Thank you for trying AMP!
You got lucky! We have no ad to show to you!
SCI Chester is for State Prison offenders sentenced anywhere from one year to life by the State Court in the county where the charges were filed
All prisons and jails have Security or Custody levels depending on the inmate’s classification, sentence, and criminal history. Please review the rules and regulations for State - medium facility.
The phone carrier is Securus Tech®, to see their rates and best-calling plans for your inmate to call you.
If you are seeking to send your inmate money for commissary, one recommended for this facility is JPAY - Pennsylvania SCI There is a fee for sending money, see their rates and limitations.
If you are unsure of your inmate's location, you can search and locate your inmate by typing in their last name, first name or first initial, and/or the offender ID number to get their accurate information immediately Registered Offenders
Located at 500 E 4th St in Chester, PA, SCI Chester carefully assigns inmates based on their custody level, considering factors like criminal history. SCI Chester offers diverse educational and vocational programs aimed at equipping offenders for successful reintegration into society and reducing recidivism. Through these initiatives, inmates gain skills and confidence, fostering personal growth and resilience.
When someone you care about ends up in a state prison, it can be tough to navigate the ins and outs of the system. From figuring out how to stay in touch to understanding what you can do to make their time easier, it can feel overwhelming. That's where this webpage comes in handy. It's here to help you get the lowdown on SCI Chester so you can stay connected and support your loved one during their time inside.
Communication is important, the prison offers a phone program for outbound calls only, with inmates unable to receive incoming calls. Accepting collect calls can be expensive, sometimes exceeding $10 per call. Click here for discounts on inmate calls, especially if the communication with your inmate is frequent. It's important to remember that all phone calls are recorded, and discussing sensitive legal matters over these lines is discouraged.
While incarcerated, reading is often the best use of time. Please note that books and magazines, puzzles, and word searches ordered for inmates must come directly from the publisher. This policy ensures that the items are new, untampered, and comply with the facility's regulations. Prisons and jails enforce this rule to prevent the introduction of contraband or prohibited materials. By restricting orders to publishers, the facility can better maintain security and control over the content entering the institution. Any books or magazines not received directly from the publisher will be rejected and not delivered to the inmate. You may, however, send letters and selfies to inmates with this easy-to-use app, packages starting at only $8.00.
SCI Chester, a medium-security prison constructed with a focus on inmates with a substance abuse history, boasts innovative design and programming aimed at providing comprehensive substance abuse treatment both within the institution and in community corrections centers. Its mission is to deliver quality treatment to over 1,000 offenders annually through the Therapeutic Community (TC) model, leveraging a consortium approach involving public and private agencies to ensure treatment while prioritizing public safety.
As the 24th state correctional institution in Pennsylvania, SCI Chester stands out for its unique architectural structure and programmatic design, featuring housing units known as pods, a pioneering move in correctional facility design during the 1980s. It also holds the distinction of being the first tobacco-free facility in the Commonwealth.
Covering 9 acres within the perimeter and 4.77 acres outside, with 9 buildings inside and 1 outside the perimeter, SCI Chester encompasses 14 housing units consisting of cells. The facility operates with a staff complement of 399 individuals overseeing its programs and operations, as detailed in the current population report.
Academic programs include basic education classes, literacy skills, G.E.D. preparation, and English as a Second Language (E.S.L.), along with vocational training in barbering, carpentry, and HVAC. Counseling services cover various areas such as alternative to violence and sex offender programming.
SCI Chester's substance abuse treatment program, a collaborative effort between the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections and Community Education Centers, Inc. (CEC), targets inmates with a substance abuse history, providing rehabilitative services. Operated by CEC, the program offers multiple levels of care, including Therapeutic Communities (TCs), with five sites catering to different needs, including opioid addiction and Spanish-speaking offenders.
Additionally, ancillary services offered by CEC cater to special needs offenders, with programs focusing on violence prevention and intervention for domestic violence-related offenders. Among the unique inmate programs at SCI Chester is WAGS, a rescue-based dog training program, highlighting the facility's commitment to innovative rehabilitation methods.
SCI Chester maintains a database of current inmates and their locations within the system. To locate an inmate, begin by using the DOC locator tool, which requires entering the first three letters of the inmate's first and last name, allowing for variations in spelling.
If unable to locate the desired information through free resources, users may opt to use the Arrest Record Search, which requires payment. While this option incurs a small fee, it provides access to the most up-to-date data available.
In-person visitation is available at all DOC facilities. Some visiting rules have changed, so please be sure to read this entire page and check out the updated Visiting Rules page, as well as the Visitor Guide before scheduling an in-person visit with an incarcerated loved one. This page also contains instructions on how to schedule a no-cost video visit.
All in-person visits must be scheduled online at least three days in advance.
Video visitation is a free service offered to inmates and authorized visitors. All inmates are eligible to participate. Rules for video visits are generally the same as those for in-person visits at a facility. All non-legal video visits are monitored and recorded. Please review our detailed Visitor Guide prior to your visit.
If you are an attorney, legislator or other professional visitor:
