The Bucks County Department of Corrections operates the county's jail system in Doylestown, Pennsylvania, serving one of the most populous and fastest-growing counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area. The main correctional facility is located at 1730 South Easton Road, Doylestown, PA 18901, with a listed capacity of approximately 800 beds. The facility houses adults arrested in Bucks County who are awaiting trial, as well as individuals serving shorter sentences for misdemeanor and lower-level felony offenses. For families navigating this system for the first time, this guide covers everything from finding an inmate to posting bail and staying connected.
About the Bucks County Department of Corrections
Bucks County, located northeast of Philadelphia, is the fourth most populous county in Pennsylvania. Its Department of Corrections manages the county jail, a Men's Community Corrections Center, and a Women's Correctional Facility, offering a range of custodial settings from the main secure facility to community-based residential supervision. The facility is operated under the Bucks County government and maintains accreditation through national corrections standards organizations.
The department's main phone number is 215-345-3700. For routine jail questions — including inmate status, visiting scheduling, and bail — the Detention Office can be reached at 215-348-6124. The fax number is 215-340-8485. The county's corrections website is part of the broader Bucks County government site at buckscounty.gov. Our directory holds over 41,000 historical arrest and booking records on file for Bucks County correctional facilities — a historical count, not the current population.
How to Find an Inmate at Bucks County Corrections
Bucks County provides an Interactive Voice Response (IVR) Lookup system that allows family members to check on an inmate's custody status by phone. You can also search the county's inmate lookup tool at buckscounty.gov. For a name-based search on PrisonAssist.com, you'll find historical booking records for individuals previously processed through Bucks County corrections.
To locate someone recently arrested in Bucks County:
- Call the Bucks County Detention Office at 215-348-6124.
- Have the person's full legal name and date of birth available.
- Ask for their current location, booking number, and bail amount.
New arrests can take a few hours to appear in automated systems, so if a name doesn't come up right away, call back or try again in a few hours. Very recent arrests may require speaking directly with a staff member.
Visiting Someone at Bucks County Corrections
In-person visitation is available at the Bucks County correctional facilities. General visiting hours are as follows (confirm before traveling):
- Monday through Friday: 7:30 AM – 9:00 PM
- Saturday: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM
- Sunday: 7:30 AM – 2:30 PM
Visits may need to be scheduled in advance depending on the inmate's housing unit and classification. Call the Detention Office at 215-348-6124 to confirm the scheduling process for the specific individual and housing unit. All visitors must present a valid government-issued photo ID at the facility.
Getting Approved to Visit
First-time visitors will generally need to be pre-approved by being placed on the inmate's approved visitor list. The inmate submits a request to facility staff, and a background check is conducted. Allow several days to a week for first-time approval. Individuals with certain criminal convictions may be denied visitor access. If you were previously denied, contact the facility to understand the process for appeal or reapplication.
Visitor Dress Code
Dress conservatively when visiting. Do not wear clothing that resembles inmate uniforms, revealing or tight-fitting clothing, or excessive accessories. Specific dress code rules are posted at the facility; violations may result in being turned away without a visit. Children must be accompanied by an approved adult at all times.
Sending Mail to Bucks County Corrections Inmates
Inmates at the Bucks County correctional facility can receive mail at the following address:
[Inmate's Full Legal Name]
1730 South Easton Road
Doylestown, PA 18901
Include the sender's full return address on the envelope. All incoming mail is opened and inspected for contraband before delivery. Key mailing rules:
- Use standard white envelopes. No padded mailers, colored envelopes, or decorated envelopes.
- No cash, stamps, stickers, glitter, or loose paper clips in envelopes.
- Photos may be permitted subject to content restrictions — check with the facility for current rules on dimensions and content.
- Books and publications must typically come directly from publishers or approved retailers. Confirm the current policy with the facility.
- Legal mail from attorneys should be clearly marked "Legal Mail" and is handled separately.
If you are unsure about a specific item, call 215-348-6124 before mailing it. Mail that violates policy may be returned or confiscated without notice.
PrisonAssist.com also offers a letter service that professionally formats, prints, and mails your letters to meet facility requirements — a useful option if you're unfamiliar with jail mail rules.
Phone Calls from Bucks County Corrections
Bucks County corrections uses Global Tel Link (GTL) / ConnectNetwork as its inmate telephone service provider. To receive calls from an inmate:
- Visit connectnetwork.com and create an account.
- Fund your account using a credit or debit card.
- Register your phone number with the account.
- When the inmate calls, charges are deducted from your ConnectNetwork balance.
All calls are recorded and monitored except for designated attorney calls. Call duration is typically limited to 15–20 minutes per call. ConnectNetwork also provides a mobile app for account management.
If phone call costs are a concern, PrisonAssist.com can help set up lower-cost calling options that reduce per-minute rates, making it more affordable to stay in regular contact.
Sending Money and Commissary to Bucks County Corrections
Inmates can purchase commissary items — snacks, hygiene products, writing supplies, and phone credits — using funds deposited into their trust account. At Bucks County Corrections, funds can typically be deposited through:
- ConnectNetwork online: The fastest way to send money to your loved one. Visit connectnetwork.com and navigate to the deposit section.
- Lobby kiosk: Cash or card deposits may be available at the facility lobby kiosk.
- Phone deposit: Call ConnectNetwork's customer service number to make a deposit.
Verify accepted deposit methods by calling the Detention Office at 215-348-6124, as vendors and procedures can change. Always save receipts for deposits. Deposits are typically credited within a few hours for online transactions, longer for other methods.
