Harrisburg Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania?
Arrest records are public documents in Harrisburg, 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 governmental records are public unless specifically exempted by law, statute, or regulation. The law promotes transparency and accountability within public offices by allowing citizens to monitor the activities of law enforcement agencies and the judicial system.
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains this open records policy to ensure that the public can access information about arrests made by local law enforcement agencies, including the Harrisburg Bureau of Police. Public access to these records serves multiple purposes, including community awareness, research, background checks, and journalistic reporting.
How to Look Up Harrisburg Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist for members of the public seeking to obtain arrest records in Harrisburg. The Dauphin County criminal justice system maintains several access points for record retrieval:
In-Person Requests: Citizens may visit the Harrisburg Bureau of Police Records Division at 123 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Public counter hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Proper identification must be presented, and applicable fees paid for record copies.
Dauphin County Clerk of Courts: Located at the Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The office operates Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM and can be reached at (717) 780-6500. Staff can assist with locating court records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings.
Mail Requests: Written requests may be submitted to the Records Division, Harrisburg Bureau of Police, 123 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. Requests must include the subject's full name, date of birth, approximate date of arrest, and a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Online Portal Access: The Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas provides limited online access to criminal dockets through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal. This service allows for preliminary searches of case information.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository: For comprehensive criminal history information, requests may be submitted to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository in Harrisburg. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, certain criminal history record information is available to the public.
Requestors should note that processing fees apply to most record requests. Current fee schedules are established pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.1307 and may be obtained from the respective agencies.
Contents of a Harrisburg Arrest Record
Harrisburg arrest records contain standardized information as mandated by Pennsylvania law enforcement protocols. These records typically include:
Biographical Information: Full legal name of the arrested individual, any known aliases, date of birth, physical description, address, and other identifying information.
Arrest Details: Date, time, and location of the arrest; the arresting agency; name and badge number of the arresting officer(s); and the statutory authority under which the arrest was made.
Criminal Charges: Complete enumeration of all charges filed, including the Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations (Title 18) and grade of offense (summary, misdemeanor, or felony).
Booking Information: Booking number, fingerprint classification, and photographic identification (mugshot) taken during processing.
Custody Status: Information regarding detention facility, bail determination, and release conditions if applicable.
Preliminary Hearing Data: Scheduled court appearances, assigned magisterial district judge, and docket number.
Prior Criminal History: In some cases, references to prior arrests or convictions may be included if relevant to the current charges or bail considerations.
It should be noted that pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121(b), certain information may be redacted from public arrest records, including Social Security numbers, financial information, juvenile records, and information that might compromise ongoing investigations.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Harrisburg
The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides legal mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, individuals may petition for expungement when:
- The individual was not convicted of the offense for which they were arrested
- The charges were withdrawn or dismissed
- The individual has completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program
- The individual was convicted of a summary offense and has remained 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 has been deceased for three years
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas. The petition must be served on the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office, located at the Dauphin County Courthouse, 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The District Attorney has 30 days to file objections to the petition.
If granted, an expungement order directs all criminal justice agencies to remove records of the arrest from public access. However, certain law enforcement agencies may retain limited information for internal use pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(c).
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts has established standardized forms for expungement petitions. Legal assistance is recommended but not required for this process. The Dauphin County Bar Association Lawyer Referral Service can provide referrals to attorneys specializing in expungement matters.
Individuals with limited financial resources may qualify for assistance through MidPenn Legal Services, located at 213-A North Front Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101, telephone (717) 232-0581.
Expungement fees are established by the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and must be paid at the time of filing unless a petition to proceed in forma pauperis is approved by the court.
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