The Philadelphia Prison System's Alternative and Special Detention (ASD) unit is a City of Philadelphia detention facility located at 8101 State Road in the Northeast Philadelphia section of the city. ASD is part of the broader Philadelphia Prison System — the city-operated jail network that serves one of the most populous urban counties in the United States. The facility serves individuals who require specialized housing arrangements: those on alternatives-to-incarceration programs, those in protective custody, individuals with classification needs that fall outside standard general-population housing, and those in specific programs. The facility has a listed capacity of approximately 1,162 beds.
Our directory holds over 25,940 historical arrest and booking records associated with the Philadelphia Prison System — a cumulative historical count, not a census of the current population at ASD specifically. The facility can be reached at 215-685-8730 (fax: 215-685-8870), and information about the Philadelphia Prison System is available at www.phila.gov/prisons/.
About the Philadelphia Prison System
Philadelphia's jail system is one of the oldest and most storied city-run correctional systems in the United States. The Philadelphia Prison System encompasses several facilities concentrated on State Road in the Holmesburg section of Northeast Philadelphia — including the Curran-Fromhold Correctional Facility (CFCF), the Riverside Correctional Facility (RCF, which houses women), and the Alternative and Special Detention unit (ASD). The facilities collectively form a campus of correctional institutions serving Philadelphia County.
The system holds pre-trial detainees, people sentenced to terms under two years (which are served in city facilities rather than state prison), individuals awaiting transfer to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, and those serving violations of parole or probation. Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania and has a high volume of arrests, making the prison system a busy and complex operation year-round.
Pennsylvania has a state imprisonment rate of approximately 308 per 100,000 residents, with a prison population of about 39,335 and roughly 31,300 individuals in county and local jails statewide. Philadelphia County accounts for a significant portion of that county detention population — the city's size, density, and economic conditions drive high arrest volumes relative to most other Pennsylvania jurisdictions.
What Is Alternative and Special Detention?
The ASD unit within the Philadelphia Prison System serves several distinct populations that require housing outside the standard general population:
- Alternatives to incarceration: Individuals placed on community monitoring, house arrest, electronic monitoring, or other supervised release programs may be processed through or supervised by ASD rather than held in general population.
- Protective custody: Individuals who face safety risks in general population — for any reason — may be placed in protective custody within the ASD framework.
- Special classification: Individuals with mental health needs, medical considerations, or other factors that require housing adjustments may be placed at ASD.
- Program participants: Some city-run programs that operate within the jail system have their participants housed at ASD.
Because ASD serves diverse populations, the specific rules for visitation, mail, phone access, and commissary may differ from those at CFCF or other standard Philadelphia detention facilities. When in doubt, call the facility directly for current guidelines.
How to Find an Inmate at the Philadelphia Prison System
If someone you know has been arrested in Philadelphia or is in the city jail system, there are several ways to confirm:
- PrisonAssist.com: Search by name to check our records for Philadelphia Prison System entries.
- City of Philadelphia inmate locator: The Philadelphia Prison System provides an online inmate search through the city's official website at www.phila.gov/prisons. Bookings are typically updated within a few hours of intake, though high-volume periods can cause delays.
- Philadelphia Police Department: For very recent arrests, you can also check the Philadelphia Police Department's arrest lookup or call the processing facility directly.
- Phone: Call ASD at 215-685-8730 or the Philadelphia Prison System's general information line. Have the person's full legal name and date of birth ready.
If someone has been sentenced to more than two years in Pennsylvania, they will ultimately transfer to a Pennsylvania DOC intake facility and appear in the PADOC inmate locator rather than the city system. Confirm the sentencing outcome and transfer status if the person has recently been sentenced.
Visitation at Philadelphia ASD
Visitation at Philadelphia's ASD unit depends on the classification of the specific individual you are visiting, as visiting procedures vary across ASD's different housing programs. The general framework:
- Visitor registration: Visitors must register and be approved before their first visit. Registration typically involves submitting personal information through the Philadelphia Prison System's visitor registration process. A background check may be conducted. Do not attempt to visit before receiving confirmation of approval.
- Visiting schedule: Days and hours for ASD visits depend on the specific housing program or classification of the person you are visiting. Confirm the current schedule directly with the facility at 215-685-8730 before traveling.
- Photo ID: All adult visitors must present valid government-issued photo ID at the security checkpoint. Acceptable forms include a current driver's license, state ID, or passport.
- Children: Minor visitors must be accompanied by an approved adult visitor. Additional documentation may be required. Confirm requirements for children in advance.
- Dress code: The Philadelphia Prison System enforces dress codes that prohibit clothing resembling inmate attire, revealing clothing, and clothing with inappropriate content. Confirm the current rules before your visit to avoid being turned away.
- Video visitation: Philadelphia Prison System facilities, including ASD, offer video visitation options — both scheduled in-facility video visits and remote video visits from outside the facility using a tablet or computer. This can be a practical option for visitors who live far from the facility or face logistical challenges with in-person visits.
Sending Mail to Philadelphia ASD
Mail is processed through the Philadelphia Prison System's central mail operation. To ensure your letters and correspondence reach an ASD inmate:
- Address envelopes with the inmate's full committed name, their inmate ID number, and the facility address: 8101 State Road, Philadelphia, PA 19136.
- Use plain white envelopes in standard sizes. Colored envelopes, padded mailers, and envelopes with decorative or metallic interiors are commonly rejected during mailroom screening.
- Write on plain white paper. Avoid stickers, adhesive decorations, and colored paper.
- Photographs are generally permitted within limits — typically up to five, no larger than 4x6 inches, on photo paper, with no inappropriate content. Confirm current photo guidelines with the facility or through the prison system website.
