Who the DOC Will Talk To, How to Report an Emergency, and Tracking an Inmate’s Location
If you need information about someone in Pennsylvania DOC custody, or you have an urgent family situation, the rules can feel strict. Here's how DOC communication works, who to contact in an emergency, and how to track transfers or releases for free.
Pennsylvania DOC policy is strict about who staff can talk to about an incarcerated person. DOC employees will only share inmate information with the one person the inmate has designated as next-of-kin. That means even close family members (a parent, a spouse) may not be able to get updates if they're not the designated person, even when the situation feels urgent. If your family is trying to coordinate communication, find out who is listed as next-of-kin first. Otherwise, calls to the facility can turn into dead ends.
If you need to inform an inmate about a death in the family or another emergency, reach out to the inmate's counselor, unit manager, or the prison chaplain. These are the people DOC directs families to contact when you need an urgent message passed along.
Note: If you are not the designated next-of-kin, staff may be limited in what they can share with you. Be ready to explain your relationship to the inmate and provide any verification they ask for.
You don't have to keep calling the prison to find out where someone is housed. Pennsylvania Statewide Automated Victim Information and Notification (PA SAVIN) and VINELink let anyone look up an inmate's location and get status updates on transfers and releases.
- Start with PA SAVIN or VINELink: Use either service as your starting point for location and status monitoring.
- Search for the person: Look them up using the details the system accepts (commonly a name or an offender identifier).
- Set your notifications: Follow the prompts to choose how you want to receive updates, so you are alerted when the person’s status changes (such as a transfer or release).
Tip: PA SAVIN and VINELink are both free. If you'd rather get automatic alerts instead of checking manually, sign up and turn notifications on.
For victim rights and resources, you can contact the Office of Victim Advocate (OVA) toll-free at 800.563.6399.
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- ✓ Confirm who is designated as next-of-kin (if you can, ask the incarcerated person directly).
- ✓ If there is a death in the family or a serious emergency, contact the inmate’s counselor, unit manager, or the prison chaplain.
- ✓ Before you call, have your relationship and basic identifying details ready in case staff need to verify who you are.
Note: The process for changing the next-of-kin designation isn't spelled out publicly. If you need to update it, call the facility directly and ask what steps are required.
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