Mercer County Jail – Mercer, PA

Mercer County Jail is in Mercer County, Pennsylvania and is the main correctional facility for that area. Do you know somebody in jail at Mercer County Jail? This guide will tell you info about everything you might need to know about Mercer County Jail,like the following: Find out who’s in jail at Mercer County Jail? How to view Mercer County Jail mugshots. The jail’s phone number and address. Bail and bail bondsmen. Intake procedures. Court records. And much more…

The prospect of going to jail is a scary and stressful thought, not only for the person who gets arrested, but also that person’s family and friends. This guide is meant to give info you need to make helping a friend or family member get out of jail easier. If you have questions, please feel free to ask it, and any tips or comments that might be beneficial to others is much appreciated.

Do you know someone that has gone to jail and don’t know how to contact them?

Has a friend or family member that’s been arrested and you need to find out what jail they’re in?

To see who’s in jail at Mercer County Jail you need to go to their web site and perform an inmate lookup.

The Mercer County Jail Inmate List is an online list of persons who have been arrested and are in jail, including current status, how much their bail is, and times you can visit. Also, you are able to get info for anyone who has been arrested or released in the last 24 hours. Inmates are listed alphabetically by their last name. You can find the information faster if you have their full name, birth date, or inmate ID Number.

If the person you’re searching for may be in another county jail you can look here: Other Jails in Pennsylvania

A mugshot, also called a jail intake photo, is a photo that the police take when you get processed at jail intake. A mugshot is made up of one full face photo and a side picture. Your name and booking number will be on the pictures, and they will be on file.

Mugshots of inmates are on the Mercer County Jail website, or you can see them at the Mercer County Jail. When you search for mugshots on the website you need to input their name, and a booking date, if you know it.

Trying to figure out how to get your mugshot taken down from the Mercer County Jail site? This can be tricky, as your mugshot is a matter of public record. To get your mugshot removed you must file a Petition to Expunge with the court. What this means is that all of your arrest records will be sealed, and will not be available to the public. 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 removed, the various websites with mugshots, and the mugshot removal services: How To Get Your Mugshot Taken Down

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Naturally, once you’re incarcerated, your main thought is about how to get out. After you’ve gone through the intake process, bail will be set by a special judge called a magistrate. If there is no bail set this may mean that you will either get released, pending trial, or you must remain in jail until your trial.

If you do bail out of jail you must promise to go to your court date, and you won’t be permitted to leave the area.

Usually, inmates at Mercer County Jail can earn an early release in exchange for good behavior if they don’t break the rules and act right while they’re in jail.

If you follow the rules, you may be allowed to do work release. You will be required to go back to the jail at the end of the day when you’re finished working, or you may be permitted to move into a halfway house instead of living at the jail.

Your bail is the amount of money that you will be required to pay to get out of jail until you go to court. Your bail amount is determined by the seriousness of your charges. You or someone you know will have to pay to the courts 10 percent of the total that was determined before you can be released from jail. If you don’t show up for your court date, the person that paid your bail will lose that money.

To find out how much bail money you will need to bail someone out of jail must call the jail. If you have all the pertinent information, like name, address and date of birth, they will let you know the bail amount. You can also find out how much their bail is on the Mercer County Jail site.

Posting bail to get out of jail is never fun, but in some cases, it is easy if you have the money. To start with, figure out if it is a “Cash Bond Only”. If it is, you won’t be able to use the services of a bail bondsman. Cash only – they will not accept a check. When you’ve paid bail, the prisoner will be discharged. If the conditions of bail are not violated, you’ll get your money back.

If bail is set too high, or you just don’t have the money, you should look into the services of a bail bondsman. Bondsmen will generally charge you a fee of 10 to 15 percent of the total amount of bail set by the magistrate, and usually have a minimum fee of $100. The amount you pay to the bondsman is non-refundable and the bondsman only accepts cash. If their bail has been set particularly high, the bail bondsman will usually require that they use assets as collateral in addition to the fee they charge.

You can find a local bail bondsman click here: Bail bondsman

Have you ever had to use a bail bondsman for yourself, a family member or friend? If you have, please share your experience in a comment below, and let us know how things turned out.

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• Early Release For Good Behavior
• Work Release Programs
• Released For Time Served
• Pre-Trial Release Programs
• House Arrest
• Be Released on Your Own Recognizance

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The jail intake procedure is made up of each of these steps:

• They’ll put you in a holding cell. If the jail is really busy, you will have to wait, sometimes for many hours, before you get processed.
• The first thing you will have to is you must answer some basic questions, like your full legal name, street address, date of birth and a contact person.
• They’ll also ask about your medical and psychological history.
• You will be given an inmate ID.
• Your fingerprints will be taken.
• You will have your mugshot taken.
• Any property you have will be taken away from you and will be stored until you are released.
• They will let you make a phone call in order to call a member of your family, friend, or bail bondsman.
• If you are expected to be released quickly, you might get to keep wearing street clothes, if not you will be given a jail issued jumpsuit.

