Pennsylvania Arrest Records Search | Criminal Records
Pennsylvania statewide · County jail, UJS docket, PATCH and state-prison guide
Find a Pennsylvania Arrest and Verify the Criminal Court Result
Pennsylvania does not place every jail booking, police report, court case and criminal-history record in one public database. You must use the system that owns each part of the record.
This guide connects county custody, Magisterial District Court, Common Pleas cases, PATCH checks, state-prison records, warrants, bail, reports, victims’ services, correction, Clean Slate, expungement and pardons.
PENNSYLVANIA RECORD ROUTER
VERIFYING
ARREST RECORD SEARCH
67 COUNTIES
JAIL
UJS
PATCH
CRIMINAL DISPOSITION
OUTCOME VERIFIED
IDENTITY + CASE MATCHED
An arrest is not a conviction. A booking or criminal complaint records an accusation and court process. Verify the disposition for every charge before describing the case as a conviction.
County custody
Search the jail or prison operated by the arrest county.
Court cases
UJS provides free docket-sheet and calendar searches.
PATCH fee
$22 standard; volunteer checks are free.
State custody
PA DOC’s locator is updated daily.
Official review
Procedures checked July 29, 2026.
Five Pennsylvania systems that answer different questions
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person in local custody?
Find current housing, booking date, charges, bail and release information.
No single statewide county-jail roster exists.
POLICE OR SHERIFF
What happened during the incident?
Request the arrest report, complaint, blotter entry, photographs or releasable recordings.
Use the agency that created the record.
UJS WEB PORTAL
What happened in court?
Search Magisterial District and Common Pleas criminal dockets, calendars and dispositions.
Use the Clerk for certified documents.
PSP PATCH
What appears in Pennsylvania history?
Order an official State Police criminal-history certificate or your complete Access and Review record.
PATCH does not include federal or other-state records.
PA DOC
Is the person state-sentenced?
Find a state inmate or parolee, institution, inmate number and supervision information.
County inmates do not appear in this locator.
Strongest verification path: County booking → arresting-agency record → Magisterial District docket → Common Pleas docket → PATCH or Access and Review.
Start a Pennsylvania arrest-record search in the right order
Identify the county where the person was arrested
Use the actual arrest or booking location—not necessarily the person’s home county.
Identify the arresting agency
Determine whether the arrest involved Pennsylvania State Police, a city or borough police department, county detectives, a sheriff or another agency.
Check the county jail or prison
Search the county’s official inmate roster or call the facility for current custody.
Save the identifiers
Record the full booked name, birth date or age, inmate number, booking number, offense-tracking number, complaint number and docket number.
Search the UJS Web Portal
Look for both Magisterial District and Common Pleas criminal cases.
Open Pennsylvania Case Search
Read the docket in chronological order
Follow the case from complaint and preliminary arraignment through disposition and sentence.
Request the official police or court document
Use the arresting agency for the police record and the county Clerk of Courts for certified case documents.
Use PATCH for an official criminal-history check
A docket search and a criminal-history check serve different purposes.
Find an inmate held in a Pennsylvania county jail
Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections does not operate county prisons. Each county controls its own inmate search, visitation, mail, phone, deposit and records procedures.
Identify the booking county
An arrest near a county line may result in booking somewhere other than the incident address.
Open the official county website
Look for Sheriff, County Prison, Department of Corrections, Corrections or Inmate Lookup.
Use the state-maintained county-prison directory
The Pennsylvania DOC page links to current county prison administrators, records contacts and other facility contacts.
Find Pennsylvania county prisons
Search by surname first
Add the first name, middle initial or birth date only when needed.
Open every plausible match
Compare age, date of birth, booking date, physical descriptors and agency.
Save every active charge and bail entry
One charge may be bondable while another hold prevents release.
Call when the arrest is very recent
Public rosters can lag behind fingerprinting, medical intake, warrant checks and housing assignment.
Philadelphia calls its local facilities the Philadelphia Department of Prisons. Other counties may use “county prison,” “county jail,” “correctional facility” or “detention center.”
Search Pennsylvania state inmates and parolees
The Pennsylvania DOC Inmate and Parolee Locator is updated daily and covers people under DOC jurisdiction.
Open the official locator
Locate a Pennsylvania inmate or parolee
Search by inmate number when available
This is more reliable than a common name.
Otherwise search the last name
Add the first name only when the surname produces too many results.
