Reading Pennsylvania Background Check Records and Criminal History
Reading background check records are processed through the Berks County Court of Common Pleas and the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system. Reading is the county seat of Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania, with a county population of approximately 433,000 residents. Criminal cases arising within Reading are filed at the Berks County Services Center, where the Clerk of Courts maintains felony criminal records, misdemeanor appeals, and post-conviction matters. The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system provides certified criminal history records covering Reading and all of Berks County. County and state resources are the most reliable access points for Reading background check research.
Reading Quick Facts
Berks County Court Records for Reading Background Checks
Criminal background check records for Reading residents are maintained by the Berks County Clerk of Courts at the Berks County Services Center. This office holds all felony criminal case files, misdemeanor appeals from Magisterial District Courts, ARD records, and post-conviction matters for Berks County, including all of Reading. The Berks County Services Center is located at 633 Court Street, 2nd Floor, Reading, PA 19601. The Clerk of Courts office can be reached at (610) 478-6550. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
Berks County criminal records contain detailed information useful for Reading background check research. Each criminal docket includes defendant demographics, all charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, offense grades, bail schedules, preliminary hearing minutes, court proceedings, plea colloquies, dispositions, sentencing orders including fines and probation, restitution orders, and appeal documentation. These records are publicly accessible in person at the Berks County Services Center and through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. The UJS Portal allows free name-based searches of Reading criminal records. Certified copies of documents cost $5.00 for certification plus copy fees and can be requested in person or by mail.
Berks County has 20 Magisterial District Court locations handling preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and the initial stages of criminal cases for Reading and all of Berks County. Records from these proceedings are searchable through the UJS Portal alongside Court of Common Pleas records. For a thorough Reading background check, reviewing both court levels ensures complete coverage. A case dismissed at the Magisterial District Court level still generates a court record that may appear in searches.
The Berks County Prothonotary at (610) 478-6970 maintains civil records including Protection From Abuse (PFA) orders, civil judgments, and family court matters. PFA records are reviewed during background checks for positions involving vulnerable populations in Reading. The Prothonotary office is also at 633 Court Street, Reading.
Pennsylvania State Police and Reading Background Check Records
The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the statewide criminal history record system that covers Reading and all of Berks County. Visit the Pennsylvania State Police website to access PATCH, submit background check requests, and review official criminal history information for Reading.
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system consolidates criminal history records from courts and law enforcement agencies across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Berks County. For Reading residents, PATCH draws from Berks County court records and state police records to generate a comprehensive criminal history report. Requests are submitted online at the Pennsylvania State Police portal. Standard PATCH results typically return within 7 to 14 business days. PATCH is the only source for official certified criminal history records in Reading for most background check purposes. Personal record checks are available for Reading residents who want to review their own criminal history and identify records that may qualify for expungement or Clean Slate limited access.
Under CHRIA at 18 Pa.C.S. §9101, PATCH results may only be used in ways consistent with the law's restrictions on criminal record use. Arrest records without convictions have limited permissible uses. Conviction records are subject to job-relatedness analysis for many decision contexts. Violations of CHRIA carry civil liability including actual damages of no less than $100 per violation and punitive damages up to $10,000 for willful violations, providing meaningful protections for Reading residents whose records are misused.
Note: PATCH covers only Pennsylvania criminal history. Out-of-state criminal records do not appear in PATCH results for Reading background checks unless a separate multi-state search is conducted.
UJS Portal for Reading Court Record Searches
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal provides access to court records relevant to Reading background checks. Visit the UJS Portal case search to look up Reading and Berks County criminal dockets at no charge.
The UJS Portal covers all of Pennsylvania's courts, including Berks County's Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts relevant to Reading cases. Users can search by participant name using a Last, First format or by docket number. The portal returns docket sheet information including filing dates, charges, case status, hearing schedules, and dispositions. No account is required for basic name searches. The portal includes cases from Magisterial District Courts, Courts of Common Pleas, and appellate courts throughout Pennsylvania.
The UJS Portal explicitly states that docket sheet information should not be used in place of an official criminal history background check. For Reading background check purposes where an official record is needed, PATCH from the Pennsylvania State Police is the required source. The UJS Portal is useful for preliminary research, case status inquiries, and understanding what records exist in the Reading and Berks County court system. Recent filings may not be immediately reflected in the portal due to processing delays. Juvenile records and expunged records do not appear in UJS Portal results for Reading searches.
Berks County Resources for Reading Background Check Research
The Berks County Sheriff's Office at (610) 478-6240 maintains active warrant records and operates from the Berks County Courthouse at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Warrant verification is relevant to background check research because active warrants reflect unresolved criminal matters. The Sheriff's Office handles civil process and warrant enforcement throughout Berks County, including all of Reading.
Reading Police Department maintains arrest and incident records for the city of Reading. The Records Division can be reached at (610) 655-6155 and the general line is (610) 655-6116. The Reading Police Department is located at 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601. To request police records in Reading, submit a written request to the Records Division with incident details and a valid ID. Pay applicable copy fees and allow processing time. Police records are a separate category from court records and cover arrest activity that may not have resulted in filed court cases. For official background check purposes, PATCH remains the certified source, but police records supplement the broader picture of criminal activity in Reading.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals for denied public records requests, including Reading and Berks County records. If a request for Reading police or court records is denied, an appeal can be filed with the Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial. The OOR publishes decisions and provides guidance on RTKL rights for Reading residents seeking public records related to background check research.
Act 153 of 2014 requires three mandatory clearances for positions involving direct contact with children in Reading. These three clearances are: the PATCH criminal history check from the Pennsylvania State Police, the child abuse history clearance from the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services through the COMPASS portal, and the FBI fingerprint-based federal criminal history check through IDEMIA. All clearances must be renewed every 60 months for covered positions. Authorized IDEMIA fingerprinting locations serving Reading can be found through the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH portal. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency provides technical assistance for Reading organizations navigating Act 153 compliance requirements.
Berks County Background Check Records
Reading criminal cases are filed and maintained at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. The county page covers the full Berks County court system, the Clerk of Courts at the Berks County Services Center, the Sheriff's Office, fee schedules, and additional county-level resources for background check research in Reading and throughout Berks County.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby Pennsylvania cities access background check records at their own county courthouse. Select a city below to find background check information for that area.