia, PA - 0.4 miles A prison in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, operated by the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, focusing on rehabilitation, safety, lawfulness, and humanity in the detention of individuals accused or convicted of illegal acts.

Pa Prisons Training Academy Torresdale Avenue, Philadelphia, PA - 0.4 miles A secure correctional facility in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, focused on rehabilitation and serving as a training ground for correctional officers.

Philadelphia Detention Center State Road, Philadelphia, PA - 0.4 miles

Alternative & Special Detention Center(Asd) State Road, Philadelphia, PA - 0.6 miles ASD in Philadelphia houses female inmates previously held at Riverside Correctional Facility, offering alternative and special detention services, with visiting hours on Saturdays from 9:00 am to 3:00 pm in the House of Correction Visiting Room.

Riverside Correctional Facility State Road, Philadelphia, PA - 0.6 miles

Map of Curran- Fromhold Correctional Facility (Cfcf) in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

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Jails & Prisons in Nearby Cities

• Philadelphia, PA
• Cherry Hill, NJ
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• Norristown, PA
• Pemberton, NJ
• Bordentown, NJ
• Trenton, NJ
• Clarksboro, NJ

Jails & Prisons in Nearby Counties

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• Gloucester County, NJ
• Bucks County, PA
• Delaware County, PA
• Montgomery County, PA
• All Jails & Prisons in Pennsylvania

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Riverside Correctional Facility Inmate Visitation

Search for an inmate in philadelphia county, riverside correctional facility.

Address: 8151 State Road Philadelphia, PA 19136 Phone: 215-685-6911

Riverside Correctional Facility on-site Inmate Visitation Schedule

8151 state road philadelphia, pa 19136.

(for Video Visitation information and schedules scroll down to next section)

• To visit an incarcerated person at the Detention Center (DC) , Alternative & Special Detention Center (ASD), or ASD MOD III, go to the Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF) visiting lobby.
• Each inmate is allowed one 1-hour visit per week.
• ALL VISITS MUST BE SCHEDULED ONLINE
• 1 Adult and 1 Child, (6 months to 17 years of age) can visit with a parent or guardian. The adult must provide proof of custody or a birth certificate. 
• Visitors must be at the facility at least ten minutes before the scheduled visit.  
• Walk-ins are not permitted.   
• Visitation is assigned on a first-come, first-served basis.
• All appointments must be made 48 hours in advance and no more than seven days in advance of the visit.
• Holiday visits are only on Thanksgiving, Christmas and New Year's Day.
• Call 215-685-8909 or 215-685-7288 if you have any questions.

Visitation - 'At Jail' and Remote Video Visits

Riverside correctional facility uses gettingout  for their remote video visitation and/or visit scheduling.  there are three ways to remotely visit your inmate: 1.  using the gettingout/gtl kiosk at the jail. 2. using your computer from home. 3. using your phone on the gettingout or gtl apps..

How it Works with GettingOut 1.   Register an account . 2.  Select Riverside Correctional Facility 3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.    

• **NOTE** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 
• If you deposit money online in the INMATE ACCOUNT, than they have the freedom to spend the money on visits or phone calls to anyone, or any other communications services available at Riverside Correctional Facility.
• With the FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT, you control all communication services such as phone calls, video visits and messaging. Your inmate can only call the phone number you want.

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number . 5.  Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

GettingOut will then guide you through the steps needed to arrange your remote visit.

Customer Service for GettingOut If you have any questions, you can call them at 866-516-0115 . GettingOut online contact form Frequently Asked Questions The GettingOut App is available on Google Play and Apple Store .

Visitation Options, Hours, Schedules & Rules

Visitation times and schedules for remote visitation with an inmate at Riverside Correctional Facility with  GettingOut  are available to you after logging in and selecting the inmate you wish to visit with.

* Visitation schedules are subject to change. * The actual visiting hours vary depending on the following factors:

• Whether or not there are restrictions in place due to COVID or other factors such as security issues.
• The day of the week.
• Where the inmate is housed.
• The inmate's sex.
• Whether or not it is a Holiday.

* Each inmate is allowed one or two visits (or unlimited visits!), ranging from 15 minutes to one hour in length each week. * Inmates with special privileges may be allowed additional visits. * If you are visiting from another state or traveling a great distance, Riverside Correctional Facility may allow you an extended visitation. Call 215-685-6911 to ask for special consideration. * Call 215-685-6911 to ask about normal visiting hours at the jail, and procedures for scheduling a visit other than video visitation.

Can I visit an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility custody?

Yes, Riverside Correctional Facility, as well as all jails, allow you to visit an inmate.

By federal law, every jail must make provisions for offenders in custody, whether they are pretrial or convicted and sentenced, to receive visits from friends or family. 

Every state has their own policies regarding the amount of time that a jail must provide offenders in their custody, and then every facility gets to set their own rules, number of times, schedules, etc.   Some jails only allow 30 minutes a month. Others as much as an hour every day.

Before visiting, your inmate will have to have put you on an ‘inmate visitor’s list.' Jails can limit this approved list to as few as five people to as many as twenty.

The jail will most likely run a targeted background check on you, checking for outstanding warrants, criminal convictions and other red flags that may indicate to them that you could be a problem for the jail, a bad influence on the inmate or just be someone whose past puts you in violation of their policies.

There are three different types of visitation: •    Video visitation  •    In-person non-contact visitation •    Contact visitation

For security and staffing reasons, many jails have switched to video visitation only. Video visitation, also referred to as remote visitation, is monitored and recorded by the facility. Video visits can either take place using kiosks in the jail’s lobby, from your computer at home, or using an app on your phone.

Most jails, now that the COVID pandemic is behind us, have gone back to ‘in-person non-contact visitation’ even if they have also retained the video visitation programs. In-person visitation takes place in a booth of sorts, with a thick plastic shield separating the inmate and their visitor. Communication is done using old-fashioned telephone receivers like you see in phone booths.

Contact visitation between inmates and visitors in jails is rare. New York is one state that allows this. In a few other states, inmates who have been sentenced for non-violent offenses and are close to being released, may sometimes be allowed contact visits with special permission. A contact visit allows the inmate and visitor a brief hug or kiss, or handshake, both at the beginning and the conclusion of a visit.