Compare the inmate number and committing county
Personal information supplied from other sources may not be independently verified.
Open the institution page
Confirm the facility address, telephone number, visitation information and official-document mailing address.
Do not use the DOC locator for county custody
A person awaiting trial or serving a local sentence may remain in a county facility.
Search Pennsylvania criminal court dockets
UJS docket sheets may contain delayed or incomplete recent entries. Pennsylvania Courts also warns that docket sheets should not replace a State Police criminal-history background check.
Open the UJS Case Search
No account is required for the public docket and calendar search.
Search Pennsylvania docket sheets
Choose the court level
Select Magisterial District Court for the early case or Court of Common Pleas for the county criminal case.
Choose docket-sheet search
Calendar search is useful for upcoming hearings but does not replace the full docket.
Select the county or judicial district
Use the county where the criminal case was filed.
Use the docket number when known
Pennsylvania docket formats identify the court, county or district, year and sequence.
Otherwise search the participant name
Enter the surname carefully and narrow by first name, county and filing period.
Open both MDJ and Common Pleas results
A felony commonly begins before a Magisterial District Judge and later receives a Common Pleas docket.
Download or print the docket sheet
Save the docket number, offense-tracking number, complaint number and disposition.
Contact the Clerk for certified proof
The online docket is not a certified court record.
Understand the criminal docket before drawing conclusions
| Entry | What it commonly means | What to check next |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal complaint | Law enforcement initiated criminal charges and described the alleged offenses. | Read the affidavit of probable cause when publicly available through the court file. |
| Preliminary arraignment | A Magisterial District Judge addressed the complaint, rights and bail. | Verify the bail type, amount and preliminary-hearing date. |
| Preliminary hearing | The Commonwealth presents evidence to establish a prima facie case. | Check which charges were held for court, dismissed, withdrawn or waived. |
| Held for court | The identified charge proceeds toward the Court of Common Pleas. | Find the later Common Pleas docket number. |
| Criminal information | The District Attorney filed the formal Common Pleas charging document. | Compare it with the original booking and complaint charges. |
| ARD | The person entered Pennsylvania’s Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program. | Verify completion, dismissal and expungement eligibility. |
| Nolle prosequi | The prosecution chose not to continue the identified charge at that time. | Confirm the status of every remaining count. |
| Withdrawn | A charge was withdrawn, often at the Magisterial District level. | Determine whether a related or amended charge continued elsewhere. |
| Guilty plea or nolo contendere | The defendant resolved the charge through a plea. | Read the grading, sentence and financial obligations. |
| Acquitted | The defendant was found not guilty of that charge. | Check every count and consider expungement eligibility. |
| Limited access | The record has restricted public dissemination under Pennsylvania law. | Contact the filing court if it is your case and you need clarification. |
Verify identity across jail, court and PATCH results
Full legal first and last name match
Middle name, suffix and aliases are consistent
Date of birth or age matches
County and arrest date match
Booking or inmate number matches
Police complaint or incident number matches
Offense-tracking number is consistent
MDJ and Common Pleas dockets follow the same case
Charges and grading match the correct stage
Disposition belongs to every identified count
Do not match by name alone. Pennsylvania contains many people with identical or similar names. Use at least two independent identifiers.
Why a Pennsylvania arrest or case may not appear
The person is still being processed
Jail intake and initial court data can take time to reach public systems.
The person was released quickly
A current-inmate roster may remove the person before you search.
You searched the wrong county
Search the arrest and booking county, not only the person’s residence.
The first case is at the MDJ level
A recent case may not yet have a Common Pleas docket.
The case moved to Common Pleas
The MDJ docket may show transfer, while later activity appears under a new docket.
The name was entered differently
Try maiden names, former names, suffixes, initials and spelling variations.
The record is sealed or limited access
Sealed, expunged and Clean Slate limited-access cases are not visible through public Case Search.
The case is juvenile or otherwise secure
Juvenile, dependency and certain protected dockets are not public.
The person is in federal custody
Search the Federal Bureau of Prisons rather than PA DOC.
The event was never prosecuted
A police contact or arrest may not produce a filed court case.
Custody and docket call script
I am trying to locate the record for [full legal name], date of birth [date], connected to an arrest on or about [date] in [county or municipality]. Known identifiers are [booking number, complaint number or docket number]. Can you confirm whether the person is processing, released, transferred, listed under another identifier or associated with a different court docket?
