Choose PATCH for a PA State Police background check — or UJS if you only need a court case
Pennsylvania has two major public pathways that users often confuse. The Pennsylvania State Police operates PATCH for official Pennsylvania criminal-history checks, while the Unified Judicial System provides free public court docket searches. PATCH searches the State Police Central Repository; a court docket search shows the history of a specific case. They are related, but they are not interchangeable.
First identify which Pennsylvania criminal record you actually need
Background check
PATCH checks the PSP Central Repository for Pennsylvania criminal-history information.
Court case / docket
Search criminal Common Pleas, Magisterial District, Philadelphia Municipal and appellate court docket sheets.
Your full record
A separate process for the subject of the record to obtain convictions and non-convictions maintained by PSP.
Police or arrest report
Police departments, sheriffs and other law-enforcement agencies maintain their own incident and investigative records.
State prison / parole
Use Pennsylvania DOC for state-sentenced inmates and parolees.
Federal criminal case
PATCH and Pennsylvania court dockets do not replace PACER for federal prosecutions.
How to request a Pennsylvania State Police criminal record check with PATCH
Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) is the Pennsylvania State Police online system for criminal-history background checks.
PATCH compares identifying information submitted by the requester against records in the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
PATCH
Usually the fastest route. Individuals, employers, agencies and other requesters can submit qualifying checks online.
Form SP 4-164
A standard criminal-history request can also be mailed to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
PATCH criminal record check: step-by-step
Open PATCH and choose a new record check
Individuals normally use the non-registered-user route. Businesses, agencies and offices that routinely order checks can apply for registered-user access.
Enter requester information
PATCH asks for information about the requester and the person whose criminal history is being checked.
Enter the subject’s identifying information carefully
Accurate name, date of birth and other requested identifiers reduce the risk of an incorrect match or manual review.
Pay the applicable fee
The standard individual criminal-history check currently costs $22. Online users can pay using accepted major credit cards.
Save the control number
The control number and request date are important if you need to return later to check the request status.
Print the final certificate
Once PATCH reports “No Record” or “Record,” use the request details screen and certification link to obtain the available certificate.
What “No Record,” “Record,” and “Request Under Review” mean in PATCH
| PATCH result | What it means | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No Record | The identifiers submitted did not produce criminal-history information releasable through that request. | Print the certificate and retain the control number. |
| Record | PSP determined that releasable criminal-history information matched the submitted identifiers. | Review the certificate carefully and verify identity and court disposition. |
| Request Under Review | Submitted identifiers matched information requiring manual review. | Wait for PSP to complete the review and check the status again. |
PSP states that approximately 85% of “No Record” certificates are returned immediately. Requests requiring manual investigation may take approximately two to four weeks.
Pennsylvania State Police criminal record check fees
| PSP service | Current fee | Important note |
|---|---|---|
| Standard criminal-history background check | $22 | Available through PATCH or by mail using SP 4-164. |
| Notarization | +$5 | Available for qualifying standard results. |
| Volunteer criminal-history check | Free | Volunteer check cannot be notarized. |
| Individual Access & Review | $20 | Mail only; for the subject of the record or legal representative. |
Fees and procedures can change. Confirm current amounts on the Pennsylvania State Police website before submitting payment.
Free Pennsylvania criminal record check for volunteers
Pennsylvania currently waives the State Police criminal-history fee for qualifying unpaid volunteers. The volunteer request can be made online through PATCH or by mail using Form SP 4-164A.
A volunteer clearance may be only one part of a larger Pennsylvania clearance requirement. Child-care, school, foster-care or other regulated roles can also require separate child-abuse and/or FBI fingerprint clearances.
How to request a Pennsylvania criminal-history check by mail
If you do not want to use PATCH online, complete Form SP 4-164 — Request for Criminal Record Check.
Mail the completed request and required payment to:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
Central Repository – 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
PSP accepts certified check or money order for qualifying mailed requests. Do not assume an ordinary personal check or cash will be accepted.
How to get your entire Pennsylvania criminal record
A normal $22 PATCH background check is different from Individual Access & Review.
Access & Review is designed for a person who wants to inspect the entire Pennsylvania criminal-history record maintained about themselves, including convictions and non-convictions.
Complete Form SP 4-170
Enter the subject’s identifying information legibly and completely.
Attach government-issued photo identification
A copy of the subject’s government-issued photo ID must accompany the request.
Include representation documents if applicable
An attorney or legal representative should include the required affidavit or letter of representation.
Include $20 payment
PSP currently requires a certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
Mail the request to the Central Repository
The PSP response is mailed to the requester.
Access & Review mailing address
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Search Pennsylvania criminal court cases for free
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Case Search provides free public access to court docket information.
