Reading, Pennsylvania Recent Arrests & Public Records

Reading is the county seat and largest city in Berks County, Pennsylvania, with a population of approximately 95,000 residents. Located along the Schuylkill River in southeastern Pennsylvania, Reading has a rich industrial heritage and serves as the economic hub of the Greater Reading area. The Reading Police Department and Berks County courts maintain public arrest records that are accessible to residents and the general public in accordance with Pennsylvania law.

Reading Police Department

The Reading Police Department is the primary law enforcement agency serving the City of Reading. The department handles patrol operations, criminal investigations, narcotics enforcement, and community policing throughout the city. Officers respond to calls for service, conduct investigations, and make arrests that generate public records within the Berks County court system.

When the Reading Police Department makes an arrest, the individual is typically processed at the Reading Police Station and arraigned before a Berks County magisterial district judge. Arrest records, including criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause, become part of the public court record and are accessible through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal.

Berks County Court System

Reading serves as the seat of Berks County government and the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. The court system in Berks County operates under the 23rd Judicial District and processes all criminal cases originating from arrests made by the Reading Police Department and other law enforcement agencies within the county.

The Berks County Court of Common Pleas handles felony and misdemeanor cases, while magisterial district courts handle preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, and summary offenses. All court records are maintained through the Pennsylvania Common Pleas Case Management System (CPCMS) and are accessible to the public through the UJS web portal.

How to Search Reading Arrest Records

There are several ways to search for recent arrest records in Reading, Pennsylvania:

• Pennsylvania UJS Portal: The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania maintains an online case search tool at ujsportal.pacourts.us where you can search for criminal cases filed in Berks County courts by defendant name, case number, or date range.
• PATCH System: The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system, operated by the Pennsylvania State Police, allows individuals to request official criminal background checks for a fee. PATCH records include arrest and conviction data from across the commonwealth.
• Berks County Clerk of Courts: The Berks County Clerk of Courts office in the courthouse in downtown Reading maintains physical records of all criminal cases and can provide copies of court documents upon request.
• Berks County Prison: The Berks County Prison maintains an inmate roster that may include individuals recently arrested and awaiting trial or sentencing.

Pennsylvania Public Records Law

Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (Act 3 of 2008, 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.), criminal arrest records and court documents are generally considered public information. Pennsylvania law provides that court records, including criminal complaints, docket entries, and dispositions, are open for public inspection unless sealed by court order.

Additionally, under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, criminal history record information is regulated by the Pennsylvania State Police through the PATCH system. Certain records, such as those involving juvenile offenders or cases that have been expunged pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, are not available to the general public. The Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018) also provides for the automatic sealing of certain qualifying criminal records after a specified period.

Berks County Records

Reading is the county seat of Berks County. For county-wide arrest records, court dockets, and additional public records, visit the Berks County page.

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