Contact visits are also often allowed between inmates and their lawyer, law enforcement officials, and clergy. The downside of any contact visit is that before returning to their units, inmates must undergo a full strip search, which is demoralizing and invasive.

Can I visit an inmate in state prison custody?

Yes, prisons allow you to visit an inmate. Every state has their own limits on the minimum amount of time an inmate is allowed to have for visits from friends or family, however in federal prison, inmates are allowed a minimum of four hours per month.

Once an offender is sentenced to prison, your inmate will have to fill out a document listing you as an approved visitor. If you are not on this list you will not be allowed to visit.

The prison will then run a background check on you, checking for outstanding warrants, criminal convictions and other red flags that may indicate to them that you could be a problem for the jail, a bad influence on the inmate or just be someone whose past puts you in violation of their policies.

Most prisons allow anywhere from ten to twenty approved visitors per inmate, however each visit is limited to no more than four visitors at a time, children included. The list is compiled by the inmate.

Prisons have always allowed contact visits. A contact visit allows the inmate and visitor a brief hug or kiss, or handshake, both at the beginning and the conclusion of a visit. Some state prisons allow inmates and their visitor to hold hands, as long as the hands are on the table where the guards can see them.

However, given the ongoing problem of contraband - namely drugs and tobacco - being smuggled into the prisons by visitors, even the state prisons are moving to non-contact and video visitation. One way the visitors pass drugs to inmates is when they kiss. The drugs, wrapped in a small balloon, are then swallowed by the inmate who passes them through their digestive system later in the privacy of their cell.

What are the scheduled Inmate visitation times at the Riverside Correctional Facility?

The jail visitation times change often.  It is advisable to contact the Riverside Correctional Facility before planning your visit by calling 215-685-6911 .

If the visit is taking place at the Riverside Correctional Facility, whether in-person or by video, you will have to schedule the day and time with the jail.

Video visitation times from your home are much more flexible, often because you are not utilizing on of the few terminals in the jail lobby, and because the companies that handle the video visitation for the jail are providing inmates with hand-held computers, in addition to the video terminals they have in their units. 

We try to keep up with the visitation schedules for Riverside Correctional Facility, as well as every jail in the country. If we do have the schedule, you will find it on the top of this page.

How often can an inmate get visits?

Every state has their own policies regarding the amount of time that a jail must provide offenders in their custody, and then every facility, including Riverside Correctional Facility, gets to set their own rules, number of times, schedules, etc.   

Some jails only allow 30 minutes a month. Others as much as an hour every day.

Some jails require you to make an appointment one week in advance. Others require no appointment and work off the principle of ‘first come, first served’.

Every jail is different, and schedules can change; sometimes due to an emergency, the visit can be cancelled without notice, the moment you arrive at the jail.

Riverside Correctional Facility Visitation

We try to keep up with the visitation policies and schedules for Riverside Correctional Facility, as well as every jail in the country. If we do have the information on how often an inmate here can get visits, you will find it on the top of this page.

How long is a typical jail inmate’s visit?

An inmate visit can range from 15 minutes to an hour in length. We try to keep up with the visitation information for Riverside Correctional Facility, as well as every jail in the country. If we do have the information on how often an inmate here can get visits, you will find it on this page.

Typically, even though an inmate’s visit has a time limit, if you are visiting remotely from your home computer or cell phone, visits can be scheduled led back-to-back, so that even though your visit may have to start and stop every 15-30 minutes, you could visit with each other for hours at a time.

Keep in mind that video visits of this type do have a fee, as you are paying a third-party company. Prices fluctuate, based both on the company and the jail’s policy, but they typically cost about $0.30+- per minute.

How many people can visit an inmate at a jail or prison at one time?

Every jail makes its own policies regarding how many people can visit an inmate at one time. 

The factors that decide on the number of visitors are: 1.    How many people can fit into the visitation area comfortably. 2.    How many staff can oversee the visitation area. 3.    The more people visiting an inmate the more likely that if there is an argument, it is harder to control.

Most jails limit the number of visitors to no more than three or four, with a maximum of two of them being adults.

When doing a video visit from home, there is no limit on how many people can take part in a visit.

What are the inmate visitation rules for Riverside Correctional Facility?

Every jail and every prison have their own unique set of rules that must be followed when visiting an inmate, but in general, these are the guidelines:

Most important, you must first be on the inmate's approved visitation list that they create. •    Expect to have a background check done. •    Expect to be searched, go through a metal detector or pass a drug sniffing dog. •    You must be at least 18 years of age.  •    You must have a valid, government issued photo ID. •    Recently released inmates are either not allowed or must wait 6-12 months before being approved. •    Felons must get special permission. •    Children are allowed but must be with parent(s) or legal guardian. Birth certificate(s) or other legal proof is mandatory. •    Often babies are not allowed, but if they are, you will be allowed one diaper, one bottle and one teething ring, and maybe a baby carrier. •    Parents must be always in control of children. •    You must stay seated at all times. •    You cannot be under the influence of drugs or alcohol. •    No arguments, loud voices or fighting allowed. •    No cell phones or any electronic equipment allowed. •    No cigarettes, drugs, lighters allowed. •    No purses, handbags or backpacks allowed. •    No weapons allowed. •    It is likely that your ID and your car key will be the only things allowed on the visit.

What are the inmate visitation dress codes for Riverside Correctional Facility?

In general, all jails and prisons are the same when it comes to dress codes and what you are NOT allowed to wear to a visit. The Riverside Correctional Facility is no different.

Jails and prisons don’t want you wearing anything too revealing or too gangster. Here are some of the other types of clothing NOT allowed: •    Shorts •    Short skirts or dresses •    Long skirts or wrap around skirts •    Sleeveless clothing •    Low cut shirts or dresses. •    Underwire bras •    Skirts or dresses with slits. •    Sweats or leggings. •    Tank tops or wife beater shirts. •    Excess jewelry •    Hats or headbands •    See-through clothing •    Pajamas •    Sunglasses •    Wigs or toupees •    Uniforms or scrubs •    Heels over 1”

What can I bring to visit an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility?

