Pennsylvania Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records 2026

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Pennsylvania · State criminal history, court docket, jail and record-relief guide

Search Pennsylvania Criminal Records Without Confusing Arrests, Court Cases and Jail Custody

Pennsylvania does not place every arrest-related record in one public database. Pennsylvania State Police maintains the official state criminal-history repository, the Unified Judicial System maintains court dockets, county agencies maintain local jail bookings, and the Department of Corrections tracks state-sentenced inmates and parolees.

This guide brings the important fees, status meanings, search fields, court levels, report-request limits, warrant restrictions, correction procedures and Clean Slate rules into one page. Official portals are used only for the final live search, payment, submission or document request.

Run an official PATCH check Search free court dockets Choose the correct record
An arrest is not a conviction. A police arrest, county-jail booking or criminal complaint records the beginning of a proceeding. Charges may be withdrawn, dismissed, reduced, resolved through diversion or end in an acquittal. Always check the court disposition before describing the outcome.
PATCH fee

$22 for a standard PSP check.

Full self-review

$20 by mail using SP 4-170.

Court search

Free through the UJS web portal.

County jail records

Maintained county by county.

Verified

Official sources reviewed July 29, 2026.

Record router

Choose the Pennsylvania record that answers your question

1
Need an official state background result?

Use Pennsylvania State Police PATCH. It checks information maintained in the PSP Central Repository and produces a Record, No Record or Request Under Review status.

2
Need charges, hearings or case disposition?

Search the free Unified Judicial System docket. It covers criminal Common Pleas cases, Magisterial District Courts, Philadelphia Municipal Court and appellate courts.

3
Need to know where someone is held?

Search the relevant county jail for a recent or pretrial inmate. Use the Pennsylvania DOC locator only for state-sentenced inmates or department-supervised individuals.

Best full-picture workflow: Search the county custody source for a recent arrest, use the UJS docket to follow the case, and order PATCH only when an official Pennsylvania criminal-history result is actually required.
10 essential answers

Pennsylvania arrest-record questions answered quickly

Is there a free statewide arrest search? Pennsylvania provides free statewide court-docket searching, but an official PSP criminal-history check costs $22.
Does PATCH search federal records? No. PSP states that PATCH checks Pennsylvania law-enforcement criminal-history records, not federal or other-state records.
Can a No Record result appear immediately? Yes. PSP reports that approximately 85% of No Record certificates are returned immediately.
Does Under Review mean a record exists? No. It means the identifiers require manual review before PSP determines Record or No Record.
Can I see my complete Pennsylvania history? Yes. Use the mail-only $20 Access and Review process, which includes convictions and non-convictions.
Can UJS replace PATCH? No. The courts specifically warn that docket sheets should not be used instead of a PSP background check.
Are actual court documents downloadable? Usually not from the public docket. Obtain filings from the county Clerk of Courts or the appropriate Magisterial District Court.
Does PA DOC list county inmates? No. County prisoners must be located through the county prison, sheriff or corrections department.
Is there a public statewide warrant tool? No. The UJS statewide warrant application is restricted to approved court personnel.
Can eligible records become hidden automatically? Yes. Pennsylvania Clean Slate law provides automatic limited access for qualifying records after statutory waiting periods and conditions.

Choose the problem you need to solve

The page explains the rules and procedures directly instead of sending readers through a directory of unexplained links.

Official state background check

How to run a Pennsylvania PATCH criminal-history check

Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History, commonly called PATCH, checks the subject information against the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. It is the correct statewide service when an employer, volunteer organisation, adoption agency, visa process or individual needs a Pennsylvania criminal-history background result.

