Forest County Jail – Tionesta, PA

Forest County Jail is located in Forest County, PA and is the primary correctional facility for that area. Do you know somebody in Forest County Jail? This guide gives you all about everything a person needs to know about Forest County Jailsuch as the following: How to locate an inmate. Find inmate mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and bail bondsmen. Intake procedures and booking. Court information and records. And lots more.

The thought of getting arrested and going to jail is a daunting and scary idea, not only for whoever gets arrested, but also their family and friends. The purpose of this guide is to give advice and information that you’ll need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail a lot easier. If you have a specific question, feel free to ask it in the comment section below, and also any feedback or comments that could be a benefit to others would be much appreciated.

Do you have a family member, loved one, or friend that has gone to jail and want to find them?

Do you know someone who’s been arrested and you want to find out what jail they’re in?

To see who’s in jail at Forest County Jail you will need to navigate to their web site and use the inmate lookup.

The Forest County Jail Inmate Roster is a list of people currently in custody, including status, bail amount, and times you can visit. You can also find information about anybody arrested and processed or released in the last 24 hours. Inmates are listed alphabetically by last name. You can get the information more quickly if you enter their name, date of birth, or inmate ID.

If your friend or family member might be in another jail you will want to look here: Pennsylvania County Jails Directory

A mugshot, also called a jail booking photo, is a photograph that the jail takes during jail intake processing. A mugshot is make of one face photo and a profile picture. Your name and jail booking number will appear on the pictures, and they’re kept on file.

Mugshots of Forest County Jail inmates can be found online, or you can see them in person at the Forest County Jail. When viewing mugshots online you will have to put in the inmate’s name, and a booking date.

Want to have your mugshot erased from the Forest County Jail website? This will be difficult, since the mugshot is public record. To get your mugshot taken down you must file a ‘Petition to Expunge’. Basically, this means that all of your arrest records will be sealed, and will not be accessible. It is difficult to do this, and you will most likely need the services of a lawyer.

For a more in-depth article about getting your mugshot taken down, the different mugshot sites, and the websites that offer to remove your mugshot for you: How To Get Your Mugshot Removed

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Of course, once you’re incarcerated, your primary thought is about how to get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, your bail is set either through a preset bail schedule or a magistrate. If no bail is set this can mean that you will either be free to go until your court date, or you are kept in jail until your court date.

If you do bail out of jail you will have to agree to go to your court date, and you won’t be allowed to leave town.

Typically, inmates at Forest County Jail can earn time off in exchange for good behavior when they respect the rules and don’t cause any problems while in jail.

If you prove to be trustworthy, you may be granted work release. You will be required to return to jail at the end of the day when you’re finished at your job, or you might be permitted to live in a halfway house instead of jail.

Your bail is how much money that you have to pay in order to be released from jail until your court date. The amount you will have to pay all depends on the seriousness of your crime. Someone will have to post 10 percent of the total amount that was determined in order to be released. If you don’t show up for your scheduled court date, whoever posted your bail will lose that money.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail need to call the jail. If you have all the person’s info, such as name, address and date of birth, they’ll tell you what their bail is set at. You can also check their bail amount and status on the jail website.

Needing to bail someone out of jail is no fun, but usually, its really easy if you have the money. First, figure out if their bail is a “Cash Bond Only”. If it is, you can’t use the services of a bondsman. Take cash only to the jail – they can’t accept a personal check. Once you have paid the bond, the person will be discharged. If the conditions of bail are not violated, the bail money you posted will be returned to you.

If bail is set too high, or you just don’t have the money, you will need to use a bail bondsman. Bail bondsmen usually charge a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set by the magistrate, and sometimes have a minimum of $100. The money you pay to the bail bondsman will not be returned to you and bondsmen usually only accept cash. If the bail is exceptionally high, the bondsman will use your personal assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

To contact a local bail bondsman go to: Find a Bail Bondsman in Forest County

Have you ever used a Bail Bondsman for someone you know or yourself? If you have, post a comment below and tell about it, and let us know how it worked out.

Click here to tell your story

• Time Off For Good Behavior
• Work Release
• Released For Time Served
• Get Out on a Pre-Trial Release Program
• Released On House Arrest
• Own Recognizance

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The intake process includes the following steps:

• You will be placed in a waiting area or cell. If the jail is busy, it will take a while to get processed.
• First, have to answer some basic questions, such as what your legal name is, home address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask about your psychological and medical history.
• You will be issued an inmate number.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• All of your personal property will be taken away from you and stored until you get released from jail.
• You will get to make a telephone call so you can talk to a member of your family, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you are expected to be released shortly, you might get to keep wearing your own clothes, otherwise you will have to change into a jail jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through processing at jail? If you have, you should tell your story so other people can learn from your experience. How long did it take to get processed? Were you treated fairly? Do you have any secrets that will help other people that get arrested get through the procedure?

