How To Search Criminal Records Pennsylvania

By Claire Dowell


The office of the Central Repository under the Pennsylvania State Police is the one that handles the PA criminal records. Such record is stored electronically using the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Records also known as PATCH.

The online system called the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal Records, also known as PATCH, was developed to help reach out to the public. It is an online database system where all of the criminal records of the state are being kept. This includes the arrest records of Pennsylvania. The system not only caters to registered users but also to non-registered users. This means that the authorities, non-criminal agency and even private individuals have the freedom to use the system. However, there are limitations regarding the information that can be obtained by certain individuals. The system still complies with the state's criminal code.

Some information is kept private and is not available for public access. An example of this is the name of the witnesses as well as the investigator who was in charge of the case. This was done to protect the safety of the individuals involved in the incident. If the record involves a minor, such document is kept private and is only accessible by authorized individuals. In case where the case is still being investigated, the criminal record is only made open once the case has been closed. This was done to avoid any alterations on the document or bias on the decisions during the investigation.

Resident of Pennsylvania is only allowed to obtain a copy of their personal file. This means that one has to have authority in order to access the records of other people. Owners of businesses or companies and organizations as well as the local authorities are just few of the people who are given access to the documents. One has to pay $10 in order to search for the record of interest using the name. A $15 processing fee is required for a fingerprint search. Unfortunately, a fingerprint search can only be done by authorized individuals.

Requesting for a copy of a criminal arrest record is not only available through the Internet. One can also personally request it at the office of the State Police. The search can be hastened if the requesting individual downloads the form first and all of the required information is filled out. The $10 retrieval fee has to be paid as well during the search. It can be paid in the form of money order or check. One will also be required to indicate their personal information in the request form.

Now that the Internet is used to easily get information, criminal records are now also very easy to obtain. The search online can minimized the need to go to the government office. A lot of websites offer to retrieve a copy of a criminal recd while some of this website would offer criminal records free to public users. Websites offer their free service to get more attention and convert visitors to potential customers.




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