Follow an arrest from booking to final disposition
Police investigation and arrest
A local police department, Pennsylvania State Police or another law-enforcement agency creates the incident and arrest records.
County booking
The local correctional facility processes identity, fingerprints, property, health screening and custody authority.
Criminal complaint and preliminary arraignment
The Magisterial District Judge addresses the complaint, counsel, bail and next proceeding.
Preliminary hearing
Charges may be held for court, reduced, withdrawn, dismissed or waived.
Court of Common Pleas filing
The District Attorney files the criminal information for charges proceeding in county court.
Pretrial litigation
The case may involve discovery, motions, plea negotiations, ARD or trial preparation.
Disposition and sentence
Each charge may end through dismissal, acquittal, plea, conviction or another judicial action.
Correction or record relief
The person may pursue a data correction, Clean Slate limited access, expungement or pardon when legally available.
Send the request to the Pennsylvania office that owns the record
| Record needed | Likely custodian | What to provide | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current county custody | County prison, jail or corrections department | Name, birth date, booking date and inmate number. | Searching PA DOC for a county detainee. |
| State inmate or parolee | Pennsylvania Department of Corrections | Last name or inmate/parole number. | Expecting the locator to include county inmates. |
| Police arrest or incident report | Arresting or investigating police agency | Incident number, date, location and involved name. | Requesting a municipal report from the county jail. |
| Police body-camera or dash-camera recording | Law-enforcement agency under Act 22 | Date, time, location, participants and recording description. | Using a standard RTKL request or missing the 60-day request window. |
| MDJ criminal case | Magisterial District Court | MDJ docket number, participant and filing date. | Searching only Common Pleas. |
| Common Pleas criminal case | County Clerk of Courts | CP docket number, defendant and document name. | Treating an online docket sheet as a certified disposition. |
| Pennsylvania criminal history | Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository | Required name, birth date, identifiers and payment. | Using UJS as the official background check. |
| Federal criminal history | FBI or federal court | Fingerprint or federal case information. | Expecting PATCH to include federal arrests. |
Request a Pennsylvania arrest report without asking for the wrong record
Criminal investigative records are often restricted under Pennsylvania law. A public blotter, criminal complaint and docket may be available even when the complete investigative file is not.
Identify the exact police department
Use the UJS docket, booking record or news release to find the arresting or investigating agency.
Find the agency’s records officer
Use the agency website or the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records officer directory.
Find an agency open-records officer
Name the record precisely
Ask for the public incident report, arrest report, police blotter entry, criminal complaint, booking record or specified administrative record.
Provide narrow identifiers
Include the date, time, location, police incident number, defendant and court docket.
Request electronic delivery
Pennsylvania’s official RTKL fee schedule permits electronic delivery without an additional delivery fee.
Set a cost limit
Ask the agency to notify you before duplication, certification, media or postage charges exceed a stated amount.
Read a denial carefully
The response should identify the legal basis and explain available appeal rights.
Copy-ready Pennsylvania police-record request
I request an electronic copy of the releasable public incident or arrest record concerning [full legal name] for the incident on or about [date and time] at [location]. Known identifiers include police incident number [number], criminal complaint number [number], OTN [number] and court docket [number]. Please provide all reasonably segregable public portions and notify me before costs exceed $[amount].
| Record or delivery | Maximum or current guidance |
|---|---|
| Black-and-white copies, first 1,000 pages | Up to $0.25 per copy. |
| Black-and-white copies beyond 1,000 | Up to $0.20 per copy. |
| Color copies | Up to $0.50 per copy. |
| Email or electronic delivery | No additional delivery fee may be imposed. |
| CD or DVD | Actual cost, not exceeding $1 per disc. |
| Redaction | No additional redaction fee. |
Request Pennsylvania police body-camera or dash-camera video
Important deadline: Pennsylvania’s Act 22 process generally requires the request to be made within 60 days after the recording was created. A normal Right-to-Know request is not the correct process.
Identify the agency possessing the recording
This may be Pennsylvania State Police, a municipal department, sheriff or District Attorney.
Find the agency’s Act 22 procedure
Agencies commonly publish a separate audio/video request form.
Describe the recording specifically
Include the date, time, location and names of people involved.
Explain your relationship to the incident
Access decisions can depend on whether the requester is depicted, a victim or another interested person.
Submit within 60 days
Do not wait for the criminal case to end before preserving the request.
Follow the Act 22 appeal process after denial
Police recording appeals do not follow the ordinary Office of Open Records appeal path.
