Pennsylvania Criminal History Records Search: Checks & Access
Pennsylvania State Police • Criminal History Guide
Pennsylvania Criminal History Records Check: PATCH Search, Fees, Clearances and Record Access
Need a Pennsylvania criminal history records check for employment, volunteering, licensing, adoption, personal review or another official purpose? The Pennsylvania State Police operates PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History), the Commonwealth’s official criminal-history check system.
Most routine requests can be submitted online. A personal Individual Access and Review request, notarized response and certain specialized checks require different procedures.
Illustrated request flow. A result marked “Under Review” does not automatically indicate a criminal record.
Official starting points
Where to Request a Pennsylvania Criminal History Check
Choose the correct Pennsylvania State Police service before entering a name or submitting payment. These request types are not interchangeable.
Standard Criminal History Check
For a typical Pennsylvania criminal-history certificate requested for employment, a personal application, or an ordinary noncriminal-justice purpose.
$22 base fee Begin standard check →Volunteer Criminal History Check
For a qualifying volunteer request. Pennsylvania makes the PSP volunteer check available free of charge.
Free Open volunteer request →Individual Access and Review
For a person requesting their own complete PSP-held criminal-history information, including qualifying non-conviction entries, for review or correction.
$20 • Mail only Open review instructions →Notarized Criminal History Response
For a recipient requesting a notarized standard response, commonly relevant to certain visa, international adoption or other documentation purposes.
$27 total • Mail only Read mail instructions →Interactive request finder
Find the Correct PATCH Request
Select the reason for the check. The tool only displays guidance; it does not request or store personal identity information.
Costs and payment rules
Pennsylvania PATCH Fees in 2026
The following fees are published by Pennsylvania State Police. An online payment surcharge took effect April 22, 2026.
| Check type | Base fee | How to request |
|---|---|---|
| Standard criminal-history check | $22 | Online PATCH or Form SP 4-164 by mail |
| Eligible volunteer check | $0 | Online PATCH or Form SP 4-164A by mail |
| Notarized standard check | $27 total | Mail-only request with notarization |
| Individual Access and Review | $20 | Mail-only Form SP 4-170 |
| Online credit-card transaction fee | 2% | Applies to PATCH online credit-card transactions from April 22, 2026 |
PSP states that registered users and mail-in requests paid by check do not incur the newly announced credit-card transaction fee. Online PATCH accepts Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. Mail-in payment generally requires a certified check or money order, with the correct amount payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Online application
How to Request a Pennsylvania Criminal History Check Through PATCH
The quickest official starting point for a routine request is epatch.pa.gov. Pennsylvania State Police says many checks with no matching repository record are completed immediately.
- Open the PATCH homepage.
Use the Pennsylvania government address
epatch.pa.govand read the current payment and certificate notices. - Choose the appropriate requester path.
Most individuals use the non-registered or credit-card requester route. Organizations that request checks frequently may use registered-user accounts.
- Select the right request category.
Choose a standard or eligible volunteer record check. Do not select volunteer status merely to avoid the ordinary fee.
- Enter accurate requester details.
Provide the requester information requested by the system, including an accessible email address when appropriate.
- Enter the subject’s identifying information.
Review the legal name, aliases where requested, date of birth and other required fields. Typographical errors can cause incorrect matching or status problems.
- Review and submit the request.
Confirm the information and payment before final submission. PATCH permits up to ten record checks in one non-registered session.
- Save the PATCH control number.
The control number and request date are important for later status checks, retrieving certificates and resolving a missing confirmation.
- Check the response.
A “No Record” result may be available immediately. Another request may be marked “Request Under Review.”
- Open the completed certificate.
Use Record Check Status and the linked control number when a result is available. Print or save the certificate according to current PSP instructions.
Results and tracking
How to Check PATCH Status and Understand Your Result
Once a Pennsylvania PATCH request is submitted, use its Record Check Status function. The Pennsylvania State Police says you need the control number, request date and name entered on the original request.
No matching reportable response
Use the linked control number to access and print the “No Record” certificate. It does not mean the person has never had an arrest or a case anywhere in the United States.
Manual matching is needed
PSP will examine the request. This status does not by itself indicate a criminal record. More complex reviews may take two to four weeks.
Record response available
Follow the linked request-details or certificate instructions. Read the actual record rather than assuming every listed charge resulted in a conviction.
