Police, Pennsylvania Criminal Records Search: Cases & Public Records
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check: PATCH, Court Cases & Public Records
To request a PA State Police criminal record check, use the official Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website. The standard criminal-history check costs $22, while qualifying unpaid volunteers can request a check for free.
If you only want to research Pennsylvania criminal court cases, the state’s Unified Judicial System (UJS) provides a separate free public docket search. Court dockets and PATCH reports serve different purposes and should not be treated as interchangeable.
Official Pennsylvania sources reviewed: October 16, 2026.
Where to Search Pennsylvania Criminal Records
Pennsylvania criminal-history information is maintained by different agencies. The State Police operate the statewide criminal-history repository, but criminal courts, local arresting agencies, correctional facilities and federal courts maintain other types of records.
State Police PATCH
Request Pennsylvania criminal-history information held by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
Standard fee: $22, plus the online credit-card fee if applicable.
Start PATCH request ↗UJS Court Case Search
Search publicly available Common Pleas criminal cases, Magisterial District Court cases, Philadelphia Municipal Court cases and appellate dockets.
Search fee: Free.
Search public dockets ↗PSP Access and Review
Request a review of your own complete Pennsylvania criminal-history record, including nonconviction information that may not appear in an ordinary public PATCH response.
Fee: $20; mail-in only.
See Access and Review steps →Corrections, Registry or Federal Courts
Search Pennsylvania DOC for state custody or department-supervised individuals, PSP Megan’s Law for qualifying registry information, and PACER for federal court cases.
See other official record sources →How to Request a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check Online
PATCH is the Pennsylvania State Police’s online criminal-history request system. Individuals, employers, agencies and eligible organizations may submit requests through the official website.
For an occasional background check, you do not need to register as an organizational PATCH account holder. The website provides a public request option for unregistered users.
Step-by-step PATCH request
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Open the correct government site.
Visit epatch.pa.gov. The official homepage identifies the service as Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History.
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Select “Submit a New Record Check.”
Choose this option for a standard public criminal-history request. If your request is for an eligible unpaid volunteer role, use the separate volunteer option instead.
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Read the disclosure and proceed.
Review the information about criminal-history dissemination, limitations and permissible request purposes before entering details.
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Enter the requester’s information.
Provide the requester’s name, mailing address and other requested contact information. An accurate email address is helpful for status updates.
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Enter the subject’s identifying information.
Provide the full name and date of birth of the person being checked. Include aliases, former names or other identifiers when requested and legally appropriate.
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Review the details before paying.
A misspelled name or incorrect birth date can lead to an inaccurate match or a result that requires further investigation.
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Pay for the background check.
Standard requests cost $22 each. Accepted online card types include Visa, Mastercard, Discover and American Express. A 2% online credit-card transaction fee also applies under the policy introduced April 22, 2026.
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Save the PATCH control number.
After submission, record the assigned control number and request date. You will need them if the result is not ready immediately.
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Review the result and print the certificate.
If the request returns “No Record” or “Record,” follow the website’s directions to access and print the result. If it returns “Request Under Review,” wait for completion rather than submitting unnecessary repeat requests.
Does PATCH require creating an account?
No organizational registration is required for ordinary occasional requests. A nonregistered user can submit up to 10 record checks in one online session.
Companies, agencies and offices that repeatedly request criminal-history checks may apply for registered-user access. Registered organizations can have monthly billing arrangements and other approved account features.
To arrange a registered PATCH account, call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972 and select option 4.
How to Check Pennsylvania PATCH Criminal Record Status
The State Police state that most “No Record” certificates can be returned immediately when the subject does not match information requiring investigation. Other requests need manual review.
Track an existing PATCH request
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Open PATCH Record Check Status.
Use the official status page linked below.
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Enter the original control number.
Use the control number from your submitted request, not a reference number from a separate court search.
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Enter the submission date.
Use the actual date that the PATCH request was made.
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Enter the requested name exactly.
The State Police advises using the name as entered on the original request.
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Open the completed result.
If the request is complete, select the linked control number and use the certificate option to retrieve and print the response.
What each PATCH status means
PSP did not identify publicly releasable criminal-history information matching the request under the system’s rules. Download or print the issued certificate.
