Pittsburgh Background Check and Criminal History Records
Pittsburgh background check records are processed through the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas and the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system. Pittsburgh is Pennsylvania's second-largest city and the county seat of Allegheny County, which is home to over 1.2 million residents. Criminal cases arising within Pittsburgh city limits are filed at the Allegheny County Department of Court Records in the City-County Building downtown. The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police maintains separate arrest records and incident reports that can supplement court-based background check research. This page explains how to search Pittsburgh background check records through the appropriate courts, police department, and state systems.
Pittsburgh Quick Facts
Allegheny County Criminal Records for Pittsburgh
Criminal background check records for Pittsburgh residents are maintained by the Allegheny County Department of Court Records, Criminal Division. This office is responsible for all felony criminal cases, misdemeanor appeals from Magisterial District Courts, and summary appeals filed in Allegheny County. When a Pittsburgh resident is arrested and charged with a felony or a misdemeanor that proceeds to the Court of Common Pleas, a case record is created and filed here. The Department of Court Records is located at the City-County Building at 414 Grant Street, Room 120, Pittsburgh, PA 15219. The office can be reached at (412) 350-5324 and is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Criminal docket records in Allegheny County contain detailed information about each case. Each docket includes the defendant's name and demographic information, all charges with statutory citations, offense grades, bail terms, hearing dates and outcomes, plea entries, trial results, and sentencing details including fines and probation. These records are publicly accessible in person and through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The UJS Portal allows name-based searches of Pittsburgh criminal records at no charge. Certified copies of specific documents require a $5.00 certification fee plus copy costs and can be ordered by written request or in person at the Criminal Division office.
Magisterial District Courts throughout Pittsburgh and Allegheny County handle the initial stages of criminal cases, including preliminary hearings and summary offenses. Records from these proceedings are also searchable through the UJS Portal. For a complete Pittsburgh background check, reviewing records at both the Magisterial District Court level and the Court of Common Pleas level ensures nothing is overlooked. Cases that were dismissed at the preliminary hearing stage still generate court records in Pittsburgh.
Note: Allegheny County criminal records use a case number format of CC-XXXXX-CR-YYYY at the Court of Common Pleas level and MC-02-XX-XXXXXX-XXXX at the Magisterial District Court level.
Pittsburgh Bureau of Police Records
The official Pittsburgh city government website provides a starting point for understanding local public safety resources and police records in Pittsburgh. Visit the Pittsburgh city government website to find department contacts, records request forms, and public safety information.
The Pittsburgh Bureau of Police maintains arrest records and incident reports for Pittsburgh. These records are separate from court records and cover police activity that may not have resulted in criminal charges. The Bureau of Police is located at the Pittsburgh Public Safety Building at 1203 Western Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15233. The non-emergency line is (412) 323-7800. Incident reports and accident reports can be requested through the Records Division at the Public Safety Building. Requests require a written submission with incident details, a valid photo ID, and payment of applicable copy fees.
Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §67.101), many Pittsburgh police records are accessible to the public. Incident reports, police blotters, and crime statistics are among the records available through RTKL requests to the Pittsburgh Bureau of Police. Requests that are denied can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Pittsburgh Bureau of Police crime statistics and crime maps are also published on the city website and provide context for background check research.
For background check research involving Pittsburgh, the Bureau of Police records complement court records. A court search reveals what happened to criminal charges once filed. A police records search can reveal incident history and arrest records. Both are useful for a thorough Pittsburgh background check, though only PATCH provides an official certified criminal history.
PATCH System and State-Level Pittsburgh Background Checks
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and serves as the official statewide background check system for Pittsburgh and all of Pennsylvania. PATCH consolidates criminal history records from courts, law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities across all 67 counties. For Pittsburgh residents, PATCH draws from Allegheny County court records and state police records to produce a comprehensive criminal history report. Requests are submitted online at pa.gov/agencies/psp. Standard PATCH results are typically returned within 7 to 14 business days.
CHRIA at 18 Pa.C.S. §9101 governs how PATCH results may be used. Only conviction records are generally reportable for most purposes. Arrest records without convictions have limited permissible uses under CHRIA. Pittsburgh residents subject to a background check have the right to receive written notice if an adverse decision is made based on their criminal history. Violations of CHRIA carry civil liability including damages of no less than $100 per violation and up to $10,000 in punitive damages for willful violations.
Under the Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. §9122.2, qualifying misdemeanor convictions in Pittsburgh that are more than ten years old and for which all financial obligations have been satisfied are automatically sealed from public background check results. This automatic sealing requires no petition or court order. However, serious felonies, violent crimes, and sexual offenses are not eligible for Clean Slate sealing, and those records remain accessible through PATCH for Pittsburgh background check searches.
Pittsburgh Municipal Courts handle city code violations, traffic offenses, and preliminary hearings. These records at 660 First Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA 15219, phone (412) 350-6751, feed into the broader Allegheny County criminal history and appear in UJS Portal searches covering Pittsburgh background check research.
Act 153 Clearances for Pittsburgh Organizations
Act 153 of 2014 establishes mandatory background check requirements for positions involving direct contact with children in Pennsylvania, including Pittsburgh. Three clearances are required under Act 153: the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH criminal history check, the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services child abuse history clearance, and the FBI fingerprint-based federal criminal history check. These clearances apply to school employees, childcare workers, coaches, volunteers, and others who work with minors in Pittsburgh.
The DHS child abuse clearance is submitted through the COMPASS portal. PATCH clearances are requested through the PSP portal at pa.gov/agencies/psp. FBI fingerprint-based checks are conducted at authorized IDEMIA locations, including sites throughout the Pittsburgh and Allegheny County area. All three clearances are required to be renewed every 60 months under Act 153. Pittsburgh organizations that receive state grants or contracts involving children must verify Act 153 compliance for all covered staff and volunteers.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency (PCCD) at pa.gov/agencies/pccd coordinates background check compliance guidance for Pittsburgh nonprofits and organizations. PCCD publishes technical assistance resources and links to required clearance forms. Pittsburgh organizations that are unsure whether their positions trigger Act 153 requirements can review PCCD guidance or consult the Pennsylvania Department of Education's clearance resources.
Note: Act 153 clearances for Pittsburgh school employees are stored in the PA Safe Check system, where school administrators can verify clearance status for applicants and current employees for up to five years from the date of issuance.
Allegheny County Background Check Records
Pittsburgh criminal cases are filed and maintained through the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The county page covers the full Allegheny County court system, the Department of Court Records, the Sheriff's Office, fee schedules, and additional county-level background check resources for Pittsburgh residents.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of other Pennsylvania cities access background check records through their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find background check information for that area.