In general, the only thing you can bring into an inmate in a jail is either your ID and your car key, or if they have lockers, you can bring in the locker key. 

Prisons are a different story. Typically, prisons have vending machines in the visitation area and allow visitors to bring in a clear plastic purse with coins in it, usually totaling no more than $40.00.

What do I have to wear when visiting an inmate?

Refer to the answer above that explains the dress codes, but in general, if want to know what to wear to visit someone in jail, imagine you are visiting someone’s grandmother for the first time… wear that outfit.

Can we hold hands, hug or kiss during inmate visits?

There are no jails in the United States that allow contact visits as a matter of regular policy, except for jails in the state of New York. Thus, the concept of holding hands, kissing or hugging is not relevant.

On the other hand, prisons do allow contact visitors from friends and family. When this is the case, a brief kiss or hug (or handshake) is allowed at the start of the visit and the end of the visit. Holding hands above the table is sometimes allowed in prisons, but not in jails.

Can friends visit inmates in Riverside Correctional Facility, or just family?

By law, every inmate is entitled to a visitor, whether family or friend. The only exception to that is youths that are being held in secure juvenile detention centers. The only people allowed to visit them are parents, grandparents, legal guardians, and in some cases, siblings.

In addition, they are also allowed visits from probation officers, lawyers and their caseworkers.

What is a video visit?

Video visitation, also known as remote visitation, is quickly becoming the preferred method for visiting an inmate in jail or prison for the following reasons: •    It requires little to no staff, versus the staff required to move inmates to and from the visit and watch over the visit. It saves the Riverside Correctional Facility money. •    It removes any opportunity for contraband (drugs) to enter the facility. •    It can become a profit center for the facility, given that the revenue generated by visits is shared with the jail. •    While inmates prefer to see family and friends in person, video visitation allows them to visit with them more often, and on a whim. •    Video visitation gives the inmates and their visitors the feeling of more privacy. Video visitation from the perspective of the visitor allows them to visit from their home, their car, at work, and even allows them to take their device to a family or religious gathering. It allows them to give their inmate the feeling of belonging and not being forgotten.

Video visitation can take place on a computer, a tablet or a phone. 

Video visitation saves time. Instead of spending hours driving to the jail, checking in, filling out paperwork, potentially being searched, waiting, and then having a 15–30-minute visit, if it isn’t cancelled at the last minute, the visit can be done from anywhere during a short break in the visitor’s day.

If the visitor does not have access to a phone or computer, they can make an appointment ahead of time and use terminals in the lobby of the jail.

You must also be on the inmate's approved list, even for a video visit.

What are the companies that work with the jails and prisons that allow video visits?

There are several different companies that contract with all the jails and prisons that allow video visitation:

These are the companies in alphabetical order:

CIDNET City Tele Coin Correct Solutions Group Correct Pay Ctel Gettingout GTL Homewav IC Solutions Inmate Canteen Inmate Sales iwebvisits JailATM Jpay Gettingintouch (netvisit) NCIC Prodigy Sales Reliance Securus Smart Communications Tiger Services Visitel In addition, some jails use Microsoft Meeting and Zoom .

What is a conjugal visit?

A conjugal visit is a visit where the inmate is allowed to spend anywhere from several hours to a full weekend with their spouse. These visits are private, not recorded, and take place in a building, and an area of the prison away from the general population.

The purpose of the conjugal visit is to keep the inmate’s relationship with their spouse strong. Some conjugal visits also include the inmate’s children. A swing set and other recreational activities are available for the children to keep occupied.

There are no jails in the United States where conjugal visits are allowed, however the state prisons in California, Connecticut, Washington and New York all allow conjugal visits.

To be eligible, you need to be married, in good standing with the prison, have taken courses that prepare the inmates for these type of visits, and other requirements.

What jails or prisons allow conjugal visits?

Only California, Connecticut, Washington and New York state prisons allow conjugal visits. There are no jails in the United States that allow conjugal visits.

Other countries are much more liberal and some even allow prostitutes to visit the inmates on a weekly basis.

What can I do to appeal if my inmate visits are suspended?

An inmate can get their visitation privileges suspended for their behavior both because of their interactions with staff and inmates, or disobeying policy, or because of their behavior during visitation.

A visitor can get their visitation privileges suspended due to their behavior during an inmate visit or if they violate any of the rules and regulations of inmate visits and/or other jail policies such as mail, phone, email, etc.

If either the inmate or their visitor disagrees with the suspension of their visitation privileges, they need to write a letter explaining their position to the Jail Warden, County Sheriff or the Captain in charge of the facility’s visitation.

Address the letter to: Riverside Correctional Facility PhysicalAddressHtml}

The letter should contain the following: •    Inmate’s full name they were booked under and their  Inmate ID# (booking #, etc.). If you know the Unit # and cell #, write that as well. •    The visitor’s (you) full name, Identification Card number (driver's license, state ID, passport, etc.), home address, telephone number and email address. •    Explanation of what occurred that led to the suspension, including the date, time, who was the staff member present, whether it was a face-to-face visit or video visit. •    Why do you believe the suspension was unwarranted. •    A full-blown apology if it was accidental. •    Why it’s important to the inmate to continue visitation. •    What type of suspension you agree to if it happens again.

You should also offer to come to the jail and present your case face-to-face if they are open to the request. It is harder to turn down a person when they are directly in front of you, asking for your help.

In situations like this it is always best to keep the correspondence cordial, professional and detailed. Do not attack the staff member personally. It is always possible that the staff member was having a bad day or was still feeling anxiety or anger from dealing with a previous issue.

Being a correctional officer in a jail or prison is a very difficult thing. They have be ‘on guard’ against physical attacks, manipulations, lies and really bad behavior at all times. They are ‘the enemy’ and they know it. By putting yourself in their shoes when writing or requesting a suspension be reconsidered, goes a long towards a final resolution that you will be pleased with.

Can I visit an inmate in the if I have a criminal record?