Choose the correct request type Select a standard criminal-history request, a qualifying volunteer request or another request type required by the receiving organisation.
Enter the requester information Non-registered users must provide the requester’s name and mailing address during each session because PATCH does not retain their requester or card information.
Enter the subject’s legal information carefully Use the full legal name, date of birth and other requested identifying information. Incorrect spelling or transposed dates can produce an inaccurate result or failed status lookup.
Review every field before paying Confirm the subject and requester details. A check run under the wrong name or birth date should not be treated as belonging to the intended person.
Pay the published fee The standard fee is $22. Online PATCH accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Registered users may qualify for monthly billing.
Save the control number and request date These are required to check the request status, retrieve the certificate and validate the result later.
Open the status result Click the blue control number when the status shows Record or No Record, then open and save the certificate.
Validate before relying on a copy Enter the control number, request date and subject name on the PATCH Record Check Status screen to confirm that a certificate is genuine and current.
Session limit: PATCH permits up to 10 record-check submissions during one online session.
Scope limitation: PATCH searches Pennsylvania law-enforcement criminal-history information. It is not an FBI check, national criminal search, county-jail roster or substitute for a record required by another state.
Submit a PATCH request Call PATCH: 1-888-783-7972
Result meanings

PATCH fees, response times and status messages

Published Pennsylvania criminal-history request fees
Request Fee Submission method Important limitation
Standard PSP background check $22 PATCH online or SP 4-164 by mail Pennsylvania records only; not a federal check.
Optional notarization Additional $5 Request where the option is available Confirm whether the receiving organisation actually requires it.
Qualifying volunteer check Free PATCH or SP 4-164A by mail Cannot be notarized and must be used for a qualifying volunteer purpose.
Individual Access and Review $20 SP 4-170 by mail only Only for reviewing the individual’s own complete Pennsylvania record.
PATCH status decoder
Status What it means What to do next
No Record The disseminable PSP search result did not return a record under the submitted information. Click the control number and save or print the certificate.
Record PSP completed the search and produced a Record result under the submitted identifiers. Open the certificate and compare the identity information carefully.
Request Under Review The identifiers require manual review. It does not mean that a criminal record exists. Keep the control number and monitor the status. PSP states review may take two to four weeks.
No Items Found The status-search information was entered incorrectly or does not match the request. Re-enter the control number, request date and name exactly as originally submitted.
Fast-result fact: PSP reports that approximately 85% of No Record certificates are returned immediately.
Manual review timing: Some PSP guidance refers to review within two weeks, while the current public service page states that a check requiring investigation may take two to four weeks. Do not assume delay means a record was found.

How to check a PATCH result later

Locate the PATCH control number
Use the original request date
Enter the subject’s name exactly as submitted
Click the blue control number
Open the Certification Form
Save a local copy before the receiving deadline
PATCH help hours: The helpline operates Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Call 1-888-QUERY-PA or 1-888-783-7972. Weekend and holiday callers may leave a message and contact information.
Mail-in PATCH

How to request a Pennsylvania criminal record check by mail

Use Form SP 4-164

Complete the standard Request for Criminal Record Check when the receiving organisation accepts a mail-in PSP result.

Use Form SP 4-164A for qualifying volunteers

The volunteer request is free but cannot be notarized.

Complete every required subject field
Use a current return mailing address
Select the correct request purpose
Include a certified check or money order when required
Keep a copy of the form and payment
Use trackable mail for time-sensitive requests
Standard mail-in criminal-history request
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Missing control number: For a mailed request, call the PATCH helpline and choose option 1 to obtain the control number before checking the online status.
Complete self-review

Use Access and Review to see your full Pennsylvania record

The standard $22 PATCH background check is not the same as an individual Access and Review. PSP defines Access and Review as the individual’s entire Pennsylvania criminal record, including convictions and non-convictions.

Who may request it?

The individual whose criminal history is being reviewed or an authorised legal representative.

How is it submitted?

By mail only using Form SP 4-170. It cannot be ordered through the standard online PATCH workflow.

Why request it?

Accuracy review, expungement preparation, partial expungement, pardon preparation or court proceedings.

Complete Form SP 4-170 Use the legal name, former names and identifying information necessary to retrieve the correct record.
Include government-issued photo identification Send a clear copy rather than an original identity document.
Prepare the $20 payment Include a certified check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Include representation documents when applicable An attorney or representative should include the required affidavit or letter of representation.
Mail the complete packet Keep copies of the signed form, identification, payment and mailing receipt.
Compare every arrest and disposition Match each State Identification number, arresting agency, offense, docket number and disposition against the court record.
Access and Review mailing address
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Do not send SP 4-170 as an employment clearance. It is designed for the subject’s complete access and review and cannot be notarized.
Court-level guide

Which Pennsylvania court record should you search?

