Philadelphia Criminal History Records
Philadelphia operates under the First Judicial District of Pennsylvania, one of the busiest court systems in the Commonwealth. Criminal history records for the city are filed at the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court. Residents and researchers can search case data through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal, the Philadelphia Courts website, and the PA State Police PATCH system. This guide explains how to access Philadelphia criminal history records, what systems are available, and what limitations apply.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
How Philadelphia Criminal History Records Are Organized
Philadelphia is unique in Pennsylvania because the city and county share the same boundaries. Criminal records are not split between a separate city and county court. The Court of Common Pleas handles felony criminal cases. Philadelphia Municipal Court covers misdemeanors, preliminary hearings for felonies, and summary offenses.
The First Judicial District is the largest in Pennsylvania. It processes tens of thousands of criminal cases each year. All official court filings and docket records flow through this system and are indexed in the statewide UJS Portal.
Records are filed at the Philadelphia County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, which serves as the primary repository for felony case documents. Municipal Court records are maintained separately but are also searchable through the UJS portal.
Note: Certain records are not available to the public, including juvenile records, sealed cases, mental health records, and any file that has been expunged by court order.
Searching Philadelphia Criminal Records Online
The fastest way to search Philadelphia criminal history is through the Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal. This free tool lets you look up docket sheets by name, case number, or offense tracking number. Results include charge details, hearing dates, and case status for both the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court.
The Philadelphia Courts website offers additional search tools specific to the First Judicial District. Civil and criminal divisions are covered separately. You can view docket entries without creating an account.
The UJS Case Search portal provides free public access to Philadelphia criminal docket sheets and case status information for Common Pleas and Municipal Court cases.
Keep in mind that the portal reflects data as entered by court staff. Recent filings may take up to 24 hours or longer to appear online. The portal is a useful starting point, but it does not replace a certified criminal history check.
Philadelphia Criminal History via PATCH
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. It is the official source for certified criminal background checks in the Commonwealth. PATCH draws on statewide court data, not just local Philadelphia records.
Each PATCH check costs $22. Requests are submitted online at epatch.pa.gov. You will need the subject's full name and date of birth. Results are typically returned quickly for online requests.
PATCH is the most reliable method for obtaining a certified criminal history record. Court portal searches are informational only. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the central repository for criminal history data under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 (CHRIA).
Note: Docket sheet information from the UJS portal should not be used in place of a criminal history background check, which can only be provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.
In-Person Access at Philadelphia Court Offices
Some records require an in-person visit to the courthouse. The Criminal Division of the Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas is located at 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Staff can assist with record lookups, certified copy requests, and document retrieval.
Certified copies carry a per-page fee. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID when visiting. Office hours are generally Monday through Friday during regular business hours.
The Philadelphia Courts website provides access to the case management search system for both the Court of Common Pleas and Philadelphia Municipal Court.
For records not available online, the clerk's office can process written mail requests. Include the full name, approximate case dates, and your contact information when writing in. Processing times vary based on the age of the record and current court workload.
Philadelphia Criminal History and the Right-to-Know Law
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law allows residents to request access to public government records. Court records from the Unified Judicial System follow a separate public access policy rather than the Right-to-Know Law directly. Still, the general principle of open access applies broadly to Philadelphia government records.
Certain criminal records are exempt from public access. These include juvenile records, sealed cases, mental health records, and expunged files. Requests for exempt records will be denied.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals when agencies deny access to requested records. If you believe a denial was improper, you can file a formal appeal. The burden of proving a record is exempt falls on the agency.
Note: The Office of Open Records is located at 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Appeals must be filed within 15 business days of a denial.
Philadelphia Municipal Court Criminal Records
Philadelphia Municipal Court handles misdemeanor cases, preliminary hearings for felonies, traffic violations, and summary offenses. Records from this court are also accessible through the UJS portal.
Summary offenses such as disorderly conduct or minor traffic violations generate separate docket sheets. Use the filter options in the UJS portal to narrow results by court type when searching for Philadelphia Municipal Court records.
The City of Philadelphia website connects residents to court services, public safety information, and municipal records. The city also provides multilingual support in Spanish, Chinese, Arabic, and several other languages for residents navigating government services.
Pennsylvania DOC and Philadelphia Inmate Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an inmate locator for individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional institutions. If someone was convicted in Philadelphia and sentenced to state prison, they may appear in the DOC inmate locator.
The DOC operates correctional facilities throughout the Commonwealth. The inmate locator is a free public tool available on the DOC website. It shows current incarceration status, not full criminal history details.
For historical incarceration records or details about past sentences, the Court of Common Pleas docket sheets provide sentencing information entered by court staff at the time of disposition.
Philadelphia Court Contact Information
| Court | Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107 |
| Courts Website | courts.phila.gov |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH System | epatch.pa.gov ($22 per check) |
| Judicial District | First Judicial District |
| County | Philadelphia County |
Philadelphia County Criminal Records
Philadelphia City and County share the same boundaries. The county courthouse is the central filing location for all criminal cases originating in the city. The county page includes additional resources for accessing court records in the Philadelphia area.
Other Pennsylvania Cities
Criminal history records in other Pennsylvania cities are filed at their respective county Courts of Common Pleas. Explore record access resources for other cities below.