Carrying To Prison - visiting an inmate

[ViperGTS19801]

Long story short, I have a good friend who is terrified of enclosed spaces - major claustrophobia. She wants to visit her boyfriend in Graterford and has asked me if I would go along with her for support to try and keep her sane.

I looked up 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5122 and it says thusly:

§ 5122. Weapons or implements for escape.
(a) Offenses defined.--
(1) A person commits a misdemeanor of the first degree
if he unlawfully introduces within a detention facility,
correctional institution or mental hospital, or unlawfully
provides an inmate thereof with any weapon, tool, implement,
or other thing which may be used for escape.
(2) An inmate commits a misdemeanor of the first degree
if he unlawfully procures, makes or otherwise provides
himself with, or unlawfully has in his possession or under
his control, any weapon, tool, implement or other thing which
may be used for escape.
(3) (Deleted by amendment).
(b) Definitions.--
(1) As used in this section, the word "unlawfully" means
surreptitiously or contrary to law, regulation or order of
the detaining authority.
(2) As used in this section, the word "weapon" means any
implement readily capable of lethal use and shall include any
firearm, ammunition, knife, dagger, razor, other cutting or
stabbing implement or club, including any item which has been
modified or adopted so that it can be used as a firearm,
ammunition, knife, dagger, razor, other cutting or stabbing
implement, or club. The word "firearm" includes an unloaded
firearm and the unassembled components of a firearm.
(Dec. 10, 1974, P.L.910, No.300, eff. imd.; Dec. 15, 1999,
P.L.915, No.59, eff. 60 days)

The prison's visitor's page of their website states that they have lockers available for "personal belongings" when visitors arrive.

I tried to call and ask, but there was no answer, as visiting hours are already over for the day.

What are the chances of being allowed to carry to the prison, then secure my firearm in the locker provided?

[VeritasAequitas]

Long story short, I have a good friend who is terrified of enclosed spaces - major claustrophobia. She wants to visit her boyfriend in Graterford and has asked me if I would go along with her for support to try and keep her sane.

I looked up 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 5122 and it says thusly:



The prison's visitor's page of their website states that they have lockers available for "personal belongings" when visitors arrive.

I tried to call and ask, but there was no answer, as visiting hours are already over for the day.

What are the chances of being allowed to carry to the prison, then secure my firearm in the locker provided?

As far as I know, pretty low. Having worked in Corrections (albeit not in this State), it was a major no-no to have even ammunition in your vehicle on prison property.

Also, IANAA, but you COULD be opening yourself up to some serious liability if the unlikely event of an inmate escaping occurs and they break into your vehicle and arm themselves with your firearm.

[HiredGoon]

Found this from the Handbook for Families and Friends of Inmates on the PA DOC site:

If you are caught with contraband anywhere within the facility or on the grounds, you will be arrested and prosecuted. It is against the law to bring any form of contraband into a correctional institution.

Contraband includes:

• money
• implements of escape
• unprescribed drugs
• drugs which are prescribed but you are not authorized to have
• drug paraphernalia
• intoxicants or materials used for fermentation
• poisons
• weapons

<SNIP>

[ddefazio]

Found this from the Handbook for Families and Friends of Inmates on the PA DOC site:

If you are caught with contraband anywhere within the facility or on the grounds, you will be arrested and prosecuted. It is against the law to bring any form of contraband into a correctional institution.

Contraband includes:

• money
• implements of escape
• unprescribed drugs
• drugs which are prescribed but you are not authorized to have
• drug paraphernalia
• intoxicants or materials used for fermentation
• poisons
• weapons

<SNIP>

That would sound like a no to me...

[steelerfan]

You'll need to leave the gun home. I've been to Graterford & it's one place I would never want to visit again, even though there were guards around I never felt safe,of course I was making a delivery to the shop there,not visiting an inmate

[reverserboy]

Would Viper also have to leave all his cash home also?? It says "grounds"....right?? I guess that would mean the parking lot.

Would some tools be considered an "implement of escape"??

Would a packet of sugar be considered "materials used for fermentation"??

[soberbyker]

As with most laws/regulations in this country it's left to interpretation. This part

(1) As used in this section, the word "unlawfully" mean surreptitiously or contrary to law, regulation or order of the detaining authority.

suggests it would be illegal to try to sneak a weapon in, not the same as declaring it and putting it in a locker. On the other hand if the "detaining authority" says no weapons on the property you could be prosecuted even if it's in your car in the prison parking lot.

From the Graterford specific site:

It is against the law to bring any form of contraband into a correctional institution. Act 334 of Dec. 6, 1972 {18 PA C.S. 5122, 5123} provides for up to $10,000 in fines and five years imprisonment for any one convicted of bringing contraband, such as firearms, liquor or drugs, into a prison or for anyone convicted of providing an inmate with a weapon, tool or any implements of escape. Please do not violate your visiting privilege by bringing unauthorized materials with you. If you have any questions about what you may or may not bring, PLEASE ASK!

Rules governing institutional visits are found in Administrative Directive 812, Inmate Visiting. A copy has been made available to each inmate. It is the inmate's responsibility to inform visitors as to the proper procedures, rules and regulations.

http://www.portal.state.pa.us/portal...r_rules/564235

That said, I wouldn't chance it.
.

[Gun]

Leave the gun in the car. CO's aren't to be messed with.

BTW, does the boyfriend know you?

[VeritasAequitas]

Would Viper also have to leave all his cash home also?? It says "grounds"....right?? I guess that would mean the parking lot.

Would some tools be considered an "implement of escape"??

Would a packet of sugar be considered "materials used for fermentation"??

With respect, common sense prevails here. A firearm is a firearm; there is no grey area. A packet of sugar---unless you try to bring it in, it shouldn't be an issue.

Leave the gun in the car. CO's aren't to be messed with.

BTW, does the boyfriend know you?

I'd say don't bring a firearm onto prison grounds, period. Viper's current case will look like a cakewalk compared to how it will be if a firearm is discovered in his vehicle on Correctional property.

[ByblosHex]

Do us all a favor, and leave the firearm home that day. Legal or not, it's not worth the risk.