Order an official Pennsylvania criminal-history check
PATCH checks Pennsylvania law-enforcement criminal-history records only. It is not an FBI check and does not automatically include another state’s records.
| Request | Current fee | Best use |
|---|---|---|
| Standard criminal-history check | $22 | Employment, personal, tenant, licensing and other permitted Pennsylvania checks. |
| Notarized standard result | $22 plus $5 | Situations requiring a notarized Pennsylvania certificate. |
| Volunteer check | Free | Qualifying volunteer service; cannot be notarized. |
| Individual Access and Review | $20 | Your complete Pennsylvania record, including non-conviction information, correction and record-relief preparation. |
Open the official PATCH portal
Open Pennsylvania PATCH
Select Submit a New Record Check
Individuals generally use the non-registered credit-card route.
Enter the requester information
Use a valid mailing address and email.
Enter the subject’s identity carefully
Misspellings and incorrect birth information can produce an incomplete or wrong-person result.
Pay the current fee
Online PATCH accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express.
Save the control number and request date
These are required to retrieve or validate the certificate.
Interpret Under Review correctly
It means the identifiers require manual review—not that a criminal record definitely exists.
Return to Record Check Status
Some under-review results may take two to four weeks.
Download and preserve the certificate
Save a PDF and printed copy before leaving the system.
PATCH Help Line: 1-888-783-7972
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
Request an Individual Access and Review record
Access and Review is the better starting point for correcting a record, preparing an expungement petition, reviewing non-conviction information or gathering a complete Pennsylvania rap sheet.
Download Form SP 4-170
Use the Pennsylvania State Police Individual Access and Review form.
Open State Police request options
Complete the identity section accurately
Include all required names, identifiers and contact information.
Copy your government-issued photo identification
Use a clear and readable copy.
Prepare the $20 payment
Use a certified check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Include legal representation documents when applicable
An attorney or representative should include the required authorization or affidavit.
Mail the complete packet
Send it to the State Police Central Repository address shown below.
Compare every entry with the court docket
Check charges, grades, dispositions, sentences, county and dates.
Preserve the response
It is often needed for a challenge, expungement, limited-access petition or pardon application.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Check a possible Pennsylvania warrant safely
There is no complete public statewide Pennsylvania warrant database. A county sheriff page or “most wanted” page is not proof that every warrant is listed or current.
Identify the county and possible court
Use an old citation, docket, complaint or booking record.
Search UJS Case Search
Review the newest MDJ and Common Pleas docket entries.
Check the county sheriff’s official warrant page
Some counties provide searchable lists, while others require telephone or in-person confirmation.
Contact the issuing court
Ask whether the warrant or bench warrant remains active and what appearance procedure applies.
Do not use the PSP Ten Most Wanted list as a complete search
It contains selected high-priority fugitives only.
Speak with criminal-defense counsel before surrendering
Counsel can explain bail, scheduling and safe appearance procedures.
Scam warning: Pennsylvania courts and police agencies do not resolve an unexpected warrant through gift cards, cryptocurrency, wire transfer or a payment link sent by text.
Never confront or attempt to detain another person. Call 911 for an immediate threat or the responsible law-enforcement agency with non-emergency information.
Verify and pay eligible Pennsylvania bail online
Online payment does not guarantee immediate release. The court and correctional facility must process the payment, documents, holds and release instructions.
| Item | Current rule |
|---|---|
| Eligible courts | Participating Magisterial District and Common Pleas courts. |
| Maximum transaction | $20,000 per card transaction. |
| Service fee | Nonrefundable 2.75% per transaction. |
| Payment methods | Visa, Mastercard, Discover, American Express or ATM card. |
| County availability | Not every county or docket type participates. |
| Surety paperwork | A person acting as surety must contact the court or prison to complete required documents. |
Verify the defendant and docket number
Match the birth date, county, court type and case.
Confirm every active case and detainer
One paid bail amount may not clear another warrant or hold.
Open PAePay Bail
Search eligible Pennsylvania bail
Search by docket or defendant information
Use the docket number when possible.
Verify the prison facility and bail balance
Stop if any case field does not match.
Review the 2.75% fee
The service fee is not refundable.
Complete surety paperwork when required
Contact the court or prison immediately after submitting the payment.
Save the receipt and confirmation
Keep the transaction number, payer, defendant, amount and docket.