A reportable record was identified. Open the completed request and follow PATCH instructions to obtain the available criminal-history response.
A manual review is needed. This does not establish that the individual has a criminal record.
The entered search details may not match the original request. Recheck the control number, date and requester information.
What if you lost your control number?
For a mailed request, PSP instructs users to call 1-888-783-7972 and choose option 1 to obtain the associated control number.
If an online request was submitted, check your confirmation or saved documents and contact the PATCH help desk if you cannot retrieve the reference.
Is the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check Free for Volunteers?
Yes. Pennsylvania State Police waives the standard $22 charge for qualifying unpaid volunteer criminal-history requests.
This is not a general free background-check option for paid employment or personal curiosity. It applies to an eligible volunteer request.
Online volunteer request
Open PATCH and select “New Volunteer Record Check.” Provide the required volunteer and organization information.
Open Volunteer PATCH ↗Mail-in volunteer request
Use Form SP 4-164A, Request for Criminal Record Check — Volunteer Only.
The paper form requests the volunteer agency or organization name and phone number, along with a signed verification of unpaid volunteer status.
Download SP 4-164A ↗Unpaid volunteer roles involving children may require additional clearances, including a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Clearance or, depending on applicable circumstances, an FBI fingerprint-based check. The free PSP volunteer result does not automatically satisfy every child-protection requirement.
How to Mail a Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check Request
Individuals who prefer not to pay online can mail a standard criminal-history request using Pennsylvania State Police Form SP 4-164.
The paper form also supports a request for a notarized response. Requests requiring notarization must be submitted by mail rather than through the online payment process.
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Download SP 4-164.
Use the Pennsylvania State Police’s official Request for Criminal Record Check form.
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Complete the requester details.
Provide a legible name, mailing address and contact number. The form states the response is sent to the requester listed on the application.
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Complete the subject details.
Enter the person’s full name, date of birth and other requested identifying details.
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Select the request purpose.
The form includes options such as employment, domestic adoption, international adoption, visa and other purposes.
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Include the correct payment.
For a standard request, include $22. For a notarized request, include $27, as directed by the form.
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Mail the application.
Send the form and payment to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository address specified on SP 4-164.
Central Repository – 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Payment: Certified check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Do not send cash or a personal check.
PATCH Help Line: 1-888-783-7972
PSP Individual Access and Review: Form SP 4-170
Pennsylvania State Police provides a separate Access and Review procedure for people who need to examine their own complete Pennsylvania criminal-history information.
Unlike an ordinary publicly releasable PATCH response, Access and Review can include nonconviction information. It may be useful when preparing an expungement petition, investigating a record error or consulting an attorney.
$20
Certified check or money order with the mailed request.
By mail only
Use official Form SP 4-170 and the required supporting documents.
Record subject
Available to the subject of the record or an authorized legal representative.
What to submit
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Download Form SP 4-170.
Select the Request for Individual Access and Review form. It is explicitly marked as not for employment purposes.
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Complete the identification fields.
Fill in the subject’s required personal details and current contact information.
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Attach identity documentation.
Include a copy of the subject’s government-issued photo identification.
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Include representation documents if applicable.
A legal representative must provide the required affidavit or letter of representation.
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Include the $20 payment.
Send a certified check or money order payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Mail the package to the RCPU.
Use the mailing address printed on the application form.
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Form: SP 4-170, Request for Individual Access and Review
If you plan to pursue record expungement, the PSP’s official guidance directs individuals to obtain their history and then work with the Clerk of Courts in the relevant county to follow the court petition process.
Read Pennsylvania’s official expungement instructions ↗How to Search Pennsylvania Criminal Court Cases and Dockets for Free
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal offers free access to publicly available docket sheets and case information.
It is the best starting point when you need to learn where a criminal case was filed, find a case number, examine court activity or identify the office responsible for the original records.
Step-by-step public docket search
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Open the UJS Web Portal.
Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us. Public docket searches do not require a registered user account.
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Choose Case Information.
Open the Case Search option from the available navigation.
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Choose the court level.
Select Common Pleas, Magisterial District, Philadelphia Municipal or the appropriate appellate court, depending on the case.
