Pennsylvania Free Criminal Records Search: Public Record Lookup
Pennsylvania • Free court cases and public criminal records
Free Pennsylvania Criminal Records Search: Public Court Cases, Dockets and Background Checks
You can search Pennsylvania criminal court records for free through the state’s official Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal. Search by defendant name, docket number, county or other available case details.
The free portal includes publicly accessible criminal cases from Courts of Common Pleas, magisterial district courts and Philadelphia Municipal Court. It also provides docket information from Pennsylvania’s appellate courts.
Important: Free public court records are not the same as an official Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history background check, which generally costs $22.
Go to Pennsylvania UJS Case Search. Select a search method, enter the person’s name or docket number, choose the county or court type if needed, and click Search. Open the relevant docket sheet to review public charges, court filings, hearing dates and available dispositions. No account is required for ordinary public docket access.
Choose the right record source
Where to Find Free Public Criminal Records in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 67 counties, but you do not need to search 67 separate websites to begin reviewing public criminal court cases. The statewide UJS portal is the main starting point.
Pennsylvania UJS Case Search
Use for publicly available criminal court dockets, charges, docket entries, hearing schedules and case dispositions.
Includes Common Pleas criminal cases, magisterial district court cases, Philadelphia Municipal Court cases and appellate cases where publicly available.
Open official free court search →Pennsylvania PATCH
Use for a Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check requested for employment, volunteering or other permitted purposes.
A regular criminal-history check costs $22. Qualifying volunteer requests are free.
Open Pennsylvania PATCH →PA Inmate and Parolee Locator
Search for people incarcerated in Pennsylvania state correctional institutions or supervised through the Department of Corrections.
County jail inmates are not included in this statewide corrections locator.
Open inmate and parolee locator →Pennsylvania Megan’s Law Registry
Search public registration information for qualifying registered sexual offenders.
The registry is limited to registration information and is not a complete statewide criminal conviction database.
Open official Megan’s Law website →For a particular court case, use UJS. For a State Police background-check certificate, use PATCH. For an actual signed judgment or certified disposition, contact the court that handled the case. These are separate records services.
Official step-by-step instructions
How to Search Pennsylvania Criminal Records Free by Name
The UJS Case Search page is the official statewide public docket lookup. It includes filters for participant name, county, docket number, filing date, case category and other identifying information.
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Open the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal
Go directly to UJS Case Search. You do not need to create an account to search public docket sheets.
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Choose how to search
Locate the Search By control. Choose the available name-based search or another appropriate search type. You can also use advanced search options to narrow the results.
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Enter the participant’s name
Fill in Participant Last Name and Participant First Name as requested by the interface. If the name is common, accurate additional identifiers can improve the search.
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Choose the county if known
Use the County dropdown when you know where the prosecution occurred. For example, select Allegheny for many Pittsburgh-area cases or Philadelphia for Philadelphia court cases.
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Select the relevant docket type
For a felony or misdemeanor prosecution in a Court of Common Pleas, focus on a Common Pleas criminal docket. For traffic tickets, summary cases and preliminary criminal proceedings, check the magisterial district court docket or Philadelphia Municipal Court.
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Refine with case status or filing date
Use the Date Filed Start Date, Date Filed End Date, Case Category or Case Status fields to narrow a search returning several possible cases.
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Click Search and identify the correct case
Review the displayed name, filing county, docket number, case type and available identifiers. A name match alone does not confirm that the record belongs to the person you are researching.
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Open the public docket sheet
The docket may show charges, case filings, court costs, scheduled proceedings, disposition information, attorneys and other publicly accessible case activity.
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Check the outcome, not merely the accusation
Look for entries indicating a guilty plea, conviction, acquittal, dismissal, withdrawal, nolle prosequi, ARD or other case outcome. Do not treat an original charge as evidence of conviction.
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Contact the original clerk if you need a document
A web docket sheet does not necessarily contain the signed judgment, order or full case file. Contact the Clerk of Courts in the county where the case was handled to request available paper or certified records.
Pennsylvania Courts warns that recent entries may not appear immediately, older records may not have been migrated from local systems, and sealed, expunged or limited-access cases are excluded from public search results.
