Pennsylvania criminal record check While there's plenty of comprehensive background check services that cost a fee, you To request a Pennsylvania Criminal Background Check, you can utilize the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) operated by the State Police. Sep 24, 2024 · The seven-year rule doesn't apply to criminal record checks. Common Use Cases For Pennslyvania Background Checks Mar 21, 2024 · Pennsylvania changed its background check laws through PA HB 689 and the Fair Criminal Record Screening Standards Ordinance. Enter your information exactly as it was entered for the original request; click ‘Search’. After you apply and pay, you MUST follow the directions on page 3 of these instructions to download/print your Criminal Record Check. They can also complete a request form and submit it in person or via mail to the PSP. Using this system, a requestor can apply for a criminal background check on an individual basis. Suspect Abuse? Criminal History Background Check. Please follow the instructions below to complete the application. An online account is not needed. The cost of background checks in Pennsylvania can fluctuate significantly depending on various factors. The PATCH unit will no longer mail out any PATCH check that is requested on the EPATCH web site. The PATCH system allows users to request criminal history background checks online. Why does PATCH exist? Its purpose is to better enable the public to obtain criminal history record checks. 00, payable to: “ commonwealth of pennsylvania ” the fee is nonrefundable. Go to https://epatch. Learn more about FBI Criminal History Clearances; Visit the IdentaGO website; FAQ: Digital Fingerprint & Electronic Criminal Background Check Services; IDEMIA is Pennsylvania's vendor for digital fingerprinting. Crash Reports. notarized individual/noncriminal justice agency – enclose a certified check/money order in the amount of $27. 1. us to complete a “Criminal History Record Check. PATCH He p ine 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972) All requests for Notarized copies of a Criminal Record Check MUST BE submitted by mai . Visit the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History website at https://epatch. twill be the responsibility of the requestor to print out the No Record or Record response. Jul 19, 2023 · Employment law attorneys specializing in background checks can provide guidance on best practices, policies, and procedures to mitigate legal risks. PATCH provides conviction records but does not include detailed court proceedings or non-conviction arrest records. Rhoades Director of Criminal Records & Iden Pennsylvania State Police EMINATED BY: SYSTEM 07/24/2020 10:25 AM Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History iOS list Why does PATCH exist? Its purpose is to better enable the public to obtain criminal history record checks. The Pennsylvania State Police formed in 1905, becoming the first uniformed police organization of its kind in the U. Feb 8, 2025 · Criminal Record Scope. 00. ” 2. QUESTIONS CONCERNING THIS CRIMINAL RECOÅD CHECK D TO THE PATCH H LP LINE Lt. The Pennsylvania State Police manage the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system, which provides access to state-level records, including convictions, non-convictions, and pending charges How to submit a Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History Application (PATCH) PATCH is the computer application that allows you to access the Pennsylvania State Police’s criminal history information. Purchase a copy of a crash report online or submit a request by mail. us/Home. See "Where do I File?" in the Introduction for more information about in which county RECORD RESPONSE ay THE PENNSYLVANIÀSTATEPOLICE. Finally, third party websites can provide a full background check, such as the criminal search service on this website. state. , employment and education verification), requiring more resources. These searches are typically much more time-efficient than reaching out to the state police. Click the ‘Check the Status of a Record Check’ button 3. pa. children, in the form of care, guidance, supervision or training” to obtain a Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Check through the Pennsylvania State Police and a Pennsylvania Child Abuse History Record Check through the Department of Public Welfare. Pennsylvania Clearance and Background Checks for Volunteers Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Criminal History Clearance: • Go to https://epatch. Governor Shapiro signed PA HB 689 into law on December 14, 2023, as Act 36 of 2023. Nothing will come to you in the mail or in an email. Go to PATCH https://epatch. OBTAINING YOUR PENNSYLVANIA CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK (ACT 34) This clearance is available online immediately. Select ^Submit a New Record Check _. us 2. 3. us to access the FREE application • Submit New Record Check (VOLUNTEERS ONLY) • Complete information and submit when completed Nov 20, 2019 · Pennsylvania is not one of these states: PA currently has no laws or regulations in place that stipulate a lookback period restriction for criminal history checks. You will need your social security number. 00, payable to: “commonwealth of If your problem relates to a Pennsylvania court case, please provide its unique alpha-numeric docket number. Clearances are required for an employee or unpaid volunteer at a minimum of every 60 months from the date of the most recent clearance. IDEMIA, began processing FBI criminal history checks on November 28, 2017. 