Pennsylvania Public Records

The government of Pennsylvania has long made provisions for granting access to its records. The public can access and copy many of the state’s records.

Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law gives individuals the constitutional right to access, copy and see the public records of the state of Pennsylvania. You don’t have to disclose the purpose for requesting the information. The general public can request public records from all judicial, legislative, commonwealth and local agencies. Records from state offices, schools, state boards and authorities can also be requested. The documents classified as public records include any sound recording, map, photograph, book, tape, electric data or film received, created or retained with a business transaction or activity with a state agency.

Pennsylvania Criminal Records

The requests for Pennsylvania criminal history checks are processed and supervised by the Pennsylvania State Police. The PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) tool, which is a database that is preserved by the Pennsylvania State Police, is generally searchable by both non-registered and registered users. You will have to pay a non-refundable fee for every search. The website’s customers are charged for duplicate submissions, misspellings or user errors.

The search results typically include all charges with an existing pending warrant issued, all past convictions as well as all charges and arrest records that are not older than 3 years from the arrest date. You can find the database on The PATCH tool webpage of the website of the Pennsylvania State Police.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections preserves arrest records as well as inmate and jail records and also makes them available to the general public through an online database that can easily be searched. You can search the database by first name, last name, inmate number, sex, race, date of birth and location. The record found will state the inmate’s name, date of birth, race, complexion, citizenship, housing location and height. You can find the database on the official website of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. You can check the Pennsylvania’s Victim Notification Service (VINE) Profile for more information about Pennsylvania’s inmate and jail records.

Pennsylvania Court Records

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania oversees and distributes Pennsylvania Court Records. You can search online for information regarding individual court case for free. These searches typically contain information about civil cases, traffic cases, criminal cases, landlord-tenant cases, and non-traffic cases. For you to search for the court records, go to the web portal of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.

Pennsylvania Vital Records

Pennsylvania Vital Records include death and birth records that have been preserved since 1906. The records are maintained and distributed by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. For you to gain access to these records, your name must be on the certificate, or you must be a legal guardian or an immediate family member, and you must be 18 years or older. ?Immediate family members, those with the Power of Attorney and the legal representative of the estate of the decedent are eligible to request for death certificates.

  • Birth records: The state of Pennsylvania did not enact a statewide registration of births until 1906 and full compliance was achieved by 1915. While birth registration was never required before this time, some birth registration catalogs actually occurred from 1851 to 1855 in clerk and county offices. You can obtain birth records from 1906 to 1910 from Pennsylvania State Archives. You are only allowed to view copies of birth records and not obtain them unless they are older than 105 years.
  • Death records: The law requiring registration of birth in Pennsylvania was signed in 1906. Before this time, death records in the state were recorded in county, city and town offices. The state required deaths to be recorded from 1851-1855 in the county where the death had occurred. All deaths from 1906 to 1965 are maintained by the Pennsylvania State Archives. You can only get copies of death records that are already 50 years old. Otherwise, you are only allowed to view the records.
  • Marriage records: There were few marriage records prior to 1885 and you can send your request to the Marriage License Clerk at the particular courthouse where the event took place for you to obtain these records. Most counties began registering for marriages in October 1885.
  • Divorce records: Divorce proceedings exist even before 1885. These records are available at the Marriage License Clerk at the appropriate courthouse.

The government of Pennsylvania considers state records as public property and it does have clear provisions for granting the public access to these records. Follow the appropriate procedure to obtain the information you need.

Pennsylvania state court system

Understanding how the system of Pennsylvania state court works is very important as it helps you find court records easily.

Pennsylvania Courts Overview

To make your work easier, start searching for court records in Pennsylvania by simply going to courts by county.

The trial court system of Pennsylvania State consists of Pittsburgh Municipal Court, Philadelphia Municipal Court, Magistrate District Courts, and Courts of Common Pleas.

Courts of Common Pleas

Pennsylvania Courts of Common Pleas have general jurisdiction to handle all types of cases, but typically handle only those cases that other courts have no jurisdiction over.

