Pennsylvania Public Records

To view a specific criminal complaint in Pennsylvania, use the PA Unified Judicial System portal at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ — free name and case-number search returns Court of Common Pleas, Magisterial District, and Pittsburgh/Philadelphia Municipal Court records. The criminal complaint document itself is filed at the Magisterial District Court (MDJ) where the case originated, then forwarded to the County Court of Common Pleas if held for court. Certified copies cost $1 per page plus $5 certification at the MDJ or Clerk of Courts. PA Right-to-Know Law (RTKL, 65 P.S. §67.101) governs disclosure. Sealed/expunged cases are excluded under 18 Pa.C.S. §9122. Sources: PA UJS (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/), PA Courts (https://www.pacourts.us/).

Arrest records in Philadelphia, PA come primarily from the Philadelphia Police Department at 750 Race Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106 (215-686-3000). The PPD posts arrest data via OpenDataPhilly at https://www.opendataphilly.org/. The Philadelphia Department of Prisons inmate locator is at https://www.phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-department-of-prisons/. The PA State Police PATCH at https://epatch.pa.gov/ provides statewide criminal history for $22. Court charges tied to arrests appear at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ (PA Unified Judicial System). PA Right-to-Know Law (RTKL, 65 P.S. §67.101) makes adult arrest reports public; certain records may be exempt. Sources: PPD (https://www.phila.gov/departments/police/), UJS Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/).

Arrest records in Montgomery County, PA come primarily from the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at 2 East Airy Street, Norristown, PA 19401 (610-278-3331), which posts a current inmate roster at https://www.montcopa.org/sheriff. The Montgomery County District Attorney at https://www.montcopa.org/da publishes major-case arrest news. Local PDs (Norristown, Pottstown, Lower Merion, Abington, Cheltenham) handle municipal arrests. PA Right-to-Know Law (RTKL, 65 P.S. §67.101) makes adult arrest reports public; ongoing investigations may be exempt. Court charges tied to arrests appear at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/. Sources: Montgomery County (https://www.montcopa.org/), UJS Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/).

To get a criminal background check in Pittsburgh, PA (Allegheny County), use the PA State Police PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) at https://epatch.pa.gov/. Name-based searches cost $22 and are delivered as a downloadable PDF, usually within minutes. For an FBI-level fingerprint check (required for school, healthcare, and child-care employment), use IdentoGO at https://www.identogo.com/services/live-scan-fingerprinting. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Records Section at 1203 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233 (412-323-7800) issues local police clearance letters. Court records are free at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/. Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. §9101) governs disclosure. Sources: PA SP PATCH (https://epatch.pa.gov/), Pittsburgh PD (https://pittsburghpa.gov/police/).

To check if someone has an outstanding warrant in Pennsylvania, contact the local sheriff or police where the warrant was issued. The PA State Police hold the statewide CLEAN warrant database, restricted to law enforcement; individuals must check by phone with the issuing court or local agency. Many counties post most-wanted lists (e.g., Allegheny County at https://www.alleghenycounty.us/sheriff/, Philadelphia at https://www.phillypolice.com/, Montgomery at https://www.montgomerycountypa.gov/sheriff). Court bench warrants appear in the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/. PA Right-to-Know Law (RTKL, 65 P.S. §67.101) governs disclosure. Sources: PA State Police (https://www.psp.pa.gov/), UJS Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/).

To locate someone in Wilkes-Barre, PA (Luzerne County) using public records, free options include: the Luzerne County Assessor at https://luzernecounty.org/ for property ownership and parcel-tied addresses; the Luzerne County Tax Claim Bureau for tax-bill mailing addresses; PA Voter Information at https://www.pavoterservices.pa.gov/ (visible only to that voter for their own record); and the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas records at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/, which list addresses on file at the time of any case. The PA Department of Corrections inmate locator at https://captorscope.pa.gov/ shows last-known addresses. PA Right-to-Know Law (RTKL, 65 P.S. §67.101) governs disclosure. Sources: Luzerne County (https://luzernecounty.org/), UJS Portal (https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/).