Pennsylvania

How to contact an inmate at Luzerne County Prison

Last Updated on May 21, 2023

A friendly help guide for Luzerne County Prison. Learn how to find an inmate and send letters, photos, and more.

How to contact an inmate at Luzerne County Prison

This help guide will walk you through how to connect with an inmate. Follow the steps below to find an inmate and send letters and photos:

  1. How to find an inmate online
  2. How to message an inmate
  3. Sending photos and postcards
  4. Frequently asked questions about Luzerne County Prison
  5. Overview of Luzerne County Prison
  6. Inmate services at Luzerne County Prison

Here's a short video on how to contact an inmate at Luzerne County Prison:

How to message an inmate

How to message an inmate at Luzerne County Prison

You can use your phone or computer to send emails letters, and photos to an inmate. Messages are sent electronically to inmate tablets or kiosks at the facility. If you would like to send an message, start by searching for an inmate at Luzerne County Prison .

Sending Photos and Postcards

How to send photos and postcards to Luzerne County Prison

A great way to send love and support to loved one at Luzerne County Prison is to send photos and postcards. It only takes a few minutes to send photos from your phone and it makes a huge difference. You can also mail postcards with words of support and inspiration, or design your own postcard for special moments like birthdays and holidays.

Important! Be sure not to send any explicit photos or they may not be approved by the facility. You can also use a photo printing app like Penmate to make sure your photos are printed at the correct size (4x6 or 3x5) and are mailed according to the rules and regulations of Luzerne County Prison.

Frequently asked questions about Luzerne County Prison

  1. How long does it take to deliver a message?

    If you're sending an email message your letter is usually delivered within 24-48 hours. For messages sent via mail you should expect delivery within 3-7 days. All messages will need be approved by Luzerne County Prison.

  2. How much does it cost to send a message to Luzerne County Prison?

    You can send a message free using your phone or mail a message via USPS for the price of a $0.60 stamp and envelope. You can also purchase credits or e-stamps from services starting at $1.99.

  3. What services can I use to contact an inmate at Luzerne County Prison?
    Penmate

    You can use Penmate to send letters and photos to an inmate from your phone. It's a easy way to stay in touch during your loved one's incarceration. Use the inmate locator to find an inmate's location and contact information, then you can send messages within a few minutes.

    Securus messaging

    Securus may be another option for communicating with an inmate at Luzerne County Prison. You can create a friends and family account and purchase credits to send messages. All messages will be reviewed and must be approved by the facility.

    JPay

    Some county jails and state prisons may support for sending messages with JPay. You must register an account with the system, find your loved one, and purchase stamps to send messages. For some locations you can also attach photos.

    Smart Jail Mail

    You may also check if Smart Jail Mail is available at Luzerne County Prison. Smart Jail Mail is operated by Smart Communications and has contracted with some state and county jails. After purchasing credits, your messages and photos are sent to the facility, printed out, and then handed out to your loved one.

  4. What is the mailing address of Luzerne County Prison?
    Mailing address:

    Luzerne County Prison
    99 Water St
    Wilkes-Barre , PA 18702
    (570) 825-1590

Overview of Luzerne County Prison

Luzerne County Prison is a correctional facility located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. It was first opened in 1867, and since then, it has undergone several renovations and expansions to accommodate its increasing inmate population. The prison is designed to house pretrial detainees, criminal offenders sentenced to terms of less than two years, and individuals awaiting transfers to other correctional facilities.

As of 2021, Luzerne County Prison has a capacity of 506 inmates, and it is managed by an appointed prison board consisting of the Luzerne County Sheriff, the President Judge of the Pennsylvania County Court, and the County District Attorney. Inmates are categorized based on the severity of their offenses, with maximum, medium, and minimum custody levels. The prison offers various rehabilitation and educational programs to aid offenders in being self-sufficient after release, such as literacy development, culinary arts, and reentry planning.

Luzerne County Prison has been the subject of numerous controversies over the years, with allegations of prisoner abuse, poor living conditions, and problematic leadership. In 2009, Luzerne County was at the center of a federal corruption case, known as the "Kids for Cash" scandal. It involved two judges receiving kickbacks in exchange for placing juvenile first-time offenders into privately-owned juvenile detention centers, leading to their sentences being more punitive and longer than the offensives warranted. As a result, both judges were convicted and sentenced to federal prison, and certain inmates affected were granted new hearings.

What services are provided by Luzerne County Prison?

Luzerne County Prison located in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania provides various programs and services designed to help improve the lives of inmates during and after their incarceration experience. The primary mission of the Prison is to ensure that they contribute to public safety by providing a secure and safe environment for the inmates in holding and changes adverse behavior through services and programs.

One of the most-used services at Luzerne County Prison is the jail's clinical services, which offer psychiatric counseling, along with individual mental health, and conflict resolution counseling. The counseling programs help rehabilitate inmates, thus assisting them in transitioning back into society at the end of their sentence or applying improvements while inside. Attached to the Counseling programs, the Jail also gives Anti-victimization, abusive behavior training collaboration with ADAPT (Association of All Hazards Group Level Training), drug rehab awareness training, life skills and educational training to works towards ensuring inmates remember not how to end back there based on bad addiction habits.

Moreover, to lessen the prisoner's disadvantages in terms of financial challenges mostly while entering inmate's status as unemployed. Inmates can enroll in GED courses designed to lead to equivalent high school graduation, earn their diagnostic format of college degrees while studying easier yet creative ways of Community agriculture courses to diversify quality lifestyle practices like safe farming inclusive practices Farmers cooperatives direct and mandatory labor engagement
For refugees, Correction orientations prior judge call interventions Program. Transportation options are also available when it comes to communication to inmates “a gateway that acquaints the inmate interested and their release aid” linking them to bonds beforehand their dated installment. 

To sum up, these services and several others provided in Luzerne County Prison play a critical role not only in addressing the needs of inmates in custody but providing ways to lead