Criminal cases generally handled by these courts include lesser-included offenses and felonies. Civil cases handled by these courts include general civil claims of any disputed amount. Besides, they also handle delayed birth certificates, adoptions, juvenile matters, domestic relations, some arbitration reviews and appeals of decisions from some administrative agencies.

All Court of Common Pleas have Orphans’ Court divisions for handling estates, termination of parental rights, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, wills and trusts. They may also have a Domestic Relations Section and a Family Court than hears spousal and child support and other related matters.

They may also exercise jurisdiction over certain types of cases that are beyond the jurisdiction limit of traffic courts and municipal courts. This is true with the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, which also share jurisdiction to handle small claims cases.

Magistrate District Courts

Pennsylvania Magistrate District Courts have general jurisdiction to handle certain types of criminal and civil cases.

Criminal cases typically handled by these courts include certain DUI cases, most preliminary hearings, most summery offenses, some ordinance violations, and certain third-degree misdemeanors.

Civil cases typically handled by these courts include some general civil claims of specified financial limits and certain landlord-tenant cases. These courts cannot handle cases against or brought by the State.

Philadelphia Municipal Court

This court has limited jurisdiction to handle certain types of traffic, criminal, and civil cases within the territorial borders of the County and city of Philadelphia.

Criminal case heard by the Philadelphia Municipal Court include most summery offenses, preliminary hearings, some motor vehicle offenses, and offenses that have potential punishment of less than 5 years of incarceration. It doesn’t offer jury trials. However, it may conduct a jury trial if a request is made and granted for a new trial.

Civil case heard by this court include certain local tax matters that involve less than $15,000, breech of contracts, landlord-tenant cases, actions to stop certain nuisances, and some general civil claims with less than $10,000.

The Philadelphia Municipal Court shares limited jurisdiction with the Court of Common Pleas.

Pittsburg Municipal Court

This court hears certain types of traffic, criminal and housing cases. Criminal cases generally handled by this court include traffic offenses, summery offenses, violations of certain city ordinances, and preliminary hearings for all criminal cases that take place in Pittsburgh.

The Pittsburgh Municipal Court can also hear cases for Emergency Protection.

The Official Website of Pennsylvania County

Philadelphia City of Philadelphia Official website of the City of Philadelphia, includes information on municipal services, permits, licenses, and records for citizens and businesses.
Pittsburgh City of Pittsburgh – Announcements, Special Events, Press Releases, City Permits, Careers, Pay your taxes, view Burgh’s Eye View and more!
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Reading City of Reading, Pennsylvania
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Bethlehem City of Bethlehem
Lancaster City of Lancaster
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Harrisburg HarrisburgPA.gov | The official website for the City of Harrisburg View the latest news and updates from the City of Harrisburg. Find documents, browse careers or request support services for various city resources.
Altoona City of Altoona
York City of York, Pennsylvania
Williamsport City of Williamsport – The Birthplace of Little League Baseball
Easton Welcome to the City of Easton – Northampton County, Pennsylvania
Lebanon Lebanon
Philadelphia County Official Website of the Philadelphia City Commissioners The Philadelphia City Commissioners are a three member bipartisan board of elected officials in charge of elections and voter registration for the City of Philadelphia.
Allegheny County Allegheny County | Always Inspiring Elite Video Player
Montgomery County Montgomery County, PA – Official Website
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Beaver County Beaver County Official Site
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Centre County Centre County, PA – Official Website
Franklin County Franklin County, PA
Schuylkill County Schuylkill County Government
Cambria County Cambria County PA