Can you use the PAeDocket mobile app?
Yes. Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System also provides PAeDocket, a free mobile application for searching publicly available Pennsylvania court dockets.
The official UJS Portal homepage provides information about the app and public online services. Use official app links rather than installing an unfamiliar third-party background-check app.
Pennsylvania case-number formats
Understanding PA Criminal Docket Numbers: CP, MJ and MC
Knowing the beginning of a docket number can help you identify the proper court and avoid searching the wrong record category.
| Docket prefix | Court type | Example format | Common use |
|---|---|---|---|
| CP | Court of Common Pleas | CP-25-CR-0009999-2017 |
Common Pleas criminal prosecutions, including felony and misdemeanor cases |
| MJ | Magisterial District Court | MJ-51301-TR-0009999-2017 |
Preliminary criminal proceedings, summary cases, traffic and nontraffic matters |
| MC-51 | Philadelphia Municipal Court | MC-51-SU-0009999-2017 |
Philadelphia Municipal Court criminal or summary proceedings |
| Appellate | Superior, Supreme or Commonwealth Court | Court-specific appellate docket number | Appeals and appellate proceedings |
The examples are illustrative formats published in UJS’s own help text. They are not records for a particular person. The docket prefix and case category must be read together to identify the proceeding.
What is an OTN number?
OTN stands for Offense Tracking Number. Pennsylvania’s UJS Case Search includes an OTN field, which can help identify related criminal proceedings when the number is known.
Do not confuse an OTN with the court’s docket number. Different court stages can have separate docket numbers connected to the same alleged criminal incident.
Can I look up a case using the citation number?
Yes, the UJS Case Search page includes a Citation Number search field. This is useful for some traffic or summary matters when you have the number printed on an official citation.
If you have a full docket number, try it before searching by name. Docket-number searches generally reduce ambiguity caused by people sharing the same first and last names.
Philadelphia-specific record search
Philadelphia Criminal Records Search: Municipal Court and Common Pleas
Philadelphia has an important difference from many other Pennsylvania counties. Philadelphia Municipal Court has initial jurisdiction in processing criminal arrests in the city, handles misdemeanor trials and conducts preliminary hearings for felony cases.
If a felony proceeds beyond the municipal stage, the case may move to the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas. This can result in two related docket numbers for the same incident.
How to search a Philadelphia criminal case correctly
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Open Pennsylvania UJS Case Search
Select Philadelphia County in the County field when you know the case was filed there.
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Search by defendant name or available case number
A person may have a Municipal Court docket and a Common Pleas docket arising from one prosecution.
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Review all applicable MC and CP matches
When searching Philadelphia County by criteria other than a specific docket number, the portal may return relevant Municipal Court and Common Pleas results together.
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Look for the Cross Court Docket Number field
On the case information section of the docket sheet, check the Cross Court Docket Number. This can identify a related case filed in the other court.
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Check the court handling the final outcome
A Municipal Court docket may show early felony proceedings, while the Common Pleas docket may contain the later trial or final judgment information.
The UJS portal specifically warns that Municipal Court and Common Pleas docket numbers can concern the same incident. Review the cross-court connection before counting cases or drawing conclusions about someone’s criminal history.
Statewide lookup across 67 counties
How to Search Pennsylvania Criminal Records by County
The UJS portal works across Pennsylvania, but the correct record office depends on the case type and the county that prosecuted it. Use the County filter when you know the jurisdiction.
Select Allegheny County for qualifying Pittsburgh-area Common Pleas criminal cases. Magisterial district and Pittsburgh Municipal Court matters may also have separate docket stages or records.
Review Municipal Court and Common Pleas criminal dockets, including cross-court references for related proceedings.
Use Montgomery County for qualifying criminal Common Pleas records. Check magisterial district court records when a prosecution was at the preliminary stage.
Select Bucks County for criminal docket searches. For a certified judgment or older file, follow up with the Bucks County Clerk of Courts.
Search Chester County criminal dockets, including any related preliminary proceedings in magisterial district courts.
