Pennsylvania uses an online database system to manage it public records. The office responsible for keeping track of PA criminal records is the Central Repository of the Pennsylvania State Police. The said office also handles the database they call as PATCH or the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal Records.
PATCH was designed to help deliver information to the public. It is the tool used by the local government of Pennsylvania to monitor the criminal files of the state. One of the documents that can be accessed through the so called database is the arrest records. One good thing about this relatively new technology is that anyone can use it. This means that even those who are not registered are allowed to request for any type of document they need. However, this comes with a few limitations. Since Pennsylvania strictly implements the criminal code, the information that can be obtained from a public arrest or criminal record is controlled.
Some information is kept private and is not available for public access. An example of this is the name of the witnesses as well as the investigator who was in charge of the case. This was done to protect the safety of the individuals involved in the incident. If the record involves a minor, such document is kept private and is only accessible by authorized individuals. In case where the case is still being investigated, the criminal record is only made open once the case has been closed. This was done to avoid any alterations on the document or bias on the decisions during the investigation.
The state of Pennsylvania only releases the documents to the person who owns the file. Authorized individuals also have access to the arrest records of Pennsylvania. This includes organizations, business owners or government officials. A fingerprint scan would cost only $15 while a name-based search would cost only $10. Authorized individuals are the only ones who are allowed to conduct a fingerprint search.
Requesting for a copy of a criminal arrest record is not only available through the Internet. One can also personally request it at the office of the State Police. The search can be hastened if the requesting individual downloads the form first and all of the required information is filled out. The $10 retrieval fee has to be paid as well during the search. It can be paid in the form of money order or check. One will also be required to indicate their personal information in the request form.
Criminal Records Free to Public access is possible with some websites that promote their services. They do this to gather a lot of interested users and provide their service to a number of users. Residents of Pennsylvania do not need to worry about the accuracy since some websites are directly connected to the state\'s online database system.
