>Erie County Arrest Records Online

Erie County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Erie County, Pennsylvania?

Arrest records are public in Erie County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes the presumption that government records, including arrest records, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law, court order, or regulation. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by providing citizens with access to information regarding law enforcement activities and judicial proceedings.

Members of the public may inspect these records during normal business hours at designated government facilities. The Erie County Clerk of Courts maintains criminal records and provides access in accordance with state regulations. Certain information within arrest records may be redacted to protect ongoing investigations or personal identifying information as specified under 65 P.S. § 67.708.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Erie County?

Erie County arrest records are available through several online platforms maintained by county and state agencies. The Erie County Court Records system provides public access to criminal case information dating back to 1992. This electronic repository includes docket information, case status, and disposition details for cases processed through the Erie County court system.

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System also maintains a web portal that includes Erie County criminal cases. Access to these online records is governed by the Electronic Case Record Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania, which establishes uniform standards for electronic access while protecting confidential information.

Online access may be subject to user registration requirements and nominal fees for certain detailed reports. Pursuant to Administrative Order No. 35-2016, some sensitive information may be restricted from online viewing but remains available through in-person requests at the appropriate county office.

How to Look Up Erie County Arrest Records in 2025

Erie County provides multiple channels through which members of the public may obtain arrest records. The following methods are available for conducting arrest record searches:

Submit a request to the Erie County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records Division located at the Erie County Courthouse, 140 West 6th Street, Room 103, Erie, PA 16501. Office hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. Phone: (814) 451-6220. A $10 search fee applies per name searched.
Access the Erie County Court Records Online Portal which provides 24-hour access to public criminal case information. Users must register for an account and may incur fees for certain document retrievals.
Request records from the Erie County Sheriff's Office at 140 West 6th Street, Room 400, Erie, PA 16501. Phone: (814) 451-6007. The Sheriff's Office maintains current inmate rosters and arrest information.
Contact the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository for statewide criminal history information that includes Erie County arrests. Requests require submission of form SP4-164 and payment of applicable fees as established by 18 Pa.C.S. § 9152.
Visit the Erie County Department of Corrections at 1618 Ash Street, Erie, PA 16503. Phone: (814) 451-7230. The department maintains records of individuals currently in custody and can provide limited information regarding recent arrests.

Requestors should be prepared to provide the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate accurate record retrieval. Government-issued identification may be required for certain record requests in accordance with Pennsylvania Administrative Code § 91.5.

Contents of an Erie County Arrest Record

Erie County arrest records contain standardized information as prescribed by the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.). A complete arrest record typically includes the following elements:

Subject's full legal name and any known aliases
Date of birth and demographic information
Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
Date, time, and location of the arrest
Arresting agency and officer identification
Criminal charges filed, including Pennsylvania Criminal Code citations
Case docket number assigned by the court
Preliminary arraignment details and bail determination
Custody status and detention facility information
Fingerprint classification and identification numbers
Photographic identification (mugshot) taken during booking
Prior criminal history references if applicable

Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, certain information may be withheld from public disclosure, including Social Security numbers, home addresses, telephone numbers, and information pertaining to victims. Juvenile arrest records are generally not publicly accessible unless the case has been transferred to adult criminal court in accordance with 42 Pa.C.S. § 6355.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Erie County

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides statutory mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances as outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. In Erie County, individuals may petition for expungement when:

The arrest did not result in a conviction
The conviction was for a summary offense and the individual has been free from arrest for five years
The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free from arrest for ten years
The individual received a pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania
The record pertains to a juvenile adjudication that meets expungement criteria under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9123

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Erie County Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division at 140 West 6th Street, Erie, PA 16501. A filing fee of approximately $250 applies, though fee waivers may be available for indigent petitioners. The petition must include certified copies of dispositions, criminal history verification, and a proposed order for the court's consideration.

Upon receipt of a petition, the court will schedule a hearing date, and notice will be provided to the District Attorney's Office, which has the right to object to the expungement request. If granted, the expungement order directs all criminal justice agencies to remove the specified records from public access and prohibits their dissemination.

The Clean Slate Act of 2018 (Act 56) also provides for automatic sealing of certain non-violent misdemeanor convictions after ten years without subsequent offenses. While sealed records remain available to law enforcement agencies, they are not accessible to the general public or visible in standard background checks.