Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to pass a Clean Slate law, in 2018, and has since expanded it twice -- Clean Slate 2.0 in 2020 and Clean Slate 3.0 in 2023/2024. The law creates automatic sealing of qualifying misdemeanor convictions and non-conviction records without any petition from the individual. Pennsylvania also has true expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122, but that pathway is narrow -- it applies primarily to non-convictions, summary offenses, ARD completions, pardoned offenses, and a few other specific categories. The distinction matters: expungement destroys records, while Clean Slate sealing ("Order for Limited Access") hides records from the public but does not destroy them. The PSP PATCH system at $22 per search is the primary statewide criminal history tool. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Pennsylvania Arrest Records Public
Pennsylvania's public records framework is governed by the Right to Know Law at 65 PS 67.101. Criminal history information is addressed more specifically by the Pennsylvania Criminal History Information Act at 18 Pa. C.S. Chapter 91.
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) serves as the central repository for criminal history information and maintains the PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) system. PATCH provides name-based criminal history record checks to the public and to authorized entities.
Access to full criminal history records -- including non-conviction arrest data -- is not open to the general public through PATCH. Non-conviction arrest data is available only to the individual subject, law enforcement agencies, and certain authorized employers. The public receives conviction-based history, not the full record.
For free public access to court case records, the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides a public docket search at ujsportal.pacourts.us, which covers criminal case records from Courts of Common Pleas and other court levels statewide.
Exemptions from public access include non-conviction arrest data for the general public, juvenile records, sealed records ("Orders for Limited Access"), expunged records, and active investigation materials.
What a Pennsylvania Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
A Pennsylvania criminal history record from PSP includes personal identifying information, arrest data for fingerprinted arrests (arresting agency, date, charges), and court dispositions and conviction information as reported. The full record accessed by law enforcement includes non-conviction history. The public version through PATCH returns conviction-based information.
Local law enforcement records at county sheriff offices and police departments include full booking information: name, DOB, date and time of arrest, location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
How to Search Pennsylvania Arrest Records
PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) at pa.gov/agencies/psp is the primary public tool for statewide criminal history searches. The fee is $22 per name-based search. Requests can be made online through PATCH, by mail using form SP4-164 (Criminal History Request Form), or in person. The PSP Central Repository can be reached at 717-783-5599 for general inquiries.
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania public docket search at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free access to court case records statewide including criminal cases. Search by name or docket number for charges, case status, and dispositions from Courts of Common Pleas, Superior Court, and other levels.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. Pennsylvania has 67 counties and each county sheriff manages the local jail. Most publish online inmate rosters or booking information.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Pennsylvania's 67 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Pennsylvania DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania has 67 counties and each county operates a county prison or jail. County facilities hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving shorter sentences.
When someone is convicted and sentenced to state prison, they enter the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PADOC) system. PADOC provides a free online inmate search accessible through the PADOC website at cor.pa.gov. You can search by name to locate current state inmates and get facility, offense, and sentence information.
Federal Arrests in Pennsylvania
Federal arrests in Pennsylvania are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Pennsylvania is home to U.S. District Courts for the Eastern District (Philadelphia), Middle District (Harrisburg, Scranton, Williamsport), and Western District (Pittsburgh).
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the PSP PATCH system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Pennsylvania restricts the general public from accessing non-conviction arrest data through PATCH -- what the public receives is conviction-based.
The PA Judiciary public docket search may surface case records including non-conviction outcomes, since it reflects court case history including dismissals and acquittals, until those records are sealed or expunged.
Pennsylvania Expungement and Clean Slate
Pennsylvania offers two distinct paths for limiting public access to criminal records.
True Expungement (18 Pa.C.S. 9122): Pennsylvania defines expungement as the removal of information so that there is no trace or indication that it existed. True expungement applies to a narrow set of circumstances: non-conviction records (dismissed charges, acquittals, withdrawn charges, nolle prosequi); arrests where no disposition appears after 18 months and no proceedings are pending; summary offense convictions where the person has been free from arrest for 5 years; ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) completions; pardoned offenses; and the records of deceased persons upon petition. Expungement destroys the records.
For acquittals specifically, Pennsylvania added automatic expungement upon a judicial finding that a person was acquitted of all charges (via 2020 Act 83 amendment to 9122).
Clean Slate -- Order for Limited Access (18 Pa.C.S. 9122.2): The Clean Slate Acts created automatic sealing of qualifying records without any petition required. Clean Slate sealing does not destroy records; it limits public access. Records remain available to law enforcement, courts, and certain authorized agencies.