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Search with available details.
Use a docket number, participant name or other supported criteria. Narrow by county or relevant filters when offered.
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Open the public docket sheet.
Review the parties, docket number, court, filing history, hearing dates and available disposition entries.
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Check the latest court entries.
Look for later proceedings, transfers, appeals, sentence modifications or court orders.
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Contact the court for documents.
Docket sheets generally list filings but do not provide downloads of the underlying documents. Request the record from the office maintaining the court file.
Which Pennsylvania court should you choose?
| Court level | Typical records | Useful docket identifier |
|---|---|---|
| Court of Common Pleas | Criminal cases at the county trial court level, including felony and other qualifying criminal prosecutions | CP-25-CR-0009999-2017 |
| Magisterial District Court | Preliminary proceedings, summary offenses, traffic and qualifying nontraffic matters | MJ-51301-TR-0009999-2017 |
| Philadelphia Municipal Court | Philadelphia Municipal Court criminal and qualifying summary/traffic proceedings | MC-51 prefix |
| Appellate courts | Supreme, Superior and Commonwealth Court public appeals and related docket information | Appellate-specific docket format |
The docket formats above are examples supplied in Pennsylvania UJS help documentation, not real cases to investigate.
Where do you obtain a criminal court document?
Pennsylvania Courts explains that UJS docket sheets show a record of filings and court events, not necessarily the actual documents. For a complete criminal case file or certified court order, contact the county Clerk of Courts where the proceeding was filed.
For Magisterial District Court paper files, contact the specific Magisterial District Court office. For Philadelphia Municipal Court records, use the appropriate Philadelphia court custodian.
Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check Fees in 2026
| Request type | Published fee | Important detail |
|---|---|---|
| Standard PATCH criminal-history request | $22 | Online or standard mailed request. Online card transaction fee is additional. |
| PATCH online credit-card fee | 2% | Applied to online credit-card transactions effective April 22, 2026. |
| Qualified volunteer check | Free | For qualifying unpaid volunteer purposes; no notarized volunteer option. |
| Notarized mailed PATCH request | $27 | Standard $22 request plus $5 notarization; mail-in process. |
| Individual Access and Review | $20 | Mail only; not for employment; response may take three months or longer. |
| UJS criminal court docket search | Free | Public docket information, not PSP criminal history or certified filings. |
| Court document or certified copy | Varies | Contact the county Clerk of Courts or appropriate filing office. |
| Federal PACER case records | Usage-based | As of October 2026, charges of $30 or less in a quarter are waived. |
Amounts are based on published Pennsylvania State Police, Pennsylvania Courts and federal court guidance reviewed October 16, 2026. Confirm fees before payment.
PA State Police Criminal Record Check for Jobs, Schools and Volunteers
A Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check is commonly called an Act 34 clearance in employment and education settings.
Some positions involving contact with children require additional checks beyond the PSP certificate. The correct combination depends on the role, governing law and agency.
PSP / PATCH
Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history clearance. A standard request costs $22; eligible unpaid volunteer requests are free.
DHS Child Abuse History
A separate Pennsylvania Department of Human Services clearance through the Child Welfare Information Solution service.
FBI Criminal History
A separate fingerprint-based check required for certain roles. Use the correct agency program and authorized service code.
For school employment, Pennsylvania Department of Education guidance identifies three principal screening categories: State Police Criminal History, DHS Child Abuse History and Federal Criminal History Record Information.
Other Official Pennsylvania Criminal Records Search Tools
PATCH is not designed to locate everyone held in custody, provide all court documents, or search every federal prosecution. Use these other systems when their specific record type matches your purpose.
DOC Inmate and Supervised Individual Locator
The Department of Corrections provides an official search with options for current inmates and department-supervised individuals.
Search by name, inmate or parole number, committing county and other available identifiers.
Local limitation: County jail inmates are not necessarily included in state DOC locator results.
Open PA DOC Lookup ↗Megan’s Law Public Registry
Search public registration information for people who are required to register for specified sexual offenses under Pennsylvania law.
Registry records are not a complete listing of everyone who has ever committed a criminal offense.