Pennsylvania Jail Roster

TypeNameCountyInmate LocatorPhone NumberInmate Search
Federal PrisonLoretto Federal Correctional InstitutionCambria County772 St. Joseph Street, Loretto, PA 15940(814) 472-4140Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonMoshannon Valley Correctional InstitutionCentre County555 GEO Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866(814) 768-1200Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonMcKean Federal Correctional InstitutionMcKean County 6975 Route 59, Lewis Run, PA 16738(814) 362-8900Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonPhiladelphia Federal Detention CenterPhiladelphia County700 Arch Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106(215) 521-4000Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonSchuylkill Federal Correctional InstitutionSchuylkill CountyINTERSTATE 81 & 901 W, Minersville, PA 17954(570) 544-7100Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonAllenwood Federal Correctional Institution LowUnion CountyRt. 15, 2 miles N of Allenwood, Allenwood, PA 17810(570) 547-1990Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonAllenwood Federal Correctional Institution MediumUnion CountyRt. 15, 2 miles N of Allenwood, White Deer, PA 17810(570) 547-7950Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonAllenwood U.S. PenitentiaryUnion CountyRt. 15, 2 miles N of Allenwood, Allenwood, PA 17810(570) 547-0963Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonLewisburg United States PenitentiaryUnion County2400 Robert F Miller Drive, Lewisburg, PA 17837(570) 523-1251Federal Inmate Locator
Federal PrisonCanaan United States PenitentiaryWayne County3057 Easton Turnpike, Waymart, PA 18472(570) 488-8000Federal Inmate Locator
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – PittsburghAllegheny County3001 Beaver Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233(412) 761-1955Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Benner TownshipCentre County301 Institution Drive, Bellefonte, PA 16823(814) 353-3630Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – RockviewCentre County1 Rockview Place, Bellefonte, PA 16823(814) 355-4874Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – HoutzdaleClearfield County209 Institution Drive, Houtzdale, PA 16698-1000(814) 378-1000Inmate Search
State PrisonQuehanna Boot CampClearfield County4395 Quehanna Hwy, Karthaus, PA 16845-9714(814) 263-4125Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Cambridge SpringsCrawford County451 Fullerton Avenue, Cambridge Springs, PA 16403(814) 398-5400Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Camp HillCumberland County 2500 Lisburn Road, Camp Hill, PA 17001-8837(717) 737-4531Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – ChesterDelaware County500 E. 4th Street, Chester, PA 19013-4551(610) 490-5412Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – GreeneGreene County169 Progress Drive, Waynesburg, PA 15370-8090(724) 852-2902Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – HuntingdonHuntingdon County1100 Pike Street, Huntingdon, PA 16654-1112(814) 643-2400Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – SmithfieldHuntingdon County1120 Pike Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652(814) 643-6520Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Pine GroveIndiana County189 Fyock Road, Indiana, PA 15701-6542(724) 465-9630Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – DallasLuzerne County1000 Follies Road, Dallas, PA 18612(570) 675-1101Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – RetreatLuzerne County660 State Route 11, Hunlock Creek, PA 18621-3136(570) 735-8754Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – MuncyLycoming CountyP.O. Box 180, Route 405, Muncy, PA 17756-0180(570) 546-3171Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – MercerMercer County801 Butler Pike, Mercer, PA 16137(724) 662-1837Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – GraterfordMontgomery CountyP.O. Box 246, Route 29, Graterford, PA 19426-0246(610) 489-4151Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Coal TownshipNorthumberland County1 Kelley Drive, Coal Township, PA 17866-1020(570) 644-7890Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – FrackvilleSchuylkill County1111 Altamont Boulevard, Frackville, PA 17931-2699(570) 874-4516Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – MahanoySchuylkill County301 Morea Road, Frackville, PA 17932(570) 773-2158Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – Laurel HighlandsSomerset County5706 Glades Pike, Somerset, PA 15501-0631(814) 445-6501Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – SomersetSomerset County1590 Walters Mill Road, Somerset, PA 15510-0001(814) 443-8100Inmate Search