Use the Delaware County filter for publicly accessible criminal filings. Do not confuse Delaware County, Pennsylvania, with the neighboring State of Delaware.
Search Common Pleas criminal cases or magisterial district dockets depending on the stage and grading of the offense.
Select York County and use the defendant name, filing date or case number to narrow qualifying criminal cases.
Choose Dauphin County for Harrisburg-area Common Pleas cases and relevant district court proceedings.
Allentown and Bethlehem-area prosecutions may fall in different counties. Confirm whether the case was filed in Lehigh or Northampton.
Select Berks County for Reading-area Common Pleas cases and preliminary magisterial district court records.
Wilkes-Barre and Scranton-area records may be handled in different county court systems. Choose the county of filing rather than only the individual’s residence.
Use Erie County for criminal case searches, then request original records from the county’s clerk if a signed document is needed.
Search Westmoreland County for applicable Greensburg-area and other county criminal dockets.
The county of residence is not necessarily the county of prosecution. If the person lives in one county but was arrested or charged in another, search the county where the court case was filed.
How to find a local Pennsylvania court’s contact details
For paper records, certified dispositions or an older criminal case, use the official Pennsylvania Courts directory to identify the county court or magisterial district court.
The UJS Court Case Information page also explains how to request paper records from magisterial district courts. These requests go directly to the relevant court office.
Official Pennsylvania State Police background checks
PATCH Criminal History Search: When Free Court Records Are Not Enough
The Pennsylvania State Police operates Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH). This service searches criminal history information maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
PATCH is often requested for employment, licensing, childcare, adoption, volunteering and other purposes requiring an actual Pennsylvania criminal-history background check.
How to request a regular Pennsylvania criminal background check
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Open the Pennsylvania PATCH homepage
Use epatch.pa.gov, the official Pennsylvania State Police service.
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Select Submit a New Record Check
For an ordinary paid background-check request, use the regular record-check option rather than the separate volunteer application.
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Complete the requester’s information
Enter the information required by the website, including the requester’s name and contact details.
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Enter the subject’s identifying information
Provide the individual’s name and date of birth. Additional requested identifiers can help the State Police distinguish between similar names.
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Review the $22 fee and payment charges
The regular Pennsylvania criminal-history check costs $22. Effective April 22, 2026, PATCH adds a 2% fee to online credit-card transactions. Certain registered account and mail-in payment arrangements do not incur that card fee.
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Submit and save the control number
PATCH assigns a control number that can be used to review the status of the request. Record the request date and the submitted name accurately.
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Check the response
You may receive No Record, Record or Request Under Review. Under Review means additional verification is required, not that the person necessarily has a criminal record.
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Save or print the certificate
The PATCH homepage states that online applicants are responsible for retrieving and printing their own completed results. Online-requested certificates are not automatically mailed.
The State Police explains that Under Review can occur when submitted details resemble information already in the repository. A manual review may ultimately produce either a Record or No Record response.
How to check PATCH application status
On the PATCH website, select Check the status of a Record Check. Enter the control number, date of request and subject information as required.
PATCH Customer Support
Phone: 1-888-783-7972
Help line: 1-888-QUERY-PA
Published support hours: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m.–4 p.m., excluding applicable state holidays.
Actual government costs
Free vs Paid Pennsylvania Criminal Record Searches: 2026 Fees
| Record or service | Official cost | Where to request | Important distinction |
|---|---|---|---|
| UJS public criminal docket search | Free | UJS Case Search | Public case information, not an official criminal-history certificate |
| Regular State Police PATCH check | $22 | PATCH online or mail-in | Online credit-card transactions also incur a 2% processing fee |
| Qualifying volunteer PATCH check | Free | PATCH volunteer option | Must meet volunteer eligibility requirements |
| Notarized State Police criminal-history result | $22 + $5 | Mail-in request | Notarized requests must be submitted by mail |
| Personal Access and Review, Form SP 4-170 | $20 | Mail-in State Police request | For an individual reviewing their own criminal history, including nonconviction information |
| Certified or paper criminal court document | Varies by record and county court | Original court clerk | Ask for the applicable local copying and certification charge |
| PA Child Abuse History Clearance | $13 for employees; qualifying volunteers free | Pennsylvania DHS | Separate from the State Police criminal-history check |
Published government charges checked October 16, 2026. State agency and local clerk fees can change. Verify the payment page before submitting sensitive information.
