Arrest records in Quakertown, Pennsylvania are public documents accessible to members of the general public. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) establishes the legal framework for public access to government records, including those pertaining to arrests made within municipal jurisdictions. This statute affirms the public's right to inspect and obtain copies of arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies operating within Quakertown and throughout Bucks County.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains a presumption of openness regarding government records. Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.301, "a public record shall be accessible for inspection and duplication in accordance with this act." Law enforcement agencies in Quakertown must comply with these provisions by making arrest information available, subject to specific exemptions outlined in § 67.708 of the statute.
Certain information within arrest records may be redacted prior to public disclosure. Protected data typically includes:
• Social Security numbers • Driver's license numbers • Financial account information • Juvenile records (in most circumstances) • Information that would compromise an ongoing investigation • Victim identification in certain cases
The Quakertown Borough Police Department maintains custody of local arrest records and processes requests for access in accordance with state law. The department operates under the oversight of the Bucks County District Attorney's Office regarding the prosecution of criminal matters arising from arrests.
Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records in Quakertown. The following procedures have been established for obtaining this information:
In-Person Requests at Local Law Enforcement Agencies
The Quakertown Borough Police Department accepts in-person requests for arrest records during regular business hours. Requestors must complete a standard Right to Know request form and may be required to present identification.
Quakertown Borough Police Department 35 N 3rd Street Quakertown, PA 18951 Phone: (215) 536-5002 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Quakertown Borough Police Department
Bucks County Court Records
The Bucks County Clerk of Courts maintains records of criminal proceedings resulting from arrests. These records may be accessed at:
Bucks County Justice Center 100 North Main Street Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: (215) 348-6191 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM Bucks County government services
Online Access Options
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal provides access to court docket information related to arrests. The system can be searched by name, case number, or other identifiers at https://ujsportal.pacourts.us.
The Quakertown Police Department also maintains a partnership with CRIMEWATCH Pennsylvania, which publishes selected arrest information online.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
For comprehensive criminal history information, the Pennsylvania State Police maintain the central repository:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository 1800 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg, PA 17110 Phone: (717) 783-5494 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Requests to this agency require submission of form SP4-164, payment of applicable fees, and may require fingerprinting for certain types of background checks.
Arrest records maintained by Quakertown law enforcement agencies typically contain standardized information as prescribed by Pennsylvania criminal procedure regulations. These documents generally include:
Biographical Information • Full legal name of the arrested individual • Known aliases or previous names • Date of birth • Physical description (height, weight, identifying marks) • Residential address at time of arrest • Gender and race (for identification purposes)
Arrest Details • Date, time, and location of the arrest • Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s) • Agency responsible for the arrest • Statutory authority under which the arrest was made • Whether the arrest was made pursuant to a warrant
Criminal Charges • Pennsylvania criminal code citations for alleged offenses • Description of charges in standardized terminology • Classification of charges (summary, misdemeanor, felony) • Preliminary hearing information • Magistrate or district judge assignment
Processing Information • Booking photographs (mugshots) • Fingerprint records • Property inventory from time of arrest • Detention facility information • Bail or bond determination • Preliminary arraignment details
Case Disposition • Court docket number • Preliminary hearing outcome • Trial court assignment • Final disposition (if resolved)
Pursuant to Pennsylvania law, certain information may be withheld from public disclosure, particularly in cases involving ongoing investigations, juvenile offenders, or where disclosure would compromise public safety or individual privacy rights beyond the scope of the Right to Know Law exemptions.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides legal mechanisms through which qualifying individuals may petition for the expungement of arrest records maintained in Quakertown and throughout Bucks County. The authority for expungement is established under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure 490 and 790.
Eligibility criteria for expungement in Quakertown include:
• Cases resulting in acquittal (not guilty verdict) • Arrests that did not lead to formal charges • Cases dismissed by the court • Successful completion of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) programs • Summary offenses after five years without subsequent arrest (subject to good behavior requirements) • Non-violent misdemeanors after ten years without subsequent arrest (limited circumstances) • Individuals over 70 years of age with no arrests for ten years • Deceased individuals (family members may petition)
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Bucks County Court of Common Pleas. Petitioners must:
Bucks County Clerk of Courts 100 North Main Street Doylestown, PA 18901 Phone: (215) 348-6191 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Upon approval of an expungement petition, the court issues an order directing all relevant agencies to remove records from public access. This includes the Quakertown Police Department, Bucks County Court system, and the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. The process typically takes 6-12 months to complete.
Limited access orders, established under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, provide an alternative to expungement for certain misdemeanor convictions, restricting access to records without completely removing them from government databases.