Pittsburgh Criminal Records Database
Pittsburgh criminal records are maintained through Allegheny County courts and the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Pittsburgh is the second largest city in Pennsylvania with about 302,000 residents. Court records for criminal cases in Pittsburgh are filed at the Allegheny County Courthouse and are searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Police reports and incident records go through the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Central Records and Reporting Unit. This page explains how to find Pittsburgh criminal records using both local and state resources.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Pittsburgh Police Department Records
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police processes all requests for police records through the Central Records and Reporting Unit, known as the CRRU. The police report request page at pittsburghpa.gov explains the process for getting incident reports, accident reports, and related records from the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police.
The CRRU office is at 660 First Avenue, 3rd Floor, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 3:30 PM. The fee for all police reports is $15.00 per copy. This flat rate covers incident reports, accident reports, and offense reports. Cash is accepted for in-person payments. Mail requests require a check or money order along with a photocopy of valid ID, the incident details, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Call 412-255-2920 for questions about a specific report.
Pittsburgh does not offer online report ordering through the CRRU. Requests must be made in person or by mail. Standard processing takes five to ten business days. Reports involving active investigations or sensitive matters may be withheld or heavily redacted. Body camera and dashboard camera footage can be requested under Act 22 of 2017 through a separate process at the CRRU. Fees for video footage depend on the processing time and redaction requirements. A fee estimate is provided before the order is processed.
Pittsburgh Court Records and Dockets
Criminal court records for Pittsburgh cases are filed at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The county handles all felony charges and serious misdemeanor cases that originate in Pittsburgh and throughout Allegheny County. Magisterial District Judges throughout the Pittsburgh area handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and bail proceedings at the local level.
The fastest way to find Pittsburgh criminal records is through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. This free public tool lets you search by party name or case number. Pittsburgh docket numbers use the format CP-02-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY, with 02 being the county code for Allegheny County. You can find charges filed, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing information through the portal without visiting the courthouse.
For certified copies of case documents, you contact the Allegheny County Clerk of Courts. In-person visits to the courthouse allow you to review the full case file. The PAeDocket mobile app offers the same name and docket search functions on a smartphone or tablet, using the same database as the web portal. This is a convenient option for quick case lookups in Pittsburgh.
Note: Cases involving juveniles and Protection from Abuse filings are not available through public search portals in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh Background Checks and PATCH
Individuals and organizations who need a formal criminal history check for Pittsburgh residents use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system. The PATCH portal at epatch.pa.gov is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and serves as the central repository for all criminal history records in the state. A standard check costs $22. A notarized copy is $27. Volunteer checks using Form SP 4-164A are free but cannot be notarized.
PATCH results cover all Pennsylvania law enforcement records, including arrests and convictions from Pittsburgh and across the state. Federal records from other states are not included. Results with no criminal history are returned immediately in most cases. When a criminal record is found, the response is mailed after a manual review process that can take two to four weeks. Pittsburgh residents who want to view their own full record can submit Form SP 4-170 by mail along with a fingerprint card.
Pittsburgh residents who need to verify their own criminal history can submit Form SP 4-170 by mail with a fingerprint card to receive a full PATCH report. For court-certified records of specific Pittsburgh cases, contact the Allegheny County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse on Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh. The Clerk of Courts can provide certified docket copies and official disposition records for licensing applications, legal proceedings, and personal record review.
City of Pittsburgh Public Records Portal
The City of Pittsburgh website at pittsburghpa.gov connects residents to public records resources across city departments. Right-to-Know Law requests for Pittsburgh city records are handled through the City of Pittsburgh Open Records Officer. Denied CRRU requests can be appealed through this office within 15 business days.
The city posts crime data and public safety statistics through its data portals. Aggregate crime information by neighborhood is available for Pittsburgh residents who want to understand local trends. This is different from individual criminal records and does not identify specific defendants. The city also provides 911 recordings and dispatch tapes through a separate records request process when the requests meet the criteria under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law.
Expungement of Pittsburgh Criminal Records
Pittsburgh residents who want to clear or seal their criminal records have two options under Pennsylvania law. The first is a court petition for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. This applies to cases that were dismissed, charges that were withdrawn, or cases where the person completed the ARD diversion program and satisfied the waiting period. You file the petition through the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division.
The second path is Clean Slate automatic sealing. Under Clean Slate, certain non-conviction records and qualifying misdemeanor convictions are sealed automatically after a ten-year conviction-free period if all fines and costs are paid. Once sealed, the record does not show up on PATCH or public court searches. Allegheny County processes Clean Slate sealing quarterly along with all other Pennsylvania counties.
The Pennsylvania expungement information page has eligibility details and forms. Allegheny County legal aid organizations provide free or low-cost help with expungement petitions for Pittsburgh residents who qualify based on income.
What Pittsburgh Criminal Records Contain
A criminal court docket for a Pittsburgh case includes all key details from the time charges were filed through the final outcome. You will see the defendant's legal name and date of birth, the specific charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code section numbers, and the grade of each offense. Felonies, misdemeanors, and summary offenses are each graded separately. The docket lists every court appearance, the assigned judge, and all motions filed by both sides.
Sentencing information shows incarceration minimums and maximums, probation terms and conditions, fines, court costs, and any restitution ordered. Financial obligation records show the running balance and payment history. The case Offense Tracking Number, or OTN, ties the record together across the police, court, and corrections systems in Pennsylvania.
Pittsburgh police reports contain incident details, location, officer observations, and preliminary findings. Police reports are separate from court dockets and must be requested directly from the CRRU. Reports from closed cases are generally easier to obtain than those from active investigations.
Allegheny County Criminal Records
Pittsburgh criminal cases are filed and maintained in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The county court system handles all criminal proceedings for Pittsburgh and every other municipality in Allegheny County. For more details on the Allegheny County court system, records access, fees, and related resources, visit the Allegheny County criminal records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby Pennsylvania cities access criminal records through their local county courts and police departments. Select a city below for criminal records information in that area.