Pennsylvania criminal case routing
Court or record What it commonly contains When to search it
Magisterial District Court Criminal complaints, preliminary arraignment activity, preliminary hearings, summary matters, traffic and non-traffic cases. Search shortly after a local arrest or when only a complaint or MDJ docket number is known.
Pittsburgh Municipal Court Entry-level proceedings handled through the Allegheny County court structure. Use the UJS search and county court information for matters originating in Pittsburgh.
Philadelphia Municipal Court Philadelphia criminal and other municipal-court case information available through the UJS portal. Choose the Philadelphia Municipal Court category for an early-stage Philadelphia criminal matter.
Court of Common Pleas Major criminal cases, formal charges, motions, pleas, trials, sentencing and post-sentence activity. Search when a case was held for court, waived to court or filed directly at the county trial level.
Superior Court Many criminal appeals from the Courts of Common Pleas. Search when a notice of appeal or appellate docket number appears in the trial record.
Supreme Court Pennsylvania’s highest-level appellate proceedings. Search when later appellate review or a petition for allowance of appeal is known.
How a felony or misdemeanor case moves: An alleged offense is followed by arrest or charging, preliminary proceedings in an entry-level court, and—when the matter proceeds—trial, plea or disposition in the Court of Common Pleas.
Docket decoder

How to understand a Pennsylvania criminal docket

Common Pennsylvania docket fields explained
Field What it means Practical next action
Docket number The court’s unique case identifier. Use it for court-office calls, document orders, payment and status verification.
OTN The Offense Tracking Number used to connect criminal-justice records. Use it to compare lower-court, Common Pleas and PSP information.
Police incident or complaint number The arresting agency’s event or complaint reference. Provide it when requesting an agency report.
Arresting agency The police department, sheriff or State Police station connected to the charge. Request police-created documents from that agency rather than from the court.
Offense grade A classification such as felony, misdemeanor or summary offense. Read the exact statutory section and later amended charges.
Case status A general label showing whether the case is active, closed or in another stage. Do not rely on the status label alone; review the final docket entries.
Disposition The recorded outcome of a charge or proceeding. Confirm every count because different charges in one case may have different outcomes.
Sentence The court-ordered punishment or supervision entered after a conviction or plea. Review confinement, probation, fines, restitution and consecutive or concurrent terms separately.
Financial information Court costs, fines, restitution or payment-plan information. Confirm the current balance with the county Clerk or PAePay before payment.
Limited access The case or charge is restricted from ordinary public display under Pennsylvania law. Contact the court or an attorney when access or disclosure rights are unclear.

Common disposition terms

Withdrawn or dismissed

The charge did not proceed under that count. Confirm whether other charges remained.

Nolle prosequi

The prosecutor elected not to continue the prosecution of the specified charge at that time.

Guilty plea

The defendant entered a plea of guilty to the listed offense.

Nolo contendere

The defendant did not contest the charge. Review the legal effect and sentence rather than calling it a dismissal.

Acquitted or not guilty

The defendant was not convicted of the count resolved by the verdict.

Diversion or ARD

The case followed an alternative process. Completion does not automatically mean every related record has already been expunged.

Troubleshooting

No Pennsylvania arrest or court record found? Check these causes

The arrest is too recent Booking, complaint filing and statewide court data entry may still be underway.
You searched the wrong court level Search both the Magisterial District Court and the county Court of Common Pleas.
The case is in Philadelphia Include Philadelphia Municipal Court rather than searching only Common Pleas criminal cases.
The name is recorded differently Try a former surname, compound surname, suffix, middle-name variation or alternate spelling.
The case is limited access or expunged Juvenile, expunged and limited-access cases are among the records that may not display publicly.
The person is in county custody The PA DOC locator excludes county prisons. Search the county facility instead.
The person was transferred Custody may have moved to state DOC, federal custody, another state or another county.
The PATCH information was entered incorrectly A No Items Found status usually means the control number, request date or subject name does not match.
The arrest occurred outside Pennsylvania PATCH does not search federal or other-state criminal-history repositories.
A non-arrest summons began the case A court case can exist without a county-jail booking or mugshot.
Useful court-office call script “I am trying to locate a Pennsylvania criminal case for [full legal name], date of birth [date if known]. The alleged incident occurred around [date] in [county or municipality]. I have [OTN, police incident number, MDJ docket or Common Pleas docket]. Can you confirm which court maintains the case and how I can obtain the disposition?”
Recent and pretrial custody

How to find an inmate in a Pennsylvania county jail

Pennsylvania has 67 counties, and county-jail information is not consolidated into one complete public statewide roster. Depending on the county, the detention facility may be called a county prison, jail, correctional facility or department of corrections.