State PrisonPA State Correctional Institution – WaymartWayne CountyP.O. Box 256 Route 6, Waymart, PA 18472-0256(570) 488-5811Inmate Search
Adams County Jail RosterAdams County Adult Correctional FacilityAdams County45 Major Bell Lane, Gettysburg, PA 17325(717) 334-7671Jail Roster
Allegheny County Jail RosterAllegheny County JailAllegheny County950 Second Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219(412) 350-2000Jail Roster
Armstrong County Jail RosterArmstrong County JailArmstrong County171 Staley’s Court Road, Kittanning, PA 16201(724) 545-9222Jail Roster
Beaver County Jail RosterBeaver County JailBeaver County6000 Woodlawn Boulevard, Aliquippa, PA 15001(724) 378-8177Jail Roster
Bedford County Jail RosterBedford County JailBedford County425 Imlertown Road, Bedford, PA 15522(814) 623-2955Jail Roster
Berks County Jail RosterBerks County JailBerks County1287 County Welfare Road, Leesport, PA 19533(610) 208-4800Jail Roster
Bradford County Jail RosterBradford County Correctional FacilityBradford County15927 Route 6, Troy, PA 16947(570) 297-5047Jail Roster
Bucks County Jail RosterBucks County Department of CorrectionsBucks County1730 South Easton Road, Doylestown, Pennsylvania 18901(215) 345-3700Jail Roster
Carbon County Jail RosterCarbon County Correctional FacilityCarbon County331 Broad Street, Nesquehoning, PA 18240-1801(570) 325-2211Jail Roster
Centre County Jail RosterCentre County Correctional FacilityCentre County700 Rishel Hill Road, Bellefonte, PA 16823-1488(814) 355-6794Inmate Search
Clarion County Jail RosterClarion County JailClarion County309 Amsler Drive Ste. 2, Shippenville, PA 16254(814) 226-9615Jail Roster
Clearfield County Jail RosterClearfield County JailClearfield County115 21st Street, Clearfield, PA 16830(814) 765-7891Jail Roster
Clinton County Jail RosterClinton County Correctional FacilityClinton County58 Pine Mountain Road, McElhattan, PA 17748(570) 769 – 7680Inmate Roster
Crawford County Jail RosterCrawford County Correctional FacilityCrawford County2100 Independence Drive, Saegertown, PA 16433(814) 763-1190Inmate Roster
Franklin County Jail RosterFranklin County JailFranklin County1804 Opportunity Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201(717) 264-9513Jail Roster
Indiana County Jail RosterIndiana County JailIndiana County665 Hood School Road, Indiana, PA 15701(724) 471-7500Jail Roster
Jefferson County Jail RosterJefferson County JailJefferson County578 Service Center Road, Brookville, PA 15825(814) 849-1933Jail Roster
Lawrence County Jail RosterLawrence County CorrectionsLawrence County111 S. Milton Street, New Castle, PA 16101(724) 654-5384Jail Roster
Lehigh County Jail RosterLehigh County JailLehigh County38 North Fourth Street, Allentown, PA 18102(610) 782-3270Jail Roster
Mercer County Jail RosterMercer County JailMercer County55 Thompson Road, Mercer, PA 16137(724) 662-2700Inmate Search
Monroe County Jail RosterMonroe County Correctional FacilityMonroe County4250 Manor Drive, Stroudsburg, PA 18360(570) 992-3232Jail Roster
Montgomery County Jail RosterMontgomery County Correctional FacilityMontgomery County60 Eagleville Road, Eagleville, PA 19403(610) 635-7100 Opt. 2Jail Roster
Potter County Jail RosterPotter County JailPotter County102 E 2nd Street, Coudersport, PA 16915(814) 274-9730Jail Roster
Somerset County Jail RosterSomerset County JailSomerset County127 E Fairview Street # 100, Somerset, PA 15501(814) 445-1500Jail Roster
Susquehanna County Jail RosterSusquehanna County JailSusquehanna County137 Ellsworth Drive, Montrose, PA 18801(570) 278-7166Jail Roster
Union County Jail RosterUnion County JailUnion County103 S. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837(570) 524-8711Jail Roster
Washington County Jail RosterWashington County Correctional FacilityWashington County100 W. Cherry Avenue, Washington, PA 15301(724) 228-6845Inmate Search
