Berks County Criminal History and Court Records
Berks County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, with Reading as the county seat. The county borders Chester, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Montgomery, and Schuylkill counties. The Berks County Court of Common Pleas handles major criminal cases filed in the county, and the Clerk of Courts office serves as the official custodian of criminal records. This guide explains how to access Berks County criminal history records, court dockets, background checks, and related public information.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Clerk of Courts and Criminal Records
The Berks County Clerk of Courts maintains criminal records for all cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The office is located at 633 Court Street, 4th Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Public access to criminal dockets is available during regular office hours. Staff can help visitors locate case files, view docket sheets, and request copies of documents. The Clerk also handles bail processing, summary appeals, and expungement filings.
The Clerk of Courts can be reached by phone at 610-478-6550 and by fax at 610-478-6570. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional charge. Criminal cases in Berks County can also be searched online using the statewide UJS Web Portal, which is free and open to the public. The Clerk's office does not conduct criminal history background checks; those are handled by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Note: Search criteria accepted by the office include attorney name, citation number, participant name, state ID (SID), docket number, complaint number, and offense tracking number (OTN).
Berks County Criminal History Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Case Search portal provides free access to Berks County criminal court dockets. The portal covers the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Users can search by name, case number, docket number, OTN, SID, or complaint number. Results include charge details, hearing dates, case status, and sentencing information.
Online records are updated regularly but may not reflect the most recent courthouse filings due to processing time. The portal is available around the clock and does not require account creation for basic docket searches. The free PAeDocket mobile app provides the same search capability on smartphones and tablets. Neither the app nor the portal should be relied upon as a formal criminal history record.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal offers free docket searches for Berks County criminal cases.
The UJS case search portal includes Berks County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records.
Background Checks for Berks County Through PATCH
For an official Berks County criminal background check, the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system is the authoritative source. PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) is available online at epatch.pa.gov. Each request costs $22, payable by credit card or pre-registered bank account. Results draw from the statewide criminal history repository and cover all Pennsylvania counties.
Mail requests use Criminal History Request Form SP 4-164, sent to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Include the applicable fee with the form. Mail-in processing takes longer than online requests, so plan accordingly if timing is important. The PATCH system is the only official source for a complete Pennsylvania criminal history record.
Berks County Prothonotary and Civil Court Records
The Berks County Prothonotary maintains civil court records for the Court of Common Pleas, separate from the criminal records held by the Clerk of Courts. The Prothonotary's office is located at 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. The phone number is 610-478-6970 and office hours match the Clerk of Courts: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Civil records maintained by the Prothonotary include divorce cases, custody matters, protection from abuse orders, civil lawsuits, judgments, and liens. Public access terminals are available for searching civil case information at the courthouse. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies, with additional charges for certified documents. The Prothonotary's office can be visited directly or contacted by phone for assistance with civil record searches.
Visit the Berks County Prothonotary for more information on civil court record access.
Berks County Open Records and Right-to-Know Requests
The Berks County Open Records Office coordinates Right-to-Know Law requests for the county. The County Open Records Officer is located at the 13th Floor Services Center, 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Contact by email at Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com or by fax at 610-478-6293. The District Attorney's Office has a separate open records officer for criminal investigative records. The Sheriff's Office handles requests related to civil process service and related documents.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law requires agencies to respond to written requests within five business days. Records that are denied can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR provides mediation as a way to resolve disputes without a formal appeal. Requesters should be specific about the records sought to help agencies locate and provide what is needed.
Berks County's Open Records Office handles Right-to-Know requests for county government records.
Berks County open records requests can be appealed to the statewide Office of Open Records if denied.
Berks County Court Contact Information
| Clerk of Courts | 633 Court Street, 4th Floor, Reading, PA 19601 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 610-478-6550 |
| Fax | 610-478-6570 |
| Hours | Monday - Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Prothonotary | 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601 | 610-478-6970 |
| Open Records Email | Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com |
| Website | co.berks.pa.us - Clerk of Courts |
State Resources for Berks County Criminal History
Beyond local offices, several state-level resources provide access to Berks County criminal history information. The Pennsylvania State Police manages the PATCH system and the statewide criminal history database. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts runs the UJS Web Portal and provides court administration guidance. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections offers an inmate locator for those serving time in state prisons.
These state agencies collectively provide the foundation for criminal record access across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Berks County residents can use these tools to search court records, request formal background checks, and find information on individuals in state custody.
Nearby Counties
Berks County borders six counties in southeastern and central Pennsylvania, each with separate court offices and record access procedures.