Search details do not match
Recheck the control number, date and exact requester name. This message is not equivalent to a criminal-history clearance.
Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., as published by PSP. For mailed requests without a control number, the PSP help instructions direct callers to option 1.
Paper application
How to Request Pennsylvania Criminal History Records by Mail
Pennsylvania State Police accepts paper requests for qualifying record checks. Use the correct form because a standard check, volunteer check and full Individual Access and Review are processed differently.
Standard Criminal Record Check
Ordinary mailed criminal history request, including the applicable notarized option. The standard fee is $22; notarized requests total $27.
Get form and directions →Volunteer Record Check
For eligible volunteer clearance requests. PSP identifies this as a free check, without notarization.
Find volunteer form →Individual Access and Review
For a person requesting their own complete Pennsylvania criminal-history information, including applicable non-conviction entries. Mail only; $20.
Read A&R procedure →Central Repository
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Use the precise recipient/unit designation printed on the current form. Do not mail cash or personal checks when the form requires a certified check or money order.
Before mailing: verify the form version, mailing address, subject details, signature, required payment and any notarization requirement. Keep a copy of the request and use trackable mail if appropriate.
Your own complete record
Individual Access and Review vs. an Ordinary PATCH Check
This is one of Pennsylvania’s most important criminal-history distinctions. An ordinary public-facing PATCH check is subject to legal dissemination rules. The Individual Access and Review (A&R) procedure exists so a person can review their own more complete PSP-held criminal-history information.
| Feature | Standard PATCH | Individual A&R |
|---|---|---|
| Typical purpose | Employment or ordinary authorized request | Reviewing one’s own full PSP-held history |
| Includes applicable non-convictions | Subject to legal dissemination rules | Yes, as described by PSP |
| Who requests it | Eligible individuals and noncriminal-justice requesters | Individual reviewing their own record |
| Submission | Online or mail | Mail only |
| Base fee | $22 | $20 |
| Application form | SP 4-164 if mailed | SP 4-170 |
Personal record review can matter when researching an expungement, pardon, missing disposition, identity mismatch or another record correction. If a court case entry is inaccurate, a certified disposition may be needed to support correction of the state repository entry.
PSP definitions and A&R explanation ↗Pennsylvania clearances
PATCH for Employment, Child-Care Work, Schools and Volunteers
When someone asks for a “Pennsylvania background check,” confirm which specific clearance is required. For many positions involving children, a PSP PATCH check may be only one of multiple legally required clearances.
PSP Criminal History Clearance
Checks Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository records through PATCH. This is commonly associated with Pennsylvania Act 34 clearance requests.
PATCH portal →PA Child Abuse History Certification
A separate process administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services through ChildLine and its certification system. A PATCH response does not replace it.
DHS clearance information →FBI Fingerprint-Based Clearance
A separate background check involving fingerprint enrollment, generally through the state’s approved IdentoGO process when required for the position.
FBI clearance process →How often do clearances need renewal?
DHS guidance states that relevant employee and unpaid-volunteer clearances generally must be renewed at least every 60 months, with earlier renewal possible under other licensing, school or employer requirements. Do not apply this interval indiscriminately to every Pennsylvania occupation.
If an institution requests new clearances, confirm the required document names, acceptable age of the certificates and whether it will accept an existing valid clearance.
Court records versus police history
Does Pennsylvania UJS Case Search Replace a Criminal-History Check?
No. Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides public case and docket information, but Pennsylvania State Police explicitly warns that docket sheets should not be used instead of a criminal-history background check.
UJS Case Search
- Court docket number
- Criminal case charges
- Hearings and entries
- Public disposition information
- County and court identification
PSP PATCH
- Official PSP repository check
- Criminal-history certificate
- Record or No Record response
- Request control number
- State criminal-history dissemination rules
If the criminal-history response or docket shows a charge whose outcome is unclear, contact the appropriate county Clerk of Courts to request the official disposition. A charge without a confirmed conviction must not be described as proof of guilt.
