How to Get a Criminal Background Check in Pennsylvania
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) has developed an online system referred to as PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) for individuals to have ease of access to their criminal background. To order a report online, you will need a major credit card for payment. A certified check or money order is required for requests made through the postal service.
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Instructions
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Go to the PSP's PATCH website, https://epatch.state.pa.us/Home.jsp. Click the link for "Submit a New Record Check."
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Fill in the requested information, including the reason for your request, name, address, e-mail address and phone number. Click "Next."
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Verify the information you have entered thus far is correct. If so, click the button labeled "Proceed." If the information is incorrect, click the button labeled "Back" to enter your personal information again.
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Enter personal information for the individual for which you are requesting the criminal background check. Enter the person's first name, last name and date of birth. The PSP highly recommends filling in as much information about the individual as possible, including any aliases. Click "Enter This Request."
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Click the button labeled "Finished" if you are requesting only one background check. Otherwise fill in the information fields with another individual's information and choose the "Enter This Request" button again.
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Enter your credit card information, including billing address. Click "Next."
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Wait for notification that your requests have been processed. If the individual does not have a criminal history, you may be notified immediately upon payment processing that no record exists.
Postal Mail
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Download form SP4-164, Request for Criminal Record Check (see References).
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Fill in the required information, including your personal information, reason for the request and the personal information of the individual for whom you are seeking criminal history.
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Obtain a certified check or money order for the fees and made payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
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Enclose the completed form and the certified check or money order in an envelope. Mail the request to:
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository - 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.
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Tips & Warnings
If you require help processing your request, you may call 717-425-5546 or 1-888-QUERYPA (1-888-783-7972).
Many docket sheets are available free of charge on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's website (see References).
References
- Photo Credit crime examination (investigation) image by stassad from Fotolia.com
