Begin your Criminal History Search at the Pennsylvania State
Police (PSP) Website
To conduct a criminal history search in Pennsylvania, you'll need
to begin your investigation at the central repository for records
maintained by the Pennsylvania
State Police or PSP. The PSP, which administers the filing
of all criminal histories, also oversees the public access site
for criminal records online. A sex offender database is provided
as well.
Accessing the PSP PATCH System in Pennsylvania
In fact, the PSP manages the database called PATCH (or the
Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History). You can access the site
for further details or make inquiries about the system by calling
1-888-QUERY-PA or 1-888-783-7972. The PATCH system
accepts payment via debit or credit card. Criminal history
information is provided by mail.
Name-based Searches are Only Provided to the Public Online
The system allows individuals who are not registered as well as
requestors who are registered users to obtain criminal histories.
Registered users are generally companies who regularly conduct
criminal history searches for purposes of employment screening.
Such third-party requests are often made by governmental agencies
and landlords as well. Only law enforcement agencies are allowed
to perform fingerprint searches for criminal records in
Pennsylvania. Everyone else must search by the subject's name.
How to Obtain the Information by Mail
The fee for the name-based searches is $10 for each name. If you
are searching for your own data, you can also request the
information by mail for the $10 fee. Send a money order or
certified check for the amount made payable to the Commonwealth
of Pennsylvania, and address it to the Pennsylvania
State Police Central Repository -- 164 at 1800 Elmerton
Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.
Criminal Records Information: Available to the Public
Criminal records in the state of Pennsylvania are open to access
by the public, whether they are retrieved for personal use or used
to obtain the information of a third party. Histories that are
available contain arrests that ended in a conviction in the state
as well as dispositions, charges and sentencing information.
The Department of Corrections: Where to Access Inmate
Information in Pennsylvania
For individuals who require Department of Corrections (DOC)
information on an inmate, they'll need to visit the Department
of Corrections website for Pennsylvania. The DOC in the
state administers a boot camp program, 14 area correctional
centers and 40 contract centers as well as 26 state prison
facilities. The DOC does not assume responsibility for probation
or parole activities nor does it have jurisdiction over county
prison facilities.
Go Online to the DOC Website to Use the Search Database
To obtain specific inmate information, you'll need to direct your
browser to the DOC website and access the offender search
database. Obtain inmate information by inserting the subject's ID
number or searching for him by name, the county where he committed
the crime, his location, or by a myriad of other personal details.
Requestors can sort the information they receive by the inmate's
number or name or other salient information.
No Sentencing or Conviction Data is Supplied in Correctional
Records
The recorded information about an inmate will detail data that
includes the name of the offender, any aliases as well as the
subject's gender, race, age, birthdate, height and weight. The
facility where he is housed will also be included. You won't be
able to access any data concerning sentencing or conviction
information.