25 — Volunteers; $25. This specific requirement for Act 179 of 2006 was effective January 28, 2007. Request a Criminal History Background Check online or by mail. g. All Magisterial District Court docket numbers begin with ‘MJ’ and follow a similar format (Examples: MJ-51301-TR-0009999-2017, MJ-51301-NT-0008888-2017). Feb 15, 2024 · Under Pennsylvania HB 689, employers are granted immunity from liability for claims associated with the effects of expunged records or the lawful utilization of criminal record history information Apr 7, 2025 · A Pennsylvania employment background check is an investigation of the background, qualifications, criminal history, education, and employment history of an applicant. Skip to content Center City Office: 1424 Chestnut St. FOR CLERGY AND PAID STAFF Go to epatch. Pennsylvania State Police Response for Criminal Background Check (PSP) It is easiest to go to the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) website and apply for the criminal record check online with the Pennsylvania State Police at: https://epatch. criminal Common Pleas court case information; magisterial district court case information including: civil cases; criminal cases; traffic cases; non-traffic cases; landlord/tenant cases; Court case information should not be used in place of a criminal history background check, which can only be provided by the Pennsylvania State Police. PSP established the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History, or PATCH, for agencies, companies, and others to request criminal background checks on individuals. Requests made by noncriminal justice agencies and individuals are subject to edit criteria contained in the law. Paper Submission via US Mail Fee: $22. jsp. $23. Pennsylvania’s laws on background checks and employment screening play a crucial role in safeguarding the rights of job applicants and preventing discriminatory practices. Audio-Visual Records Request. us/ and select Check the status of a Record Check, located on the bottom left-hand side of the webpage Enter the following information to retrieve your request: Control Number, First Name, Last Name, Date of Request Aug 18, 2017 · In Pennsylvania, it's easy and free to look up someone's criminal history. Federal Criminal History Background Checks are required by Act 114 of 2006, 24 PS 1-111 as amended (Act 61 of 2008) <p>The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania has changed to a new electronic fingerprinting vendor, IDEMIA, for Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) criminal Learn about whether your criminal record in Pennsylvania can be automatically sealed under Clean Slate. Employers can also run periodic checks on their employees. In either case, begin at the website http://www. You just have to know where to look. gov/home to complete a “Criminal History Record Check. 25 — Employees, Foster/Adoptive; Renewing Your Clearances. FBI clearances can take four to six weeks. Rhoades Director of Criminal Records & Iden Pennsylvania State Police EMINATED BY: SYSTEM 07/24/2020 10:25 AM Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History iOS list Mar 15, 2023 · PATCH is regularly used by law enforcement agencies to check individuals’ criminal histories and is also used for Pennsylvania State Police background checks. A Pennsylvania State Police background check is required for individuals with access to vulnerable populations, such as school employees, contractors that work with children, foster and Homeland Security is Everyone’s Responsibility - Pennsylvania Terrorism Tip Line 1-888-292-1919. Department of Court Records, Criminal Division Allegheny County Courthouse 436 Grant Street, Room 114 Pittsburgh, PA 15219-2469. S. ” If submitting an online request, select “Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) WebSite”. C. Moving Forward with a Candidate with a Criminal Background Check Record The Civil Rights Enforcement Section is responsible for enforcing state and federal anti-discrimination laws, which often are implicated by criminal records exclusions. Under “PSP Services. Select “Request a Criminal History Record. Have you submitted a criminal history request online and know your control number? You can check the status of your request. Access aggregate numerical data from all courts including caseload statistics, collections information and interactive data dashboards. Are criminal records public in Pennsylvania? Due to the “Pennsylvania Right to Know Act”, all citizens can view public records in RECORD RESPONSE ay THE PENNSYLVANIÀSTATEPOLICE. You do not need an appointment to be Mar 22, 2022 · CII runs various checks such as a Pennsylvania criminal history check, a credit check, a drug screen, a driving record search, etc. The repository was created and is maintained in accordance with Pennsylvania's Criminal History Information Act contained in Chapter 91 of Title 18, Crimes Code. Earl H. REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK - VOLUNTEER ONLY Applicants required to submit a fingerprint-based FBI Criminal History Background Check in accordance with the Pennsylvania Child Protective Services Law (CPSL), 23 Pa. 1-888-QUERYPA (1-888-783-7972) Pennsylvania Terrorism Tip Line 1-888-292-1919. gov/home May 20, 2024 · Understanding criminal background checks in PA can be very difficult for businesses and HR departments to navigate on their own. Pennsylvania State Police - Non-Criminal Justive Agency Audits The Pennsylvania State Police manages and audits all agencies, both Criminal Justice and Non-Criminal Justice, that submit fingerprints for background checks and/or receive the responses from those submissions. We provide law enforcement and public safety services to the residents and visitors to the Commonwealth and work alongside our local, state, and federal partner agencies. ), interested persons or agencies send online requests for criminal history records to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) using the ePatch portal. You can register and be fingerprinted at an IdentoGO location. Simply visit the PATCH website, complete the online request, and pay the $22 fee using major credit cards. Phila, PA 19102 North Philadelphia Law Center: 1410 W. To request audio or video, file an audio-visual record request, not a Right-to-Know request. A. To perform a search on a record check request you must enter in all the data exactly as it