- Do not include cash, gift cards, or money orders in letters — these will be confiscated. Use approved money transfer methods to send funds.
Our letter service formats, prints, and mails letters that comply with Philadelphia Prison System mail standards, reducing the risk of mailroom rejection and ensuring timely delivery.
Phone Calls from Philadelphia Prison Facilities
Outgoing phone calls from Philadelphia Prison System facilities — including ASD — are handled through the city's contracted telephone carrier. Here is how it works:
- Inmates set up a personal phone account and add approved numbers through the carrier's system — typically via in-facility kiosk or the carrier's website.
- Family members can fund a prepaid account through the carrier's website or app for more economical rates than collect calls billed to the receiving number.
- All calls are recorded and monitored, with the exception of attorney-client calls.
- Call length is typically limited — confirm the current maximum with the facility.
Our discounted phone call service lowers per-minute rates so that regular contact is financially manageable for Philadelphia families. No additional setup is required on the inmate's end.
Commissary Deposits and Sending Money
Philadelphia Prison System inmates have access to a commissary where they can purchase approved personal items — hygiene products, snacks, writing materials, and more. To deposit funds into an inmate's account:
- The Philadelphia Prison System uses contracted money transfer services — typically JPay or Access Corrections. Check the current accepted platforms at www.phila.gov/prisons or by calling the facility.
- Deposits can typically be made online, via app, through lobby kiosks at the facility, or by money order by mail. Confirm the current accepted methods before sending funds.
- Allow one to two business days for deposits to reflect in the inmate's account.
Care Packages
Care package programs through approved vendors may be available for Philadelphia Prison System inmates. Whether packages are currently accepted and which vendors are authorized can change. Confirm current policy and vendor information through the prison system's website or by calling ASD at 215-685-8730 before placing any order. Sending packages through non-approved channels will result in refusal at facility intake.
Bail in Philadelphia
Bail in Philadelphia is set at a bail hearing before a Philadelphia Municipal Court bail commissioner or judge, typically within hours of arrest. Pennsylvania uses a risk assessment tool (the Public Safety Assessment) to inform bail recommendations, and courts consider flight risk and public safety factors alongside the assessment. Key points:
- Philadelphia has been at the forefront of cash bail reform nationally. A significant proportion of Philadelphia defendants are released on non-monetary conditions — release on recognizance (ROR) or supervised release — without any cash requirement.
- For cases where money bail is set, a licensed Pennsylvania bail bondsman can post a surety bond for roughly 10% of the bail amount. The bondsman's fee is non-refundable.
- Supervised release programs in Philadelphia allow some individuals to be released under monitoring conditions even where traditional cash bail might have applied.
- For serious charges — homicide, certain violent crimes — bail may be set very high or denied.
If bail has been denied or set very high and you want to contest it, a criminal defense attorney can file a motion for bail review before a judge. Our bail bond service connects you with licensed Pennsylvania bondsmen for cases where a surety bond is the appropriate path.
Pennsylvania DOC vs. Philadelphia Prison System
Understanding the distinction between the Philadelphia Prison System and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections is important for families:
- The Philadelphia Prison System (city jails) holds people sentenced to two years or less, pretrial detainees, and people awaiting transfer.
- The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (state prisons) holds people sentenced to more than two years.
- Someone sentenced to a longer term will typically remain in the city system for several weeks to months before being transferred to a PADOC intake facility. Once transferred, they will appear in the PADOC inmate locator, not the city system.
Confirming which system currently holds your loved one determines which websites, mail addresses, and contact numbers apply.
Philadelphia's Incarceration Context
Philadelphia has been a national leader in criminal justice reform discussions, with progressive district attorneys pursuing lower incarceration rates, expanded diversion programs, and reduced cash bail use. The city's prison population has declined significantly from its peak. At the same time, Philadelphia faces serious challenges around violence, poverty, and substance use that continue to drive justice system contact for many residents. The prison system reflects that tension — large in absolute terms, but significantly smaller per capita than it was a generation ago. For families navigating it, the city's reform landscape offers more alternatives to detention, but also a rapidly evolving set of rules and programs to keep up with.
Programs and Services Within the Philadelphia Prison System
The Philadelphia Prison System offers a range of in-custody programs designed to address the conditions that contribute to repeated criminal justice involvement. These include substance abuse treatment programs, mental health services, GED and adult literacy courses, and workforce readiness programming. Program availability varies by facility and by the classification of the individual — those at ASD in specialized housing may have access to different programs than people in general population housing at CFCF.
For families, asking about available programs during visits or through written communication with facility staff can help ensure a loved one is enrolled in programs that support their well-being and prepare them for release. Program participation can also be a factor in supervision conditions and case outcomes for those whose cases are still pending in court.
Legal Resources for Philadelphia Defendants and Families
Philadelphia has a robust public defense infrastructure. The Defender Association of Philadelphia is the primary public defender organization and is known as one of the strongest in the country. The Pennsylvania Innocence Project handles wrongful conviction cases. Community Legal Services of Philadelphia provides civil legal assistance for low-income residents, which can be critical for people navigating housing, benefits, or family law issues during or after incarceration. The ACLU of Pennsylvania maintains an active prisoners' rights docket. If you have concerns about the conditions of confinement, access to medical care, or other rights issues affecting someone at ASD or another Philadelphia facility, these organizations can guide available legal remedies.
Inmate service providers at Philadelphia Prison System - Alternative & Special Detention
Like most US jails and prisons, Philadelphia Prison System - Alternative & Special Detention 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 Philadelphia Prison System - Alternative & Special Detention? Our inmate service provider directory explains how each one works, what it charges, and how to set up an account before you pay.