Wyoming County Jail RosterWyoming County Correctional FacilityWyoming County10 Stark Street, Tunkhannock, PA 18657(570) 836-1717Jail Roster
County PrisonBlair County PrisonBlair County419 Market Square Alley, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648(814) 693-3155Jail Roster
County PrisonButler County PrisonButler County202 S. Washington Street, Butler, PA 16003(724) 284-5256Jail Roster
County PrisonCambria County PrisonCambria County425 Manor Drive, Ebensburg, PA 15931(814) 472-7330Jail Roster
County PrisonChester County PrisonChester County501 South Wawaset Road, West Chester, PA 19382-6776(610) 793-1510Jail Roster
County PrisonColumbia County PrisonColumbia County721 Iron Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815(570) 784-4815Jail Roster
County PrisonCumberland County PrisonCumberland County1101 Claremont Road, Carlisle, PA 17015(717) 245-8787Inmate Roster
County PrisonDauphin County PrisonDauphin County501 Mall Road, Harrisburg, PA 17111(717) 780-6800Inmate Search
County PrisonDelaware County PrisonDelaware County500 Cheyney Road, Thornton, PA 19373(610) 361-3200Jail Roster
County PrisonElk County PrisonElk County225 Center Street, Ridgway, PA 15853(814) 776-5342Jail Roster
County PrisonErie County PrisonErie County1618 Ash Street, Erie, PA 16503-2168(814) 451-7500Jail Roster
State PirsonPA State Correctional Institution – AlbionErie County10745 Route 18, Albion, PA 16475-0001(814) 756-5778Inmate Search
County PrisonFayette County PrisonFayette County12 Court Street, Uniontown, PA 15401(724) 430-1222Inmate Search
State PirsonPA State Correctional Institution – FayetteFayette County50 Overlook Drive, LaBelle, PA 15450-1050(724) 364-2200Inmate Search
State PirsonPA State Correctional Institution – ForestForest County286 Woodland Drive, Marienville, PA 16239-0307(814) 621-2110Inmate Search
County PrisonGreene County PrisonGreene County855 Rolling Meadows Road, Waynesburg, PA 15370(724) 627-7780Inmate Search
County PrisonHuntingdon County PrisonHuntingdon County300 Church Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652(814) 643-2490Jail Roster
County PrisonJuniata County prisoners are currently housed at Mifflin County Correctional FacilityJuniata County103 West Market Street, Lewistown, PA 17044(717) 248-1130Inmate Search
County PrisonLackawanna County PrisonLackawanna County1371 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18509(570) 963-6639Jail Roster
County PrisonLancaster County PrisonLancaster County625 E. King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602(717) 299-7800Inmate Search
County PrisonLebanon County Correctional FacilityLebanon County730 E. Walnut Street, Lebanon, PA 17042(717) 274-5451Jail Roster
County PrisonLycoming County PrisonLycoming County277 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701(570) 326-4623Inmate Search
County PrisonMcKean County PrisonMcKean County17013 Rt. 6, Smethport, PA 16749(814) 887-2333Jail Roster
County PrisonMifflin County PrisonMifflin County103 West Market Street, Lewistown, PA 17044(717) 248-1130Inmate Search
County PrisonMontour County PrisonMontour County117 Church Street, Danville, PA 17821(570) 271-3039Jail Roster
County PrisonNorthampton County Department of CorrectionsNorthampton County666 Walnut Street, Easton, PA 18042(610) 923-4300Inmate Search
County PrisonPerry County PrisonPerry County300 South Carlisle Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068(717) 582-2262Jail Roster
County PrisonPike County Correctional FacilityPike County175 Pike County Blvd, Lords Valley, PA 18428(570) 775-5500Jail Roster
County PrisonTioga County PrisonTioga County1768 Shumway Hill Road, Wellsboro, PA 16901(570) 724-5911Jail Roster
County PrisonVenango County PrisonVenango County1186 Elk Street, Franklin, PA 16323(814) 432-9629Jail Roster
County PrisonWayne County Correctional FacilityWayne County44 Mid-Wayne Drive, Honesdale, PA 18431(570) 253-2621Jail Roster
County PrisonWestmoreland County PrisonWestmoreland County3000 S Grande Boulevard, Greensburg, PA 15601(724) 830-6000Inmate Search
County PrisonYork County PrisonYork County3400 Concord Road, York, PA 17402-9007(717) 840-7580Jail Roster

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