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    South Woods State Prison

    4.0 (4 reviews)

    South Woods State Prison Photos

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    Chester County Prison

    Chester County Prison

    2.3(4 reviews)
    41.7 mi

    Nothing great can be said about the prison and staff. Well, the check out process is pretty easy,…read moreI've heard....

    What a great prison, this place was sweet! Out of all my stops at different county jails, Chester…read moreCounty Prison certainly takes the cake! Not once during my stay did I fear for the virginity of my anus. Were talking two gyms, contact visits, cable T.V's in every cell and a sweet ass commissary. I'm not even kidding when I say you could get a big bag of potato chips for $2.00! Many of the cells offer beautiful views of the surrounding scenic country side, which is famous for it's horse farms. Don't get your hopes up though as these premium cells are in high demand and there is usually a waiting list. Nothing is perfect I guess.. up until recently we were able to smoke cigarettes and crack the windows open. As far as food, meh, I have experienced better. However, the head chef Darin really made magic with what he had to work with. I really hope he is still there because he did a really great job serving up the food. If I know Darin, he might just still be. The Darin I knew never did like paying his child support. Oh, I almost forgot! During my stay the commissary was selling muscle shirts with a cartoon rendering of a prisoner being held down by a ball and chain. These were not only hilarious but they are sure to make really great gifts and souvenirs as well!!

    Photos
    Chester County Prison - Imagine being locked in this little room for 23 hours a day. Cruel and unusual punishment

    Imagine being locked in this little room for 23 hours a day. Cruel and unusual punishment

    Chester County Prison - This is where inmates go to wait for their persecution not their trial PERSECUTION sometimes innocent people were ignored by defenders

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    This is where inmates go to wait for their persecution not their trial PERSECUTION sometimes innocent people were ignored by defenders

    Berks County Prison

    Berks County Prison

    2.2(11 reviews)
    79.7 mi

    The incompetence of this staff is beyond disgusting. Every department is full of people who sit on…read moretheir lazy asses instead of doing the jobs they're paid to do. I would love to show up to work, do absolutely nothing, and still collect a paycheck. Inmate Accounts was my final straw after speaking with a counselor who had the reasoning skills of a five-year-old. If this is what they call rehabilitation, it's a complete joke. Too many COs come across as cold, heartless, and completely unfit for the responsibility they were given. They represent the lowest standard of law enforcement. If you have a loved one in this system, stay involved. Call. Ask questions. Make sure they know someone on the outside cares about them and is paying attention. There's a reason this jail has a revolving door, and the people running it should be ashamed of themselves.

    If I could BCJ zero stars, I would. I personally did not spend anytime there, but someone I care…read moreabout deeply did. I'm not saying that person was perfect, but they didn't deserve the mistreatment & neglect. So many times they would call me saying how hungry they were because dinner was at 4:30 and it wasn't enough. I would hear about how COs would literally yell & punish inmates even if what the inmate did was an accident. They were out on meds that they told the jail don't help them. Visiting was terrible! I do not care what you might think about me, but when I come in and say hello, the proper way to address someone is to say hello back. The COs that I interacted with either were very rude & I guess they just don't know how to talk to people. While other male COs would make inappropriate & scary jokes that honestly made me wonder why they weren't locked up. (Literally had one tell me he could pin me to the ground if he wanted to). Being an outside walking in, everything was gross! The walls were chipping & the floors were nasty. Contacting your loved one inside is a joke! I was so confused because putting money on a tablet was different from commissary, & used two completely different apps. My messages would take literally anywhere between 5-10 days even though I was using a texting app. Hoping other inmates that are in there share their experiences when they get out. I would add more but it would be a book.

