Facility Overview
Clarion County Jail sits in Shippenville, Pennsylvania, a small spot in the northwest part of the state. It’s a county-run lockup, not a state prison, so it holds folks mostly from local arrests—pretrial detainees waiting on court dates, short-term sentences under a year, and sometimes people headed to bigger facilities. Capacity runs around 100 beds, but like most jails, it gets crowded. Daily population fluctuates between 80 and 110 inmates. They house men and women separately, with minimum to maximum security depending on charges. No death row or long-term lifers here; it’s all local business.
We worked in places like this for years. Pods are tight—think 20-30 guys per unit with bunks stacked two high. Showers at set times, chow three times a day. Officers know everyone by name after a week or two. It’s not Club Fed, but staff try to keep it orderly.
Location and Contact Information
Full address: Clarion County Jail, 309 Amsler Drive, Ste. 2, Shippenville, PA 16254. Phone the main line at (814) 226-9615. Fax is (814) 226-1152. Warden Sherry Yates handles big issues—email her at [email protected] if you need to escalate something. She’s at extension 1135.
| Contact | Details |
|---|---|
| Main Phone | (814) 226-9615 |
| Fax | (814) 226-1152 |
| Warden Email | [email protected] |
| Website | Clarion County Corrections |
Call during business hours first. Weekends, you might hit voicemail. Always confirm info yourself—policies shift.
Clarion County Jail Roster: How to Look It Up
Families call us panicked: “Where’s my person?” Start with the official site at Clarion County Corrections. They don’t always post a public roster online like some big counties do. If nothing shows, hit the phone. Give them the full name and date of birth. Booking number helps if you have it from the arrest report.
Other spots to check: Pennsylvania’s inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. Or VINELink for notifications—sign up free at VINELink. We tell everyone: VINELink texts you on moves or releases. Some third-party sites pop up in searches, but stick to official ones. They lag sometimes, but accurate.
Pro tip: If arrested recently, wait 24-48 hours for processing. Weekends slow everything down. Officers won’t give details over phone without verification—have ID ready.
Visiting Information
Visits are non-contact, through glass with phones. No hugs unless it’s a special occasion, and that’s rare. Hours: Weekdays 9 AM to 3 PM, weekends 10 AM to 4 PM. Slots fill quick—call ahead to book. Max 15-20 minutes per session. Two adults and kids under 18 per visit.
Dress code’s strict: No tank tops, shorts, miniskirts, or anything see-through. No hoodies or hats. They’ll turn you away flat. Bring ID for everyone 16 and up. No cell phones inside—lockers by the door cost a buck.
From experience, visiting room smells like cheap coffee and bleach. Plastic chairs, buzzing intercoms. Kids get fidgety fast, so time short trips. COVID rules linger—masks sometimes required. Check the site or call.
Visiting Hours Table
| Day | Hours |
|---|---|
| Monday-Friday | 9:00 AM – 3:00 PM |
| Saturday-Sunday | 10:00 AM – 4:00 PM |
| Holidays | Call to confirm |
Inmate Communication
Phone calls go through Securus or a similar system—rates around $0.21 per minute. Inmates call out; you don’t call in. Set up an account online first. Video visits available via tablet in pods, but not every unit has them yet. Costs extra.
Mail: Standard letters OK, no stamps or cash inside. Address to: Inmate Name, Booking #, Clarion County Jail, 309 Amsler Drive, Shippenville, PA 16254. They scan everything electronically now—takes a day or two to hit the pod. No books or packages unless from approved vendors.
Email through JPay or ConnectNetwork. Quick, but monitored. We hear families love it—beats waiting on snail mail. One catch: Inmates need money on books to send emails back.
Sending Money to Inmates
Commissary covers phone, snacks, hygiene. Use ConnectNetwork at ConnectNetwork for Clarion County. Kiosks in lobby take cash or cards. Online or app works too—fees around 5%.
- Set up account with inmate ID.
- Choose deposit amount—minimum $10.
- Funds hit within hours.
No Western Union or money orders anymore. Officers check every deposit. If your person’s indigent, jail provides basics, but commissary makes life bearable—ramen, soap that doesn’t smell like jail.
Daily Life at This Facility
Wake up at 6 AM. Breakfast at 6:30—oatmeal, bread, coffee if you’re lucky. Lockdown till 8, then rec: yard if weather’s good, or indoor basketball. Court trips break the routine. Lunch at noon, dinner by 5. Lights out 10 PM.
Programs? GED classes, NA meetings, some vocational stuff like welding if slots open. Church on Sundays. Pods have TVs—sports channels mostly. Fights happen, but not daily. Good behavior gets you trustee status—extra privileges.
Conditions are standard county: Clean enough, food bland but filling. Bugs in summer, cold winters. Mental health support’s there, but stretched thin. We always say pack patience—time drags inside.
History and Background
Built in the 1980s, expanded once in the 2000s for more beds. Handled a few high-profile cases—meth busts, DUIs gone wrong. No big riots or escapes we recall. Under Sheriff and Corrections oversight. Recent news quiet, but check local outlets like Clarion News for updates.
How to Get There
From Clarion town: Head west on US-322, turn right on Amsler Drive—10 minutes. GPS it: 41.165°N, 79.425°W. Nearest airport: Pittsburgh International, 90 miles south. Hotels: Holiday Inn in Clarion, motels in Shippenville. Greyhound to Clarion, then taxi. Parking’s free but limited.
Roads rural—watch for deer. Gas up before. Families crash at cheap spots nearby; some allow overnight visits if approved.
Frequently Asked Questions
How do I find someone on the Clarion County Jail roster?
Go to the Clarion County Corrections website or call (814) 226-9615 with the inmate’s name and DOB. Pennsylvania’s locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov works too. Sign up for VINELink alerts on status changes.
Can I visit an inmate at Clarion County Jail today?
Visits by appointment weekdays 9-3, weekends 10-4. Call ahead—no walk-ins. Follow dress code or get turned away. Kids allowed with ID.
How much are phone calls from Clarion County Jail?
About $0.21/minute through Securus. Inmates call you—set up account online. Video calls extra via app. Funds needed on commissary.
How do I put money on an inmate’s books at Clarion County Jail?
Use ConnectNetwork online, app, or lobby kiosk. Need booking number. Fees apply, funds available quick. No cash by mail.
What should I send in mail to Clarion County Jail?
Letters only—no envelopes with staples, no perfume. Use plain paper. Address with full name and booking #. Scanned digitally before delivery.