was entered for the original record check request. if a middle name was entered on the original request the you must enter the name exactly. Criminal justice agencies can access all of an individual's criminal history record information (CHRI). Key influences include: Scope of the Check: Basic checks (e. The Pennsylvania State Police established a web-based computer application called "Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History" or PATCH. Phone: 412-350-5323. Chapter 63 (relating to child protective services) must use a Department of Human Services (DHS) service code when pre-registering for fingerprinting: Under the Pennsylvania Criminal History Information Act (18 Pa. check one block . , criminal records) are less expensive than comprehensive ones (e. New Volunteer Record Check The FBI Criminal background check is more comprehensive and will indicate any criminal offenses that have occurred outside of the state of Pennsylvania. C. ” (Left bottom of the page). individual/noncriminal justice agency enclose – a certified check/money order in the amount of $22. The company helps employers accomplish their goals of taking on the best candidates by extracting information from: Criminal Records Checks; Identity Feb 24, 2021 · CRIMINAL RECORD/ABUSE HISTORY VERIFICATION The following numbers on these instructions correspond with the numbers in the boxes on the Criminal Record/Abuse History Verification Form. If you do not know your control number, or for additional criminal history request questions, call the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) Help Line toll-free at 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972). Once the request has been reviewed, the Criminal Record Check will be completed as a Record or No The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides the public with access to various aspects of court information, including appellate courts, common pleas courts and magisterial district court docket sheets; common pleas courts and magisterial district court calendars; and PAePay. Applicants may also use Form SP4-164, Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal Record Check. Box 1: Print the county in which you are filing your custody action. Click on ‘Submit a New Record Check’ on the home page. §9101 et seq. us. Criminal history background checks for individuals are available at the PATCH site or download form SP 4-164, print the completed form, and mail it. If you have questions about the Pennsylvania State Police Request for Criminal History Record Check form for employment (SP4 164) or to volunteer (SP4-164A), please call: Toll-free 1-888-783-7972. Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System provides comprehensive public access to court records online and upon request. What does request under review mean? The information that was entered for the Criminal Record Request was compared to data in the files of the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository and needs to be reviewed by the Pennsylvania State Police. If you need assistance, please call the PATCH help line at 1-888-783-7972. Under Pennsylvania law, an employer may consider an applicant's felony or misdemeanor convictions in the hiring process only if they relate to the applicant's suitability for the job. FBI Criminal History Clearance. Employers conduct background checks on applicants to ensure they are qualified for their positions and are trustworthy and safe. NOTE: Paper submission is the only option for international applicants who do not reside in the Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (SP4-164) The Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH) can be completed online, or by mailing in a paper copy. Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (SP4-164) The Pennsylvania State Police Criminal Record Check (PATCH) can be completed online, or by mailing in a paper copy. psp. 00, payable to: “commonwealth of Cost. The Criminal Law Division enforces the provision in Pennsylvania’s Criminal History Record Information Act governing the use of criminal records in hiring for employment. FOR CENTRAL REPOSITORY USE ONLY . VOLUNTEER ONLY . Please call the law firm of MBM Law to discuss your employment and Human Resources legal questions: (412) 242-4400. An individual background check is $22 and can be notarized for an additional $5. Read the Terms & Conditions and then click accept. previous criminal history, etc. Erie Avenue Phila, PA 19140 Mar 8, 2025 · Requests for criminal history records are processed through the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) via the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, which charges a $22 fee per request. Dec 7, 2024 · Cost of Background Checks in Pennsylvania. Mar 31, 2022 · Pennsylvania background checks often include criminal records searches using the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) online database, but also may rely on national records searches or even an FBI criminal history clearance. All job applicants must complete the clearance process and present the clearance prior to being hired. As such, Pennsylvania employers can technically consider felonies or misdemeanors no matter how old the convictions are. NOTE: Paper submission is the only option for international applicants who do not reside in the Instructions on how to access my ACT 34 – PA Criminal Background Check: Issuing Agency: Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) 1. This form may be acquired from the District Office, Pennsylvania State Police Barracks or from the Pennsylvania State Police website. The scope of criminal record checks in Pennsylvania depends on the nature of the inquiry and the entity conducting it. To monitor the status of your request: Go to https://epatch. Pennsylvania Law on Use of Criminal Records. REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK . bzwufgn qitqn urzcv obd olmimp grs kefbx eenqiq kilist jmxiin tufr ifgskjr pfvvl ictm gbud