Pittsburgh Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania?
Arrest records are public documents in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, accessible to all citizens under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes the presumption that government records are public to promote transparency in governmental functions and accountability of public officials. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police and Allegheny County Sheriff's Office maintain these records, which typically contain information about individuals who have been taken into custody, including their identity, the nature of charges filed, and details regarding the arrest location and date. Members of the public may access these records regardless of their purpose for seeking the information, though certain sensitive details may be redacted to protect privacy interests as prescribed by law.
How to Look Up Pittsburgh Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist for members of the public to obtain arrest records in Pittsburgh. Individuals seeking these documents may utilize any of the following methods:
Visit the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Records Department in person to submit a formal request for arrest records.
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Headquarters
1203 Western Avenue
Pittsburgh, PA 15233
412-323-7800
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PMSubmit requests to the Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, which maintains county-wide arrest records.
Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
436 Grant Street, Courthouse Room 111
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-4700
Allegheny County Sheriff's Office
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PMAccess the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania web portal, which provides court docket information related to arrests.
Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts
601 Commonwealth Avenue, Suite 1500
Harrisburg, PA 17120
717-231-3300
Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania
Online access: 24 hours dailyRequest criminal history information from the Pennsylvania State Police through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, which includes arrest data from jurisdictions throughout the Commonwealth.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
717-783-5494
Pennsylvania State Police
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, requestors must provide proper identification and may be required to pay applicable fees for record retrieval and copying services. Processing times vary depending on the volume of requests and the complexity of the search required.
Contents of a Pittsburgh Arrest Record
Pittsburgh arrest records contain comprehensive information about individuals taken into police custody. These official documents typically include the following elements:
Biographical information of the arrested individual:
- Full legal name
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, identifying marks)
- Residential address
- Fingerprint classification
Arrest details:
- Date and time of arrest
- Location where the arrest occurred
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s)
- Agency responsible for the arrest (Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, etc.)
Criminal charges:
- Pennsylvania Criminal Code citations
- Description of alleged offenses
- Classification of charges (misdemeanor or felony)
- Preliminary hearing date
Case processing information:
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Unique arrest identification number
- Docket number assigned by the court
- Bail or bond amount set
- Detention facility where the individual was held
Disposition information (if available):
- Court of jurisdiction
- Preliminary hearing outcome
- Trial status or plea arrangement
- Sentencing details if convicted
In accordance with 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121(b), certain sensitive information may be redacted from public arrest records, including Social Security numbers, information related to juvenile offenders, and details pertaining to victims of certain crimes. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act governs the dissemination of this information and establishes penalties for improper disclosure under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9183.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Pittsburgh
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides legal mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records in Pittsburgh under specific circumstances. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, individuals may petition for expungement when:
- The arrest did not result in a conviction
- Charges were withdrawn or dismissed
- The individual was acquitted at trial
- The individual has completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for certain first-time, non-violent offenses
- The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free from arrest for ten years
- The individual has been deceased for three years
The expungement process requires petitioners to file formal documentation with the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. This procedure includes:
Preparation and filing of a Petition for Expungement with the Criminal Division
Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas - Criminal Division
436 Grant Street, Courthouse Room 534
Pittsburgh, PA 15219
412-350-5411
Allegheny County Courts
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PMPayment of filing fees (approximately $100-$200 per case number)
Scheduling of a hearing before a judge of the Court of Common Pleas
Notification to the District Attorney's Office, which has the right to object to the expungement
If granted, an Order for Expungement directs all relevant agencies to remove the arrest record from public databases, including the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police, Allegheny County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. The expungement process typically takes 6-12 months to complete.
Under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law (Act 56 of 2018), certain eligible non-violent misdemeanor convictions may be automatically sealed after 10 years if the individual has remained free from arrest and conviction. This automated process began implementation in June 2019 and continues to expand, though sealed records remain available to law enforcement agencies and certain employers required by law to consider criminal history.
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