Identify the arrest county Search where the arrest occurred, not automatically where the person lives.
Identify the arresting agency A municipal police department, county sheriff, campus police agency or PSP station may have made the arrest.
Check the county corrections source Look for the county’s official inmate locator, prison roster, booking search or correctional-facility page.
Search the surname first Use fewer fields to avoid excluding a record because of an alias, suffix or middle-name difference.
Call booking or intake when no public search exists Prepare the full name, date of birth, arrest date, arresting agency and complaint or docket number.
Check the UJS docket A recently released person may no longer appear in the county roster while the criminal case remains active.
County custody versus state custody
Situation Correct search Common mistake
Arrested recently and awaiting preliminary proceedings County prison, sheriff or correctional-facility search Searching PA DOC too early.
Serving a county sentence County facility Assuming every sentenced inmate is in state prison.
State-sentenced and under DOC jurisdiction PA DOC inmate locator Searching only the arrest county.
Released on probation or county supervision Court docket and county probation office Treating release from jail as case closure.
Under state parole supervision PA DOC Department Supervised Individual Locator Assuming the locator proves the person is wanted.
Booking-photo warning: A county-jail image documents intake. It does not prove guilt and may remain online after release, dismissal or acquittal.
State prison and parole

How to use the Pennsylvania DOC inmate and parolee locator

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections locator is updated daily and covers inmates currently under DOC jurisdiction and department-supervised individuals. It does not include county prisoners, people in another state or federal inmates.

Best search field

Use the inmate number or parole number when available.

Name-search strategy

Search only the last name first. Add the first name for a common surname.

Update schedule

The Department of Corrections states that locator information is updated daily.

First, middle and last name
Inmate or parole number
Gender
Committing county
Current location
Date of birth or approximate age
Data-quality warning: DOC states that information other than the inmate or parole number, institutional assignment, district office and county may come from outside sources and may not have been independently verified.
Supervision does not mean wanted. A result in the Department Supervised Individual Locator does not by itself indicate that the person is an absconder or has an active warrant.
Search PA state inmates or parolees Email DOC locator support
Police and arrest reports

How to request Pennsylvania law-enforcement records

The correct procedure depends on whether the arrest was handled by Pennsylvania State Police, a city or borough police department, a county agency, campus police or another criminal-justice agency.

Choose the record and request method
Record needed Correct custodian Correct process
Official Pennsylvania criminal history Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository PATCH or mail-in criminal-history request, not Right-to-Know.
Full personal Pennsylvania history PSP Central Repository SP 4-170 Access and Review by mail.
PSP investigative report Pennsylvania State Police Not available through ordinary RTK; a properly issued subpoena may be required.
Local police incident or arrest report The municipal or county agency that created it Follow that agency’s report or open-record procedure.
PSP public incident summary PSP Communications/Public Information Search Public Information Release Reports by troop, station, county and date.
Police body-camera, dash-camera or audio The law-enforcement agency possessing the recording Use Pennsylvania’s separate Act 22 request procedure within the deadline.
Filed criminal documents County Clerk of Courts or Magisterial District Court Order copies directly from the filing court.

What to include in a local police-record request

Full legal name of the arrested person
Date of birth when known
Date and approximate time of the incident
Street address or municipality
Arresting agency and officer when known
Incident, complaint or report number
OTN and court docket numbers
Exact document or recording requested
Electronic delivery preference
Maximum authorised cost without approval
Copy-ready local record request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable incident report, arrest report, criminal complaint, probable-cause documentation and releasable supplements concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date if known], for the event occurring on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers are incident number [number], OTN [number], MDJ docket [number] and Common Pleas docket [number]. Please provide a written cost estimate before processing if the total will exceed $[amount].
Do not send an ordinary PSP Right-to-Know request for criminal history or investigative reports. PSP specifically directs criminal-history requesters to PATCH and states that investigative reports are not available through the ordinary RTK process.

