Reading Pennsylvania Criminal Records
Reading criminal records are maintained by Berks County courts and the Reading Police Department. Reading is the county seat of Berks County with about 95,000 residents. Criminal court cases for Reading are filed at the Berks County Courthouse and are accessible through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal. The Reading Police Department handles requests for local incident and arrest records. This page explains how to search Reading criminal records, request police reports, run background checks, and find information on expungement in the Berks County area.
Reading Quick Facts
Reading Court Records and Criminal Dockets
Criminal cases from Reading are filed and processed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. The county court handles all felony charges and serious misdemeanor matters originating in Reading and throughout Berks County. Magisterial District Judges in the Reading area handle preliminary hearings, bail, and summary offenses before cases are sent to the county court level.
The free public search tool for Reading criminal records is the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. You can search by the defendant's name or docket number. Reading cases use the Berks County code of 06 in the format CP-06-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY. The portal shows charges, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing details. It also covers cases handled by Magisterial District Judges in Reading and across Berks County.
For certified copies of court documents, contact the Berks County Clerk of Courts. In-person visits to the courthouse allow access to full case files. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free searching. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more and are needed for licensing and legal matters. The Berks County portal at berkscountypa.gov provides county office information and contact details for the Clerk of Courts.
Note: Juvenile records, expunged cases, and sealed records under Clean Slate are not visible through the public UJS Portal search.
Pennsylvania Statewide Records for Reading
The UJS Portal is the starting point for any Reading criminal record search. It covers all courts in Pennsylvania including every Berks County court level. Searches are free and available around the clock. The system updates within 24 to 48 hours after court proceedings, so recent events may not appear immediately.
Reading residents who need a formal criminal background check use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system at epatch.pa.gov. PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and covers all criminal history information from Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies. A standard PATCH check costs $22. A notarized copy is $27. The fee for a volunteer check using Form SP 4-164A is zero, though volunteer checks cannot be notarized. PATCH results for no-record cases come back immediately in most cases. Records that require manual review are mailed and can take two to four weeks.
PATCH does not include records from other states or federal courts. Reading 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 from the Berks County courts, contact the Berks County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in downtown Reading for certified docket copies and official disposition records needed for licensing applications, legal proceedings, and personal record review.
Reading Police Department Records
The Reading Police Department Records Division processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and police records for the City of Reading. The department is located at 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601, and can be reached at 610-655-6116. In-person and mail requests are both accepted during regular business hours.
Standard police report fees in Reading run from $15 to $25 depending on the type of report and how long it is. Mail requests must include the incident date, location, the names of involved parties, a copy of your photo ID, and payment by check or money order. Processing typically takes five to ten business days. Reports for active investigations may be withheld until the case is resolved.
Body camera and dashboard camera footage requests follow Act 22 of 2017. You must use a separate request form for video footage. The department provides a fee estimate before processing your request. Formal Right-to-Know Law requests for Reading city records are directed to the City of Reading Open Records Officer. Denied requests may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Background Checks Using PATCH
PATCH at epatch.pa.gov is the most reliable tool for a complete Pennsylvania criminal history check covering Reading and all other cities in the state. Non-registered users can submit up to ten record checks in one session. Registered users can set up an account for bulk processing and invoicing.
The system identifies cases where the name and date of birth match existing records. A response showing "No Record" means no criminal history was found in the Pennsylvania State Police database. A response showing "Under Review" means identifiers matched and a trained technician must manually review the file before a final response is mailed. The PATCH helpline is 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972) for assistance with requests during business hours.
Expungement in Reading and Berks County
Reading residents with prior criminal records may be able to clear or seal those records under Pennsylvania law. Expungement petitions under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 are filed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. Qualifying situations include cases that were dismissed, charges that were withdrawn or nolle prossed, and cases where the person completed ARD and met the waiting period requirements.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law handles automatic sealing for eligible records without a petition. Non-conviction records and certain misdemeanor convictions can be sealed automatically after a ten-year conviction-free period when all fines and costs are paid. After sealing, the record does not show up on PATCH or in public UJS Portal searches. Berks County processes Clean Slate sealing on a quarterly schedule.
For guidance on eligibility and the petition process, visit the Pennsylvania expungement information page. Berks County legal aid offices serve Reading residents who need help with expungement at little or no cost based on income.
What Reading Criminal Records Show
A Reading criminal court docket contains detailed information covering every phase of the case. You will find the defendant's name and date of birth, all charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, the grade of each offense, the arrest date, and bail details. The docket records every court appearance with the outcome of each hearing. The assigned judge and attorneys for both sides are listed in the case record.
Sentencing entries show incarceration minimums and maximums, probation terms and conditions, and any financial obligations. Fines, court costs, and restitution are listed separately with a payment history. The Offense Tracking Number links the case across the police, court, and corrections systems statewide. Police reports from the Reading Police Department are separate documents that contain the officer's observations, location, incident details, and party information.
- Defendant name, date of birth, and physical description
- All charges with Crimes Code citations
- Bail set and conditions of release
- Each court hearing with its outcome
- Final disposition and sentencing
- Financial obligations and payment history
Berks County Criminal Records
Reading criminal cases are filed through the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. All criminal proceedings for Reading and the surrounding municipalities are handled at the county level. For details on the Berks County court system, record access procedures, fees, and resources, visit the Berks County criminal records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities find criminal records through their own county courts and local police departments. Select a city below for criminal records information in that area.