Have you ever been arrested and gone through the jail intake procedure? If you have, please share your experience so others can benefit from your story. How long did it take to get through intake? How were you treated? Can you share any things that will help others get through jail intake?

Click here to share your story

When you post bail, you will be discharged from jail. The discharge process will take anywhere between 30 minutes to all day long. In simple terms, the faster you can post bail, the sooner you will get let go. Also, it will depend on whether you’ve been given a bond amount or if the magistrate still needs to decide on the amount of bail to be set. For minor offenses, you will simply be booked and then released on your recognizance without having to pay bail. When you get to the end of your sentence and are given a discharge date, expect to get released in the morning.

out against you, or if you need to report to start a sentence, you really should do the right thing and go down to the jail and turn yourself in. In the case of an outstanding warrant, go down to the jail, in the reception area, and tell the intake officer that believe that there could be an outstanding warrant for your arrest. They will do a record check, and if they verify that you have one, you will be taken into custody. If it is for a jail sentence, report at the time and date that the sentence order states. Ensure that you are not late. Only bring approved items when you turn yourself in, like your driver’s license or even your ID, any prescription medication you might take, along with your doctor’s prescription, and a copy of the sentencing order.

To have visitors, you have to give each visitor’s full name to the jail in advance. Your visitor’s information will be entered into a Visiting log for the inmate. Every visitor is required to provide identification. Anyone that arrives for visitation late or any visitors that are not approved to visit will not be allowed to visit the inmate.
Visitation procedures at Mercer County Jail are always changing, so you should visit 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 . Calls made in jail are much more expensive than phone calls made outside of jail. Phone calls are restricted on when and how often you can use the phone, but bear in mind lots of people want to use the phone – so you have to share. If you break the jail rules, an inmate’s phone privileges might get reduced or eliminated completely.

The Mercer County Jail phone number is: (724) 662-6135

All mail has to be sent using the US Postal Service. You must not use any other method of delivery. You have to clearly write or type the prisoner’s name, inmate number, and the jail address on the outside of the letter that you send. Do not send anything in a box or package, envelope with padding, plastic or paper bag, or an envelope with metal inside. Any mail is opened and examined and read by the officers at the jail, and will be sent back if it can’t be delivered.

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

Mercer County Jail
205 South Erie Street
Mercer, PA 16137

Here is how you should address the letter:

[INMATE’S FULL NAME]
[INMATE ID]
Mercer County Jail
205 South Erie Street
Mercer, PA 16137

The Mercer County Jail mail policy changes frequently, so check the the Mercer County Jail website when you send a letter to an inmate there.

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When you’ve been arrested, you still have certain rights, one of these being your right to request an attorney. You only get so many phone calls when you get arrested, so it is important to have a friend or family member locate a lawyer when you call. You might be asking yourself ‘do I really need an attorney?’ You are not required to have an attorney for some criminal charges, a criminal attorney can advise you of your rights, look after your best interests and help you navigate through the legal system in Mercer County. The sooner you hire an attorney to represent you and work on your case, the better your chances.

For more info on this subject, click: How to Find a Lawyer

If you’ve been arrested and cannot afford a lawyer, a Public Defender will be assigned to you. The Public Defender is staffed by private investigators, experts in forensics as well as social workers. Public Defenders are real attorneys who are members of the Pennsylvania State Bar and are completely licensed to practice law.

Have you or someone you know used the services of a Public Defender? Are you happy with how they handled your case?

Mercer County court records are a matter of public record. Court records include a court case file containing a sheet called a docket sheet and all documents filed during your court case. You are able to access court records with the internet service, or by going to the Mercer County Clerk of Court.

The Mercer County Clerk of Court is a member of the court who manages the records. They also administer the oath for any court participant who must be under oath, and also read the verdict when delivered by the jury. All records and documents from your case are kept and available to you at Clerk of Court.

Court fees are the fees and charges associated with your court case, for example filing fees, motion fees and various court charges. If you can’t afford to pay these fees and have a court appointed attorney, you can get a waiver for these fees and won’t have to pay them.

The Mercer County court magistrate acts as the judge that presides over your case in court. Magistrates do a number of different things, such as setting bail amounts, writing arrest warrants, and acting as the presiding judge over initial court appearances and detention proceedings.