The public portal includes:
- Criminal Courts of Common Pleas
- Magisterial District Court criminal cases
- Philadelphia Municipal Court criminal cases
- Supreme Court cases
- Superior Court cases
- Commonwealth Court cases
- public criminal court calendars
- Court Summary Information for qualifying cases
How to read a Pennsylvania criminal docket sheet
| Docket information | What it generally tells you | What to verify |
|---|---|---|
| Docket number | Unique identifier for the court case. | Save it for Clerk of Courts requests. |
| Offense / charge | The criminal allegation filed in court. | Do not treat the initial charge as the final result. |
| Case status | Current procedural state of the case. | Check the latest docket activity. |
| Disposition | How an offense or case was resolved. | Look for dismissal, acquittal, plea or conviction. |
| Sentence | Court-imposed penalty following a qualifying disposition. | Check later modification or appellate activity. |
| Scheduled event | Upcoming hearing or proceeding. | Recent scheduling changes may take time to appear. |
How to get paper or certified Pennsylvania criminal court records
Pennsylvania does not use one statewide Clerk-of-Courts copy office for every criminal case. The official file is maintained by the court or county filing office where the case was handled.
Find the case in UJS
Save the docket number, defendant name, county and court level.
Identify the county court office
Common Pleas criminal records are generally handled through the appropriate county Clerk of Courts or equivalent filing office.
Ask for the exact record needed
Examples include the criminal complaint, information, plea, sentencing order, disposition or certified docket.
Ask about copy and certification fees
Fees and ordering procedures vary by county and court.
Magisterial District Court criminal records
Magisterial District Courts handle many lower-level matters and preliminary stages of criminal cases. Their public docket sheets are searchable through the UJS portal.
If you need the actual paper record rather than the web docket, Pennsylvania Courts directs users to contact the specific Magisterial District Court office that maintains the case.
Search Pennsylvania criminal appeals
Pennsylvania appellate docket sheets are also available through the UJS system. Criminal appeals from Courts of Common Pleas commonly proceed to the Superior Court of Pennsylvania.
The public UJS portal can show:
- appellate docket number
- party information
- filing history
- orders and docket activity
- case status
- available public appellate information
Pennsylvania state inmate and parolee records
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate and Parolee Locator searches people incarcerated or supervised by the state Department of Corrections.
You can search using:
- last name
- first name when helpful
- inmate number
Pennsylvania county jail records are local
A person arrested recently may be held in a county prison or jail rather than a Pennsylvania DOC state facility. County incarceration records are therefore searched locally.
Identify county
Find where the person was arrested or booked.
Find county jail
Use the official county corrections, prison or sheriff website.
Check custody
Look for an inmate locator, booking page or contact information.
Check court docket
Use UJS to follow the criminal prosecution once filed.
Pennsylvania Megan’s Law public registry
The Pennsylvania State Police also maintains the official Megan’s Law public website for qualifying registered sexual offenders.
The registry is separate from PATCH and separate from court dockets. Its purpose is public safety and registry information authorized by Pennsylvania law.
A Pennsylvania Right-to-Know request is not the way to order a criminal-history check
Pennsylvania State Police accepts Right-to-Know Law requests for qualifying agency records, but PSP specifically says that criminal-history records are not obtained through the ordinary RTKL process.
Use PATCH
Request a standard PSP criminal-history background check or Access & Review as appropriate.
Use Right-to-Know when appropriate
PSP’s Open Records Officer handles qualifying administrative/public records under Pennsylvania’s RTKL.
How to correct inaccurate Pennsylvania criminal-history information
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act requires criminal-justice agencies to maintain accurate information and provides mechanisms for correction.
Obtain your full Access & Review record
This shows the Pennsylvania State Police record you are trying to correct.
Identify the incorrect entry
Compare the arrest, charge and disposition against the actual court record.
Get supporting court documentation
A certified dismissal, sentencing order, amended disposition or expungement order may be necessary.
Contact the responsible agency
The agency that reported inaccurate information may need to correct its records and notify the Central Repository.
Pennsylvania criminal-record expungement
Pennsylvania State Police recommends beginning the expungement process by requesting your full criminal history using Form SP 4-170.
Request Access & Review
Obtain the complete PSP criminal-history record so you know which arrests and dispositions appear.
Identify the county where the arrest or case occurred
Expungement petitions are handled through the court with jurisdiction over the record.
Contact the county Clerk of Courts
Ask for the current petition procedure and local filing requirements.
Obtain a signed court order when relief is granted
PSP updates the Central Repository after receiving the qualifying expungement order through the court process.
Pennsylvania Clean Slate and limited-access records
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act also provides limited access for qualifying criminal-history records. This is legally different from deleting every government record.