A genuinely free official clearance route
Who Qualifies for a Free Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check?
Although regular PATCH checks are paid, Pennsylvania offers a free criminal-history record check for eligible unpaid volunteers.
The official State Police service provides a separate New Volunteer Record Check option. This is not a general free background check for arbitrary personal research or ordinary paid employment screening.
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Confirm that the volunteer check is appropriate
The request must meet the applicable legal criteria for an unpaid volunteer clearance.
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Open the PATCH website
Visit epatch.pa.gov.
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Select New Volunteer Record Check
Do not choose the ordinary paid background-check option if you are eligible for the volunteer procedure.
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Complete the required declaration and identifying details
Follow the State Police website instructions for the volunteer request.
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Save the request control number and certificate
Retrieve the completed result through PATCH when available.
Volunteer clearances involving children
Some people volunteering with children need more than one clearance. Pennsylvania’s Department of Human Services identifies separate requirements that can include:
- Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history clearance through PATCH.
- Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance through the DHS Child Welfare portal.
- FBI fingerprint-based background checks or an applicable exception, depending on the volunteer’s circumstances.
The Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance is separately available free to qualifying volunteers under its published eligibility and frequency rules.
A free Pennsylvania State Police volunteer check does not automatically satisfy the separate DHS Child Abuse History or FBI fingerprinting requirements for every position involving children.
Your own complete Pennsylvania record
How to Request Your Personal PA Criminal History for Access and Review
When you need to examine your own Pennsylvania criminal history in more detail, especially for record correction, expungement preparation or reviewing nonconviction entries, the State Police provides a different service called Individual Access and Review.
This is not the same as downloading a regular PATCH public background-check certificate.
Individual Access and Review
Current published fee: $20
Submission method: Mail only
Notarization: Not available for this request type
Mailing address:
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Complete Form SP 4-170, include the required government-issued identification copy and payment, and follow the current State Police instructions.
Once the result is returned, compare the listed arrests, charges and dispositions with actual court records. If the report contains inaccurate or missing outcomes, obtain supporting court documents before pursuing a correction.
A regular PATCH disclosure is not designed to show every record an individual may need to review for expungement or correcting incomplete history information. The Access and Review procedure is the route for examining your own broader Pennsylvania criminal history.
Official case documents
How to Obtain Certified Pennsylvania Criminal Court Records
The UJS search shows a public docket sheet, but a docket sheet is not necessarily a certified judgment of sentence or a signed court order.
If you need records for an attorney, immigration matter, licensing process or another official purpose, request the actual document from the court that maintains it.
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Search for the case in the UJS portal
Record the defendant’s name, county, docket number, court type and relevant docket entry.
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Identify the court’s records custodian
For Common Pleas criminal cases, contact the county Clerk of Courts or the office designated by that judicial district.
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Ask for the specific document
Common examples include a sentencing order, final disposition, dismissal order, docket history or another available court filing.
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Confirm copy and certification charges
Fees and request procedures depend on the court and document. Ask whether mailing, in-person pickup or another delivery option is available.
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Check the certified record
Verify that the document corresponds to the correct docket number, court and case outcome.
Pennsylvania Courts instructs requesters to contact the specific magisterial district court directly for paper case records. Complex requests may require a court-provided form.
Incarceration and registry records
Free Pennsylvania Inmate, Parole and Sex Offender Searches
PA Department of Corrections Locator
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides a searchable inmate and parolee locator for qualifying state-sentenced or department-supervised individuals.
Search by: Last name or inmate number. First name can help narrow common-name searches.
The department explains that the information is updated daily. County jail inmates and prisoners held by other states or the federal government are not included.
Open official inmate and parolee search →Pennsylvania Megan’s Law Registry
The State Police maintains public information about persons subject to registration under Pennsylvania sexual offender registration law.
Search the official registry according to the permitted public search options and review identity information carefully.