In most jails it is required that you fill out a visitation application prior to visiting an inmate. You also have to be approved to be a visitor by the inmate. Even when visiting by video, you will need to give your personal information which includes your driver’s license or state ID number. 

The jail will use this information to do a quick background check on you to see if you have a criminal history or have any outstanding active warrants.

It is most likely that you will also be asked on the application form if you have ever been arrested, been convicted, or spent time in the Riverside Correctional Facility. If the answer is yes, they will want details, dates, etc.   If you lie about this and get caught, you will lose your right to visits for a period.  This is usually between one year and indefinitely.

If you are a convicted felon, you will have to apply directly to the sheriff. If you are a spouse, child or parent, you have a pretty good chance of getting approved than if you are just a friend. On the other hand, on rare occasions, some jails have adopted a zero-tolerance policy and never allow felons to visit.

If you recently did time in Riverside Correctional Facility, it is most likely that you will not be approved for a visit for a period of six to twelve months, starting on the day of your release. It is rare, but some jails have adopted a zero-tolerance policy and never allow previous inmates to visit, even if your previous conviction was for a misdemeanor.

What if I have a criminal record and the inmate is my child, can I still visit?

As explained in the previous answer, there are generally multiple hoops you must jump through in order to be approved to visit an inmate, if you have a criminal record, specifically if you are a convicted felon, or have recently spent time as an inmate in the Riverside Correctional Facility.

However, if you are a parent of a child in jail, that is one of the rare times that the jail will make an exception and allow you to visit.

Can a juvenile in jail or detention get visits?

Juvenile visits are limited to parents, legal guardians and grandparents. Sometimes siblings are allowed, but this is not always the case. If the caseworker or staff of the facility believe that it's in the best interests of the resident to have siblings visit, it will be approved.

Can children visit inmates in Riverside Correctional Facility?

Most jails will allow inmates to receive visits from their children, however if the child is under age 18, they will need to be accompanied by an adult. Further the adult must be able to legally prove their relationship to the child using either a valid birth certificate, adoption papers or paperwork that proves they are the legal guardian.

If there is a ‘no contact’ order in place in which the inmate has lost their parental rights, and this is not disclosed to the jail, then the inmate may lose visitation rights with other visitors or lose other privileges within the jail, as this is a violation of the law.

Because the presence of children can be a distraction for inmates during visitation, and children require a certain number of things (toys, etc.) to keep them busy, many jails are now setting apart certain days, usually on the weekends, for children to visit.

Children also have to be on the inmate's approved visitor list.

To confirm the visitation rules at the Riverside Correctional Facility regarding child visits, call 215-685-6911 to speak to a staff member.

Are babies allowed to visit inmates at the Riverside Correctional Facility?

Most jails do allow babies to visit. They will require a birth certificate. And given the baby’s needs, they allow the parent to bring in extra items to the visitation room; an extra diaper, a few wipes, a clear bottle with fluid, a pacifier and a baby carrier, for example.

There are some jails however that never allow babies in the visiting room. The cutoff age is usually about two years old.

To confirm the visitation rules at the Riverside Correctional Facility regarding baby or infant visits, call 215-685-6911 to speak to a staff member.

How do I check to see if I have a criminal record?

Most people already know if they have a criminal record. Sometimes they do, but it does not show up on a background check. This is usually because the person has undergone a name change at some point, or the name was misspelled when the data was entered by the court. 

The best place (and least expensive) for the most comprehensive nationwide website to find out if you have a criminal record is privaterecords.net , and they only cost $1.00 for 7-day trial.  

Visiting Hours in Riverside Correctional Facility

ALL VISITS MUST BE SCHEDULED ONLINE All on-site Riverside (RCF) Visits are at 8151 State Rd. Mondays - Inmate’s last name begins with: A-B-C MON 9:00AM-10:00AM MON 1:00PM-2:00PM MON 3:00PM-4:00PM Tuesdays - Inmate’s last name begins with: D-E-F-G-H TUE 9:00AM-10:00AM TUE 1:00PM-2:00PM TUE 3:00PM-4:00PM Wednesdays - Inmate’s last name begins with: I-J-K-L-M WED 9:00AM-10:00AM WED 1:00PM-2:00PM WED 3:00PM-4:00PM Thursdays - Inmate’s last name begins with: N-O-P-Q-R-S THU 9:00AM-10:00AM THU 1:00PM-2:00PM THU 3:00PM-4:00PM Fridays - Inmate’s last name begins with: T-U-V-W-X-Y-Z FRI 9:00AM-10:00AM FRI 1:00PM-2:00PM FRI 3:00PM-4:00PM  

Visitation Approval for Riverside Correctional Facility

Riverside Correctional Facility requires all visitors to fill out an application prior to your visiting an inmate.

• Carefully fill out the application. Incomplete paperwork is cause for denial.
• Honesty, especially regarding past criminal convictions, probation etc., is important. These things will most likely show up on the background check – which if lied about on the application, will cause visits to be denied.
• GettingOut  requires detailed verification before allowing you to use their services.

At Home Video Visitation

Video visits allow your visit to take place in the privacy of your own home. Some family members 'take their inmate with them' to church, the park, the doctor or anywhere else simply by signing in and bringing the device along. Video visits save you from having to get your children ready, drive to the jail, wait in long lines and go through security checkpoints just to see the inmate.

How it Works with GettingOut 1.   Register an account . 2. Find your Inmate's Facility here . 3. Choose either an INMATE ACCOUNT or FRIENDS & FAMILY ACCOUNT.    

• **Note** Friends and Family must have funds in their "Friends & Family Account" to respond to inmate messages. 

4. You will then receive prompts to validate both your identity and phone number . 5. Again, choose your inmate's facility, then type their name and select your inmate.

Who can Visit an Inmate at Riverside Correctional Facility

Who can Visit an Inmate at the Riverside Correctional Facility?

