Pittsburgh Recent Arrests Lookup
Pittsburgh recent arrests are handled by the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and processed through the Allegheny County court system. The city publishes arrest data through the Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center, which makes it one of the most transparent cities in the state for arrest information. You can search for recent arrests in Pittsburgh using court docket tools, the WPRDC data portal, or by contacting the Central Records and Reporting Unit. This guide walks you through every method for finding Pittsburgh arrest records.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Pittsburgh Police and Arrest Records
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police processes all arrests within city limits. The Central Records and Reporting Unit, known as the CRRU, manages all police records for the department. The CRRU is at 660 First Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Their phone number is (412) 255-2920. Office hours are 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Monday through Friday. This is the main place to get records tied to a recent arrest in Pittsburgh.
The City of Pittsburgh website has general information on police services and how to request records. When you need a copy of a police report from a recent arrest in Pittsburgh, you can visit the CRRU in person or send a written request by mail.
Mail requests must include the type of incident, the report number if you have it, a self-addressed stamped envelope, a copy of your photo ID, and a check or money order for fees. Police reports cost $15 per copy. Cash is accepted for in-person requests at the CRRU in Pittsburgh. Money orders or checks work for mail requests. The CRRU keeps arrest records, incident reports, and accident reports for the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
Note: The CRRU does not handle records from campus police or Port Authority police incidents in Pittsburgh.
Pittsburgh Recent Arrest Data Online
Pittsburgh is one of few cities in Pennsylvania that publishes raw arrest data online. The Western Pennsylvania Regional Data Center hosts a dataset of all arrests made by Pittsburgh Police. You can access it at data.wprdc.org. This data is updated on a regular basis and covers people taken into custody by city police.
The WPRDC arrest data for Pittsburgh includes key details about each arrest. Location data is reported at the block or intersection level. Sex crime arrests are reported at the police zone level to protect victim privacy. The dataset does not include arrests made by campus police or Port Authority police. This is a good tool if you want to look at recent arrest trends in Pittsburgh or search for a specific incident by date and location.
The data is free to view and download. You do not need an account. It is one of the best public resources for checking recent arrests in Pittsburgh without going to the courthouse.
Allegheny County Courts and Pittsburgh Arrests
After a recent arrest in Pittsburgh, the case goes to the Allegheny County court system. The Department of Court Records, Criminal Division, is at the Allegheny County Courthouse, 436 Grant Street, Room 114, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. You can reach them at (412) 350-5323. Hours are 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, Monday through Friday.
The Criminal Division keeps court records for the current year and four prior years on site. Older records are stored at a separate facility and may take more time to retrieve. You can search for recent arrests in Pittsburgh through the UJS Portal for free. The portal shows docket sheets, charges, and case status for all courts in Pennsylvania. Computer terminals at the courthouse also let you search arrest records in person.
- Criminal court records for recent arrests
- Docket sheets with charges and status
- Case dispositions and sentencing data
- Records from prior years available from storage
You can also send a written request by mail to the Clerk of Courts for records tied to a Pittsburgh arrest. Include the person's full name, date of birth if known, and any case numbers. Fees apply for certified copies of court documents.
How to Search Pittsburgh Arrest Records
There are multiple ways to look up recent arrests in Pittsburgh. The best method depends on what you need and how fast you need it.
For a quick check, use the UJS Portal to search by name. This shows you court docket sheets for any arrest that reached the filing stage in Pittsburgh. The WPRDC data portal is good for raw arrest data that may not yet be in the court system. For a full criminal history that includes Pittsburgh arrests, use the PATCH system through the Pennsylvania State Police. PATCH costs $22 per search and returns statewide results.
In-person searches at the Allegheny County Courthouse give you access to the full case file. Bring a valid photo ID. Staff can help you locate records for any recent arrest in Pittsburgh. You can also file a Right-to-Know request with the City of Pittsburgh under the PA Right-to-Know Law for police records that are not available through other channels.
Note: Court records for recent arrests in Pittsburgh are public once charges are filed, but some records may be sealed or expunged under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91.
Pittsburgh Arrests Under State Law
All arrests in Pittsburgh follow Pennsylvania state law. The Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91) controls how arrest records are shared. Public records include arrests that led to a conviction. Records from cases that were dismissed or where the person was acquitted may be restricted or eligible for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law allows automatic sealing of some older records. This means certain misdemeanor arrests in Pittsburgh may not appear on a standard search if enough time has passed and the person has no new charges. Law enforcement still has access to sealed records. If you are searching for a recent arrest in Pittsburgh, current cases will show on the UJS Portal and in WPRDC data.
Allegheny County Recent Arrests
Pittsburgh sits in Allegheny County. All criminal cases from Pittsburgh arrests go through the Allegheny County court system. The county handles everything from arraignment to trial. For more about how arrest records are processed at the county level, visit the Allegheny County page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities in Pennsylvania have their own arrest records and police departments. Pick a city below to find recent arrest information for that area.