The registry expressly warns that information may be outdated and that it is not a comprehensive listing of everyone who has ever committed a sexual offense.
Open PA Megan’s Law registry →A current custody listing does not establish every prior conviction. Similarly, the Megan’s Law website serves a specific public-safety registration purpose, not a general background-check function.
Restricted and removed records
Pennsylvania Clean Slate, Expunged Records and Limited Public Access
A criminal case can disappear from the public UJS portal because it was expunged, sealed, placed under limited access or removed from public electronic access under applicable retention and access rules.
Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate laws restrict public access to certain qualifying criminal records. These protections expanded under Clean Slate 3.0, effective February 12, 2024.
Clean Slate / Limited Access
Qualifying records may be hidden from ordinary public court searches and many public background-check disclosures.
Some summary convictions can qualify for automatic sealing after five years, while eligible misdemeanors and certain lower-level felony convictions have different statutory conditions and waiting periods.
Expungement
Expungement is a different legal remedy that can remove qualifying criminal record information.
Eligibility depends on the outcome, age, offense, completion of applicable conditions and statutory requirements. Dismissals, qualifying diversion outcomes and certain other cases may have distinct procedures.
Legal Aid of Southeastern Pennsylvania explains that many eligible misdemeanor convictions may qualify for limited access after a seven-year period, while certain eligible lower-level felony convictions involve a ten-year period and further requirements.
These waiting periods are not blanket guarantees: offense exclusions, restitution requirements, subsequent convictions and other conditions may affect eligibility.
The UJS public search does not show sealed, expunged or Clean Slate limited-access cases. Older magisterial district court entries also may no longer appear because the underlying paper record has been destroyed under the applicable record-retention schedule.
How to check an old case for record-clearing options
- Identify the original filing court and docket number, if available.
- Obtain your Pennsylvania State Police Access and Review history if necessary.
- Gather the official disposition, sentence and proof of compliance with applicable conditions.
- Check Pennsylvania’s current Clean Slate and expungement eligibility rules.
- Contact qualified legal aid or the original court about the correct petition or correction process.
Upcoming Pennsylvania public-access policy change
A Pennsylvania Supreme Court order published in May 2026 amends the statewide Case Records Public Access Policy with an effective date of November 1, 2026.
As this article is reviewed in October 2026, that effective date is still ahead. Anyone requesting sensitive or older documents after November 1 should review the updated policy and the relevant court’s procedures.
Official Pennsylvania Bulletin: 2026 Public Access Policy Amendment
Common lookup problems
Why Your Pennsylvania Criminal Records Search Finds No Results
| Problem | Possible explanation | Recommended next step |
|---|---|---|
| No case matches the name | Incorrect spelling, wrong county, different name or restricted record | Try accurate alternative names, filing dates or the complete docket number |
| Philadelphia felony case appears twice | Related Municipal Court and Common Pleas dockets | Review the Cross Court Docket Number field |
| Recent arrest but no Common Pleas case | Proceedings may still be in a preliminary court stage or charges may not have been filed | Check the relevant magisterial district or Philadelphia Municipal Court docket |
| Docket is missing recent updates | Court-office entries may not immediately appear online | Contact the court for time-sensitive information |
| Old summary case disappeared | Retention-based deletion, expungement or limited public access | Ask the original court about available records and lawful access |
| PATCH displays Under Review | Possible repository match needs State Police manual review | Retain control number and check status again; do not assume a criminal record exists |
| PATCH says No Items Found | Incorrect control number, request date or identifying details | Re-enter the original information exactly or contact PATCH support |
| Federal criminal case not found | Federal records are separate from Pennsylvania state court dockets | Use PACER |
What if a criminal docket is inaccurate?
The official court file is the primary source for correcting an erroneous docket entry or disposition. Contact the clerk of the court that created the record and ask about the correction procedure.
If an official State Police criminal-history response still shows an outdated or incorrect result, follow the State Police record-review and correction process with the supporting court documentation.
A docket may list an arrest, criminal complaint or charge before the final court result. The presence of criminal allegations does not by itself establish a conviction.