• Anyone over the age of 18, who isn't on felony probation and can produce a valid government-issued photo ID can be approved to visit an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility.
• Visitation applicants in in Philadelphia County must sometimes submit to a background check. Those with warrants are denied visitation or if allowed to visit, will be arrested at the jail.
• Children under age 18 must be accompanied by the parent or legal guardian.
• Call 215-685-6911 to ask specific questions about this policy or click here for any updates to this policy.
• It is likely that the Riverside Correctional Facility will deny visitation to anyone with a past felony conviction regardless of probation/parole status. Call 215-685-6911 prior to arriving for the specific jail guideline regarding your legal status.
• If you are a co-defendant with the inmate in a pending case, your visit will be denied.
• If you and the inmate are under a court order to have no contact with each other, your visit will be denied.
• The Riverside Correctional Facility reserves the right to deny any person the right to enter the jail it chooses and for any reason.

NOTE: GettingOut, the Riverside Correctional Facility visitation service, will need to verify that you say who you claim to be prior to giving you permission to use their services online or at the jail lobby kiosk. This will require uploading your driver's license or other state issued ID.

Riverside Correctional Facility Visitation Dress Code

The Riverside Correctional Facility staff will turn anyone away who is not dressed appropriately for a visit.

• Remote Visits are monitored by the jail.
• If you are dressed inappropriately your visit will be shut off.
• The best way to be sure the visit takes place is to dress as if you are meeting someone's grandmother for the first time. 

General Clothing Do's & Don'ts for Remote Visitation * Wear clothes that are not revealing. * Don't wear see-through material. * Have all undergarments covered (males and females) and avoid a lot of cleavage. * Shorts and skirts should reach mid-thigh. * Sleeves should be at least half-way to your elbow. * The following types of clothing are also prohibited: * Clothing promoting gang affiliation. * Anything displaying drugs, weapons or profanity. * Clothing depicting anything obscene.

Visitation Tips and Guidelines

All Riverside Correctional Facility visits are conducted in person behind plexi-glass or on a televised screen from another location using Remote Video Visitation.

• If the visit takes place at Riverside Correctional Facility, all children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian and guardians must provide proof of their guardianship.
• Leave all personal belongings, except for your state ID in your vehicle or in a locker (if one is provided).
• Children must be monitored at all times or jail staff will end the visit early.

What Type of Mail is Allowed to be Sent to an Inmate in the Riverside Correctional Facility?

Postcards The Riverside Correctional Facility allows inmates to receive pre-metered postcards like the type purchased from the post office. They may also allow certain photo postcards as long as they have not been tampered with or contain images that may be considered to be obscene or violent in nature.

Envelopes The Riverside Correctional Facility also allows letters to be mailed in envelopes. Letters cannot contain alterations such as glitter, sticker, glue or perfume. There is no limit to the number of letters or postcards an inmate can receive. All envelopes and postcards must contain a return address that includes your first and last name and complete street, city, state and zip code location. Mail without return addresses might be discarded.

Inmate's Full Name & PPN# CFCF 8151 State Road Philadelphia, PA 19136

Newspapers Local or national newspapers may also be mailed to the inmate as long as they are mailed directly from the newspaper publisher. (It must contain the inmate’s full name, PPN number and address)

Magazines News, special interest or sports magazines may also be mailed to an inmate as long as they are shipped directly from the publisher. Any magazines that contain profanity, weapons, pornography or other content that is adult in nature will be confiscated by the jail staff and will NOT be delivered to the inmate. The mailing label must include inmate’s full name, facility address and PPN number.

Books Riverside Correctional Facility allows books to be mailed directly to the jail from a reputable source such as amazon.com or barnesandnoble.com . You can order them directly from your computer and have them shipped to the inmate at the address above. Books must NOT contain images or content that are considered excessively violent, pornographic or obscene. Any book that does not meet the Riverside Correctional Facility standards will be disposed of. Only softcover books are allowed. The mailing invoice must contain the inmate’s full name, PPN number and facility address.

All Newspapers, magazines and Books should be mailed to:

For complete information on mailing letters, postcards, photos, magazines, newspapers, books and packages to inmates in Phladelphia, check out our Inmate Mail page.

How to Deposit Money in an Inmate's Trust Account in Order to Purchase Prepaid Calling Cards, Phone Calling Time or Commissary

To Deposit Money in an inmate's account follow these steps:

• Create a ConnectNetwork account  
• Select your inmate, and add to them to your account,
• Deposit money into his or her commissary account.

**NOTE** GTL is in a transition merging into a new company called ViaPath Technologies .

• Deposit options available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week via phone 877-650-4249 , and online .
• Mobile-friendly deposit options are available via their app.
• Deposits and payments made through automated channels (ConnectNetwork Website, Mobile App, Toll Free Phone, or Kiosk at the jail) are transmitted to the facility within one business day.
• Deposits that are mailed are processed the next business day after they are received by GTL.
• Inmate can choose how to spend the funds you deposit.

All the information you need to understand depositing money into an inmate's trust fund, specifically for phone calls, but also for Commissary, in Philadelphia County, can be found on our Send Money  Page.

How Do You Communicate with an Inmate in the Riverside Correctional Facility by Phone

• Advance Pay - This phone account allows you to prepay so that your inmate can call you (and only you) whenever he/she wants and the cost of each call is deducted from your balance. You can even be notified by text when your balance gets low. You still have the option of accepting or rejecting each call.
• Pin Debit   -  This option allows you to fund an inmate's commissary account and lets him pay for phone calls to you and others with the money. You will have no control over who your inmate calls.
• Voicemail   -  You can leave a secure voicemail without having to contact the facility. When you call the local phone number for a facility offering Inmate Voicemail (call Customer Service at 877-650-4249 to get the local voicemail number for Riverside Correctional Facility, you will be informed of the cost for leaving a message. To leave your message, simply select the inmate by ID number. Then, record your voicemail.

For full instructions on the Riverside Correctional Facility Inmate Phone System, what the costs are, how it works, and tips and guidelines on rules, regulations and saving money on calls, check out our  Inmate Phones  Page .