PSP Right-to-Know fees for records that are releasable

$0.25 per page

Published duplication fee. PSP waives it when the total is below $5 or the requester copies using approved equipment.

$2 certification

Published certification charge per record.

Prepayment above $100

PSP requires payment before processing when estimated fees exceed $100.

PSP public summaries last 30 days: Public Information Release Reports can be filtered by troop, station, county, year and month, but PSP retains those reports on its public website for 30 days.
Submit an eligible PSP RTK request Search current PSP incident summaries
Police audio and video

Pennsylvania Act 22 recording deadlines, fees and denial reasons

Police audio and video recordings use a separate procedure from the Right-to-Know Law. For recordings held by PSP, the written request must be received within 60 days after the recording was made.

Identify the agency possessing the recording Send the request to the police agency, sheriff, district attorney or other law-enforcement agency that holds the file.
Prepare the request within 60 days Include the date, time and location of the recorded event.
Describe your relationship to the event Explain whether you were involved, recorded, a victim, representative or otherwise connected.
Identify people inside a residence When the recording occurred inside a residence, identify each person present unless the information is not reasonably known.
Use certified mail or hand delivery for PSP A PSP request is officially received only when personally delivered or marked delivered by certified mail.
Keep proof of submission Save the request, certified-mail receipt, delivery confirmation and every agency response.
Request deadline

Within 60 days of recording.

PSP granted-recording fee

$150 per recording.

Denial appeal

Within 30 days.

Appeal filing fee

$125.

Appeal court

Court of Common Pleas with jurisdiction.

Why a recording may be denied

  • The recording contains potential evidence in a criminal matter.
  • It contains information connected to an investigation.
  • A criminal charge has been filed concerning the recorded event.
  • It contains confidential or protected victim information.
  • Reasonable redaction would not adequately protect potential evidence or confidential material.
PSP Act 22 hand-delivery or certified-mail address
Pennsylvania State Police
Bureau of Records & Identification
Attn: Agency Open Records Officer
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110

Public delivery hours: Monday–Friday, 8:15 a.m.–4:15 p.m., excluding closures.

Do not use ordinary email or regular mail for a PSP Act 22 request. The official process requires personal delivery or certified mail within the 60-day period.
Start a PSP recording request
Warrant safety

How to check for a Pennsylvania warrant safely

There is no complete public statewide warrant database. The UJS statewide warrant application is restricted to approved court personnel and is not available to the general public.
Search the public UJS docket Review docket entries for bench-warrant issuance, recall, cancellation or related court action.
Identify the issuing court Use the docket number to find the county Clerk of Courts or Magisterial District Court that controls the case.
Contact the county sheriff or law-enforcement agency Ask for a current confirmation rather than relying only on an online docket entry.
Use full identifying information Provide the full name, date of birth, docket number, OTN and warrant information to avoid a same-name error.
Use an attorney for your own warrant A Pennsylvania lawyer can obtain case-specific instructions and help arrange a lawful appearance or surrender.
PSP Ten Most Wanted

A selective list of serious fugitives. It is not a statewide list of every active warrant.

Parole absconders

The Pennsylvania Parole Board publishes a searchable absconder list. Appearance on the list relates to parole-reporting status.

County warrant lists

Some county sheriffs publish selected warrants, but coverage and update practices differ.

Never confront or detain anyone. A warrant result can involve mistaken identity, a recalled warrant or delayed online updating. Give the information to authorised law enforcement.
Search parole absconders Report an absconder tip: 800-932-4857
Booking photographs

Are Pennsylvania mugshots available to the public?

Pennsylvania does not operate one complete statewide public mugshot database. Booking-photo availability depends on the county prison, sheriff, municipal police department, Pennsylvania State Police policy, the status of the investigation and applicable exemptions.

County booking image

Some county inmate locators display a photograph while the person remains in custody.

Police release

An agency may release an image with a public bulletin, wanted notice or incident summary.

Restricted image

Investigative, juvenile, victim-related or limited-access circumstances can prevent public release.