Petition-based limited access
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, qualifying misdemeanor and certain qualifying felony records may become eligible for limited access after statutory waiting periods and other conditions.
Generally 7-year conviction-free period
Eligibility also depends on the offense, restitution and statutory exclusions.
Generally 10-year conviction-free period
The 2023 Pennsylvania amendments expanded petition-based limited access to certain qualifying felonies, subject to significant exclusions.
Clean Slate automatic limited access
18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 also provides automatic limited access to categories of qualifying records, including certain lower-level misdemeanor convictions when statutory conditions are satisfied.
Using Pennsylvania criminal-history information for employment
Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act contains rules governing how employers may use criminal-history information.
A court docket search should not be substituted for the criminal-history procedure required for a regulated job, school, volunteer activity or licensing purpose.
Federal criminal cases in Pennsylvania are separate
PSP states that PATCH checks Pennsylvania law-enforcement criminal-history records only. It does not provide a federal criminal court search.
Pennsylvania has three federal judicial districts:
- Eastern District of Pennsylvania
- Middle District of Pennsylvania
- Western District of Pennsylvania
Use PACER to search federal criminal dockets and public federal court documents.
Map: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository in Harrisburg
Pennsylvania State Police’s Records and Identification operations and Central Repository are based at the PSP headquarters complex on Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg.
Pennsylvania State Police
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Records & Identification phone: 717-783-5592
PATCH help / status: 1-888-783-7972
Pennsylvania criminal record search tips that save time
Need one known case? Search UJS first
The court search is free and may answer your question without paying $22 for PATCH.
Need a formal PA background check? Use PATCH
A docket printout is not the same as the Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history response.
Save your PATCH control number
You need it to return later and verify or retrieve the result.
Under Review is not a hit
It only means PSP needs to manually compare the submitted identifiers.
Need your non-convictions?
Use Access & Review rather than the normal $22 background-check request.
Volunteer? Don’t pay unnecessarily
Qualifying Pennsylvania volunteer PSP checks are currently free.
Search final disposition
An original charge can later be dismissed, reduced or result in another disposition.
County jail is not state DOC
A recently arrested person may be in a local jail and absent from the state DOC locator.
Don’t use RTKL for PATCH
PSP directs criminal-history requests to its criminal-history process, not ordinary Right-to-Know requests.
Pennsylvania State Police criminal record checks: frequently asked questions
1. How much does a Pennsylvania State Police criminal background check cost?
A standard PSP criminal-history check currently costs $22. Qualifying results can be notarized for an additional $5.
2. Is a Pennsylvania volunteer criminal record check free?
Yes. PSP currently provides qualifying unpaid volunteer criminal-history checks for free. Volunteer checks cannot be notarized.
3. What does “Request Under Review” mean on PATCH?
It means the identifiers submitted matched information that PSP must review manually. It does not mean PSP has determined that the person has a criminal record.
4. How long does a PATCH background check take?
Many No Record results are returned immediately. PSP says requests requiring manual review may take approximately two to four weeks.
5. Can I search Pennsylvania court cases for free?
Yes. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free public docket searches for Common Pleas criminal cases, Magisterial District Court cases, Philadelphia Municipal Court cases and appellate cases.
6. Is the UJS docket search the same as a PATCH background check?
No. UJS displays public court case information. PATCH is the Pennsylvania State Police criminal-history background-check service.
7. How do I obtain my full Pennsylvania criminal history?
Use Form SP 4-170 for Individual Access & Review. It is available only to the record subject or legal representative, costs $20 and must be mailed to PSP.
8. Does PATCH include federal criminal records?
No. PSP states that PATCH checks Pennsylvania law-enforcement criminal-history records only. Use PACER to search federal criminal court cases.
9. Can Pennsylvania criminal records be expunged or hidden from public access?
Some records may qualify for expungement or limited access under Pennsylvania law. Eligibility depends on the disposition, offense, waiting period, restitution and other statutory conditions.
10. Can I request Pennsylvania criminal history through the Right-to-Know Law?
Not through the ordinary PSP Right-to-Know process. PSP directs criminal-history requests to PATCH or the appropriate Access & Review procedure.
Official Pennsylvania sources used for this guide
- Pennsylvania State Police — Request a Criminal History Background Check
- Pennsylvania State Police — PATCH Overview
- Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History — PATCH
- Pennsylvania State Police — SP 4-170 Individual Access & Review
- Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System — Case Search
- Pennsylvania Courts — Court Case Information
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — Inmate and Parolee Locator
- Pennsylvania State Police — Megan’s Law Website
- Pennsylvania State Police — Right-to-Know Requests
- Pennsylvania State Police — Criminal Record Expungement
- Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act — Chapter 91
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 — Petition for Limited Access
- 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 — Clean Slate Limited Access
- PACER — Federal Court Case Search