Find Recent Arrests in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania recent arrests are tracked by law enforcement across all 67 counties. The state offers several ways to search for arrest records online. You can check the PATCH system from the Pennsylvania State Police for criminal history. The Unified Judicial System portal gives free access to court dockets statewide. County jails post inmate rosters. The Department of Corrections updates its locator daily. Whether you need to find a specific arrest or check on someone held in a Pennsylvania county jail or state prison, online tools and local offices are ready to help. Search recent arrests in Pennsylvania below.
Pennsylvania Arrest Records Quick Facts
Pennsylvania Recent Arrests and PATCH
The Pennsylvania State Police run the PATCH system. PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History. It checks names against the criminal history database at the state central repository. This is the main tool for looking up recent arrests tied to criminal records in Pennsylvania. You can submit a check online or by mail.
The PATCH overview page explains how the system works for searching Pennsylvania recent arrest records.
About 85% of checks return a "No Record" result right away in Pennsylvania.
If the system finds a match, you get a "Request Under Review" status. That does not mean the person has a record. A staff review takes up to two weeks for Pennsylvania recent arrest data. You can check your request using the control number, subject name, and submission date. The fee is $22 for a standard check. Volunteer checks are free. Use Form SP 4-164 for a standard check. Use SP 4-164A for volunteer checks at no cost. Use SP 4-170 for individual access and review at $20. Mail requests go to Pennsylvania State Police, Central Repository, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972 with questions about Pennsylvania recent arrests.
Note: PATCH checks only cover Pennsylvania law enforcement records and do not include federal arrest data.
Search Pennsylvania Recent Arrest Dockets
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides free access to court dockets. You can search recent arrests by defendant name, docket number, or police incident number. The portal covers all 67 counties. It includes Magisterial District Courts, Courts of Common Pleas, and appellate courts across Pennsylvania.
Search arrest case dockets through the UJS portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us for Pennsylvania recent arrests.
The portal is free to use across Pennsylvania.
Search results show arrest charges, filing dates, and case status for recent arrests in Pennsylvania. Docket sheets list all documents filed in a case. They do not provide the documents. For copies, contact the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was filed. The system also supports searches by SID, OTN, and police complaint number. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, docket sheets should not replace a full criminal history check for Pennsylvania recent arrests. Only the State Police can provide an official criminal history report.
The Pennsylvania court system also provides resources at pacourts.us for recent arrest case information.
A free mobile app called PAeDocket lets you look up Pennsylvania recent arrest cases on the go.
Pennsylvania Recent Arrest Inmate Lookup
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections runs an inmate and parolee locator. It covers all people under state DOC jurisdiction. Search by last name or inmate number. The database updates daily with recent arrest and incarceration data in Pennsylvania.
Find inmates and parolees through the DOC locator at pa.gov for Pennsylvania recent arrest and custody records.
Results include the full name, date of birth, mugshot, and current facility location in Pennsylvania.
You can filter by gender, race, committing county, or current location in Pennsylvania. The parolee search narrows results by county of residence, release date, or district office. This tool does not include people held in county jails or in other states. For help with the Pennsylvania recent arrest locator, email ra-contactdoc@pa.gov or call (717) 728-2573. Disable pop-up blockers before using the database.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency supports justice system programs at pa.gov/agencies/pccd.
PCCD funds community safety, victim services, and juvenile justice programs across Pennsylvania.
What Arrest Records Include
Arrest records in Pennsylvania hold specific details about the person and the event. A record shows the full name, date of birth, and physical description. The arresting agency and officer are listed. Charges, bail amount, and court dates are part of the file. Many records include a mugshot and fingerprints from the time of the arrest in Pennsylvania.
The full text of Pennsylvania's criminal history record laws is available at legis.state.pa.us covering recent arrest data handling.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9112, fingerprints must be taken for all arrests in Pennsylvania for felony, misdemeanor, or summary offenses.
Pennsylvania arrest records typically contain:
- Full name, date of birth, and known aliases
- Physical description and booking photo
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Arresting agency and officer name
- Criminal charges filed
- Bail or bond amount set by the court
- Court date and county jurisdiction
Criminal justice agencies must submit disposition reports within 90 days under Section 9113 of the CHRIA. This keeps the statewide database on recent arrests in Pennsylvania current. Retention periods vary. Felony arrest records are kept 75 years or permanently for homicide. Misdemeanor records stay 25 years. Summary offense records stay 7 years after final disposition in Pennsylvania.
Requesting Pennsylvania Recent Arrest Records
Most arrest records are public in Pennsylvania. Under 65 P.S. § 67.101, all government records are presumed open. The burden falls on the agency to show why a record should stay sealed. You can request recent arrest records from the county or agency that holds them in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records manages public records requests at openrecords.pa.gov including recent arrest data.