Confirm the full legal name
Match the date of birth
Match the booking or incident date
Confirm the arresting agency
Locate the related court docket
Read the final disposition
A photograph is not proof. Never describe a person as convicted merely because a booking image, wanted bulletin or third-party mugshot page exists.
Third-party removal warning: A commercial website is not the official record custodian. First correct or restrict the source record, obtain the final court document, and then use the publisher’s documented correction or removal procedure.
Certified court proof

How to obtain Pennsylvania criminal case documents

The public UJS docket identifies the documents and events filed in a case, but the underlying filings generally are not downloadable from the docket. Obtain them from the county Clerk of Courts or the appropriate Magisterial District Court.

Documents commonly requested

Criminal complaint

The charging document filed at the beginning of many cases.

Affidavit of probable cause

The factual basis submitted in support of the complaint when publicly available.

Information

The formal charges filed by the district attorney in Common Pleas.

Disposition

The order or docket certification showing how the charge ended.

Sentencing order

The court’s sentence, including confinement, probation and financial obligations.

Limited-access or expungement order

The signed order directing restriction or expungement when relief was granted.

Copy the complete docket number Include the court type, county, year and sequence exactly as displayed.
Identify the exact document Use the docket-entry date and description rather than requesting the entire file unnecessarily.
Ask whether a certified copy is required Employment, licensing, immigration, court and expungement matters may require certification.
Request an estimate County copy, search, certification and mailing fees differ.
Verify the delivery format Ask whether the receiving organisation accepts electronic certification or requires a paper seal.
Paper Magisterial District Court records: Contact the specific Magisterial District Court office directly. A complex request may require the court’s record-request form.
Find the county court office
Accuracy challenge

How to correct an inaccurate Pennsylvania criminal record

Correct the error at the agency that owns it
Incorrect information Correct office Evidence to prepare
Wrong PSP criminal-history entry PSP Central Repository Access and Review record, fingerprints, certified disposition and written explanation.
Missing or incorrect court disposition County Clerk of Courts or Magisterial District Court Docket number, certified order and exact incorrect entry.
Wrong police report information The law-enforcement agency that created the report Incident number, government identification and supporting official documents.
Wrong county-jail identity County correctional facility Booking number, photo identification, fingerprints and documentation of the mismatch.
Wrong PA DOC identity or location field Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate number and official documentation identifying the incorrect field.
Incorrect commercial background report The commercial reporting company after official correction Corrected PSP certificate, certified court disposition and written dispute.
Order Access and Review Obtain the complete PSP record rather than challenging an abbreviated screenshot or second-hand report.
Mark every disputed entry Identify the arrest date, agency, SID, OTN, charge and disposition that is incorrect.
State the correct version Pennsylvania law permits the individual to challenge accuracy by specifying the incorrect portion and what the correct information should be.
Attach primary evidence Use certified court orders, disposition records, fingerprint comparison or written agency correction.
Send the correction to the source The court corrects its docket; the arresting agency corrects its report; PSP corrects the Central Repository after receiving proper documentation.
Run a new check after correction Validate that the corrected information now appears properly in PATCH and the public docket.
Do not confuse a factual correction with expungement. Correction fixes inaccurate information. Expungement or limited access restricts an otherwise accurate record under a separate legal process.
Expungement and limited access

Pennsylvania Clean Slate, limited access and expungement explained

Expungement

Eligible arrest or conviction information is removed from ordinary criminal-history dissemination after a qualifying court process.

Limited access

The record remains but is restricted from general public display and most noncriminal-justice use.

Pardon

A pardon does not itself expunge the record, but it can make later expungement possible in qualifying circumstances.

Automatic Clean Slate limited access

Pennsylvania law provides automatic limited access for qualifying records after statutory waiting periods. Eligibility is subject to offense-based exclusions, criminal-history limits, restitution requirements and other conditions.

Current statutory waiting-period framework
Record category General waiting period Key conditions
Qualifying second- or third-degree misdemeanor, or misdemeanor punishable by no more than two years Seven years Free from a conviction punishable by imprisonment of one year or more during the period, restitution paid and no statutory exception.
Statutory qualifying offense under expanded Clean Slate rules Ten years Free from a qualifying new conviction, restitution paid and no statutory exclusion.
Non-conviction or other eligible record Depends on disposition and statute May qualify automatically, by petition or through expungement depending on the record.
Many records are excluded. Offenses involving danger to a person, family offenses, firearms, sexual-registration offenses and other listed crimes can be ineligible. A prior felony or multiple serious convictions can also affect eligibility.

