Pennsylvania State Jails
Situated in the northeastern area of the United States, Pennsylvania is the 2nd largest of the three Middle Atlantic states and ranks 33rd in size among the 50 states, with a population of 12.6 million people the state is bordered by Delaware on the South East, Maryland and West Virginia on the South, West Virginia and Ohio on the West, New York on the North and North East and by New Jersey on the North East.
Throughout Pennsylvania's 67 counties there are 74 jail facilities with a combined rated capacity of 36,293 inmates. The Department of Corrections conducts jail inspections and enforces mandatory standards compliance.
Total Population:
Population in Jail:
Percentage Ratio:
Depending on sentence length, the Board of Probation and Parole, county agencies and the Bureau of Community Corrections, part of the Department of Corrections, may supervise the state's 186,973 and 72,951 parolees.
The crime rate in Pennsylvania is about 23% lower than the national average rate. Property crimes account for around 85.5% of the crime rate in Pennsylvania which is 25% lower than the national rate. The remaining 11.2% are violent crimes and are about 10% lower than other states.
Pennsylvania has a rate 11% lower than the national average of incarcerated adults per 100,000, their average number of probationers per 100,000 people is 3% higher than the national rate, whilst their average number of parolees per 100,000 people is 58% higher than the national average.
In 2009 taxpayers paid 13% higher ($32,843) than the other states per inmate in comparison to the national average of $28,689.
In Pennsylvania local jails have developed Weekender Community Service Program in an attempt to continue their goal to us jail beds in the most efficient manner available, save tax dollars and allow offenders to maintain adequate employment, they have developed a weekend incarceration program. The program includes a mandatory participation in community service, local government entities, as well as churches and non-profits, have the ability to use offenders in this program for their projects. Activities such as spring cleanup, painting projects and the like are good applications for this program. Agencies can make a request for weekender volunteers by filling out a form which can then be can be faxed or mailed to the Jail. Volunteers are available on a first come, first serve basis.
