Pennsylvania Arrest Records: How to Find Arrest Records in Pennsylvania

Reports generated by a law enforcement agency in Pennsylvania, such as the state police, after an individual has been arrested are known as Pennsylvania arrest records. 

They provide information about the criminal occurrence and the suspect's identity.

A person may be arrested while committing a crime in Pennsylvania or detained and questioned on suspicion of committing one. 

This is why arrest records are not the same as criminal records; thus, they can't serve as proof of conviction.

Authorities in Pennsylvania have the power to arrest people who break the law and violate the Pennsylvania Statutes. 

When a suspect is taken into custody by an officer, the officer is required to book the suspect and document pertinent information in a report. 

The report contains information on the person's booking and custody, the specifics of the crime, and the events leading up to the arrest.

How to Perform a Pennsylvania Arrest Records Search

For a Pennsylvania arrest records search, you can use online resources, such as backgroundcheck.co; these websites are designed for public background checks that include arrest records, and additional data. 

If you want to perform a Pennsylvania arrest records search and not search other public records, you can use one of the following methods.

Pennsylvania Public Arrest Records

A Right to Know Law in Pennsylvania gives interested parties access to all public documents, including arrest records. 

According to the legislation, unless there is a compelling reason not to, all state government entities are required to reply favorably to all requests for public records. 

As a result, an interested party may ask for access to Pennsylvania arrest records from the agency that made the arrest, which is frequently the neighborhood police department or sheriff's office. 

Arrest Records Pennsylvania: How to Access Them

Through the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History database (PATCH), you can access someone's Pennsylvania arrest records. 

Pennsylvania's updated digital system for arrest records makes it simple for people and law enforcement organizations to request a person's complete arrest history. 

The interested party must first register on the PATCH website to submit a PATCH request. 

For a thorough background check, the requester must fill out the forms after registering an account. Give your full name, address, social security number, and previous names and addresses. 

Additionally, the requester must enter a credit card number to pay the search costs, which start at $10 and vary depending on the scope of the search. 

Then, an automatic system will search once you fill out the required fields.

You can also access Pennsylvania arrest records by requesting an arrest history record. For this option, a written application must be filled out and mailed to The Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - 164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758, accompanied by a $10 check. 

Within three weeks, the requester will receive a copy of the search results through return mail. 

Alternatively, those interested might go to the courts where the records were first requested and ask the court clerk for the records.

Arrest Records Pennsylvania: Judicial Search 

In case of judicial proceedings where the access records need to be subpoenaed before you can access them, the subpoena request must be in writing, list the required documents, and include a name and address for the department to respond to such request. 

The Right-to-know uniform request form or the Pennsylvania State Police Right-to-Know Law Request Form may be used by the person making the request. 

Finally, the requester is required to send the request to The Pennsylvania State Police, Bureau of Records & Identification, ATTN: Agency Open Records Officer, Mr. William Rozier, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. Requests may be made by phone at (877) 785-7771, by fax at (717) 525-5795, or by email at [email protected]. 

Requests may be submitted by interested parties from Monday through Friday, 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m., during regular business hours (except holidays and official office closings).

An interested party may also ask the court for a subpoena order to get certain records or the officer's attendance in court. 

First, the requester must issue a legitimate subpoena order in the name of the Pennsylvania State Police Commissioner, Custodian of Records. 

Then, send it to 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758 via mail or personal delivery.

How to Access Pennsylvania Arrest Records Online

You can also look for Pennsylvania arrest records from numerous government agency databases using many online search tools for no cost or a minimal fee. 

As a result, most people may successfully do an internet search using third-party search providers such as Backgrouncheck.co, GoLookUp, and others. 

To use this service, the interested requester must type the desired search service webpage into a web browser. 

Next, enter the information requested in the fields, such as the offender's name and identification number, to help the search provider retrieve accurate results. 

Typically, users of online search services may be required to pay a charge in order to access Pennsylvania arrest records. 

It is, however, a more convenient approach to obtain these records without having to deal with the protracted processing times and variable service of government agencies.

Conclusion

In Pennsylvania, an arrest record is crucial evidence in a criminal case and could be essential in a subsequent trial. To obtain a Pennsylvania arrest record, you can follow any of the procedures listed above.