Responsible use of public records
Can Pennsylvania Free Criminal Records Be Used for Employment Background Checks?
Public UJS court records can help verify whether a criminal case exists, but Pennsylvania Courts expressly warns that docket sheets should not be used in place of a criminal-history background check provided by the State Police.
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) governs the collection and use of certain criminal history information. Employers may also have obligations under federal law and applicable local fair-chance rules.
- Use the correct State Police clearance for an official background-check requirement.
- Confirm identity before associating a docket with a person.
- Distinguish charges, dismissed cases, diversions and convictions.
- Do not rely on inaccurate, sealed or legally restricted information.
- Follow applicable authorization, notice and dispute obligations for consumer-reporting background checks.
The basic free UJS lookup may help locate court information, but it does not replace a required PATCH clearance, an FBI fingerprint-based check or the other certifications legally required for a particular position.
Frequently asked questions
Free Public Criminal Records PA: FAQs
1. Can I search Pennsylvania criminal records online for free?
Yes. Pennsylvania’s Unified Judicial System provides a free public Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch. You can search qualifying public criminal court dockets by name, docket number, county and other available information.
2. What is the official free criminal records search website for PA?
The official statewide court case search is the Pennsylvania UJS Web Portal at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/casesearch. Public docket searches do not require account registration or a search payment.
3. Is a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check free?
A regular Pennsylvania State Police PATCH criminal-history check costs $22, with a 2% online credit-card processing fee applicable to affected transactions. Qualifying unpaid volunteer checks are free.
4. How do I find a Pennsylvania criminal case by name?
Open UJS Case Search, select a name-based search, enter the person’s first and last name, choose the county or docket type when known, and review the matching public docket sheets.
5. Can I search felony and misdemeanor criminal records in PA?
Yes, publicly accessible felony and misdemeanor prosecutions in Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas can be searched through UJS. Earlier proceedings, traffic offenses and summary matters may appear in magisterial district courts or Philadelphia Municipal Court.
6. Why does my Philadelphia criminal case have two docket numbers?
Philadelphia felony proceedings may begin in Municipal Court and later continue in Common Pleas Court. The UJS docket sheet may provide a Cross Court Docket Number linking the two related cases.
7. How do I get a certified Pennsylvania criminal court record?
Find the original case through UJS, record the docket number, and contact the court’s records custodian. For Common Pleas criminal cases, this is generally the relevant county Clerk of Courts. Ask about certified copies and current fees.
8. What does Request Under Review mean on PATCH?
It means the Pennsylvania State Police must manually review a possible match in its database. It does not prove that the person has a criminal record. The final response may be Record or No Record.
9. Are sealed or expunged Pennsylvania criminal records available online?
No. UJS public Case Search excludes cases sealed, expunged or made limited access under Pennsylvania Clean Slate laws. Other historical records may also be absent under record-retention rules.
10. Can I request a free Pennsylvania criminal record check for volunteering?
Yes, qualifying unpaid volunteers can request a free Pennsylvania State Police clearance through the New Volunteer Record Check option on PATCH. Other childcare-related clearances may also be required depending on the position.
Original government information
Official Pennsylvania Criminal Records and Public Lookup Links
Use the following authoritative sources rather than paying a third-party website simply to reach a free government docket search.
- Pennsylvania UJS — Free Public Case Search
- Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal and PAeDocket
- UJS — Official Case Search Help
- Pennsylvania Courts — Free Court Case Information
- Pennsylvania Courts — Public Records Access Policies
- Pennsylvania Courts — Court Directory
- Pennsylvania State Police — PATCH Criminal History Checks
- Pennsylvania State Police — Fees, Application Types and Status Checks
- Pennsylvania State Police — PATCH Results and Access Review
- Pennsylvania State Police — Access and Review and Expungement Guidance
- Pennsylvania DHS — Volunteer and Child Abuse Clearances
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — Inmate and Parolee Locator
- Pennsylvania State Police — Megan’s Law Registry
- UJS — Sealed, Expunged and Clean Slate Cases FAQ
- Pennsylvania Bulletin — 2026 Public Access Policy Amendment
- PACER — Federal Court Cases