Depositing Money for Communicating with an Inmate

How to Make a Deposit for Phone, Email or Visitation using GettingOut.com

• Online  - They accept all major credit cards including Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
• At the Riverside Correctional Facility using the kiosk in the jail lobby - (cash, debit or credit card) NOTE - Riverside Correctional Facility may require identity verification so bring your driver’s license or some other form of ID.
• By phone by calling  866-516-0115  - They have bi-lingual operators are standing by 24 hours 7 days a week to assist you with your deposit. Major credit cards accepted are Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express.
• By using their app, either Android or iphone . - All credit cards mentioned above are accepted.

For all the information you need to know, including tips, guidelines and warnings about depositing money in a Riverside Correctional Facility inmate's account for communication services, check out our  Send Money   page.

How Inmates Can Use a Tablet to Access Services at Riverside Correctional Facility

To find out how to get access to a tablet for inmate read the following:

To learn more about Tablet Rentals for inmates, including the cost, all the services available and everything else you need to know, check out our  Tablet Rental  Page.

How Do You Visit an Inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility?

To visit an inmate in Philadelphia County, whether by video or in person 'at the jail', follow these steps:

To remotely visit an inmate in Philadelphia County follow these steps: 1.  Start by confirming that Riverside Correctional Facility's Video Visitation is working correctly by looking up Philadelphia County here . 2.  The next step is to  create an account here for GettingOut . 3. Then add funds to your account. 4. Last, select Riverside Correctional Facility, and then the inmate you wish to communicate with.

Other Philadelphia County Services provided by GettingOut:  - Phone Calls & Voicemail   - Email, Photo & Video Sharing -  Inmate Tablet Rental -  Deposits

Customer Service If you have any questions about the Riverside Correctional Facility Visitation Services you can call them at 866-516-0115 . Frequently Asked Questions

* All the information you need to have complete knowledge about inmate visitation; policies, rules, fees, schedules, tips, dress codes, and children, lawyers and clergy visitation in Philadelphia County, can be found on our  Visit Inmate  Page. Riverside Correctional Facility Phone: 215-685-6911

How to Send Money to an Inmate in Philadelphia County

To send commissary money to an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility follow these steps:

• Register with Access Corrections by creating an account.

• Select Pennsylvania, then select Riverside Correctional Facility, and then the inmate you want to send money to.
• Choose the amount of money you want to send, and input your payment method.

For all information on how to  Send Money to an inmate's account check out our full money and commissary guide for Riverside Correctional Facility.

How to Send a Carepack Commissary Package Directly to an Inmate in Philadelphia County

To send a commissary carepack (food, snacks and goods) directly to an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility follow these steps:

• Select Pennsylvania, then select Riverside Correctional Facility, and then select the 'Send a Package Order' option.
• Register and create an account with Access Securepak, for Philadelphia County.
• Choose the inmate and the products you want shipped to them, and input your payment method. 
• NOTE: There may be a limit on how much product you can send your inmate in Philadelphia County at any one time.

For all information, tips and available items for shipping  Commissary  packages to an inmate in Riverside Correctional Facility check out our Commissary Instructions Page  for Philadelphia County.

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Riverside Correctional Facility Contact Information

Philadelphia Curran-Fromhold

the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF) is the largest PDP facility. CFCF consists of four housing buildings and an administration/ core building. Each building has eight housing units, or pods, four on each floor. Each pod consists of 32 cells, divided into two tiers, organized around a common living and dining area. Inmates housed on each pod have access to indoor and outdoor recreation, medical triage, law library, and program areas. The core building includes the administrative offices for the Commissioner of Prisons, central administrative staff, the warden, and facility staff. Facilities for intake and reception, along with industrial shops, educational classrooms, and program areas.

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• Philadelphia

Hunger, filth, constant danger: Prisoners’ accounts of Philly jails paint a grim picture

Incarcerated people warn of inhumane conditions at the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. One man said he lost 20 pounds due to lack of food. Another said he had been outdoors once in six months.

Forty-two days without a shower. Foot-deep sewage flooding cells. Broken or ignored emergency call buttons. These are some of the claims raised in the latest filing in a federal class-action lawsuit against the Philadelphia Department of Prisons, which included 70 pages of affidavits by 18 incarcerated people.

“The conditions at the Philadelphia prisons really are very dire,” said Su Ming Yeh, executive director of the Pennsylvania Institutional Law Project. “There are not only sanitation issues and infestations of vermin, but also delays in medical care, increase in violence, and a breakdown in operations.”

The jails, which house about 4,600 people in a complex in Northeast Philadelphia, have struggled for the past year with a staffing crisis, facility failures including broken locks, and a climate of violence. Fourteen people have died in custody this year. (That’s the same death toll as in New York’s Rikers Island, which has three times as many prisoners.)

The prisons department announced last week that it is resuming in-person visits for vaccinated prisoners, as mandated by Senior U.S. District Judge Berle M. Schiller. But according to the filing, the jails are still not keeping up with Schiller’s orders to increase out-of-cell time as a step toward full reopening by January 2022.

A department spokesperson said she could not comment because of the ongoing litigation. The department has said it’s hiring more officers to address staffing shortages, but that essential services are being provided and all violent incidents are thoroughly investigated.

The affidavits offered a window into life inside. Here’s what they described:

Continued lockdowns

At the start of the pandemic, movement in the jails was radically curtailed — and many say they are still locked in for days on end. “I have gone 42 days without being able to take a shower,” said Qaasim Berry, 25, in an affidavit, adding he had not made a phone call for a “couple months.” He said the situation is “seriously affecting my mental health.”

Several people said getting outdoors for fresh air was a rarity. One man said he’d been outside only once in six months. Several alleged that staff told them to forge paperwork falsely claiming they were receiving court-mandated out-of-cell time.

» READ MORE: ‘Unit unsafe’: Inside a week of riots, fires, and destruction at Philly jails

Deteriorating infrastructure

Staff have complained for months that prisoners are able to pop open their cells. The broken locks — now backed up with sliding bolts on many cells — are just one reported plant failure. Some prisoners described floods, freezing temperatures, and infestations of rats, mice, and insects.

“The building seems to be decomposing, with water leaks everywhere and what looks like black mold growing on the walls,” Calar Braxton, 47, said of the Detention Center, the city’s oldest functioning jail.

