Pittsburgh Arrest Records Database
Pittsburgh arrest records are maintained by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and accessible through several city, county, and state resources. Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania and the seat of Allegheny County. Criminal cases from the city go through the Allegheny County court system. You can request police reports from city offices, search court dockets online, or run a statewide criminal history check to find arrest records tied to Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Records
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police handles arrest records through its Central Records and Reporting Unit, also called the CRRU. The office is at 660 First Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. You can reach the CRRU by phone at (412) 255-2920.
Police reports in Pittsburgh cost $15 per copy. Payment is accepted by money order or check only. Cash is not accepted. You can make your request in person at the CRRU or by mail. Mail requests must include a written request, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and a photocopy of your ID. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police operates six zone stations across the city, and all records are consolidated at the central repository.
The image below is from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police reports page at pittsburghpa.gov. That page explains what records are available and how to submit a request to the CRRU.
The CRRU is the starting point for any request tied to a Pittsburgh Police incident number. If you have the report number from a specific event, staff can pull the file quickly. Walk-in requests during business hours get same-day service in most cases.
Note: Pittsburgh Police records cover arrests made by city officers. Arrests made by other agencies operating in Pittsburgh, such as the Pennsylvania State Police, are held separately.
Pittsburgh Open Records Requests
Pittsburgh has a dedicated Open Records Officer who handles Right-to-Know requests under Pennsylvania law. The officer is Emma Cusumano, located at 313 City-County Building, 414 Grant Street, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The office phone is 412-255-2015. Fax requests go to 412-255-2285. You can also email requests to openrecords@pittsburghpa.gov.
Pittsburgh accepts requests in four ways: in person, by mail, by email, and by fax. You must use the Standard Request Form from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Verbal requests are not accepted. Anonymous requests are not accepted. Your request must include your name, a physical address (no P.O. boxes), and a specific description of the record you want.
The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 requires agencies to respond within five business days. If the agency needs more time, they must notify you in writing. Denials can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
The Pittsburgh open records process page at pittsburghpa.gov explains everything you need to submit a valid request. The image below is from that page and shows the request submission steps.
Using the correct form and providing clear record descriptions speeds up processing. Vague requests are often returned for clarification, which adds time to the process.
Allegheny County Criminal Court Records
Criminal cases arising from Pittsburgh arrests are filed in Allegheny County Court. The Department of Court Records, Criminal Division, maintains those files. The office is at the Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. Phone is (412) 350-5323. Hours run 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
Computer terminals are available in the courthouse for public research. Records from the current year and four prior years are readily accessible. Older records require an order from a storage facility, which adds processing time. You can search by docket number, participant name, or police incident number.
The Allegheny County criminal records page at alleghenycounty.us/court-records/criminal provides details on how to access filed cases. The image below is from that page.
Court records in Allegheny County show charges, hearings, dispositions, and sentencing data for criminal cases. These records are separate from police reports but both are part of the broader arrest record picture for Pittsburgh.
Online Search Tools for Pittsburgh Records
Two major online systems cover Pittsburgh arrest and criminal history records. The first is the Unified Judicial System Portal. The second is the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free public access to Allegheny County court dockets. Search by name or case number to see charges, court dates, and dispositions for Pittsburgh cases. Results are available at no charge. Certified copies require a direct request to the Clerk of Courts in Allegheny County.
The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov provides certified criminal history reports. Pittsburgh arrest records are part of the statewide database. The fee is $22 per check. Results cover all Pennsylvania arrests, not just Pittsburgh. You can request online or mail Form SP 4-164 to the Pennsylvania State Police. Notarized copies are available for an additional charge if needed.
For state prison inmates, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov tracks people serving state sentences from Pittsburgh convictions. The Pennsylvania State Police main site at pa.gov/agencies/psp has additional resources for criminal records access.
Allegheny County Arrest Records
Pittsburgh sits in Allegheny County. All criminal court filings and county-level records for the city are processed through Allegheny County offices. For the full county resource guide, court contacts, and additional record access tools, visit the Allegheny County arrest records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other Pennsylvania cities maintain their own police records and court systems. Select a city below to find arrest records in that area.