Click here to share your story

When you pay your bail, you will get discharged from jail. Getting discharged can take between 30 minutes to hours or even all day long. In other words the faster you can post bail, the sooner you can get released from jail. Also, it can depend on whether you’ve got a cash bond or if the magistrate must figure out the bail amount. For a minor charge, you will simply be booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you have served out your jail sentence and have a discharge date, you should plan to be discharged that morning.

for your arrest, or if you must begin your sentence in jail, you really should do the right thing and go down to the jail and turn yourself in. For a warrant, report to the jail, in the reception area, and tell someone that think that there is a warrant out for your arrest. They will check to see if you have a warrant, and if they verify that there is a warrant for your arrest, you will be taken into custody. If it is for a jail sentence, go down to the jail on the date and time that the sentence order requires you to. Be very careful that you are not late. Only bring approved items when you turn yourself in, such as a driver’s license or even state issued ID, any prescription medication you might take, and the sentencing order from court.

The inmate must provide each visitor’s name to the jail. Your visitor’s names will be put in the log as an Authorized visit. Every visitor is required to provide proof of identification. Anyone that arrives for visitation late or that does not have a visitation order will not be able to attend visitation.
Visitation procedures change often, so you should double-check the official jail site before you go to visitation.

All phone calls from jail are made through a jail approved pre-paid phone account or phone card . Phone calls made in jail are typically more expensive than phone calls made at home. There are certain restrictions about when and how often you can use the phone, but you should keep in mind that there are a limited number of phones, so all the inmates must share phone time. If you break the rules and are disciplined, phone privileges might get cut back or totally denied.

The Forest County Jail phone number is: (814) 755-3541

Any mail that you send to an inmate has to be mailed using the US Postal Service. You cannot use any other form of mail or package delivery. You should print the person’s name, inmate ID number, and the address of the jail on the letter. Don’t mail anything in a box or package, envelope with padding or insulation, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope containing metal parts. All mail sent to inmates is opened and read and examined by staff, and will get returned if they decide it is inappropriate.

Use this address when sending a letter to someone incarcerated at Forest County Jail:

Forest County Jail
526 Elm Street, Box 9
Tionesta, PA 16353

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Forest County Jail
526 Elm Street, Box 9
Tionesta, PA 16353

The inmate mail policy at Forest County Jail is always changing, so we suggest that you double check the official website when you send a letter to an inmate.

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If you have been arrested, you have rights, one of these being that you have the right to request a lawyer. You are only allowed to make so many phone calls in jail, so make sure to have a friend or relative locate an attorney when you talk to them. You may be thinking ‘but do I really need an attorney’ While you are not required to have one, a criminal attorney will make sure you know your rights, help protect your interests and help you navigate through the court system in your county. The sooner you hire a lawyer to represent you and work on your criminal case, the better.

For more information about this, read: How to Find an Attorney in Forest County

If you are in trouble, but can’t afford a lawyer, you will be assigned a public defender. In addition, the Public Defender’s Office has access to investigators, experts in forensics and social case workers. All Public Defenders are licensed attorneys who are members of the Pennsylvania State Bar and are legally licensed to practice law in Pennsylvania.

Have you or someone you know used a court appointed attorney or Public Defender? Do you think they properly handled your case?

All court records are public records and are available upon request. Court records include a file with a docket sheet and all of the motions, documents, and evidence that have been filed in the case. You have the ability to access the records and documents in your court case with the website, or by going to the Clerk’s office of the Court.

A Clerk of Court is an officer and clerk of the court who maintains the records. The Clerk of Court also administer the oath for anyone testifying in court, and read the jury’s verdict. All records, documents, and evidence from your court case are maintained at the Forest County Clerk of Court.

Court fees are the fees and charges associated with your court case, such as for example filing charges, motion and claim fees, and court appearance fees. If you don’t have the money to pay these fees and have a Public Defender, you may get out of having to pay them.

The Forest County magistrate acts as the judge who presides on your court case. Magistrate judges do many different things, which include determining how much your bail will be, issuing arrest warrants, and overseeing preliminary and procedural court proceedings and detention proceedings.

Your pre-sentencing report is prepared to include information about your background and information about the arrestee’s life and history, which the magistrate will review and take into consideration when determining your sentence. Information and personal details will be solicited from the person on trial, his or her family members, and in some cases the victim in the crime. Bear in mind you are allowed to request to receive a copy of the report before you are sentenced, so you can correct the mistakes.

When you are convicted of a crime, you will be sentenced. The presiding judge in your case will weigh several options when determining your sentence, which include community service, house arrest, and probation, to even incarceration in jail or prison. Depending on the severity of the crime, you could be immediately taken into custody, or you might be given a date to go to jail to do your time.