Zyen Corker, 21, said a flood on his block at Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center left “a foot of water that remained stagnant inside my cell for 48 hours.”

Breakdown of basic services

Several people reported meal trays arriving very early or very late — for instance, dinner at 3:30 p.m., or lunch and dinner showing up together. They described weeks without access to the commissary to supplement their food supplies. One man, Cedrick Brookins, 30, said he lost 20 or 25 pounds because of it. Another, Donovin Forth, 29, said he’s supposed to received prescribed meal-supplement shakes because of a gunshot wound to the face that makes chewing difficult — but often they don’t arrive or are stolen. “Sometimes I am so hungry that I go to bed crying, so I try to drink so much water that I feel full.”

Most lamented a dearth of cleaning supplies, toilet paper, and face masks. Several said they were unable to get prescribed medications or medical care, resulting in worsening health conditions.

Some days, Corker said, even the lights are not turned on: “We sit in the dark all day.”

» READ MORE: Stabbings at Philly jail went unnoticed amid staff shortages, video shows

Emergencies ignored

Carlos Duprey, who is 49 and diabetic, said there’s an emergency button in his cell, but it doesn’t work. “I have had hypoglycemic events and anxiety attacks in my cell with no way to ask staff for help,” he said. Others said the buttons did work, but it could take eight or 10 hours for staff to acknowledge them.

Michael Flynn, 64, said he fell and fractured bones in his hand on Sept. 2 — but he was not taken to a hospital until Oct. 4, when it was finally placed in a cast.

Norman Copper, 30, said a man on his cell block last year “hanged himself. His cellie was banging for help for hours.”

Unchecked violence

“I have seen COs beat an incarcerated person on this unit while he was handcuffed,” Brookins said. Several described stabbings, fights, and liberal use of pepper spray as daily occurrences. A few who were hit with pepper spray said they were not permitted to take decontamination showers. “It felt like my skin was on fire,” Berry said.

“On one occasion, I saw someone get pepper-sprayed for demanding insulin that was not being provided: a simple verbal argument. I then saw guards attack the person after he was pepper-sprayed,” Caez Robinson, 24, said. Robinson himself was stabbed, he said, but no staff intervened. Instead, they waited until the attack was over, sent him to get stitches, and then moved him to “the hole” for 30 days’ punitive isolation.

The Philadelphia Inquirer is one of more than 20 news organizations producing Broke in Philly, a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city’s push toward economic justice. See all of our reporting at  brokeinphilly.org .

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Pope Francis’s Philadelphia prison visit highlights crisis in US justice system

Pontiff’s visit to Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility, where 80% of inmates still face trial, comes at a time when many people incarcerated in America are held because they cannot afford bail

B ehind barbed wire and under guard towers on the edge of north-east Philadelphia, Pope Francis will meet more than 100 men and women from a dangerously overcrowded prison population drawn largely from the poor, civil rights advocates say.

Some 80% of those inmates at that prison, Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF), have not yet been convicted of the crime with which they were charged. Most of them are behind bars because they have not paid or cannot afford to pay bail while awaiting trial, prison spokesperson Shawn Hawes told the Guardian.

Francis has visited prisons in multiple countries, and told the Argentinian newspaper La Voz del Pueblo that when he visits a prison, he asks himself: “Why did God allow that I shouldn’t be here?”

Why the pontiff chose to visit this particular prison is unknown even to the jail’s staff, according to Hawes. He will meet inmates chosen from among those who attend services and were recommended by chapel and social service officials, she said.

But the facility presents an extreme microcosm of two of the most pressing national prison problems: pretrial detention and overcrowding. And advocates such as Phil Telfeyan, a founder of the nonprofit Equal Justice Under Law, argue that the prison system – particularly in holding those who cannot afford to pay bail – targets the very people Pope Francis has shown the most concern for: the poor.

Presumed innocent and jailed

The prisons in Philadelphia were built to accommodate 6,500 people in all, according to Hawes. As of Monday, CFCF held 2,871 inmates - more than a third of the city’s roughly 8,200 prisoners .

The city’s overcrowded system is a symptom of a trend around the US. With 2.2 million people incarcerated mostly in state prisons and jails like Philadelphia’s, the US now imprisons nearly three times the total prison population in 1990 . In all, it spends about $80bn on prisons.

At any given time, between 400,000 to 500,000 of those people have not been found guilty of the charges for which they are incarcerated, and are instead held in pretrial or midtrial detention, sometimes for weeks, months and even years, usually because they cannot afford to pay bail. The Justice Department estimates that two-thirds of those inmates are non-dangerous defendants.

But per capita, Philadelphia incarcerates more people than any other of the 10 largest cities in the US. In 2009 alone, the city spent nearly $300m on jail expenditures, as much as its streets and health departments combined, according to a Pew Charitable Trusts study on the prison system.

At CFCF, the primary intake center for Philadelphia, the vast majority – 80% – of the inmates are awaiting trial or in the midst of a trial, Hawes said, meaning they are presumed innocent but waiting to stand in court. Every year about 30,000 men pass through the prison.

Bail often acts as a tool of coercion, reform advocates say, that convinces innocent people who cannot pay to plead guilty simply to escape the dangers and strains of life in an overcrowded cell.

“Time and time again,” Rudovsky said, “someone in custody on minor charges will be given the option after a week in jail: ‘Plead guilty on time in and we’ll let you out, or wait three months in jail for a trial.’ It’s not surprising then that a lot of people plead guilty.”

Horror stories and near-misses from the system occasionally make headlines. In June, Kalief Browder, held three years on Rikers Island without trial, his mother unable to pay the $3,000 bail, killed himself at his home in the Bronx. In July, Sandra Bland’s inability to pay $500 bail led her to the Texas jail cell where she reportedly hanged herself days later.

A February report by the nonprofit Vera Institute found that arbitrary bail terms often strain families struggling to free a loved one, especially when that person loses his or her income as a result of the pretrial detention. A 2012 New York-based report found that in non-felony cases without bail, only half the defendants were convicted. With pretrial detention, prosecutors convicted 92% of defendants.

