For Family and Friends
Here you will find information that will be useful in communicating with an inmate housed in the Prison:

Information for the Inmate's Family and Friends
Inmate Financial Responsibility Policy
Work Release
Victim Notification
Visitation Dates and Times
Contact an Inmate
Money and Clothing Policy
Clothing
Telephone

Information for the Inmate's Family and Friends
The Venango County Prison is charged with the Care, Custody, and Control of the Inmate population housed in the Prison. 

As such, the Prison will treat each inmate with the respect they deserve and also meet the basic needs of the inmate while they are incarcerated. 

As most of an inmate’s needs are taken care of by the Prison, therefore there are only a few things that you, as a family member or friend, can do for them while they are in the Prison. 

Many of the items you would like to send the inmate are considered contraband and are not allowed in the Prison. 

This brochure is produced with the hope that it will help you in understanding what the inmate is allowed or not allowed to have while in the Prison.  You will find several different sections relating to areas that people have questions about relating to an inmate. Information for the Inmate's Family and Friends Brochure,
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Inmate Financial Responsibility 
The Venango County Prison Board of Inspections has adopted a policy where the inmates are financially responsible for certain services provided by the Prison, should they decide to use them.  The purpose of this policy is to help them become financially responsible for debts they incur while in the Prison and through out their life.

They will also be held financially responsible for intentional misuse or abuse of prison property, as well as for injuries inflicted upon themselves, other inmates, staff members, or civilians (while they are in the prison).

The Prison will not hold an inmate beyond their authorized release for not being able to, or failing to pay any costs enacted by this policy.   

If the inmate owes the Prison any fees upon their release, they will be required to make payments on the outstanding balance.  The Prison’s Collection Coordinator will meet with the inmate to set up a repayment plan.  This plan will allow the inmate to make payments on their debt to the Prison and will not be a strain on your financial situation.  Failure to make these payments may cause the Prison to send the inmate's account to a private collections agency or result in re-incarceration.
Inmate Financial Responsibility Brochure,
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Work Release
Work Release is set up so that inmates who are sentenced to the Prison and have jobs can keep their jobs as long as they meet criteria set up by the Prison 

The Prison verifies the inmate's job and hours. The inmate also has to have insurance and transportation to his work place and back. 

When the inmate leaves the Prison, he is given enough time to get to his work place work and return.  Inmates are not allowed to go any where other than to and from work unless they are given permission by the Prison. 

The Prison does not tolerate any abuses in the program and inmates who do find themselves sitting off work for a period of time or being removed from work release altogether. 

Work Release Inmates are randomly tested for drug and alcohol use and any positive test is reason for removal from the program. 

One very good reason for having a work release program is the inmate's family. With out the inmate working, the family might have to go on welfare to survive while the inmate is serving his sentence. 

Inmates on work release pay $10.00 a day and $2.00 per week to pay for a drug test. While on work release, the inmates have to make payments to any court ordered fees, fines, or costs they have incurred.
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Victim Notification
Pennsylvania mandates that victims of violent crimes are to be notified of any change in the offending inmate's status, such as an escape, bail release, work release, or transferred to another institution.  

The Prison embraces this mandate and takes it a step further.  When ever a person is committed to the Prison for any reason and has committed a crime of violence against another person.  The Prison will notify the victim of any change in the inmate's status, i.e.. release on bond, work release, transfer, etc....
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Visitation Dates and Times
Visitation is conducted Monday through Friday and each block is scheduled a night and time.

The Prison does not conduct “Contact Visits” due to security concerns. 

To visit an inmate, you need to be on the inmate’s visitation list.  If you are not on the list, you will not be permitted to visit. 

Anyone under the age of 18 years must be accompanied by his or her parent or legal guardian. 

Photo ID’s are required for anyone over the age of 18 years. 

When you arrive for visitation, you will be given a time for the visit.  If the time is later in visitation, please leave and come back prior to your appointed time.

Any person who disrupts visitation will be asked to leave and may have their visitation privileges suspended or revoked.  Children must be kept under control, anyone who fails to do so will be asked to leave. 

Anyone who brings contraband onto Prison property can and will be prosecuted.
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Contact an Inmate
By Mail
You may send mail via the US postal service to any Venango County Inmate. The mail cannot include items such as, cash, newspaper clippings or photo copies. All mail is searched for unauthorized items prior to the inmate receiving it. You may not drop off any correspondence to inmates, it must go through the mail.

Address mail to inmates as follows:
(inmate's name)   
Venango County Prison
1186 Elk Street
Franklin, Pa. 16323

By phone
Inmates are allowed to make collect calls from the institution during regular block out hours. They cannot receive calls or make 3 way calls.

To find out more information about cost and ability to receive a call from an inmate, you may call 814-949-3303

Emergencies
In the event of a death or illness of a inmate family member, you may contact the Venango County Prison at (814) 432-9629. Please have the following information ready.

In order for an inmate to attend funeral or graveside services, the inmate's attorney must petition the sentencing Judge*. Transporting of inmate is performed by the Venango County Sheriff. Fees for transporting do apply. For fee information contact the Venango County Sheriffs office at (814) 432-9563.

*Work Release inmates may be authorized by the Work Release Administrator. For information contact the Venango County Prison at (814) 432-9629.
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Money and Clothing Policy
The prison does not accept personal checks, or cash. All moneys received must be a certified bank check, or money order, made payable to the inmate.

The Prison also offers a program that allows you to send money to an inmate through JPay.com.

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Trusted Leader
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Send Money to Inmates Fast and Easy

Use a credit/debit card to send money to an Inmate's Trust Fund Account online at JPay.com or over the phone at 1 (800) 574-5729. The Inmate's account will be credited within 24 hours, not including weekends and banking holidays.

Click Here to Send Money Now

Clothing
The inmate is supplied with Prison issued clothing while they are incarcerated.  This uniform consists of a uniform and sandals.

Clothing for court appearances will only be accepted during visitation unless prior approval has been obtained.

The only other clothing that will be accepted during visitation, unless prior approval has been obtained, is undergarments and we will only accept up to five (5) pairs of undergarments and socks which have to be white in color.
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Telephone
The inmates have the ability to make outside telephone calls to family and friends.  These calls are made through Inmate Telephone Inc. (ITI) out of Altoona, Pa.  If you need to contact ITI, please call 814-949-3303. 

The inmate may choose up to 10 people they wish to call while incarcerated.  These calls are similar to collect phone calls in that you have to agree to accept the call and the charge is placed on your phone bill.  The charges are comparable to those of collect calls so as not to be too expensive.

If you do not want an inmate to call you, you can contact the Prison and request that your phone number be blocked.  You will be advised of what the Prison requires to block the number when you call.

As the calls are comparable in expense to collect calls, so they can add up very quickly.  So please be careful in accepting any phone calls as you, not the inmate, are responsible for payment to ITI.
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