A defendant’s pre-sentencing report is completed with your background information and details of the arrestee’s life and history, which the magistrate will review and take into account when determining the sentence. Information will be gathered from the person on trial, their family, and, if applicable, the victim in the crime. Don’t forget you are allowed to request to have your own copy of this report before sentencing, so you have the opportunity to correct any inaccurate information.

If you get convicted of a crime, you will be sentenced. There are a number of different options, ranging from community service to probation, to even prison or jail time. Depending on the particulars of your trial, the severity of your crime, and any sentencing guidelines that they judge will use, you will either be taken into custody, right there in court, or you could be given a date that you are required to report to jail to do your time.

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Are you trying to find out if a family member or friend is currently in jail, or has gone to jail in the past?

To find this out just query the jail’s website, and do a search using:

• Name.
• Birth date.
• Their booking date.
• and their jail ID.

If you’re not sure if this person is in jail or not, you can call the jail to find out.

If you have an outstanding warrant for your arrest, you can access court records on the Mercer County court website or call the court. You have to have the person’s first and last name. You can also go to the local jail and ask the officer in charge. Bear in mind that there is an outstanding warrant for your arrest, they will take you into custody immediately.

If you have a first and last name, and possibly an arrest date, contact the Mercer County jail, on the phone, go there in person, or check online. Arrest records are a matter of public record and these records are freely available.

A Civil Process is when you get served with legal papers, which can be warrants. You can find these civil process orders by contacting the Sheriff’s office, online or by phone.

All convicted sex offenders are registered on both a national and state sex offender database. The people on these databases have been convicted of a sex or kidnapping crime. You are able to see sex offenders online, but you should know that you will not be able to find the exact address, rather the block of the address that they registered.

Court Records are considered public records, so they are accessible to anyone who requests them. They include a case file containing a docket sheet and all documents filed in your court case. You can access your court records via the internet service ‘Public Access to Court Electronic Records’, or at the Mercer County Clerk of Court in the jurisdiction where the case was filed.

Each state keeps a record of a person’s criminal background. These state databases are all linked so you are able to track criminal histories from any other state. Go to county courthouse and inquire, or you can check online. It is helpful to know the county the crime was committed in, and in the event that the crime was in a different state, you may have to pay a fee for a more complete search.

When you look up someone’s criminal record you can find out if a person has ever been arrested, charged or convicted for any of the following crimes:

• Driving Under the Influence (DUI).
• Drug offenses.
• Kidnapping.
• Rape or other sexual assault.
• Violent crimes including assault, battery and murder.
• Property crimes like theft or larceny.

During a criminal records search, you will not learn if that person has had any moving violations, like:

• Speeding tickets.
• Drivers license suspended or revoked.
• Accidents.
• Moving violations.
• Parking Tickets.

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

Have you ever tried to search for someone’s criminal records? How hard was it? Was your search online or did you call the jail? Was the information you received correct? There are many reasons that folks search for criminal records and backgrounds, and your comments may make it easier for others.

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Most Wanted

On a Federal level, the FBI keeps a list of the Ten Most Wanted Fugitives. In Mercer County, the Mercer County Sheriff has a list of most wanted criminals, too.

FBI Ten Most Wanted List


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Life In Jail / What Its Like

Daily Life

Just the thought of spending time in the Mercer County jail is something you wish you could avoid, you will soon get used to the daily routine there. Prisoners get a wake-up alarm each morning at 6am, and then roll call. Next, you will get breakfast. When you finish breakfast you will 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 Mercer 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 Mercer 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 rules for sending money to inmates at Mercer County Jail might change, so you should check the official Mercer County Jail site before 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 Mercer County Jail

The Deputy Sheriff is the second in command at the Mercer 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 Mercer 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 post a comment


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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:

• The right to protection from the accused.
• The right to notification.
• The right to attend proceedings.
• The right to speak at criminal justice proceedings.
• The right to consult with the prosecuting attorney.
• The right to restitution.
• The right to a speedy trial.
• 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 leave 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 spent any time at this jail? Do you have a family member or friend that is a prisoner there? Have you ever been to visit a prisoner at this jail?

If you have, then we would like you to write your review about it. Write about your experience because other people can find out what to expect.

Things you can write in your review:

• Jail conditions.
• Jail, yard and pod layout and facility
• Guards and jail staff
• Food and commissary
• Having Visitors
• Inmates.
• Prisoner safety
• Gang activity
• Prisoner activities and programs


Write Your Review

Tell Your Story

Anybody that’s ever been locked up has a story about it. How’d you get locked up? How did the guards treat you? What was it like in jail? How did you get along with the other inmates? How did going to jail affect your life?

Tell Your Story

Send a Message to Your Cell Mate

Make some good friends in jail? Want to talk to an inmate you met while you were incarcerated? Then send them a message by posting a comment below.

Send a message to Mercer County Jail


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