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Do you need to find out if some you know is incarcerated, or has gone to jail in the past?

This is pretty simple to do, just just access the jail website and do an inmate search, and search by:

• Their name.
• Birthdate.
• Their booking date if you know it.
• or jail ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail, you can also call the jail find out if they’ve been arrested.

If you believe you have an outstanding warrant, you can find out by checking the arrest warrants on the Forest County jail website or call the jail. This requires a first and last name. Or, you can just go the jail in person and inquire at the information desk. Keep in mind that if there is an arrest warrant out for you, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you know a person’s name, and their arrest date, contact the Forest County jail, by phone, go there in person, or look online. An arrest is in the public record and the information is available to anyone.

Civil processes are when someone has been served with papers, like warrants. You can find these by going to the Forest County Sheriff’s office, either by phone or through their website.

All convicted sex offenders have to be registered on both a national and state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted in a court of law of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access these offenders on the internet, but bear in mind that you will not be able to get the actual address, rather the block they live on.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. They include a case file that contains a docket and any documents filed in your court case. You can access your court records on the internet, or at the clerk’s office of the court where the case was filed.

Each and every state maintains a record of people’s criminal past. These online databases are connected and you can track criminal convictions from another state. Go to the Forest County Courthouse and make an inquiry, or check online. It is helpful to know the county, and if the crime was in a totally different state, you might have to pay for a more intensive search.

A search of someone’s criminal history you will be able to get a listing of all the arrests, charges, or convictions for these crimes:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug crimes like possession or trafficking.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes.
• Theft, breaking and entering.

If you do a criminal records check, usually won’t see if someone has had any:

• Tickets for speeding.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Accidents.
• Minor infractions or moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

To search for this kind of information, you must do a search for their driving record.

Have you ever had to look for criminal records online? Was it easy? Was your search online or did you make a phone call to the local courthouse? Was it correct? There are many reasons that people search for criminal backgrounds and records, and your account could make it easier for others.

Click here to tell about all about it

Most Wanted

On a Federal level, the FBI has a list of the Ten Most Wanted Criminals. In Forest County, the Forest County Sheriff’s Department keeps their own list of most wanted criminals and fugitives.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of being incarcerated in the Forest County jail is no fun, you will soon get used to the daily routine there. You should expect an alarm for wake-up every morning at 6:00AM, and next you’ll have roll call. Then you will get breakfast. When you finish breakfast you will have to work in the work program or other activity that you are assigned. This could be working in the kitchen, laundry, or some sort of manufacturing job. While this may seem tedious, it may help you when you leave jail, as you are gaining experience in a certain field of work. Other inmates go to school, while some take part in mandated treatment programs. After lunch, there will be another roll call, then back to work. Your evening will be spent either in your cell or a common room. During this time dinner is served and you will be expected to take a shower. After another roll call, it’s lights out. Even though you will be confined to your cell, there may be enough light to read or write letters. Then again, most inmates welcome lights out, and try to get as much sleep as they can.

Most people are frightened at the idea of jail because they don’t know what to expect. If you have spent any time in Forest County Jail, your experiences would be welcomed, if it can help another person to deal with it.

Dress Code

When incarcerated, all inmates are expected to wear the Forest County Jail uniform. This is normally a jumpsuit or scrubs. Of note to anyone visiting an inmate – you must be properly dressed. Any clothing considered inappropriate will not be permitted.

How To Send Money to an Inmate

You will have your own ‘bank account’ while in jail. This money is used to purchase items from the Commissary. Family and friends can deposit money into this account for you, and any money you earn while in prison will also be deposited into your account. Outside money can be paid in to your account via a money order, cash or check. If someone sends a check or money order, make sure that they write your inmate ID on it. The maximum amount you are allowed in your account is $290 per month.

The procedure to send funds to jail inmates could change, so review the the Forest County Jail website when you send money to an inmate there.


Commissary

The commissary is the jail store. You can purchase a number of things here, such as toiletries, snacks and writing supplies. Bear in mind that you will probably want to use the commissary daily, and any infractions will get that privilege taken away from you.

Inmate Medications

If you are on any type of prescription medication, you will be allowed to continue taking it while in jail. When you are first processed, you will be asked what medication you take. You will then be referred to the jail nurse or doctor who will be in charge of monitoring your health and prescribing your medication.

Meals

You will get three meals a day: breakfast, lunch and dinner. As expected, they are very basic, but healthy. A typical breakfast might be cereal, toast, coffee and fruit. Lunch might be spaghetti, salad, bread and milk. Dinner could be chicken casserole, rice, vegetables, dessert and milk. Contrary to popular belief, prison food has greatly improved over the years, and you might find that it’s not much different from what you would eat at home.

