Pennsylvania Arrest Records
Pennsylvania arrest records are public documents maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police, county courts, and local law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth. These records include arrest history, criminal charges, case dispositions, and related court filings. You can search Pennsylvania arrest records through several free and low-cost tools, including the PATCH system and the Unified Judicial System web portal. This guide explains where these records are held, how to search them, and what each source provides.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records Quick Facts
Pennsylvania State Police and Arrest Records
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) serves as the central repository for criminal history records in the Commonwealth. Every arrest made by a law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania must be reported to the PSP. This means the PSP holds a statewide view of arrest activity that no county agency can match. Whether an arrest happened in Philadelphia, a small rural township, or anywhere in between, that record flows to the PSP Central Repository.
The PSP Central Repository is located at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. This office receives, stores, and disseminates criminal history data under authority granted by the Criminal History Record Information Act, known as CHRIA. CHRIA is codified at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 and sets the rules for who can access records, what can be shared, and how requests must be processed. The PSP follows these rules for every request it processes, whether it comes in online or by mail.
The PSP also publishes a 10 Most Wanted list and maintains a Criminal Record and DNA Expungement unit for those seeking to clear their records under Pennsylvania law. The agency provides a Right-to-Know Request portal for public information about law enforcement activities.
The Pennsylvania State Police provides online tools for searching arrest history and criminal records across the state.
The PSP central repository receives arrest reports from all law enforcement agencies in the Commonwealth and maintains them in a single statewide database.
Note: The PSP Central Repository is the authoritative source for Pennsylvania criminal history records and is distinct from county court dockets.
How to Search Pennsylvania Arrest Records Using PATCH
PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History. It is the PSP's online system for requesting criminal history record checks. You can access PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us. A standard records check costs $22.00 per search and is non-refundable. Payment is accepted by credit card or through a pre-established billing account. Results are typically returned quickly when the record does not require manual review.
Mail requests are also accepted for those who need notarized copies or prefer not to use the online system. Form SP 4-164 is the standard mail request form for criminal history checks. A notarized copy costs an additional $5.00 on top of the base fee and must be requested by mail using that form. Processing time for mail requests is typically two to four weeks for records that require manual review at the PSP Central Repository.
Two other forms are available for specific situations. Form SP 4-164A is for volunteer criminal history checks and is processed at no charge. This form exists to help organizations that work with volunteers who may be in contact with children or vulnerable adults. Form SP 4-170 costs $20 and is for individuals who want to review their own criminal history record, or for legal representatives acting on their behalf. These forms are available through the PSP website.
The PATCH Helpline is available at 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972) for technical assistance with the online system. Keep this number handy if you run into issues placing your request.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal offers free public access to court dockets and case information across all 67 counties.
The UJS portal lets you search by name, case number, offense tracking number, or state ID number, and results include docket sheets from magisterial district courts and courts of common pleas.
Free Pennsylvania Arrest Records Search Through UJS Portal
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives the public free access to court records across the state. You can search by party name, case number, offense tracking number, police incident number, or state ID number. The portal covers appellate courts, courts of common pleas, and magisterial district courts. For arrest records, the magisterial district court dockets are especially useful because they capture early-stage criminal proceedings including arraignments and preliminary hearings.
The PAeDocket app is also available free for iOS and Android. It allows quick case search from a mobile device using the same identifiers as the web portal. Court calendars for upcoming hearings are published online, so you can track active cases in real time.
One important limitation applies to UJS data. Recent entries made in court filing offices may not appear immediately. There can be at least a 24-hour delay before new records show up on docket sheets. This means very recent arrests may not yet be searchable. For the most current and complete criminal history, PATCH remains the authoritative source. The UJS portal itself notes that docket sheets should not substitute for a formal criminal history check through the PSP.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records administers the Right-to-Know Law and handles appeals when agencies deny records requests.
The Office of Open Records charges $0.25 per page for standard copies and requires appeals to be filed within 15 business days of a denial.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records and the Right-to-Know Law
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, found at 65 P.S. ยง 67.101, gives the public the right to request and inspect government records held by state and local agencies. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records (OOR) administers this law. When an agency denies a records request, the requester can appeal to the OOR. Appeals must be filed within 15 business days of a denial or deemed denial. The OOR also offers mediation services as an alternative to formal appeals for resolving disputes over access.
Arrest records are subject to specific rules under CHRIA, which can limit what portions of a criminal history record are disclosed and to whom. Law enforcement agencies, criminal justice agencies, and certain licensed entities have broader access than the general public. Members of the public can access conviction records but may face restrictions on accessing records that did not result in a conviction. These rules are spelled out in detail within the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, Title 18, Chapter 91.
The Pennsylvania General Assembly's Consolidated Statutes provide the legal framework governing arrest records, criminal history, and public access rules.
Title 18 covers crimes and offenses, while Title 42 governs judicial procedure and the rules for accessing court records throughout Pennsylvania.
