Allegheny County PA Jail - 2nd Avenue — Inmate Records & Recent Arrests

Allegheny County Jail: Inmate Search, Video Visits & Mail

This page holds the inmate records we have on file for the Allegheny County Jail in downtown Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, at 950 Second Avenue. As a county jail, it primarily holds people who were recently arrested and are awaiting court, along with some serving short sentences, so its population turns over quickly. The records below are a directory of booking entries we hold for the facility; because a jail changes hour to hour, always confirm anything current against the county's official roster or by phone. For more on this facility — history, programs, and what to expect — see our full facility profile.

Searching for a recent arrest in Allegheny County

Allegheny County publishes an online jail roster where you can look people up, and you can reach the jail at (412) 350-2000 for current detention information. You can also enroll in Pennsylvania's VINE program to look someone up by name and receive automatic notifications about custody changes. On this page you can browse the records we hold by last name (A–Z), gender, or age to find someone quickly, then confirm their status on the county roster. If a very recent arrest does not appear yet, a booking can take a few hours to process, so try again a little later.

Video visitation through GTL

Allegheny County Jail uses GTL for video visitation, available daily from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. as operations permit. To visit, you create a GTL account so you can be added to the incarcerated person's video contact list, and you must be enrolled and approved by the jail before planning a visit. Sessions last 30 minutes and cost $0.25 per minute. Because visits are by video, you can connect without traveling downtown, which is convenient — but you still need advance approval, so set up your GTL account and get on the contact list early. Confirm current availability, since video visitation can be paused for operational reasons.

Sending money

Family and friends can deposit money into a person's account, and an incarcerated person can also send funds from their account to family or an attorney; any remaining balance is returned upon release. There is an important access rule: you must be on the visiting list or listed as an emergency contact to send funds, which ties money to being approved, so get approved early. Funds cover commissary and phone use, which for someone held pre-trial can make a real difference in daily comfort and the ability to stay in touch. Confirm the current deposit method and keep your receipt until it posts.

Strict mail rules — read these carefully

Mail to the Allegheny County Jail follows precise rules, and getting them wrong means your letter is not delivered. Address mail to the person's full name and DOC number at Allegheny County Jail, 950 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. You may send letters and photos, but magazines, books, and food must come directly from approved suppliers. Every envelope must include your name and return address in the top-left corner — without it, your mail will most likely not be delivered and the letter destroyed. Use only blue or black ink, no felt markers or crayons, no drawings on the letter or envelope, and no glitter, confetti, or enclosures. All mail is opened and searched and must contain the person's DOC number.

Because this is a pre-trial jail, bail may be an option

Most people at the Allegheny County Jail are held pre-trial, meaning they have not been convicted and may be eligible for release on bail while their case proceeds. If bail has been set, posting it can get your loved one home during the case, and a licensed bail agent can walk you through the amount, the paperwork, and the process. If no bail has been set yet, that is usually decided at an early court appearance. Everyone listed on this page is presumed innocent; an arrest and booking is an accusation, not a conviction. Our bail guide for this facility breaks down the process step by step.

Phone calls and staying connected

Phone contact is often the quickest way to reach someone in the jail, especially in the first days after an arrest. Calls are placed by the person in custody out to numbers on their approved list, so make sure your number is set up and funded so their calls connect. Prepaid accounts avoid the higher cost and interruptions of collect calls, and for someone whose case stretches on, lower-cost calling arrangements can keep contact affordable. Combined with GTL video visits, regular calls help you stay close without a trip downtown. Because access to funds, calls, and visits all flow from being on the person's approved list, the single most useful early step is getting yourself approved, after which everything else becomes easier to arrange.

What the records here can and cannot tell you

A county jail's population changes constantly, so treat this listing as a snapshot from public data rather than a live view of who is inside the Allegheny County Jail right now. Someone can appear here after they have been released, bonded out, transferred, or moved to state custody, and a detail such as a name or booking number may be recorded imperfectly. Use an entry as a lead and confirm the current picture on the county's official roster or by phone. If a very recent arrest is not showing yet, give the booking a few hours and check again. Above all, most people here are awaiting court and have not been convicted; a booking is an accusation, and everyone is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

Next steps

Confirm the person's status on the county roster or by phone at (412) 350-2000, then use this page to keep track and take the next step — set up a GTL account and get approved so you can video-visit and send funds, send a first letter following the strict mail rules, and if bail is set, talk with a licensed agent. Enroll in Pennsylvania VINE for custody notifications, and confirm anything urgent directly with the jail. Because rules here are strict and access flows from approval, getting on the list early is the surest way to keep contact steady from the start.

Sources: www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/County-Jail, www.alleghenycounty.us/Government/County-Jail...