Find Arrest Records in Allegheny County
Allegheny County arrest records are held by the Clerk of Courts and the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, both located at the county courthouse in Pittsburgh. These records cover criminal cases filed through the Court of Common Pleas and the 30-plus Magisterial District Courts that serve the county. Searching Allegheny County arrest records is possible online through the UJS Portal, through the county courts website, and by visiting the courthouse in person. This page walks you through each option and provides contact details for the right offices.
Allegheny County Quick Facts
Allegheny County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts maintains official criminal records for Allegheny County. Director Michael McGeever oversees this office at the Allegheny County Courthouse in Pittsburgh. The office holds criminal case files from the Court of Common Pleas, including felony and misdemeanor cases. If you need certified copies of Allegheny County arrest records or case documents, this is the office to contact.
Criminal case searches through the Clerk of Courts allow you to select "Criminal" or "Court of Common Pleas," then enter the defendant's name, docket number, or filing year. You can view docket entries, hearing dates, case status, and charge listings. Certified copies require a formal request and applicable fees. Access is restricted for sealed files and cases involving minors. Information is updated on a regular basis but may not reflect real-time court actions.
The county courts system at alleghenycountycourts.org provides online access to case information and forms. Public access terminals are also available at the courthouse for walk-in case searches. Staff can assist you with locating records if you visit in person.
| Office | Allegheny County Clerk of Courts 436 Grant Street, Room 114 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 412-350-5323 |
| Website | alleghenycountycourts.org |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, regular business hours |
Allegheny County Court Dockets
The Allegheny County Courts docket page links to the UJS Web Portal, which provides free public access to docket sheets from all Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas. You can search by case number for a direct lookup, or use party name, date range, and court type to find records.
Docket sheets contain filing dates, charges, judgments, and all parties involved in the case. PDF versions are available for download at no charge. Case types include criminal felony, misdemeanor, and summary matters, plus civil, family, and orphans' court cases. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Record certification costs $1 per document. The US District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, located at 700 Grant Street in Pittsburgh, handles federal criminal matters that may relate to Allegheny County arrests.
Note: Allegheny County has more than 30 Magisterial District Courts serving the county's municipalities, making the online portal the most efficient way to search across all courts at once.
Allegheny County Public Records Policy
Most criminal and civil records in Allegheny County are preserved permanently. Minor and administrative cases may have shorter retention periods under state guidelines. The Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, applies to county records with certain exemptions. Juvenile records, mental health proceedings, and adoption records are restricted from public access.
Records containing personal identifiers such as Social Security numbers and driver's license numbers are redacted before release. The Open Records Officer coordinates responses to all public records requests. Appeals of denials go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Fees follow the state fee schedule established by the OOR, which sets copies at $0.25 per page.
Requests can be submitted through the county's public records process. The Allegheny County Courts public records page at alleghenycountycourts.org/public-records outlines the procedures for submitting requests and what types of records are available.
Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
The Allegheny County Sheriff's Office maintains active warrant information for the county. You can check whether someone has an active warrant in Allegheny County by calling 412-350-4700 or by contacting the office online. The Sheriff's Office handles extraditions and prisoner transport between facilities in the county.
Sheriff's deputies serve warrants, subpoenas, and Protection from Abuse orders throughout Allegheny County. The office also participates in regional task forces for warrant enforcement. Inmate information is available for people held in county custody. Records of civil process service and executions are also maintained by this office. Concealed carry permit applications and records are processed through the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office as well.
How to Search Allegheny County Arrest Records
Three primary methods let you find Allegheny County arrest records. Each serves a different purpose depending on what you need.
First, use the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. The UJS Case Search tool at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch lets you search by docket number, participant name, organization, OTN, SID, or police incident number. This is free and covers all 30-plus Magisterial District Courts plus the Court of Common Pleas for Allegheny County. Criminal Court Administrator Michael Kehs, Esq. oversees operations within the 5th Judicial District. Court calendars show upcoming hearings for criminal matters. Traffic court records are accessible through the MDJ docket system.
Second, search through the PATCH system at epatch.state.pa.us for a full statewide criminal history tied to an individual. The fee is $22 per check. Third, visit the Clerk of Courts at 436 Grant Street in Pittsburgh for in-person access to full case files and certified copies.
Note: Protection from Abuse case information is available through the UJS Portal with certain access restrictions depending on the nature of the order.
Allegheny County Records Through PATCH
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History system at epatch.state.pa.us provides statewide criminal history reports that include Allegheny County arrests. The $22 fee applies to non-volunteer requests. Mail submissions require Form SP 4-164 with a certified check or money order sent to the PSP Central Repository, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110.
Online results are available immediately. Mail requests take two to four weeks to process. Results cover all criminal history from Pennsylvania agencies, not just Allegheny County. This includes arrests by Pittsburgh police, county sheriff deputies, state police, and municipal departments across the county. Juvenile records do not appear in public PATCH results. Expunged records are also removed from the system following a court order.
Criminal History Law in Allegheny County
Allegheny County arrest records are governed by the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. CHRIA sets rules for how criminal history records are maintained, shared, and accessed. It applies to records at the Clerk of Courts, the Sheriff's Office, and all law enforcement agencies operating within Allegheny County.
Under CHRIA, most adult arrest and conviction records are available to the public. Juvenile records are restricted. Records that have been expunged by court order are no longer accessible to the public. The law also requires that agencies report accurate and complete information to the state repository. This ensures that the PATCH system reflects current case status, including dismissals and acquittals that should not appear as convictions in criminal history records.
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 works alongside CHRIA to define public access rights for government-held records. Together, these two laws govern what Allegheny County must share, what it may redact, and how quickly it must respond to requests from the public.
Cities in Allegheny County
Allegheny County includes Pittsburgh, the largest city in western Pennsylvania. Arrest records for Pittsburgh residents are filed at the Allegheny County Courthouse. All criminal cases from Pittsburgh and surrounding municipalities are processed through the county court system.
Nearby Counties
Allegheny County borders several counties in western Pennsylvania. If a person was arrested near a county boundary, records may have been filed in a neighboring county's court system.