The Philadelphia Department of Prisons (PDP) has implemented special attorney-client access procedures in response to COVID-19.

In-person official visits

  • PDP continues to offer in-person official legal visits.
  • Any attorney wishing to do so may visit their client in-person at the respective facility.
  • It is expected that the attorney will be wearing a mask upon arrival. Otherwise, a mask will be provided. The respective incarcerated person will also be wearing a mask.
  • The attorney and incarcerated person must wear their masks at all times.
  • The space where the official visit will take place will be sanitized both before and after every visit.

Legal calls

  • The PDP continues to arrange legal calls between attorneys and their clients.
  • The respective attorney must schedule phone calls with his or her clients using the links below. Use the following links to schedule video appointments:
  • Select the option for the facilities’ Lawyer / Client Phone Conference.
  • The attorney must provide 24-hours’ notice using the incarcerated person’s name/PP# and select an available time slot for the call. The call will be arranged accordingly.
  • Legal Phone Calls are available Monday to Friday 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. concluding at 5:00 p.m. Calls are not available Saturday and Sunday.
  • If necessary, calls may be made to HSPA Lyde at (215) 685-7111, HSPA Jennifer Albandoz at (215) 685-7113 or DC Bagby at (215) 685-8076 to follow up regarding scheduling.

Video visits at the Criminal Justice Center

  • Attorneys may also arrange video visits with their clients at the CJC.
  • The attorney needs to register the appointment for a video call online, with the incarcerated person’s name/PP# and a requested date/time, at video.conference@courts.phila.gov.
  • The attorney will need to report to the CJC in person on the scheduled date and time in order for the video visit to take place.
  • Please note that all scheduling regarding video visitation is arranged by the CJC.

Video visitation via PDP laptops

  • The PDP has now expanded video visitation for attorney visits through a laptop in each facility in order to allow as many video visits with private counsel as possible.
  • Video visits will be facilitated via a Zoom link which must be initiated by counsel.
  • Counsel must provide 24-hours’ notice, supply the incarcerated person’s name/PP#, and select the time slot for the visit. The visit will be arranged accordingly.
  • Each counsel will locate their client utilizing the locator tool.
  • After determining the location of their client, each counsel will use the following links to schedule video appointments:
  • Select the option for the facilities’ Lawyer / Client Video Conference.
  • This service will be available Monday through Friday, from 3:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. with the last slot being filled at 9:00 p.m. and concluding at 10:00 p.m. On weekends the service will be available from 9 a.m. to 9:00 p.m., concluding at 10:00 p.m.
  • Video visitation via the laptops will be available for the Defenders Association.
Learn more about how the Philadelphia Department of Prisons is responding to COVID-19.