Confirm local rules before visiting, mailing or depositing money
Pennsylvania county facilities do not share one visitation, telephone, mail or commissary provider. Never copy instructions from a different county.
| Task | Information to confirm | Common mistake |
|---|---|---|
| Visit an inmate | Visitor approval, provider, schedule, ID, clothing and arrival time. | Paying for video service before confirming the current facility. |
| Send personal mail | Mailing address, inmate number, envelope format and prohibited items. | Sending mail to the physical jail when a scanning center is required. |
| Receive calls | Telephone provider, account type, rates and number-blocking rules. | Discussing confidential legal strategy on a recorded call. |
| Deposit money | Approved vendor, facility code, inmate ID, limits and fees. | Paying a third party who claims money guarantees release. |
| Request medical attention | Medical-information line, inmate ID and emergency procedure. | Mailing medication without facility approval. |
| Pick up property | Inmate authorization, pickup window and required identification. | Traveling before the release form is processed. |
Schedule a Pennsylvania DOC visit
Locate the inmate and institution
Use the DOC locator before creating a visit request.
Confirm that you are on the visitor list
Facility staff cannot disclose visitor-list status to callers.
Create an Inmate Visitation System account
The system uses Keystone Login for identity verification.
Open PA DOC visitation
Schedule at least two days in advance
Select in-person or video visitation and an available time.
Check the email linked to your account
DOC sends cancellation information by email.
Bring proper identification and pass security
All visitors, including children, must meet identification and screening rules.
| Visit type | Published allowance |
|---|---|
| In-person | Up to four visits per month, including one weekend visit. |
| Minimum in-person length | At least one hour. |
| In-person participants | Up to four visitors, except Quehanna Boot Camp where the maximum is two. |
| Video visits | Up to six free video visits per month, including one weekend visit. |
| Video participants | Up to six visitors may join. |
Use the correct address for each type of state-prison mail
General letters and photographs
Smart Communications/PA DOCInmate Name / Inmate Number
State Correctional Institution
P.O. Box 33028
St. Petersburg, FL 33733
Publications and photo books
Inmate Name / Inmate Number268 Bricker Road
Bellefonte, PA 16823-1667
Verify the inmate number and institution
Use the DOC locator immediately before mailing.
Use Smart Communications for ordinary correspondence
General mail and photographs go to the Florida processing address.
Use the Security Processing Center for publications
Books and photo books must follow approved-vendor and processing rules.
Use the institution for official originals
Original documents needing a signature and return are generally mailed directly to the facility.
Include a complete sender name and return address
Use the sender’s full first and last name.
Allow at least one week for processing
Different mail categories have different delivery timelines.
Contact a person in Pennsylvania DOC custody
Securus calls
Create a telephone account to receive calls from a state correctional institution.
Support: 800-844-6591
ViaPath messages
Create a ConnectNetwork account to send electronic messages. Messages are reviewed.
Support: 877-650-4249
Urgent mental-health concern
Call the inmate’s state correctional institution directly rather than using a vendor account.
Ordinary telephone calls, messages and video visits are not confidential. Attorneys should use approved professional communication procedures.
Send money to a Pennsylvania state inmate
Pennsylvania DOC uses JPay for state-inmate deposits. Do not send money to an individual, unofficial website or email account claiming to process a DOC deposit.
Confirm the inmate number and institution
Match the DOC locator before paying.
Open the official DOC money page
Follow the linked JPay process.
Send PA DOC inmate money
Choose online, telephone, money order or lobby kiosk
JPay telephone support is 800-574-5729.
Review the displayed inmate
Stop if the name, number or institution is wrong.
Review limits and fees
Credit-card deposits are currently limited to $300 per card every 72 hours.
Use JPay for money orders
State correctional institutions do not accept inmate-account money orders directly.
Save the receipt
The inmate receives a deposit receipt and monthly account statement.
| Method | Current limit |
|---|---|
| Credit card | Up to $300 per card every 72 hours. |
| Money order | Up to $999.99 per money order; multiple money orders may be sent. |
| MoneyGram walk-in | Up to $5,000 per transaction. |
Find the public defender for a Pennsylvania criminal case
Every Pennsylvania county has a public defender’s office for eligible defendants who cannot afford private criminal counsel.
Identify the county where the case is filed
Use the UJS docket rather than the defendant’s home address.
Ask for counsel at preliminary arraignment or court
Clearly state that the defendant cannot afford private counsel.