Troubleshooting
Fix Common PATCH Request Problems
| Problem | What it means or what to try |
|---|---|
| Request Under Review | Wait for PSP’s manual review. It does not prove a matching criminal record. More complex checks can take two to four weeks. |
| No Items Found | Reenter the exact control number, request date and name used on submission. |
| Lost control number | Call 1-888-783-7972; for a mailed request PSP identifies option 1 as the control-number assistance route. |
| No paper certificate received for an online check | Return to PATCH, locate the completed result and print it. Current PATCH instructions say online-requested results are not mailed. |
| Credit-card processing error | PATCH recommends clearing the browser cache, closing and reopening the browser and resubmitting when appropriate. Verify whether a charge already posted before making duplicate requests. |
| Requesting a notarized result online | Switch to the required mail submission procedure; PATCH says notarized requests must be mailed. |
| Criminal record contains a missing court outcome | Get the official disposition from the court and ask PSP about record correction or an Individual Access and Review request. |
| Standard PATCH report excludes another state or federal case | Use the appropriate state repository, authorized FBI check or federal PACER records for that separate jurisdiction. |
Privacy and lawful access
Who Can Access Pennsylvania Criminal-History Records?
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act governs access and disclosure. Criminal justice agencies and noncriminal-justice requesters do not necessarily receive the same information. Some non-conviction, expunged, sealed, limited-access and otherwise protected information may be restricted from ordinary public checks.
Important access distinctions
- Public-facing PATCH results follow CHRIA dissemination rules.
- Individual Access and Review provides a separate personal-review process.
- Protected juvenile and sealed records have separate legal restrictions.
- Ordinary PATCH does not replace a national fingerprint check.
For employment and housing
- Follow applicable Pennsylvania and federal laws.
- Check whether an FCRA-compliant consumer report is required.
- Understand adverse-action and dispute obligations.
- Do not treat an arrest or unresolved charge as a conviction.
Answers before applying
Pennsylvania Criminal History Records Check FAQs
How do I get a Pennsylvania criminal history records check?
Use the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH portal at epatch.pa.gov for a standard or eligible volunteer criminal-history request. PSP also accepts the appropriate paper request by mail.
How much does a Pennsylvania PATCH check cost in 2026?
The standard base fee is $22. The PATCH website also announces a 2% credit-card transaction fee effective April 22, 2026. The total is subject to PSP checkout confirmation.
Is the Pennsylvania volunteer criminal-history check free?
Yes, Pennsylvania State Police offers free criminal history checks for eligible volunteer requests. Use the proper volunteer category or Form SP 4-164A.
What does “Request Under Review” mean in PATCH?
PSP must manually examine the request. This status does not mean the person has a criminal record. Requests needing review may take two to four weeks.
How do I check PATCH status without the certificate?
Open Record Check Status through PATCH and enter the control number, request date and name submitted. Use the linked control number to retrieve an available response.
Can I request a notarized PATCH check online?
No. The current PATCH notice requires notarized criminal-history responses to be requested by mail. The standard $22 request plus $5 notarization totals $27.
What is Pennsylvania Individual Access and Review?
It is the personal-review route for a person seeking their own fuller PSP criminal-history information, including applicable non-conviction records. It uses Form SP 4-170, costs $20 and must be requested by mail.
Does PATCH include FBI and out-of-state records?
No. Pennsylvania State Police checks its state Central Repository. A separate authorized FBI fingerprint or out-of-state criminal-history process may be required.
Does a Pennsylvania UJS docket sheet count as a criminal background check?
No. UJS docket sheets contain public case information; PSP explicitly states that court docket sheets do not substitute for criminal-history background checks.
Is PATCH enough for Pennsylvania child-care employment?
Not always. Many covered child-related positions require a combination of PSP criminal-history clearance, Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Certification and FBI fingerprint-based clearance. Confirm the rules for the specific position.
Primary government resources
Official Pennsylvania Criminal History Links
- Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) — submit and track online checks
- PSP Request a Criminal History Background Check — fees, forms, status and mail instructions
- PSP PATCH Overview — database, dissemination and record-review definitions
- Pennsylvania DHS Supporting Documents — SP 4-164, SP 4-164A and SP 4-170 forms
- DHS PSP Criminal Background Check — child-related clearance guidance
- DHS FBI Criminal History Clearance — fingerprinting requirements and updated fees
- Pennsylvania DHS Clearances — compare required background clearances
- Pennsylvania Judiciary UJS Case Search — separate public court docket access
- PSP Criminal Records & Identification Contact — helpline and contact guidance