Pennsylvania Criminal Records

Per Pa. C.S.A. §9102, Pennsylvania criminal records refer to information pertaining to an individual’s involvement in crime or interactions with the criminal justice system. Colloquially, a criminal record is also known as a criminal history record or a R.A.P. sheet.

Pennslyvania criminal justice agencies must submit all criminal history records information they possess within ninety (90) days of disposition. The Commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) is the central repository for all Commonwealth's criminal justice agencies to access state criminal history record information maintained in the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.

The implications of a criminal record can be significantly adverse. A criminal record may render a qualified individual ineligible for some job opportunities, professional licenses, or specific government assistance programs. It could lead to the loss of child custody rights and limited options for housing and loans.

Are Criminal Records Public in Pennsylvania?

Yes. Criminal records in Pennsylvania are public. However, access is governed by strict guidelines of the Criminal History Record Information Act. The written policy of the Right To Know Law does not control access to criminal records maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police and local criminal justice agencies within the Commonwealth. Thus, individuals and non-criminal justice agencies may obtain access to criminal history record information maintained by the state or local police agencies. These agencies may charge a nominal fee for each record request. State and local police departments, however, may extract from the record all notations of arrest, indictments, and information relating to the initiation of criminal proceedings when 3 years have elapsed from the date of arrest, no conviction has occurred, and no proceedings are pending seeking a conviction. The Criminal History Record Information Act obligates criminal justice agencies to disclose only criminal history record information contained in their files.

Nothing in this act shall be construed to involve information regarding juveniles unless they have been adjudicated as adults. It doesn't apply to criminal history record information maintained as part of intelligence, investigative, or medical information.

Pennsylvania Crime Records by County

Pennsylvania crime records refer to statistical information about crime maintained and published by criminal justice agencies to track and measure criminal activities and demographics within the Commonwealth.

The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System (U.C.R.) is the state repository of crime statistics and the Annual Uniform Crime Report. The U.C.R. provides accurate and detailed data about crimes, arrests, and victimization across Pennsylvania. Requesters may peruse crime records specific to a Pennsylvania county on crime rates, offenses, hate crimes, and arrests.

The U.C.R. also provides a Crime Mapping Portal for up-to-date statewide crime data for all counties. It provides Summary Reports for offense density reports, arrest distribution reports, hate crime reports, and offense trends reports.

Pennsylvania Criminal Record Check

Interested persons may conduct a criminal record check or criminal background check in Pennsylvania by either of these options:

Online Request

The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH). Using this web-based application, requests for criminal records can be placed and received immediately. However, the records searched are only those in the PSP Central Repository. The search may also include existing records from other criminal justice agencies.

PATCH will issue feedback noting:

• That the clearance request was received, and
• When a requester's clearance results are completed and ready to be reviewed and printed.

It is essential to take note of the control number for easy logging into the PATCH system to receive the completed clearance results.

Paper Request

Requesters may also obtain a paper version of the criminal history record through the following steps:

• Visit Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH);
• Go to the "Help" option at the top of the page;
• Hover over the "Help" option;
• A drop-down menu will appear;
• Scroll down and click on any of the required forms (Criminal record check, volunteer form, and individual access and review form).

Mail Request

Follow these steps to submit and obtain a criminal records check by mail:

• Download and fill out any of these forms
• Criminal History Request Form - SP4-164
• Criminal History Request Form: Volunteer Only- SP4-164A
• Individual Access and Review Request Form - SP4-170
• Mail the completed form with a money order or certified check (for the applicable fee) payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.

The fees for the searches are as follows:

• SP4-164 costs $22
• Individual Access/Review costs SP4-170 costs $20, with a notary fee of $5, and is available for standard record check requests.
• SP4-164A is free but for volunteers only.

Find Criminal Records Online in Pennsylvania

Interested persons may find criminal records online in Pennsylvania through the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH).

Free Criminal Record Search in Pennsylvania

Criminal record searches usually attract a nominal fee for individual record checks or standard record reviews. Anyone who wishes to conduct a free criminal record search in Pennsylvania must submit a request for an unpaid volunteer criminal record check. This means that the $22 fee will be waived per this status.

Alternatively, third-party websites provide free Pennsylvania criminal record searches to interested persons. These record searches can be conducted with a subject's name, age, and address. While viewing some parts of the records is free, a complete criminal history check may attract a charge.

What Does it Mean if You Have a Criminal Record in Pennsylvania?

Anyone who acquires a criminal record because of a crime violation against the Commonwealth's criminal justice system faces a lot of common barriers that may affect their quality of life, employment opportunities, accommodation processes, and travel plans. Criminal records also attract a social stigma—since most people reject neighbors who hold conviction records—whether the subject has been released by a court or fulfilled their sentence quota.

Hence, the Commonwealth enacted the Fair-chance hiring policies to restrict access to criminal record checks for employment purposes, thus offering relief and healthier opportunities for criminal record holders. This means that employers may only assess a candidate's suitability for a job and, at best, offer opportunities to individuals with past non-violent criminal records.

Does Your Criminal Record Clear After 7 Years in Pennsylvania?

No, a person's criminal record does not clear after 7 years in Pennsylvania. The Commonwealth's criminal records are retained according to the policies of the record custodian, except they are sealed or expunged per § 9122. The Pennsylvania State Police and other Criminal Justice Agencies may maintain one's criminal records until they turn 70 and have not been arrested or prosecuted for 10 years following final release from confinement or supervision.

Arrest Record Vs Criminal Record

As earlier established, criminal records are a compilation of a person's criminal history, including arrests, detainment, indictment, and sentencing. Arrest records, on the other hand, simply include a person's arrest history, including the reason for arrest, arresting agency, and alleged offense. These terms are different despite the lasting perplexity due to their synonymity in their usage.

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania State Police is the central repository for criminal and arrest records. Several county sheriffs, however, also provide access to arrest records within their jurisdiction.

Pennsylvania Police Records

Pennsylvania police records include all reports of crimes and incidents created, used, or maintained during a police agency's business. Some examples include arrest reports, crime reports, traffic collision or accident reports, 911 tapes, warrants, calls for service logs, and complaints. In this way, the records differ from criminal records.

Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law authorizes public disclosure of police records in the Commonwealth. However, existing limitations restrict complete access to certain documents within the act. Audio/video recordings and Investigative reports, for example, are not public and not accessible under the RTKL. Investigative reports, however, may be available with a properly executed subpoena.

All RTKL requests for police records must be submitted in writing with sufficient information to facilitate the search. The request must also include a full name and address to which the requester will receive the PSP response. Requests may be addressed to the PSP RTKL Office.