Contact the county public defender
Search the official county website or call the county courthouse.
Complete the financial application
Provide accurate income, household, asset, debt and expense information.
Have the docket numbers ready
Include both the MDJ and Common Pleas dockets when available.
Do not discuss evidence on ordinary jail calls
Use approved attorney-client communications.
Get county advocacy, custody notifications and compensation help
Pennsylvania has victim advocates in all 67 counties. Services can include court information, safety planning, accompaniment, restitution help, notification and referrals.
Find the county victim-service agency
Find a Pennsylvania victim advocate
Save the police and court identifiers
Keep the incident number, MDJ docket, Common Pleas docket and defendant information.
Ask for court and bail notifications
Pennsylvania victims have rights to information about specified court events and final disposition.
Register for offender notifications
OVA and SAVIN notifications cover different events, so a victim may register for both.
Register for Pennsylvania victim notifications
Preserve proof of financial loss
Keep medical bills, counseling invoices, wage records, funeral expenses, repair estimates and receipts.
Apply for victim compensation
Open Pennsylvania VCAP
| Requirement | Current guidance |
|---|---|
| Location | The crime generally must have occurred in Pennsylvania. |
| Reporting | The crime must be reported to proper authorities or a qualifying protection order filed. |
| Filing period | For crimes on or after September 8, 2022, claims generally must be filed within five years. |
| Minimum loss | Generally at least $50 for a victim younger than 60. |
Correct an inaccurate Pennsylvania arrest or disposition
Request your full Access and Review record
Do not rely only on a public PATCH certificate.
Mark every disputed entry
Identify the county, arrest date, OTN, docket, charge, grading, disposition or sentence that is wrong.
Obtain certified court proof
Request the dismissal, amended order, verdict, judgment or sentence from the Clerk of Courts.
Correct the court source when necessary
A wrong or missing disposition may require action by the county court before PSP can update the repository.
Correct arrest information through the submitting police agency
A police department may need to amend identity or charge information it sent to the repository.
Follow the challenge instructions provided with the PSP response
Include copies of the certified supporting documents.
Recheck PATCH and the UJS docket
Court, police, PSP and private background systems may update at different times.
Dispute private reports separately
Send the private screening company the corrected official record and identify the inaccurate item.
Correction, limited access, expungement and pardon are different. Correction fixes inaccurate information. The other processes provide legal relief from an accurate record.
Understand Pennsylvania record sealing
Pennsylvania commonly calls record sealing “limited access.” A limited-access record remains available to criminal-justice agencies and certain legally authorized users even though it is removed from ordinary public access.
Automatic Clean Slate
Eligible records are identified through court and State Police data and processed without the person filing an ordinary petition.
Petition for limited access
A person may petition the Court of Common Pleas when a record qualifies under the statutory requirements.
Non-conviction dispositions may qualify for automatic protection
Eligible summary and misdemeanor records may qualify
Waiting periods depend on the statute and record type
Later convictions can affect eligibility
Court-ordered restitution must be addressed where required
Specified offenses and case combinations remain excluded
Limited-access cases disappear from public UJS Case Search
Certain agencies may retain lawful access
Obtain the Access and Review record
Use the complete PSP history to identify every case.
Obtain the current docket and disposition
Correct missing court data before evaluating eligibility.
Check whether the record is already unavailable publicly
Public UJS Case Search does not display sealed, expunged or Clean Slate limited-access cases.
Review Sections 9122.1 through 9122.6
Eligibility is controlled by the current Pennsylvania Crimes Code.
Read Pennsylvania criminal-history law
Contact the Clerk of Courts in the conviction county
Ask about the county’s petition, filing and service procedure.
Verify the result after processing
Recheck UJS public access and PSP history.
Information subject to limited access generally may not be used by individuals or noncriminal-justice agencies for employment, housing or school matriculation purposes, except where federal or other law requires access.
Begin an expungement with the complete State Police record
Expungement eligibility is narrower than Clean Slate limited access. The result depends on the disposition, offense, age, sentence, diversion program, pardon status and other legal requirements.
Complete Form SP 4-170
Request the full Access and Review record.
Include the $20 payment and photo ID
Use a certified check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Review every arrest and disposition
Match the PSP record to the MDJ and Common Pleas dockets.
Obtain certified court documents
Collect the complaint, disposition, sentence, ARD completion or pardon documentation relevant to the petition.
