Criminal records in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania, are available through a variety of online tools, official court systems, and law enforcement agencies. PhiladelphiaCourt.us allows you to find publicly accessible information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the state's Unified Judicial System portal, the Office of Judicial Records of the First Judicial District, and through Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) — the state's criminal history repository.
How to Search Criminal Records in Philadelphia
To start a search, you will need at least one of the following:
- The person's full name (first and last name)
- Date of birth
- Case number (case number / docket number)
Online Search
- PhiladelphiaCourt.us — search for publicly accessible information about court cases in Philadelphia County.
- UJS Portal Case Search — a free portal of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Allows searching for docket sheets by participant name or case number in the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court of Philadelphia County.
- PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) — official criminal history check through the Pennsylvania State Police. Requires full name and date of birth. The result is available online for printing.
- Philadelphia Incarcerated Person Locator — a tool for searching individuals held in Philadelphia Department of Prisons facilities.
- Inmate Locator of the State Department of Corrections — for individuals sentenced to state-level imprisonment.
- Megan's Law — Pennsylvania State Police's sex offender registry, searchable by county and municipality.
In Person
Visit the Office of Judicial Records in the First Judicial District courthouse. Public terminals are available there for viewing docket sheets. A clerk can assist with the search if you provide the party's name or case number.
Mail Request
A written request for a criminal history check can be sent to the Pennsylvania State Police. This applies to situations where the applicant cannot use the online PATCH system — for example, if the name contains special characters. The request is sent by mail with a completed form and payment. For federal cases in the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, the PACER system is used through the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania.
Search Philadelphia Criminal Cases by Case Number
The case number in Pennsylvania has a standard format that reflects the court, filing year, and sequential number. The typical structure for the Court of Common Pleas:
CP-51-CR-0001234-2024
- CP — Court of Common Pleas
- 51 — Philadelphia County code
- CR — case type (CR = criminal)
- 0001234 — sequential case number
- 2024 — registration year
For the Municipal Court, the format starts with MC instead of CP. For example: MC-51-CR-0005678-2024.
If you know the exact number, enter it on the UJS portal in the Docket Number field — this is the fastest way to find a specific case. Partial numbers also work but may return multiple results.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Philadelphia
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute code | Reference to Title 18 or another section of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes, for example, 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502 (Burglary) |
| Grade / Severity | Felony (F1, F2, F3), Misdemeanor (M1, M2, M3), Summary offense |
| Amended charges | The charge may be amended by the prosecutor before or during the trial — the new charge replaces the initial one in the docket |
Case Status
- Active — the case is open, proceedings are ongoing
- Pending — awaiting the next court event
- Disposed — the case has been resolved (verdict, closure, dismissal)
- Closed — all procedural actions are completed, including appeals
Types of Hearings
- Arraignment — initial presentation of charges; the defendant pleads guilty or not guilty
- Preliminary Hearing — the judge determines if there is enough evidence to transfer the case to the Court of Common Pleas
- Pre-Trial Conference — discussion between parties before the main trial begins
- Trial — substantive consideration of the case
- Sentencing — imposition of punishment after a guilty plea
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | The defendant is found guilty |
| Not Guilty | Acquittal |
| Dismissed | The case is closed without a verdict — often due to lack of evidence or victim's refusal |
| Nolle Prosequi | The prosecutor declined to pursue the charge |
| Acquitted | Complete acquittal after substantive consideration |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Philadelphia
Certified copies of criminal records are issued by different institutions depending on the type of document.
Office of Judicial Records (First Judicial District)
This office handles requests for certified copies of docket sheets and court documents from cases in the Court of Common Pleas and Municipal Court. Requests can be made in person.
What you need to have with you:
- Valid photo ID (state ID, passport, or driver's license)
- Case number or the defendant's full name
Pennsylvania State Police (PATCH)
To obtain an official state-level criminal history certificate, use the PATCH system. An online request is processed within minutes if a match is found. The result must be printed by yourself — it is not sent by mail.
If the request is related to employment or licensing, the employer must comply with the Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.).
Historical Criminal Records
Criminal court records in Philadelphia County from the 1750s to the 1950s are stored in the City Archives. To access, contact the archive by phone at (215) 685-9401 or email archives.info@phila.gov.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Philadelphia
| Service | Cost | Processing Time |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal history check through PATCH (online) | $22.00 | Instantly or within a few minutes (if a match is found — up to 72 hours) |
| PATCH check by mail | $22.00 | Several weeks |
| Copy of docket sheet through UJS Portal | Free (online viewing) | Instantly |
| Certified copy of a court document (Office of Judicial Records) | Depends on the document; usually from $10–$25+ | Depends on complexity; usually on the day of request or a few business days |
The PATCH fee is set according to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121. The exact cost of certified copies from the Office of Judicial Records should be clarified directly with the office by phone at (215) 683-7000, as the price depends on the number of pages and document type. Viewing docket sheets through the UJS Portal remains free.