Philadelphia Arrest Records
Philadelphia arrest records are kept by the Philadelphia Police Department and available through several city and state channels. Philadelphia is the largest city in Pennsylvania with more than 1.5 million residents. The city and county share the same government, making it a unique consolidated jurisdiction. You can search criminal cases online, request police records in person, or use state tools to look up arrest history tied to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Philadelphia Police Department Records
The Philadelphia Police Department handles arrest records for the city through its Public Safety Records Unit. This unit is run by the Philadelphia Department of Records. The office is at City Hall, Room 170, Philadelphia, PA 19107. They accept both in-person and mail requests for police records.
A local police records check or letter of good conduct requires a Police Records Check Request Form. The fee is $40 per request. Payment must be made by cash, business check, money order, or certified check. Processing takes about ten days. Criminal record checks at this level cover only local arrest information tied to Philadelphia, not the full statewide history.
If you want your full criminal history, you can use the Individual Access and Review option through the Pennsylvania State Police. That process uses Form SP4-170 and costs $20. You must provide proper identification. Processing for that request may take three months or longer. The Public Safety Records Unit can also confirm whether a specific arrest is in their system.
Philadelphia arrest records contain the subject's full name, date of birth, and physical description. Records also include the arresting agency and officer, the arrest type, date, and location, and the alleged offense with code. Mugshots may be part of the file as well. Note: Access to arrest records at the local level is limited to the subject of the record or someone with the subject's written consent.
PATCH Criminal History Access
The Pennsylvania State Police runs the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. This is the main tool for getting a certified criminal history that includes Philadelphia arrests. PATCH pulls records from across all Pennsylvania agencies, including the Philadelphia Police Department. The fee is $22 for a standard check.
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system covers arrests from the entire state. Results include charges, dispositions, and sentencing data when available. You can request a check online through the PATCH site or by mailing Form SP 4-164 to the Pennsylvania State Police. Mail requests take longer to process. Notarized copies are available for an extra charge if you need them for official use.
The PATCH site at epatch.pa.gov is the fastest way to pull a certified criminal history tied to Philadelphia. The $22 fee applies per search. Results reflect what is in the state criminal history database, which is compiled from court filings and police reports from all agencies statewide.
The image below comes from the PATCH program page at the Pennsylvania State Police. Philadelphia criminal history records are part of the statewide database accessible through this system.
Running a PATCH check is the most direct way to get a full certified record for someone with arrests in Philadelphia. The result covers all Pennsylvania jurisdictions, not just the city.
Philadelphia Inmate and Detention Records
The Philadelphia Department of Prisons manages the city jail system. People arrested in Philadelphia may be held at one of the city's detention facilities while their case moves through the courts. The department runs its own inmate locator that is free to search.
You can find a person held in city custody through the Philadelphia Incarcerated Person Locator at phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice. Search by first name, last name, and date of birth. You can also search by the six or seven digit Police Identification Number (PID) if you have it. The tool shows current location and contact information for the facility.
For people who have moved to state custody, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. That site covers people serving state sentences. Federal inmates are tracked through the Federal Bureau of Prisons search tool. Each system is separate and covers a different level of custody.
The Philadelphia Department of Prisons page on the city website provides more detail about facilities, visiting policies, and contacting incarcerated people by mail. The image below is from the Philadelphia Department of Prisons page at phila.gov.
Finding someone in city custody is usually the first step after an arrest in Philadelphia. The locator tool is updated regularly and reflects current holding status.
Philadelphia Court Records and Case Search
Philadelphia is the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Criminal cases in the city go through Philadelphia Municipal Court first and then the Court of Common Pleas for felony matters. Both courts have records available online and in person at courts.phila.gov.
The Unified Judicial System Portal covers all Philadelphia criminal dockets. Search the portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us by participant name, case number, or filing date. Results include charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions. Basic searches are free. The portal also shows traffic court records and civil dockets for Philadelphia cases.
For certified copies of court documents, you contact the Clerk of Courts for the Court of Common Pleas or visit the courthouse. The UJS Portal shows case information but does not produce certified copies. Those require a direct request to the court office in Philadelphia.
Philadelphia warrant inquiries go through the Sheriff's Office. You can call (215) 686-3560 to ask about active arrest warrants. The Sheriff's Office is at 100 South Broad Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19110. Warrant checks are typically free for the public. Warrants in Philadelphia remain active until they are served.
Note: Philadelphia Municipal Court and Common Pleas dockets both appear in the UJS Portal, so a single search will return records from both courts for the same person.
Right-to-Know Requests in Philadelphia
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law governs public access to government records. The law is codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101 and enforced by the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Philadelphia agencies, including the police department, must respond to written requests within five business days.
The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office accepts Right-to-Know requests. The Department of Records also processes public record requests for police blotters and related materials. Police blotters are chronological listings of arrests and are generally accessible to the public under state law.
Under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, access to full criminal history records is limited. In general, the subject of the record or someone with written consent may request a full history. Court records and blotter data are treated differently and are more broadly available to the public.
Submit a Right-to-Know request to the Department of Records at City Hall, Room 170, Philadelphia, PA 19107. You can also contact the Open Records Officer through the city's official channels. Use the standard Pennsylvania Open Records request form available from the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Philadelphia County Arrest Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county. All criminal filings and court records for the city are maintained at the county level. For the full county resource guide, office contacts, and additional access methods, visit the Philadelphia County arrest records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other major Pennsylvania cities maintain their own police records and court files. Select a city below to find arrest records in that area.