Pennsylvania Background Checks

Background checks are quickly becoming one of the better ways to find out truthful information on the people in your life and the applicants to your business. Culminated from public records, Pennsylvania background checks contain bits and pieces of arguably vital information, such as:

Criminal Records

Current and Former Addresses

Licensing Records and so on

These records are all collected by state and local governments, and according to public records law, they are supposed to be made available to the public. Yet getting hold of these records can be difficult, which is why there are websites dedicated to providing Pennsylvania background checks that have already gathered all of the information and collected it for easy search.

What Do You Need?

You don't need any type of permission to search these databases. All you need for Pennsylvania background checks is the name of the person you're searching for, and possibly the city or state of residence to help make the search easier. By entering in that data, you'll be presented with a list of the possible names you're searching for. Find the right person on that list, and you can have access to any of the records currently provided by the website.

Performing a Pennsylvania background check is quick and painless, and a good way to find out more about the people that you associate with your life. If the information is available, these databases will have it, and you can find out everything you need on the people in your life that you would like to know more about.

Pennsylvania Criminal Records

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) website provides a number of public services that can be helpful in conducting Pennsylvania background checks. Up-to-date information on crime and traffic initiatives and safety tips for the general public are just a few services provided. The website lists approximately a dozen and a half public services and information available to the browsing public. Sex offender searches, criminal history requests, crime statistics, firearms information and much more can be obtain through the PSP site.

When requesting a Pennsylvania criminal records history file, two methods are available. An online request can be made via the PSP application called the “Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History” or PATCH.

Step 1: Visit the PATCH webpage. Click Here.
Step 2: Click “Submit a New Record Check” and agree to the terms and conditions.
Step 3:Fill out all of the information fill out all of the required information fields.
Step 4: Enter your credit card information. Processing fees for criminal record checks are $10.00 per request.

Registered users are invoiced on a monthly basis for the total number of inquiries conducted. Request forms may also be filled out and mailed in with a $10.00 money order or certified check.

To submit a request by mail do the following:

Step 1: Fill out the Criminal History Request Form. Click Here.
Step 2: Include payment. Processing fees are $10.00 per record check.
Step 3: Mail the completed form and payment to the address indicated on the form.

For further information regarding accessing Pennsylvania criminal records during your Pennsylvania background check process, contact the Pennsylvania State Police Department Headquarters office at the address below:

Pennsylvania State Police Department Headquarters
1800 Elmerton Ave.
Harrisburg, Pa 17110
(717) 783-5599

Resource Links
Pennsylvania Criminal History Records
Pennsylvania Criminal History Request Form

Pennsylvania Court Records

In addition to public web docket sheet searches, the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Application Portal houses the public calendar schedule, information on contracts and purchase orders over $5000, county court calendars and the Pennsylvania Rules of Court. The website also has a section devoted to secure e-services. Approval for the secure e-site must be granted by a county clerk or district court administrator.

Searches for Pennsylvania court records are divided into separate sections – appellate courts, criminal courts of common pleas, magisterial district courts and the Philadelphia municipal court. Within each section, searches can be made by a number of criteria: docket number, names, SID, and other pertinent information. All searches conducted are free of charge and results return a docket sheet view, as well as a court summary view.

To search for court records online do the following:

Step 1: Visit the Pennsylvania Judiciary’s Web Application Portal. Click Here.
Step 2: Search by Rule of Judicial Administration, County Court Calendar, or Rules of Court.
Step 3: Fill out all required information fields and click “Search” to view all available results.

For further information regarding accessing Pennsylvania court records, contact the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts office at the address below:

Pennsylvania Judicial Center
601 Commonwealth Ave., Suite 1500
PO Box 61260
Harrisburg, PA 17106-1260
(717) 231-3300

Resource Links
Pennsylvania Public Web Dockets Sheets

Pennsylvania Jail Records

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates the Pennsylvania Inmate Locator service – a website dedicated to releasing public information regarding current inmates residing within the Pennsylvania penal system. Along with this information, the website also provides monetary inmate accounts, inmate e-mail accounts and various information pertaining to inmate rights and sexual abuse.

The Pennsylvania jail records search program listed within inmate locator is designed to work with Microsoft Internet Explorer, and as such, may not work properly with other browser programs. Inmate searches can be conducted by inputting name, inmate number, sex, race, committing county and date of birth. Search results returned contain all known names for the inmate, identifying information and their current location. There is no charge for any inmate searches.

To search for jail records online do the following:

Step 1: Visit the Pennsylvania Inmate Search webpage. Click Here.
Step 2: Fill out all required information fields.
Step 3: Click “Find Inmate” to view all results.

For further information regarding accessing Pennsylvania jail records, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections at the address below:

Pennsylvania Department of Corrections
2520 Lisburn Road
P.O. Box 598
Camp Hill, PA 17001-0598
(717) 975-4859

Resource Links
Pennsylvania Inmate Locator

Pennsylvania Driving Records

The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Driver and Vehicle Services website houses information on obtaining driver and vehicle records. Driver records may be obtained by yourself, employers, insurance companies, representing attorneys, and by courts or law enforcement agencies and their representatives. Vehicle records may also be obtained through this website or by visiting any local messenger service office or driver and vehicle service center.

The website allows for three or ten years of a driver's record to be requested. Pennsylvania driving records can be obtained either directly online for $5.00 or by downloading the online form and mailing it directly (same fee applies). The online service requires the use of a credit card, a driver's license or photo ID number, date of birth and the last four digits of the social security number.

For further information regarding accessing Pennsylvania driving records, contact the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation office at the address below:

Pennsylvania Department Of Transportation
1101 South Front Street
Harrisburg, PA 17104
(800) 932-4600

Resource Links
Pennsylvania Driving Record Information

Additional Resources

Pennsylvania Sexual Offender Registry
Pennsylvania Attorney General