Effect of limited access

  • The public UJS website generally will not display a charge covered by a limited-access order.
  • PSP limits dissemination to noncriminal-justice requesters as required by law.
  • The record remains available to criminal-justice agencies and certain legally authorised organisations.
  • Except where federal law or another exception applies, limited-access information may not be used for employment, housing or school matriculation.
  • A person generally may respond as though the covered offense did not occur when disclosure is improperly requested, subject to statutory exceptions.
  • Limited access is not destruction of the underlying record.

Standard expungement preparation

Order Access and Review Submit SP 4-170, the $20 certified check or money order and a copy of government-issued photo identification.
Receive the complete PSP record Identify each arrest, OTN, court docket, charge and disposition involved.
Obtain certified court documents Request dispositions and any diversion, sentence-completion or pardon documents needed to establish eligibility.
Contact the county Clerk of Courts The petition is filed in the county where the arrest or criminal case occurred. Local filing requirements and fees differ.
Serve required parties Follow county procedure for notice to the district attorney, PSP and any other agency required by law or court rule.
Obtain a signed court order Eligibility does not itself erase a record. The court must grant the requested relief.
Confirm repository processing After the order reaches PSP and the involved agencies, verify the public docket and obtain a fresh PATCH result.
Pennsylvania-only effect: A Pennsylvania expungement process affects eligible Pennsylvania arrests and convictions. It does not automatically remove federal or other-state records.
Petition for limited access: The Pennsylvania courts publish a statewide Petition for Limited Access Pursuant to Rule 791. Filing procedure, eligibility and costs should be confirmed with the county Clerk of Courts.
Legal-information notice: Waiting periods and eligibility depend on the complete record, offense grading, restitution, prior convictions and statutory exclusions. Obtain advice from a Pennsylvania criminal-record attorney for a case-specific determination.
Start expungement preparation Open Pennsylvania limited-access forms
Employment and screening use

How Pennsylvania employers may use criminal-history information

Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act places limits on how criminal-history information may be used for hiring.

Conviction relevance

Felony and misdemeanor convictions may be considered only to the extent that they relate to suitability for the particular position.

Written notice

An employer must notify the applicant in writing when the decision not to hire is based in whole or in part on criminal-history record information.

Limited-access protection

Except where federal law requires otherwise, expunged or limited-access information may not be used for employment, housing or school matriculation.

A docket search is not a compliant background-check process by itself. The UJS warns employers that court dockets should not replace a PSP criminal-history background check.

Before acting on a record

Confirm the person with multiple identifiers
Use the official PSP certificate when required
Read the final disposition
Do not treat an arrest as a conviction
Check whether the information is limited access
Provide legally required written notice
Special-purpose checks: Work involving children, schools, healthcare, firearms, security, adoption, fostering or regulated licences may require additional state, federal, fingerprint or child-abuse clearances beyond PATCH.
Identity protection

Do not attach the wrong Pennsylvania record to the wrong person

Exact full legal name
Middle name or initial
Former names and aliases
Date of birth
County and municipality
Arrest date
OTN or State Identification number
Court docket number
Same name, different birth date Treat the records as belonging to different people unless an official agency confirms an error.
Same birth date, different county Compare OTN, SID, address history and court identifiers before deciding.
Similar booking photograph Visual resemblance is not a sufficient legal identifier.
One source shows a case and another does not Check for delayed reporting, restricted access, a second docket number or an unreported disposition.
Contacts and addresses

Pennsylvania criminal-record assistance contacts

Use the office matched to the task
Office Contact Best reason to contact
PATCH help line 1-888-783-7972 PATCH submissions, control numbers, status and account questions.
PATCH Accounting 1-888-783-7972, option 3 PATCH account and billing questions.
Registered-user setup 1-888-783-7972, option 4 Companies or agencies that routinely submit checks.
PSP Headquarters 717-783-5599 General non-emergency headquarters assistance.
PSP Right-to-Know Office 1-877-785-7771 Questions about eligible PSP open-record requests and fees.
PSP subpoena processing 717-705-4245 Questions concerning properly issued subpoenas for PSP records.
UJS web portal help Use the portal Help Center Case-search, docket, calendar and PAePay technical assistance.
PA DOC locator support ra-contactdoc@pa.gov Difficulty locating a state inmate or department-supervised individual.
Pennsylvania State Police Headquarters
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110

General business hours: Monday–Friday, 7 a.m.–4 p.m., excluding holidays.