Open PA Megan’s Law Registry ↗PACER Federal Court Records
Search federal court filings in Pennsylvania’s Eastern, Middle or Western federal judicial districts through the appropriate PACER route.
Federal criminal cases are separate from Pennsylvania’s PSP repository and UJS state court dockets.
Open PACER ↗PSP Records Requests
Police incident documentation, crash reports, Right-to-Know requests and audio-visual records are handled through procedures separate from PATCH criminal-history checks.
Request the actual record from its authorized custodian rather than treating PATCH as a general police-report download service.
Open PSP Records Request Guide ↗Common Pennsylvania PATCH Problems and How to Fix Them
| Problem | Likely explanation | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| PATCH says “Under Review” | PSP needs to review a potential identifying-information match. | Keep the control number and check status; do not assume a criminal record exists. |
| “No Items Found” during status search | The request reference, date or submitted name may not match. | Reenter the original data exactly; contact PATCH support if necessary. |
| Online certificate never arrived by mail | PATCH no longer mails certificates requested online. | Retrieve and print the certificate from PATCH. |
| Online credit-card checkout error | Browser cache or payment-session issue. | Clear the browser cache, reopen the browser and retry following PSP instructions. |
| No record returned but a court docket exists | Public-releasability restrictions, reporting differences, record status or different source coverage. | Check the court disposition and ask PSP about the appropriate record-review process. |
| Need nonconviction information | Ordinary PATCH responses are subject to public dissemination rules. | Use the individual’s SP 4-170 Access and Review process where eligible. |
| Need a notarized result | Online and free volunteer requests do not provide this option. | Use the appropriate mailed SP 4-164 notarized request and $27 payment. |
| Need case filings, judgment or sentence | PATCH and UJS docket sheets are not complete document repositories. | Contact the court Clerk of Courts for the specific official document. |
How to verify a Pennsylvania PATCH certificate
PSP permits validation of a PATCH certificate through its Record Check Status screen using the original control number, the subject’s name and the request date.
This is useful when an organization needs to confirm that a submitted certificate corresponds to the State Police’s issued request.
Incorrect Criminal History, Expungement and Responsible Record Use
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act governs the collection, dissemination and use of criminal-history information.
An arrest is not proof of guilt. A court docket entry is not automatically a conviction, and an online “No Record” certificate should not be interpreted as a definitive nationwide determination about a person’s entire history.
If your PSP record appears wrong
Consider requesting Individual Access and Review so you can examine the information maintained in your name. Gather relevant court orders or other official correction documents.
Ask PSP or a qualified attorney about the applicable challenge or correction process.
If the case was dismissed or expunged
Review whether the case is eligible for sealing or expungement under Pennsylvania law. Procedures depend on the record type, outcome and applicable statute.
The maintaining court is generally central to an expungement petition or record-restriction order.
PA State Police Criminal Record Check FAQs
1. How do I get a Pennsylvania State Police criminal record check online?
2. How much does a Pennsylvania PATCH background check cost in 2026?
3. Can unpaid volunteers get a free PA State Police criminal record check?
4. How long does a Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history check take?
5. What does PATCH Request Under Review mean?
6. How do I check my PATCH status or download my certificate?
7. Can I get a notarized Pennsylvania criminal background check online?
8. How can I review my entire Pennsylvania criminal record, including nonconvictions?
9. Where can I search Pennsylvania criminal court cases for free?
10. Does a PA State Police PATCH check include FBI or out-of-state criminal records?
Official Pennsylvania State Police and Court Record Links
The following resources are maintained by Pennsylvania State Police, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, the Commonwealth’s human-services and education agencies, or the federal judiciary.
- Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History — Official PATCH Website
- PSP — Request a Criminal History Background Check
- PSP — PATCH Overview, Status and Certificate Validation
- PATCH Record Check Status
- PSP Form SP 4-164 — Standard Criminal Record Check
- PSP Form SP 4-164A — Volunteer Only
- PSP Form SP 4-170 — Individual Access and Review
- Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal
- Pennsylvania Courts — Public Case Information
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — Find an Inmate
- Pennsylvania State Police Megan’s Law Registry
- Pennsylvania DHS — Child Abuse Clearances
- Pennsylvania Department of Education — School Clearances
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search