Reading PA Criminal History Records
Reading is the county seat of Berks County and one of Pennsylvania's largest cities. Criminal history records for Reading are filed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas, which serves as the official repository for felony and misdemeanor criminal cases. Magisterial District Courts handle summary offenses and preliminary hearings throughout the city and county. Residents and researchers can search case information through the Pennsylvania UJS portal and request certified background checks through the PA State Police PATCH system.
Reading Quick Facts
Where Reading Criminal History Records Are Filed
All felony and misdemeanor criminal cases from Reading are filed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. This court is the official court of record for criminal matters in Berks County. The courthouse is located in downtown Reading and serves residents throughout the county.
Summary offenses and preliminary hearings are handled first at Magisterial District Courts located throughout Reading and Berks County. These lower courts hold the initial proceedings before cases are bound over to Common Pleas. Both levels of court records are indexed in the statewide UJS portal.
The Clerk of Courts at the Berks County Courthouse maintains the official criminal case files. In-person visits to the Clerk's office allow you to review case documents, request certified copies, and verify information directly from the court record.
Note: Juvenile records, sealed cases, mental health records, and expunged files are not available to the public through any search method.
Searching Reading Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal is the best free tool for searching Reading and Berks County criminal records. You can search by participant name, docket number, offense tracking number, or other identifiers. The system returns docket entries, case status, charge information, and hearing dates.
Searches cover all court levels, from the Court of Common Pleas down to Magisterial District Courts. No account or registration is required for basic docket searches. Full documents are not downloadable from the portal and must be obtained through the Clerk of Courts.
The UJS Case Search portal provides free access to Reading-area criminal docket sheets from the Berks County Court of Common Pleas and local Magisterial District Courts.
Keep in mind that recent filings may not appear on the portal for at least 24 hours after they are submitted to the court. Data accuracy depends on what has been entered by court staff. Verify any critical information directly with the Clerk of Courts.
Reading Criminal History Through PATCH
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, PATCH, provides certified criminal background checks for Reading and all of Berks County. PATCH is administered by the Pennsylvania State Police and draws on statewide criminal history data.
Each check costs $22 and is submitted online at epatch.pa.gov. You will need the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Most results are returned quickly for standard online requests.
Under CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, the Pennsylvania State Police is designated as the central repository for criminal history information in the Commonwealth. PATCH is the only system that produces a certified criminal history record. Court docket searches are informational only.
Berks County Court Records for Reading Cases
The Berks County Court of Common Pleas maintains all criminal case files for Reading. The Clerk of Courts office handles filing, indexing, and certified copy requests for criminal court documents.
Berks County's official government website has been subject to certificate issues at times, so the most reliable path to court records is through the UJS portal or a direct visit to the courthouse. The Berks County Courthouse is located in downtown Reading at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal is the official statewide system for searching Reading-area criminal docket information maintained by the Berks County Court of Common Pleas.
Note: Documents and filings listed in the docket cannot be downloaded directly. Only docket sheet summaries are available online. Full case documents are available only through the county Clerk or Prothonotary office where the case was filed.
Reading Criminal History and the Right-to-Know Law
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law provides public access to many types of government records in Reading and Berks County. City of Reading records generally fall under this law. Court records maintained by the Unified Judicial System follow the UJS Public Access Policy rather than the Right-to-Know Law directly.
Certain criminal records are exempt from public access. These include records related to active investigations, juvenile matters, sealed cases, and records protected by a court order. Requests for these records will be denied.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals when agencies deny access to requested records. If the City of Reading or Berks County denies your records request, you can appeal to this office. Appeals must be filed within 15 business days of receiving the denial.
Pennsylvania State Police and Reading Area Records
The Pennsylvania State Police provides PATCH background checks and maintains the statewide criminal history database. The PSP also has a station serving the Reading and Berks County area that handles local law enforcement and public records requests related to state police activities.
Expungement of criminal records in Pennsylvania flows through the PSP. When a court orders an expungement for a Reading criminal case, the PSP is responsible for removing that record from the PATCH database. The PSP website provides information on requesting expungements and DNA record removals.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts oversees the UJS portal and the statewide court data system. Their website provides guidance on using court search tools and understanding court docket information across Pennsylvania.
Reading Court Contact Information
| Court | Berks County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address | 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601 |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH System | epatch.pa.gov ($22 per check) |
| Judicial District | 23rd Judicial District |
| County | Berks County |
| AOPC | pacourts.us |
Berks County Criminal Records
Reading criminal cases are filed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. The county records page provides additional details on court contacts, access methods, and resources for Berks County criminal history information.
Other Pennsylvania Cities
Criminal history records in other Pennsylvania cities are maintained at the respective county Court of Common Pleas. Explore record access resources for other cities below.