Posting Bail at Bucks County Corrections
After an arrest in Bucks County, charges are logged, warrant status is reviewed, and bail is set in accordance with Pennsylvania law and the court calendar. The bail-setting process generally works as follows:
- Booking: The arrested person is processed, fingerprinted, and formally charged. A preliminary arraignment typically occurs within hours of arrest, often by video before a district magistrate.
- Bail set: The magistrate sets bail based on the charges, criminal history, flight risk, and public safety factors. Bail can range from Release on Recognizance (ROR — no money required) to a specific monetary amount.
- Posting bail: The full bail amount can be posted directly with the jail in cash or certified funds, or a bail bondsman can post a surety bond for a non-refundable premium (typically 10% of the bail amount in Pennsylvania).
- Release: Once bail is posted and processing is complete — typically within a few hours — the individual is released pending trial.
Several licensed bail bond agencies operate in Doylestown and serve Bucks County courts. If you need to find a bondsman, search for "bail bonds Doylestown PA" or contact PrisonAssist.com for referrals. Make sure any bondsman you work with is licensed by the Pennsylvania Insurance Department.
Important: posting bail does not mean the charges are dropped. It only allows the person to be released until their court date. Missing a court appearance will result in the bail being forfeited and a bench warrant issued for arrest.
Programs and Services Inside Bucks County Corrections
Bucks County corrections offers programming aimed at rehabilitation and reentry, even for individuals on shorter stays:
- Educational Programs: GED preparation and adult literacy instruction.
- Substance Abuse Counseling: Individual and group counseling addressing addiction issues that often underlie criminal behavior.
- Mental Health Services: On-site mental health screening and counseling; crisis intervention available.
- Suicide Prevention: The facility operates a dedicated suicide hotline and mental health monitoring system.
- Faith-Based Programming: Chaplaincy services and volunteer-led faith programs across multiple denominations.
- Reentry Services: Assistance with connecting to community resources, housing, and employment programs upon release.
Bucks County in Pennsylvania's Broader Corrections System
Pennsylvania's criminal justice system is divided between county jails (such as Bucks County) for shorter sentences and pretrial detention, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections for those sentenced to 2 years or more. Bucks County's 800-bed facility is mid-sized among Pennsylvania county jails, reflecting the county's large suburban and semi-rural population northeast of Philadelphia. As Pennsylvania continues to work on criminal justice reform — including expanding access to diversion programs and mental health courts — Bucks County has aligned its programming with state-level reentry initiatives.
Support Resources for Families
- Bucks County Corrections Main Line: 215-345-3700
- Detention Office (inmate status, visiting): 215-348-6124
- Fax: 215-340-8485
- ConnectNetwork Phone/Money: connectnetwork.com
- Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network: palegalaid.net
- PrisonAssist.com: Inmate search, letter service, care packages, phone discounts, bail help
Understanding Bucks County's Role in Pennsylvania's Two-Tier System
Pennsylvania divides its corrections system between county jails — like Bucks County — and the state Department of Corrections. County jails handle pretrial detainees and individuals serving sentences of less than two years. The State Prison (PA DOC) handles sentences of 2 years or more. This distinction affects everything: the programs available, the rules for mail and visitation, the agency responsible for supervision, and how bail and parole work.
If your loved one receives a sentence of two years or more in Bucks County, they will likely be transferred from the county facility to a Pennsylvania state prison. This transition can be confusing for families — the new facility will have different visiting hours, different mail rules, and different contact numbers. When a transfer occurs, track the new location using the PA DOC inmate search at cor.pa.gov and update all your contact information in the new system.
Practical Tips for Families Navigating Bucks County Corrections
- Get the booking or inmate ID number. Bucks County assigns each inmate a booking number that is used for lookup, mail, and account deposits. Call the Detention Office at 215-348-6124 to confirm the number.
- Connect with the assigned counselor. Inmates at Bucks County corrections are assigned counselors who handle classification, programming referrals, and in some cases, reentry planning. They are your best institutional contact for substantive questions.
- Understand preliminary hearings and trial timelines. Many people at Bucks County are pretrial detainees whose cases are still moving through the courts. Understanding the preliminary hearing, arraignment, and trial schedule helps you stay informed about what to expect next. Contact the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas at 215-348-6000 for court date information.
- Explore diversion and alternative sentencing options. Bucks County has Drug Court, Mental Health Court, and other diversion programs that can route eligible individuals into treatment instead of incarceration. If you believe your loved one may qualify, speak with their attorney about these options early in the process.
- Plan for reentry before release. Even for short county-jail stays, planning for housing, employment, benefits, and treatment before release day dramatically improves outcomes. Contact Bucks County's Human Services department for local reentry resources.
Legal assistance is available through the Bucks County Public Defender's Office (for those who cannot afford an attorney) and through the Pennsylvania Legal Aid Network at palegalaid.net, which provides civil legal help to low-income individuals navigating housing, benefits, and family matters that often intersect with incarceration.
Inmate service providers at Bucks County PA Department of Corrections
Like most US jails and prisons, the Bucks County, PA, Department of Corrections relies on private companies for phone calls, video visits, money transfers, and care packages, each with its own fees and sign-up steps. Nationwide the most common providers are Securus and ViaPath (GTL) for calls and video, JPay and Access Corrections for sending money, and Access Securepak for care packages.
Not sure which company serves Bucks County PA Department of Corrections? Our inmate service provider directory explains how each one works, what it charges, and how to set up an account before you pay.