Clean Slate 1.0 (Act 56 of 2018): Automatically seals certain nonviolent misdemeanor M2, M3, and ungraded misdemeanor convictions and non-conviction records after 10 years crime-free, with fines and costs paid.
Clean Slate 2.0 (Act 83 of 2020): Expanded automatic sealing to include cases where fines and costs are still owed, removing a financial barrier to access.
Clean Slate 3.0 (Act 36 of 2023/2024): Expanded eligible offenses to include some felony drug and property offenses; shortened the misdemeanor waiting period from 10 to 7 years; summary convictions seal automatically after 5 years (starting June 2024).
The AOPC (Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts) sends monthly lists of qualifying convictions to PSP, and those records are automatically updated in the state system. No action is required from the individual for automatic sealing.
For cases not covered by automatic sealing, petition-based sealing (Order for Limited Access, Form 791 from pacourts.us) is available. The petition is filed at the court where the case was heard, along with a current PATCH criminal history report obtained within 60 days. The filing fee is typically $132 to $215 depending on the county. The DA has 30 days to consent, object, or take no action.
After sealing, records are not disseminated to the general public, private employers, or landlords. The individual is not required to disclose sealed records on most applications.
InmateAid's guides on expungement and Clean Slate sealing cover Pennsylvania's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after sealing or expungement is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Pennsylvania arrest records public?
Arrest records are public under the Right to Know Law (65 PS 67.101). However, full criminal history records from PATCH -- including non-conviction arrest data -- are not available to the general public. The public receives conviction-based information through PATCH. Court case records are publicly available through the PA Judiciary docket search at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Sealed (Clean Slate) and expunged records are not publicly accessible.
How do I search Pennsylvania arrest records?
PATCH at pa.gov/agencies/psp provides name-based conviction history searches for $22 per search (online, mail using Form SP4-164, or in person). For free court case records, use the PA Judiciary public docket at ujsportal.pacourts.us. For recent arrests, check the relevant county jail website. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For PADOC state inmates, search at cor.pa.gov.
What does a Pennsylvania arrest record contain?
The PSP PATCH public record includes conviction-based history with arrest data, charges, and court dispositions. The full record (available to law enforcement and authorized parties) also includes non-conviction arrests. Local law enforcement records include name, DOB, arrest date/time/location, charges, bail, court date, and booking photograph.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Pennsylvania?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Non-conviction arrest data is restricted from the public in PATCH. Court case records including dismissed cases may appear in the PA Judiciary docket until the records are sealed or expunged. Non-conviction records qualify for automatic Clean Slate sealing without any waiting period.
How do I find someone in a Pennsylvania county jail?
Check the county prison or sheriff's website where the arrest occurred. Pennsylvania's 67 counties each operate county facilities and most publish online inmate information. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many Pennsylvania facilities and provides free notification registration. For someone in state prison, use the PADOC inmate search at cor.pa.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in Pennsylvania?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the PSP PATCH system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Pennsylvania?
Pennsylvania arrest and conviction records remain in PATCH and court records indefinitely unless sealed under Clean Slate (18 Pa.C.S. 9122.2) or expunged under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122. Non-conviction records qualify for automatic Clean Slate sealing with no waiting period. Misdemeanor convictions seal automatically after 7 years under Clean Slate 3.0. Summary convictions seal after 5 years. Some felony convictions may also qualify under Clean Slate 3.0.
What is Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act?
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Acts (Act 56 of 2018, Act 83 of 2020, Act 36 of 2023/2024) created automatic sealing of eligible criminal records without any petition or action from the individual. Qualifying records are removed from public background checks for jobs, housing, and school, but remain accessible to law enforcement and courts. The AOPC sends monthly lists of qualifying convictions to PSP for automatic updates. Clean Slate 3.0 expanded eligible offenses and shortened the misdemeanor waiting period to 7 years. Pennsylvania was the first state in the nation to pass a Clean Slate law.
Who qualifies for expungement in Pennsylvania?
True expungement (record destruction) under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122 is available for: non-conviction records (dismissed, acquitted, withdrawn, nolle prosequi); arrests with no disposition after 18 months and no pending proceedings; summary offense convictions after 5 years crime-free; ARD completion; pardoned offenses; and records of deceased persons. Most misdemeanor and felony convictions are not eligible for true expungement -- they may qualify for Clean Slate sealing instead.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Non-conviction arrests may appear in court records (PA Judiciary docket) even though PATCH restricts this information from the general public. A court record entry for a dismissed or acquitted case remains visible in the court system until cleaned up through automatic Clean Slate sealing (which applies to non-conviction records with no waiting period) or through a petition for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. 9122. ---
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