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    Berks County Prison

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    Eastern State Penitentiary - Cell block

    Eastern State Penitentiary

    4.6(973 reviews)
    38.4 miFairmount, Art Museum District

    Just reading a bit of another review on the side here - yes, I can imagine this would not be a very…read morepleasant place to visit in the winter. Summer visit was a bit warm for that matter. Only a handful of rooms are climate-controlled. Aside from that, though, WOW. I did not know that this gem of a place was nested right here so close for all the time I've spent in this area. Super grateful that some new friends at church were interested in checking it out, b/c while I was aware of this place, it wasn't to the extent that I had made plans to go on my own, nor was I aware of anyone who would want to go with me. I checked out a museum pass from the library, and we headed over after service one Sunday. There's so much rich history in that place, so much education about not just the penitentiary itself but about the prison system in general, and it was just a really illuminating experience walking through the cell blocks, looking into some of the cells, and getting some understanding of what the original intent was, as well as how that evolved over time. I was really impressed by the thoroughness of all the self-guided tour materials, and by all the work that had been done to keep the place in the condition like a preserved ruin. I agree w/ their take, that it doesn't need to be updated, is good the way it is aside from controlling for safety. There's so much to see there, and while I don't foresee going back anytime super soon, I know that if I do, there would still be more to see and learn. There were a handful of really impactful exhibits speaking to prison reform that I really appreciated. Not sure I'm that much of a Halloween person, but that experience sounds potentially fun too.

    We saw this was one of the top rated attractions in the Philly area so we visited on a Monday…read moremorning (it's closed on Tuesdays). With our reciprocal museum membership we got free admission. We opted for the self guided tour with their audio headsets. The guide is very informative and if you listened to all of the recording it is 4 hours long! We did the main tour and listed to a few extras. We were there a bit over one hour. Overall it was very interesting and we learned alot about not only this prison but life in this first of a kind place. The place is pretty creepy. It is great that a group has stepped up to save this important piece of history!

    Photos
    Eastern State Penitentiary - Cell block

    Cell block

    Eastern State Penitentiary - Memorial of prisoners who lost lives in WWI, listed by inmate number

    Memorial of prisoners who lost lives in WWI, listed by inmate number

    Eastern State Penitentiary - Old destroyed cell - small door to exit into yard

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    Old destroyed cell - small door to exit into yard

    The Criminal Justice Center - Courtroom

    The Criminal Justice Center

    3.1(21 reviews)
    37.4 miMarket East, Penn Center, Avenue of the Arts North

    I know! I know!! Jury Duty sometimes feels like a setup, but it's your civic duty. Make sure you…read moreget there early because the lines to get in are always super long, especially because cases are ACTUALLY occurring while you're going through the juror selection process. Make sure you are early enough to stop and get something to eat because they no longer offer food other than from a vending machine. Once in the juror selection room, make sure you pay attention to all instructions. Watch the little video and fill out the questionnaire honestly. The staff that I've interacted with have always been kind and courteous as long as you are the same. It sucks to sit there for hours, but there is a bright side. Your JUROR badge gets you a 10% discount at any of the shops in Reading Terminal Market. One tip I've always found works: if you really don't want to be selected for jury duty, act like you do want to be there! This particular occasion, I wasn't selected, received my $9 check and was on my way.

    My stepdad has long drilled it into my head that jury duty is a civic responsibility, and I have to…read moresay I agree with him. As much as I still dread to see the jury duty slip come through the mail slot, I accept the call to action. Maybe it's my easygoing attitude that keeps landing me in the jury box! I just completed my second stint as a juror on a criminal case (first time in Philly - the other case was when I was a NJ resident). I have to say, I found the whole thing fascinating, if a bit time consuming. There are inconveniences involved for sure. The expense of getting to and from, not to mention lunches out each day. But probably the worst is giving up your cell phone the moment you get into the court room. They take this so seriously, even though they send you home with all the Internet access in the world each night. I don't understand it and I suspect it has more to do with not trusting people to have their phone on airplane mode or off in the courtroom, than it does with having Internet access. Pro-tips for potential jurors: serving on jury duty even for just a day will get you discounts at nearby restaurants and some Reading Terminal Market vendors. Be sure to ask about the discount! Also, you can bring coffee or other beverages into the building, but not in glass or aluminum containers. We had a laid-back judge who also allowed us to bring beverages into the courtroom. Trust me, you're gonna need a steady infusion of coffee if you get selected. Overall, my experience was interesting and fairly pleasant, but I'm off the hook for the next three years and not sad about it. I'm sure I'll be back at some point, hopefully in the distant future.

    Photos
    The Criminal Justice Center - One of the books I found in the Library | Vending Machine area

    One of the books I found in the Library | Vending Machine area

    The Criminal Justice Center - The juror selection room.

    The juror selection room.

    The Criminal Justice Center

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    South Woods State Prison - jailsandprisons - Updated September 2026

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