Facility Overview
The Cambria County Prison in Ebensburg, Pennsylvania, is your standard county jail. It handles pretrial detainees, short-term sentences under a year, and some state inmates waiting for transfer. Built as a medium-security spot, it holds around 450 people max, though it often runs closer to capacity. We’ve seen it house everyone from minor offenders to those facing serious charges like drugs or violence.
Day to day, it’s run by the county sheriff’s office and prison staff. Warden Wolford and his team oversee operations. It’s not a state prison like SCI-Houtzdale nearby, but more of a local lockup where folks wait for court or serve county time. Conditions are typical for a rural PA jail—clean enough, but expect the usual metal bunks, shared cells, and chow hall meals.
Location and Contact Information
Situated at 425 Manor Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931, it’s right off the main roads in Cambria County. Phone the main line at 814-472-7330 for general questions. For inmate-specific stuff, try the records department same number. Email isn’t listed publicly, so stick to calls or visits.
| Contact | Phone | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| Main Jail Line | 814-472-7330 | Inmate info, visits |
| Sheriff’s Office | 814-472-8200 | Warrants, transports |
| Medical | 814-472-7330 ext. medical | Health concerns |
One thing we always tell families: call during business hours, 8 AM to 4 PM. Officers get swamped after that.
Cambria County Jail Roster: How to Search
Finding someone on the Cambria County jail roster isn’t always straightforward. They don’t have a flashy public search like some big-city jails. Head to the official Pennsylvania Inmate Locator first—that’s the statewide tool run by the Department of Corrections. Punch in the name, and it’ll show if they’re at Cambria County Prison or elsewhere.
If that doesn’t work, call the jail directly at 814-472-7330. Give the full name and date of birth. Staff pull up the roster quick, but don’t expect online photos or charges listed publicly. For recent arrests, check the Cambria County Crimewatch page—it posts bookings with mugshots sometimes.
Pro tip: rosters update daily, but weekends lag. And if your person’s been moved? That’s common—ask about transports to state facilities. We’ve helped dozens track loved ones this way.
Visiting Information
Visiting at Cambria County Prison happens on weekends, usually Saturdays and Sundays from 9 AM to 3 PM. No video visits yet; it’s all in-person in the concrete visiting room with Plexiglas dividers and those finicky phones. You gotta be on the inmate’s approved list first—have them add you via a form inside.
Dress code’s strict: no tank tops, shorts, or anything sheer. Leave jewelry at home; they pat you down. Kids under 16 need birth certificates. Schedule? Call ahead or just show up, but lines form quick. Max two adults per inmate, 30-minute slots.
- Arrive 30 minutes early for processing.
- No touching beyond a handshake.
- Positive ID required—PA license works.
The room smells like old coffee and disinfectant. Guards watch every move, but it’s calmer than urban jails. Verify hours by phone; they tweak ’em sometimes.
Inmate Communication
Phone calls go through Securus Technologies. Inmates buy minutes on commissary, rates around $0.21 a minute collect. Add funds online at SecurusTech.net or by phone. No cell phones inside, obviously.
Mail’s standard: send to the jail address, inmate’s full name and ID number. No stamps, no Polaroids—just letters and printed photos. They scan everything for contraband. Email? Not yet, but check VINELink for notifications: VINELink inmate alerts.
Video visits might roll out soon, but right now, it’s pen and phone. Families tell us the laggy connection frustrates everyone.
Sending Money to Inmates
Commissary’s key—lets them buy hygiene, snacks, paper. Use Access Corrections online or kiosk at the jail. No cash drops; it’s all electronic. Minimum $10, fees apply.
- Go to inmateaid.com or call 866-345-1884.
- Enter facility ID for Cambria County.
- Load the account—funds hit in 24-48 hours.
Don’t send more than $200 a week; they cap it. We’ve seen accounts frozen for mistakes, so double-check names. It’s a lifeline for smokes and stamps inside.
Daily Life at This Facility
Wake up at 6 AM for count and breakfast—oatmeal, coffee, maybe eggs. Lockdown till 8, then rec in the yard or gym. Pods are 20-30 guys, tiers with TVs tuned to sports. Meals repeat: burgers, chicken patties, mystery meat.
Programs? GED classes, NA meetings, some vocational like welding if you’re lucky. Mental health’s decent; they got counselors. But overcrowding means triple bunks sometimes. Showers are quick, 5 minutes each.
Guards rotate shifts, mostly fair but firm. Fights happen over cards or debts, but SERT team’s quick. Winters get cold; summers sticky. Families say letters keep spirits up.
What Inmates Say
One guy we talked to did 90 days there: “Food’s edible, COs don’t hassle if you keep quiet. Miss my kid’s games most.” Another: “Church service Sundays helps pass time.”
History and Background
Cambria County Prison opened in 1994 after years of debate over replacing the old stone jail from the 1800s. Cost millions, but it’s held up. Notable? Recent federal bust in 2025—ten charged in a drug ring smuggling into the facility via staff and visitors. Shook things up; new scanners now.
Before that, routine: floods in 2010s, COVID lockdowns. It’s evolved from basic county jail to one with better rehab focus. Check local news like WJAC reports for updates.
How to Get There
From Johnstown, take US-22 west 20 miles to Ebensburg, then Manor Drive off 22. GPS it: 40.466°N, 78.646°W. Parking’s free, lot holds 50 cars.
Public transit? Limited—PAT bus to Ebensburg, then taxi. Hotels nearby: Quality Inn Ebensburg (814-472-6131), 2 miles away. Amtrak’s in Pittsburgh, 90-minute drive.
Ride shares work, but signal’s spotty in hills. Gas up before; rural area.
We’ve guided families cross-state. Plan for traffic on 22; it’s windy.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find someone on the Cambria County jail roster?
Use the PA Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov with their name and DOB. If not there, call 814-472-7330. Recent arrests show on Crimewatchpa.com too.
What are visiting hours at Cambria County Prison?
Weekends 9 AM-3 PM, in-person only. Get approved first, dress modest, bring ID. Call to confirm; slots fill up.
Can I send money to an inmate at Cambria County Jail?
Yes, via Access Corrections online or kiosk. Use their ID number, expect fees. Funds post in 1-2 days for commissary buys.
How do inmates make phone calls from Cambria County Prison?
Through Securus, collect or prepaid. Rates about 21 cents/minute. Family sets up accounts at SecurusTech.net.
What’s the address for sending mail to Cambria County inmates?
425 Manor Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Include full name and inmate number. No contraband, letters only.