Contact the county Clerk of Courts
Ask for the local expungement petition, filing fee, service and proposed-order procedure.
File in the county where the arrest or case occurred
Different counties may use different local filing instructions.
Serve required agencies
Follow the court’s instructions for the District Attorney and other entities.
Keep the signed order permanently
Preserve certified copies for future correction of copied or private records.
Verify PSP and court implementation
Pennsylvania relief does not remove federal or out-of-state records.
Use a Pennsylvania pardon for convictions that cannot be cleared another way
A Pennsylvania pardon is an act of forgiveness for a conviction. Since June 11, 2024, records for offenses pardoned by the Governor are expunged without the applicant filing a separate expungement petition.
Effective January 1, 2026, the Board of Pardons accepts only the current application versions. Older application forms are rejected.
Identify every conviction included in the request
Use the Access and Review record and UJS dockets.
Gather the required court documents
Common requirements include the criminal complaint, probable-cause affidavit, criminal information, plea or verdict, sentencing order and financial-obligation documentation.
Address outstanding court obligations
Unpaid fines, costs or restitution can delay review.
Download the current application
Apply for Pennsylvania clemency
Explain rehabilitation and the reason relief is needed
Provide accurate employment, family, community, treatment and personal-growth information.
Submit the complete application
An attorney is not required, though an applicant may choose legal assistance.
Prepare for investigation and hearing
The clemency process can take several years.
Verify automatic expungement after a granted pardon
Recheck the State Police history and public court access after processing.
Pennsylvania Board of Pardons
555 Walnut Street, Suite 704
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-787-2596
Email: bopclemency@pa.gov
555 Walnut Street, Suite 704
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: 717-787-2596
Email: bopclemency@pa.gov
Pennsylvania criminal-record, court and custody contacts
PATCH Help Line
Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.
PSP Central Repository
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
PA DOC Central Office
1920 Technology Parkway
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Mechanicsburg, PA 17050
Official DOC inmate records
Office of Victim Advocate
1101 S. Front Street, Suite 5200
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Harrisburg, PA 17104
Victims Compensation
Application and claim assistance.
Board of Pardons
555 Walnut Street, Suite 704
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Office of Open Records
555 Walnut Street, Suite 605
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Map to Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
Map to Pennsylvania Judicial Center
Confirm before traveling: Verify the correct county, office, counter hours, identification, payment method, appointment requirements and whether the record is held electronically or off-site.
What this Pennsylvania guide helps users complete
Find and verify an arrest
Locate county or state custody, identify the arresting agency, connect MDJ and Common Pleas dockets and confirm every charge’s disposition.
Obtain official records
Request police reports, Act 22 recordings, certified court documents, PATCH certificates and complete Access and Review histories.
Take the next legal step
Verify bail, find public defense, register for victim help, correct errors and evaluate Clean Slate, expungement or pardon relief.
Pennsylvania arrest and criminal-record questions answered
How do I search Pennsylvania arrest records for free?
Search the official county jail and the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal. These free searches help locate custody and court cases, but they are not substitutes for a PATCH criminal-history certificate.
Is there one Pennsylvania inmate-search website?
No. The PA DOC locator covers state inmates and parolees. County prisons use separate local systems.
How much does a PATCH check cost?
A standard check costs $22, volunteer checks are free, notarization costs an additional $5 and Individual Access and Review costs $20.
What does PATCH “Under Review” mean?
It means the submitted identifiers require manual review. It does not prove the subject has a criminal record.
How do I find the final court disposition?
Search both the Magisterial District and Common Pleas dockets, then request the official disposition from the county Clerk of Courts.
How do I request a police body-camera recording?
Use the law-enforcement agency’s Act 22 procedure, not an ordinary Right-to-Know request. Submit the request within 60 days of the recording.
Can I search all Pennsylvania warrants online?
No complete statewide public warrant roster exists. Search UJS, check the county sheriff and confirm through the issuing court.
Can Pennsylvania bail be paid online?
PAePay Bail accepts eligible cases from participating courts. The maximum card transaction is $20,000 and the nonrefundable service fee is 2.75%.
How do I fix a missing disposition on my criminal history?
Obtain a certified court disposition, correct the court source if necessary and follow the challenge instructions included with your State Police Access and Review record.
What is the difference between Clean Slate, expungement and a pardon?
Clean Slate limits public access, expungement removes eligible records under statutory rules and a pardon provides executive forgiveness for a conviction. Each uses a different procedure.
