HARRISBURG, PA — The walls of Pennsylvania’s state prisons proved less isolating in 2025, as the Department of Corrections recorded more than one million visits between incarcerated people and their families and loved ones, a milestone officials say reflects a sweeping shift in how inmates stay connected to the outside world.
According to the Department of Corrections, individuals housed across the system’s 24 facilities logged a combined 1,042,549 video and in-person visits last year. The total marked a 5.7 percent increase over 2024 and more than quadrupled the number of visits recorded in 2019, before video visitation became widely available.
Corrections Secretary Dr. Laurel R. Harry said the surge is more than a statistical achievement, pointing to the role of family and community ties in preparing inmates for life after incarceration. Strong relationships, she said, help individuals adjust inside prison and support smoother reentry once they return to their communities.
The data show video visits continuing to dominate. In 2025 alone, inmates participated in 944,390 video visits, compared with 98,159 in-person visits. Video visitation, provided at no cost by the department, has steadily climbed since its broader rollout, reducing the need for families to travel long distances to state prisons.
The impact is also visible on a per-inmate basis. The average number of visits per incarcerated person rose to 27.3 in 2025, up from 25 the year before and just 4.5 in 2019, highlighting how access has expanded over time.
Harry credited corrections staff for managing the logistical and security demands that accompany such volume, from maintaining technology systems to ensuring safety standards are met during visits.
State-sentenced inmates are generally allowed up to four in-person visits and six video visits per month. Department officials said they continue to explore ways to improve access and reduce remaining barriers to visitation. Information on scheduling visits and facility rules is available at cor.pa.gov.
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