Note: Copy fees under the Right-to-Know Law are $0.25 per page for standard documents, and the OOR's mailing address is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records and the Inmate Locator
When an arrest leads to conviction and incarceration, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator becomes a key resource. This free online tool lets you search for individuals currently held in state correctional institutions or on parole supervision. You can search by name, inmate number, parole number, gender, committing county, current facility, date of birth, or age.
Results from the locator display physical description, the committing offense, sentence length, and projected release date. The database is updated daily to reflect new admissions, transfers, and releases. Historical records of past incarcerations are also maintained for research purposes. For federal inmates, the Department of Corrections directs users to the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator instead.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an online locator for tracking individuals currently in state custody or under parole supervision.
The locator covers state correctional institutions across Pennsylvania and includes individuals on parole, with the database refreshed each day.
Pennsylvania Courts Public Records Policy
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts maintains the statewide case management systems for all court levels. Public access to these records is governed by the Case Records Public Access Policy, established under Rule 509. This rule creates a presumption of openness, meaning court records are available to the public unless a specific exception applies.
When filing documents that contain sensitive personal information such as Social Security numbers or financial account numbers, filers must use Confidential Information Forms. These forms allow the court to keep certain details sealed from public view while the rest of the case record remains open. This balances transparency with the protection of private data.
Appellate court case information is available through the Appellate Court Case Management System. Court calendars for upcoming hearings are published online for public review. Fees for certified copies follow statewide standards set by the Office of Open Records.
The Pennsylvania Courts public records portal explains access policies and links to docket searches, court calendars, and forms for requesting documents from any court in the state.
Rule 509 of the Pennsylvania court system establishes a presumption of openness, meaning the default position is that court records are public unless a specific exception requires sealing.
PSP Public Information Release Reports for Pennsylvania Arrest Data
The Pennsylvania State Police publishes Public Information Release Reports, commonly called PIRRs. These are news releases from state police stations across the state. Each report contains details about arrests, incidents, and law enforcement activities. You can search PIRRs by station and county to find records specific to a geographic area. Visit the PSP's PIRR database to filter by location.
Reports typically include the charges filed, a description of the suspect, and the circumstances of the arrest. Fatal crash reports, criminal investigations, and public safety alerts are also included. The reports are retained on the public website for approximately 30 days. After that period, you may need to contact the individual station directly for older records. Contact information for each station is listed in the PIRR database.
The PSP Public Information Release Reports serve as a centralized source for recent arrest news from state police stations across all regions of Pennsylvania.
Each PIRR entry includes the station that issued it, the type of incident, and identifying information about the charges and circumstances involved.
Note: PIRRs are published for about 30 days and are best used for recent arrest activity rather than historical research.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records Data and the PCCD
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) plays a key role in how arrest data flows through the state's criminal justice system. The PCCD administers the Pennsylvania Justice Network, known as JNET. JNET is a secure information-sharing platform used by law enforcement agencies across the Commonwealth to access and exchange criminal records in real time.
The PCCD also oversees the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system, which collects arrest data from participating agencies throughout Pennsylvania. This data is used for statistical reporting and policy analysis. Research reports on arrest trends and criminal justice data are published regularly and are available to the public. Grants and funding from the PCCD support local law enforcement records management systems, helping smaller agencies maintain accurate and current data.
The PCCD coordinates with state and federal agencies on criminal records accessibility. Training programs are available for records custodians and open records officers who work within the system.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency coordinates criminal justice data systems and publishes research on arrest trends across the Commonwealth.
JNET connects law enforcement agencies statewide, allowing secure access to criminal history and arrest information for authorized users.
How to Request Pennsylvania Arrest Records by Mail
Mail requests to the PSP Central Repository are the right choice when you need a notarized copy or prefer not to use the online PATCH system. To submit a mail request, use Form SP 4-164 for a standard criminal history check. Send the form with a certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The base fee is $22.00, plus an additional $5.00 if you need a notarized copy. Mail your request to: Pennsylvania State Police, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.
Processing times vary. Most online PATCH requests return results quickly. Mail requests take two to four weeks when the record requires manual review. If you are requesting your own record to review or correct it, use Form SP 4-170 with the $20 fee. Volunteer organizations should use Form SP 4-164A, which is processed at no charge.
Records returned by the PSP include arrest information, dispositions, and incarceration history from all Pennsylvania jurisdictions. Interstate identification and FBI records may be included where applicable. If your request is denied or you believe the record is inaccurate, you can file an appeal through the PSP or challenge the record under CHRIA procedures.
- Form SP 4-164: Standard criminal history check by mail ($22 + $5 for notarized copy)
- Form SP 4-164A: Volunteer checks at no cost
- Form SP 4-170: Individual access to own record ($20)
- Online PATCH: epatch.state.pa.us ($22, fastest method)
- UJS Portal: ujsportal.pacourts.us (free court docket search)
Browse Pennsylvania Arrest Records by County
Each of Pennsylvania's 67 counties maintains its own court records through the Court of Common Pleas and magisterial district courts. Select a county below to find local resources for arrest records and criminal history in that area.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records in Major Cities
Arrests in Pennsylvania's major cities are processed through the county court system serving each municipality. Select a city below to find arrest record resources in that area.