Police Detention Unit

This unit is commanded by a Police Lieutenant and it operates on a three platoon schedule with a Police Sergeant and Police Corporals supervising each platoon of approximately 21 Police Correctional Officers, called PCO's.

The services we provide include but are not limited to : temporary detention of Federal, State, County prisoners arrested inside & outside of Philadelphia on detainers, warrants or court orders, provides space for administering breathalyzer test of alleged intoxicated chauffeurs and temporary detention of intoxicated females.

When inquiring about persons in custody, calls well be taken on (215) 686-3304 or 686-3305 prisoner information lines. No visitors or packages are allowed for persons in custody. Attorneys' are permitted a private area to conduct interviews of their clients, provided they possess the proper identification. Business cards are not considered identification. Our current holding capacity is approximately 265. This number is broken down by the number of females & males being held separately, not including the overflow tank. The processing time is guided by the number of prisoners being processed. Supervisors identify problems which could delay prisoner processing.

The PDU is responsible for processing 47 percent of all prisoners arrested in the city of Philadelphia. Processing includes : transportation, finger-printing, identification, photographing, record checks, disseminating information to District Attorney' Charging Unit/Pre-trail Services re: arrestees and Closed Circuit TV Arraignment Court.

While detained, an arrestee is given a cheese sandwich & a container of iced tea every 8 hours as mandated by a Federal Court consent decree. All detainees are provided drinking water and the use of toilet facilities upon request. An Emergency Medical Technician is on duty 24 hours a day, assigned to the PDU. He/she will evaluate whether medical or psychiatric care or a referral to a hospital is required. A nurse will be available to dispense medications every 8 hours as necessary. Reasonable access is provided to telephones & attorneys. If arrestee does not have money to make a phone call, he/she can make a collect call. If arrestee is without appropriate clothing at the time of his/her arraignment, he/she shall be provided with a paper jumpsuit.

All arrestees are searched and have to pass through a metal detector upon entrance to the PDU. This is done for the safety of arrestees as well as the employees at Police Headquarters. Gun lockers are provided for the security of weapons of P/O's & outside units entering the PDU. All arrestees entering the PDU with personal property or valuables will be secured and accounted for in a sealed prisoner property bag. All belts, ties, laces/strings on footwear and clothing will be removed.

After an arrestee has been arraigned via Closed Circuit TV, they will be held for approximately 4 hours to ascertain if they will be able to make bail before they are shipped to the appropriate Detention Facility.