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Hilltown Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Hilltown, Pennsylvania?

Arrest records are public documents in Hilltown, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes the presumption that records in possession of state and local agencies are public unless specifically exempt by law, court order, or decree. The law ensures transparency in governmental operations by providing citizens with access to information regarding the actions of public officials and agencies, including law enforcement activities such as arrests.

The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) further regulates the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and use of criminal history record information. Under this statute, certain arrest information is classified as public record and may be disseminated to any individual or organization upon request.

How to Look Up Hilltown Arrest Records in 2025

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Hilltown Township have multiple avenues through which they may obtain this information. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law establishes specific procedures for requesting and accessing public records. The following methods are available for accessing arrest records in Hilltown:

In-Person Requests at Hilltown Township Police Department: Citizens may submit requests directly to the records division during regular business hours. Proper identification may be required, and applicable fees for copying or certification services may apply.
Online Criminal Docket Search: The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides a public portal for criminal case information where individuals can search for criminal cases by name, case number, or other identifiers.
Bucks County Court Records: The Clerk of Courts maintains records of all criminal proceedings in the county, including those originating in Hilltown Township. These records may be accessed at the courthouse or through designated online systems.
Magisterial District Courts: Records of preliminary arraignments, preliminary hearings, and summary trials conducted by Magisterial District Judges are available through the respective district court offices.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository: For comprehensive criminal history information, individuals may submit requests to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, which maintains records of arrests throughout the Commonwealth.

Hilltown Township Police Department
13 West Creamery Road
Hilltown, PA 18927
215-453-6000
Official Website

Bucks County Courthouse
55 E. Court Street
Doylestown, PA 18901
215-348-6000
Official Website

Contents of a Hilltown Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by Hilltown Township law enforcement agencies typically contain comprehensive information regarding the circumstances and processing of individuals taken into custody. Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, these records generally include the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citations and descriptions of alleged criminal violations
Identity of the arresting agency and officer(s)
Booking photographs (commonly referred to as "mugshots")
Fingerprint impressions collected during processing
Preliminary hearing information and initial court appearances
Bail or bond determinations and conditions
Detention facility information if the individual was remanded to custody

It should be noted that while arrest records are generally public, certain information may be redacted or restricted in accordance with 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, particularly in cases involving juveniles, sexual assault victims, or ongoing investigations where disclosure might compromise public safety or investigative integrity.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Hilltown Township is governed by a comprehensive legal framework established at both state and federal levels. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law serves as the primary statutory authority for public access to governmental records, including those pertaining to arrests and criminal proceedings.

Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, there exists a presumption that records in possession of local agencies are public unless:

Disclosure is prohibited by law, regulation, or judicial order
The record is protected by a privilege
The record is exempt under one of the exceptions delineated in 65 P.S. § 67.708
The record is protected by another state or federal law or regulation

The Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) specifically addresses the dissemination of arrest information. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, criminal history record information maintained by criminal justice agencies shall be available for inspection by any person upon request. However, before disseminating criminal history record information, a criminal justice agency shall extract from the record all notations of arrests, indictments, or other information relating to the initiation of criminal proceedings where:

Three years have elapsed from the date of arrest
No conviction has occurred
No proceedings are pending seeking a conviction

Additionally, the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) at the federal level may apply to certain arrest records maintained by federal agencies operating within Hilltown Township jurisdiction.

Limitations on Access to Arrest Records

While arrest records in Hilltown Township are generally accessible to the public, several statutory and procedural limitations restrict access to certain information. These limitations serve to balance transparency with privacy concerns and the integrity of the criminal justice process.

The following categories of arrest information may be subject to restricted access:

Sealed or Expunged Records: Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, records that have been formally expunged or sealed by court order are not available for public inspection.
Juvenile Records: Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308, records pertaining to juvenile offenders are generally confidential and not accessible to the public unless specifically authorized by the court.
Active Investigations: Information related to ongoing criminal investigations may be temporarily withheld if disclosure would impede law enforcement proceedings, as provided in 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16).
Protected Identities: Information that would reveal the identity of confidential informants, undercover officers, or victims of certain offenses may be redacted from public records.
Mental Health Proceedings: Records related to involuntary mental health commitments associated with arrests are protected under the Mental Health Procedures Act (50 P.S. § 7101 et seq.).
Partial Access: In accordance with 65 P.S. § 67.706, if a record contains information that is subject to access as well as information that is not subject to access, the agency may redact the information that is not subject to access.

Requests for arrest records may be denied if disclosure would create a reasonable likelihood of endangering public safety, personal security, or physical harm.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Hilltown

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides legal mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records in Hilltown Township. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest and criminal records are removed from public access and, in some cases, destroyed.

Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, expungement may be granted under the following circumstances:

When a person reaches 70 years of age and has been free of arrest or prosecution for ten years following final release from confinement or supervision
When three years have elapsed since the final release of a person from confinement or supervision and no subsequent arrest or prosecution has occurred
When an individual has been found not guilty or the charges have been dismissed
When a person has successfully completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for non-violent offenses
When a court order requires expungement

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Court of Common Pleas in Bucks County. The petition must include specific information about the case, including docket numbers, charges, disposition, and dates. Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing, and notice will be provided to the District Attorney's Office, which may object to the expungement.

If expungement is granted, the court will issue an order directing all criminal justice agencies to remove the records from public access. However, certain law enforcement agencies may retain the information for limited purposes not accessible to the public.