“The data suggest that detention itself creates enough pressure to increase guilty pleas,” the authors wrote.

The system can also self-perpetuate. Markos said that sometimes inmates will miss a court date because guards fail to escort them out of pretrial detention. An unwitting judge puts out a bench warrant, and the police promptly rearrest the person after their release – all without the inmate ever knowing about the court date.

Telfeyan, of Equal Justice Under Law, said that a lack of money to pay for prosecutors and public defenders, knotty rules about how federal and state courts interact, and discrimination against the poor keep the system churning.

“So many arrestees are people without resources, without networks of friends or family,” he said. “There’s a lot of stigma, of false stereotypes that these people are inherently dangerous or bad.

“Constitutionally, they can’t keep penalizing the poor,” he said, citing the supreme court’s 1983 ruling that judges cannot jail people over court fines. Under the federal standard, prosecutors must prove the defendant is a flight risk or a danger to others, but in local systems, judges and magistrates have far more room to act arbitrarily.

Cells that are ‘basically large broom closets’

For those inside the prison, the extreme overcrowding has been identified by advocates as the source of significant health and safety concerns.

“The main problem is overcrowding,” said David Rudovsky, a University of Pennsylvania law professor who has led several lawsuits against the city over its prisons. CFCF has a capacity of about 2,000 people, he said, and for years resorted to “triple celling” inmates in two-person cells.

“There are a couple of bunkbeds and a kind of plastic mattress on the floor, so someone’s sleeping with their head a foot from the toilet,” he said. Chris Markos, an attorney with Williams Cuker and Berezosfsky who has represented hundreds of inmates, said that CFCF has also lodged inmates in windowless rooms “that are basically large broom closets”.

“That kind of crowding can cause a lot of problems,” Rudovsky said, citing “friction between three men in a cell, increased inmate violence, correctional officer violence, inadequate access to medical care, social services, mental healthcare.

“It just has a kind of escalating power over the inmates. It’s not just the dangers of overcrowding per se. It’s a broader, cumulative problem.”

Philadelphia’s prison population has declined from its 2009 peak of almost 10,000 people, but the city’s efforts to reform the system are moving too slowly for attorneys and activists.

Telfeyan and others recommend a host of reform options, and some jurisdictions, including Washington DC and New Jersey, have overhauled the system. The 2010 Pew report concluded that most reform options are already within reach of officials and judges.

“Nobody can claim here that judicial intervention has completely worked,” Rudovsky said. “Whether papal intervention court can, I’m a skeptic.”

Inmates have depicted gruesome and harrowing conditions at CFCF and other Philadelphia prisons.

In a 2014 lawsuit , inmate Calvin Camps alleged that showers at Curran-Fromhold “are covered in black mold and in disrepair, and the cells are infested with insects”. In another suit, inmate Khalil Madison said a third man “sleeping on the ‘boat’ [a plastic shell] positioned next to the cell’s toilet was exposed to urine and fecal matter”. In a 2011 suit , Melvin Dixon complained that he lived “on the floor basically living amongst the rodents that run in and out of cells.”

Markos said that inmates face nearly constant health risks at CFCF, from infections to respiratory illnesses and epidermal diseases: “We see a lot of skin conditions of varying severity because it’s usually transmittable in these close quarters.”

A 2008 class action suit charged the city’s prisons with conditions “so harsh and degrading, and so dangerous to the health and safety of the inmates, as to constitute cruel and unusual punishment under the Eighth Amendment and a denial of liberty without due process of law under the Fourteenth Amendment”. A federal judge reinstated the suit in 2012, a year after the city negotiated a settlement.

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Philadelphia Department of Prisons’ attorney-client access procedures during COVID-19 (Archived)

This post no longer reflects the current process. The most up-to-date information is on the visit an incarcerated person page .

The Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) has implemented special attorney-client access procedures in response to COVID-19.

In-person official visits

• PDP continues to offer in-person official legal visits.
• Any attorney wishing to do so may visit their client in-person at the respective facility.
• It is expected that the attorney will be wearing a mask upon arrival. Otherwise, a mask will be provided. The respective incarcerated person will also be wearing a mask.
• The attorney and incarcerated person must wear their masks at all times.
• The space where the official visit will take place will be sanitized both before and after every visit.

Legal calls

• The PDP continues to arrange legal calls between attorneys and their clients.
• Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF)
• Detention Center (DC)
• Philadelphia Industrial Correctional Center (PICC)
• Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF)
• Select the option for the facilities’ Lawyer / Client Phone Conference.
• The attorney must provide 24-hours’ notice using the incarcerated person’s name/PP# and select an available time slot for the call. The call will be arranged accordingly.
• Legal Phone Calls are available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. concluding at 5:00 p.m. Calls are not available Saturday and Sunday.
• If necessary, calls may be made to HSPA Lyde at (215) 685-7111, HSPA Jennifer Albandoz at (215) 685-7113 or DC Bagby at (215) 685-8076 to follow up regarding scheduling.

Video visits at the Criminal Justice Center

• Attorneys may also arrange video visits with their clients at the CJC.
• The attorney needs to register the appointment for a video call online, with the incarcerated person’s name/PP# and a requested date/time, at [email protected] .
• The attorney will need to report to the CJC in person on the scheduled date and time in order for the video visit to take place.
• Please note that all scheduling regarding video visitation is arranged by the CJC.

Video visitation via PDP laptops

• The PDP has now expanded video visitation for attorney visits through a laptop in each facility in order to allow as many video visits with private counsel as possible.
• Video visits will be facilitated via a Zoom link which must be initiated by counsel.
• Counsel must provide 24-hours’ notice, supply the incarcerated person’s name/PP#, and select the time slot for the visit. The visit will be arranged accordingly.
• Each counsel will locate their client utilizing the locator tool .
• Select the option for the facilities’ Lawyer / Client Video Conference.
• This service will be available Monday through Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the last slot being filled at 9:00 p.m. and concluding at 10:00 p.m. On weekends the service will be available from 9 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., concluding at 10:00 p.m.
• Video visitation via the laptops will be available for the Defenders Association.

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