Download the statewide request form from the OOR website for Pennsylvania recent arrest records.
Submit your request in writing to the Agency Open Records Officer. Include your name, address, and a clear description of the records you need. Agencies must respond within 5 business days in Pennsylvania. They can grant the request, deny it, or invoke a 30-day extension. If denied, you have 15 business days to appeal with the Office of Open Records. Standard copy fees are up to 25 cents per page. The OOR address is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101. You can fax appeals to 717-425-5343 for Pennsylvania recent arrest record denials.
The Department of Corrections also accepts Right-to-Know requests for recent arrest and incarceration records through its own form at pa.gov.
All U.S. citizens can request DOC records about recent arrests and incarceration in Pennsylvania.
Some records are exempt from release in Pennsylvania. These include active investigation files, confidential source details, records that could endanger safety, juvenile records, and sealed or expunged arrest records. Bad faith denials can result in civil penalties up to $1,500 under the Right-to-Know Law in Pennsylvania.
Note: Contact the Office of Open Records at (717) 346-9903 or RTK-OOR@pa.gov for help with Pennsylvania recent arrest record requests.
Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Laws
The Criminal History Record Information Act governs recent arrest and criminal records in Pennsylvania. Known as CHRIA, the law is at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. It sets rules for how arrest data is collected, stored, and shared. Under Section 9121, only state or local police may share criminal history data with the public in Pennsylvania. The fee set by the Attorney General is $8 per request.
The Pennsylvania Megan's Law registry tracks registered sex offenders at pameganslaw.state.pa.us as part of the state's arrest and offender tracking system.
Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 9799.28, the State Police maintain the sex offender registry across Pennsylvania.
Under Section 9151 of the CHRIA, any person in Pennsylvania can review and challenge their own criminal history. Agencies have 60 days to review a challenge. If it is valid, the record must be corrected. Appeals go to the Attorney General and then to Commonwealth Court. Violations of the CHRIA carry real penalties in Pennsylvania. Willful violations result in damages of $1,000 to $10,000 per incident for misuse of recent arrest data.
The Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General enforces criminal history laws at attorneygeneral.gov including oversight of recent arrest record handling.
The Attorney General conducts annual audits of the criminal history central repository in Pennsylvania.
Pennsylvania passed the Clean Slate Law in 2018 (Act 56). It allows automatic sealing of certain arrest records after a waiting period. The law covers non-violent misdemeanors and cases without a conviction. The waiting period is 10 years with no new offenses. Many people in Pennsylvania have used this law to seal older recent arrest records from public view.
Pennsylvania Offender Tracking
Pennsylvania tracks sex offenders through the Megan's Law website. The registry covers anyone convicted of certain sexual offenses who lives, works, or attends school in the state. It provides data on residence, status, and other details tied to arrest and conviction records in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania Parole Board oversees parolees across the state at pa.gov/agencies/parole working alongside the recent arrest tracking system.
Parolee data in Pennsylvania is part of the DOC Inmate and Parolee Locator system.
Using registry data to threaten or harass a registrant is a crime under Pennsylvania law. The registry exists for public safety. It covers offenders from Pennsylvania and other states. The Parole Board uses evidence-based practices to make parole decisions. It works closely with the DOC to track people released from state prison in Pennsylvania after their arrest and sentencing.
Pennsylvania Recent Arrest Public Reports
The Pennsylvania State Police publish Public Information Release Reports. These cover recent arrests, incidents, and investigations. Reports come from all PSP stations, the Bureau of Gaming Enforcement, and the Bureau of Liquor Enforcement. They stay on the website for 30 days. View the latest recent arrest reports at pa.gov.
The Pennsylvania Department of Human Services handles child abuse history checks, which are separate from recent arrest criminal history checks, at pa.gov/agencies/dhs.
Child abuse history checks in Pennsylvania are not the same as PATCH criminal history checks for recent arrests.
The State Police records request portal handles other types of records too. You can request audio or video recordings, subpoena documents, and expungement information in Pennsylvania. For DNA or criminal record expungement questions, contact the State Police directly. The PSP also processes requests through their records request portal for recent arrest and related data in Pennsylvania.
The Pennsylvania DHS manages the child abuse history certification at pa.gov with a process entirely separate from recent arrest records.
Call 717-783-6211 or toll-free 1-877-371-5422 for DHS certification questions in Pennsylvania.
Note: The Pennsylvania State Police PIRRs are retained online for 30 days and cover recent arrest press releases statewide.
Browse Pennsylvania Recent Arrests by County
Each county in Pennsylvania has its own sheriff's office, jail, and court system that track recent arrests. Pick a county below to find local arrest record resources and contact information.
Recent Arrests in Major Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of major cities can look up recent arrests through local police departments and county courts. Pick a city below to find arrest record resources in that area of Pennsylvania.