What Happens During Your Loved One's First 10 Days at Dauphin County Prison

At Dauphin County Prison, your loved one moves into the Classification Unit as soon as the Booking Officer finishes processing them. Think of it as the facility's formal settling-in period: staff gather information and decide where the person will be housed next. They can stay in the Classification Unit for up to ten days after commitment - weekends and holidays don't count. That's why the first week or two can feel so slow from your end. Even if several calendar days have passed, your loved one may still be in that initial unit.

During classification, your loved one goes through several intake steps. These help the prison determine appropriate housing and address basic needs. Expect a physical exam, interviews with a chaplain or religious volunteer and an intake worker, and sometimes contact with outside agencies connected to their case (pre-trial services or supervision offices, for example). Those first days aren't really about settling into a routine. They're about being evaluated, interviewed, and assigned to the right housing unit.

You can still support your loved one during those first days, but follow the prison's mail rules closely - otherwise your letter will get sent back. As of May 2021, incoming personal letters must be mailed to the designated mail processing address. They're scanned there, then delivered to the inmate's tablet. If you send personal mail directly to the facility instead of through the processing center, it will be returned to you. Many families want to write right away. Just double-check that you're using the correct processing address before you drop it in the mailbox.

• ✓ Deposit funds by placing a money order in the drop box at the Prison’s front entry (include the inmate’s proper name and DCP# on the money order).
• ✓ Deposit funds at the kiosk in the main lobby of the Prison (it accepts cash or credit).
• ✓ Deposit funds online by creating an account through ConnectNetwork and selecting “Dauphin County Prison” when you set it up.

Want answers directly from prison staff? Dauphin County Prison holds quarterly Friends and Families meetings. The facility's posted schedule lists 2025 meeting dates, and meetings are held in the Central Court hearing room from 5:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.

If you don't hear from your loved one right away, don't panic. Dauphin County Prison doesn't provide personal calls or long-distance calls to inmates. Verified emergencies - hospitalizations, deaths - are handled case-by-case. Because of this, writing is the main way people stay in touch. While your loved one is in classification and visits aren't allowed yet, sending a letter the right way and making sure they have funds available (if you're able) are usually the most practical things you can do while you wait out the intake process.