PSP Central Repository mail
Standard request: Central Repository – 164
Access and Review: Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Central repository map

Pennsylvania State Police headquarters in Harrisburg

Pennsylvania State Police headquarters and the Central Repository mailing destination are located at 1800 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg. Do not visit without confirming that the specific service accepts in-person delivery.

Mailing suffix matters: Use Central Repository – 164 for the standard mail-in criminal-history request and Central Repository – RCPU for Access and Review or expungement preparation.
Official-source verification

How this Pennsylvania record guide was verified

Pennsylvania State Police

PATCH fees, status definitions, Access and Review, Right-to-Know exclusions, recording requests, subpoena procedure and expungement preparation.

Unified Judicial System

Public docket coverage, search fields, court levels, unavailable records, update warnings and court-document limitations.

Pennsylvania DOC

State-inmate and parolee locator coverage, daily updating and exclusion of county and out-of-state prisoners.

Pennsylvania statutes

Criminal-history dissemination, accuracy challenges, employment use, limited access and current Clean Slate waiting periods.

Live data remains external

The official portals are necessary only to run the current name search, retrieve a certificate or view a changing case status.

County differences remain local

Jail rosters, police-report fees, document-copy charges and filing procedures differ among Pennsylvania counties.

Frequently asked questions

Pennsylvania arrest and criminal-record questions

How do I search Pennsylvania arrest records online?

Use PATCH for an official PSP criminal-history result, UJS for free criminal court dockets, the arrest county for recent jail custody and PA DOC for state-sentenced inmates or parolees.

How much does a PATCH criminal record check cost?

The standard check costs $22. Optional notarization costs another $5. Qualifying volunteer checks are free, and the mail-only personal Access and Review costs $20.

What does Request Under Review mean?

The subject identifiers require manual review. It does not mean a record exists. PSP states that some reviews may take two to four weeks.

Can I search Pennsylvania criminal court cases for free?

Yes. The UJS portal provides free public docket searching for Common Pleas criminal cases, Magisterial District Courts, Philadelphia Municipal Court and appellate courts.

Does the PA inmate locator include county jails?

No. The DOC locator covers state inmates and department-supervised individuals. Search the county correctional facility for a person held locally.

Is there a public statewide Pennsylvania warrant search?

No complete public statewide warrant search exists. The UJS statewide warrant application is restricted. Contact the issuing court, sheriff or law-enforcement agency.

Can I get a PSP arrest report through Right-to-Know?

PSP states that investigative reports and criminal histories are not available through ordinary RTK. Use PATCH for criminal history and a properly issued subpoena when a PSP investigative report is legally required.

How do I correct an inaccurate Pennsylvania record?

Order Access and Review, identify the incorrect entry, state the correct information and submit supporting certified court or agency documents to the record custodian.

What is the difference between expungement and limited access?

Expungement removes eligible information from ordinary dissemination. Limited access restricts public and most noncriminal-justice access but preserves the record for authorised purposes.

Can an employer reject someone because of an arrest?

Pennsylvania law states that employers may consider felony and misdemeanor convictions only as they relate to suitability for the position. Written notice is required when a hiring denial is based in whole or in part on criminal-history information.

Accuracy, identity and legal-use notice

County Arrest Records is an independent informational guide. It is not Pennsylvania State Police, the Unified Judicial System, Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, a county court, police agency or law firm.

Arrest, custody, warrant and court information can change after filing, release, transfer, correction, limited-access processing or expungement. Confirm the identity with multiple identifiers and obtain the current official record before making an employment, housing, financial, legal, safety or publication decision.

Every arrested person is presumed innocent unless proven guilty in court. This page provides general procedural information and is not legal advice.

Last official-source review: July 29, 2026.

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