Find Someone at SCI Forest

Step 1. Go to the PA DOC Inmate Locator

Visit pa.gov/services/cor/locate-an-inmate-or-parolee. This links to the same statewide search tool for every PA DOC institution, there’s no separate SCI Forest-specific lookup.

Step 2. Search by Name or Inmate Number

Enter the person’s first and last name, or their PA DOC inmate number if you already have it from sentencing paperwork or a prior search. The inmate number narrows results fast if the name is common.

Step 3. Confirm the Listed Location

The search result shows the person’s current institution. Before you travel, schedule a visit, or send money, confirm the result says SCI Forest, not a different prison. New male commitments to PA DOC typically process through SCI Camp Hill’s intake and classification center first, so someone recently sentenced may show there before a later transfer to Forest.

What the Results Show

Along with current location, results typically include the inmate number, admission date, and sentence information. This is the same number you’ll need for JPay deposits and Smart Communications mail.

Why Someone Might Not Show Up

A few common reasons: they were arrested recently and are still in county jail awaiting sentencing (PA DOC’s locator only covers state-sentenced inmates, not pretrial county detainees), they’ve already been released or completed parole, they were transferred to a federal facility instead of a state one, or the name was entered with a variation that doesn’t match PA DOC’s records exactly.

If You Can’t Find Them

Try name variations first, middle names, hyphenated last names, or common misspellings. If that doesn’t work, check with the county jail where they were originally held, or call SCI Forest directly at (814) 621-2110 to ask if they’ve been received.

Confirming Before You Act

Recheck the inmate locator close to your visit date, deposit, or mailing, instead of relying on older information. Institution assignments can change with a transfer.

What the Locator Doesn’t Tell You

The locator shows current location, inmate number, admission date, and sentence information, but it isn’t a full case history. It won’t show disciplinary status, housing unit assignment, or whether someone is temporarily out at a court hearing or medical appointment. For anything beyond basic location and identification, call SCI Forest directly at (814) 621-2110.

If the Person Was Recently Arrested

Someone who was arrested recently and hasn’t been sentenced yet won’t show up in PA DOC’s locator at all, since it only covers state-sentenced inmates and parolees. Check with the county where the arrest happened, county jails run their own separate systems and aren’t connected to PA DOC’s database.

Searching Before You Send Money, Mail, or Schedule a Visit

Always confirm the current location before you act, not just the first time you search. JPay deposits, Smart Communications mail, and IVS visit scheduling are all tied to a specific facility, and sending something to the wrong one because of an outdated search result means delays getting it redirected. This matters most around a transfer, since the locator can lag a few days behind the actual move.

If You Only Have a Partial Name

A partial name or a common last name can return a long list of results. Narrow it down with a middle name, an approximate age, or the county where the person was sentenced if you know it. If you have the inmate number from any prior paperwork, that’s the fastest way to confirm you have the right person.