Pods / The Yard

The jail is designed in a ‘pod’ layout, with self-contained housing arranged around an outdoor yard. Each pod has a central control station and a common room, and the inmates take turns in using the yard. The jail is designed this way to keep certain inmates together, and others away from the general population.

Gangs

As with life in general, gangs are a part of prison life. Obviously it is best to avoid becoming a part of this environment as it will only lead to trouble. When you first enter prison, you might find yourself being ‘primed’ to join a gang, or worse, you might get their attention in a negative way. The best thing to do is keep your head down and don’t get involved.


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News and Media

News

Photos / Pictures

Videos


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Jobs

Types of Jobs at Forest County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Forest County Jail, overseeing the day to day operations and administration of the jail. An inmate is unlikely to have much interaction with the Deputy Sheriff, unless they have committed an infraction. Detention Officers are responsible for the custody and care of the inmates. They maintain order in the jail, and handle security. A Detention Officer is assigned to a certain pod, and therefore is responsible for the same inmates each day. They get to know the inmates on a certain level and are well equipped to handle any problems that may occur.

Apply for a Job at Forest County Jail

Requirements:

• You have to be over the age of 21.
• You have to possess a High School Diploma or GED
• You have to be a US Citizen.
• You have to pass a Criminal, Credit and Driving History background check.
• You have to pass a drug test.
• You have to have a good level of fitness.
• You have to be in good health.
• You have to have a valid Driver’s License
• An applicant for Deputy Sheriff must possess a Law Enforcement Certification.


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Family Resources

There are resources for families of both the perpetrator of the crime and the victim. The social and emotional impact of crime is far reaching, affecting many. Families can receive professional counseling, court related assistance, social services assistance and help in navigating the criminal justice system.

If you are a family member, which resources did you find to be particularly helpful? Please let us know, as this will be helpful to other families in the same situation.

Click here to share your story


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Victim Resources

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.

Victim’s Rights

The Victim Rights Act grants victims the following rights:

• Victims have the right to protection from the accused.
• Victims have the right to notification.
• Victims have the right to attend proceedings.
• Victims have the right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• Victims have the right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• Victims have the right to restitution.
• Victims have the right to a speedy trial.
• Victims have the right to be treated with fairness, dignity and respect.

The definition of victim includes:

• Spouses and children of all victims.
• Parents and guardians of minor victims.
• Parents, guardians and siblings of mentally or physically incapacitated victims or victims of homicide.
• Foster parents or other caregivers, under certain circumstances.

There are a number of services and programs designed to help victims and their families. You can find out about these services by contacting the courthouse, or local law enforcement agency.

Victim Notification

The Department of Justice Victim Notification System (VNS) is a system that provides victims with information pertaining to their case and/or any defendants in the case. You will receive a Victim Identification Number (VIN) and a Personal Identification Number (PIN) that will allow you to access VNS via the internet or by phone. Here, you will find information about future court hearings, historical court events, and detailed information about the defendant. This will include criminal charges filed, the outcome of charges, sentence imposed, custody location, projected release date and any other release information. The VNS website is updated daily. You will also receive any ongoing information by mail or email.

Have you, a family member or friend ever used the Victim Notification System? If so, was it effective? Did you get the information in a timely manner? Was the system difficult to use? We would like to hear from you, so please post any comments here.

Click here to post a comment

Sex Offender Information and Search

All people registered as sex offenders are registered on either a national or state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You can access this information online, but bear in mind that you will not get the exact address, rather the block that they live on.

Domestic Violence

If you or someone you know is a victim of domestic violence, there are services to help you. Your county will have a Domestic Violence Services office. They provide free and confidential services, such as emergency shelter information, legal advocacy, support groups and domestic violence education. They will work to help you create a safe and violence-free life, and heal from the trauma of abuse.

Important Note: If you, or someone you know, are in immediate danger, call 911.


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Reviews

Reviews of this Jail

Have you ever been a prisoner at this jail? Do you have a family member or friend there? Have you ever visited someone at Forest County Jail?

If so, then we would like you to write your review about it. Write about what you experienced because others can learn what to expect.

Things you might want to put in the review:

• Conditions at the jail.
• Jail and pod facility and layout
• Staff and guards
• Commissary and food
• Visitation
• Inmates.
• Safety
• Jail gangs
• Prisoner programs and activities


Write a review about Forest County Jail

Tell Your Story

Anyone who’s been in jail has some stories about their time ‘inside’. Why were you locked up? Were you mistreated? What was it like in jail? What were the other inmates like? How did going to jail affect your life?

Click here to post a comment

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Did you meet some cool folks in jail? Are you trying to reconnect with a person you met in jail? Say hello here, just leave a message below.

Send a message to people incarcerated at Forest County Jail


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