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Pennsylvania Police Records Can Now Be Easily Accessed Online

Pennsylvania uses an online database system to manage it public records. The office responsible for keeping track of PA criminal records is the Central Repository of the Pennsylvania State Police. The said office also handles the database they call as PATCH or the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal Records.

PATCH was designed to help deliver information to the public. It is the tool used by the local government of Pennsylvania to monitor the criminal files of the state. One of the documents that can be accessed through the so called database is the arrest records. One good thing about this relatively new technology is that anyone can use it. This means that even those who are not registered are allowed to request for any type of document they need. However, this comes with a few limitations. Since Pennsylvania strictly implements the criminal code, the information that can be obtained from a public arrest or criminal record is controlled.

The limitation simply means that, although everybody has the freedom to access the arrest records of the state, not everybody would be able to get all of the information pertaining to the recorded incident. A good example of this is the records of minors. Juvenile records are kept confidential and are only available to those who have the authority. Being a public file means many can see what is stated on the file, this increase the risk for the witnesses as well as the investigator. Such sensitive documents are only available to the public after the case has been resolved.

The state of Pennsylvania only releases the documents to the person who owns the file. Authorized individuals also have access to the arrest records of Pennsylvania. This includes organizations, business owners or government officials. A fingerprint scan would cost only $15 while a name-based search would cost only $10. Authorized individuals are the only ones who are allowed to conduct a fingerprint search.

Before the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal Records was developed, residents of the state would have to go to the office of the State Police to request for a copy of an arrest record. To avoid the hassle in the office, one can download the request form online and fill it out with the necessary information needed before personally going to the office. Once ready a $10 processing fee ha to be paid in the form of a one order or a check. It is also important that the one who filed the request provide their personal information during the search. This can help track the access to the file.

Now that the Internet is used to easily get information, Criminal Records are now also very easy to obtain. The search online can minimized the need to go to the government office. A lot of websites offer to retrieve a copy of a criminal recd while some of this website would offer criminal records free to public users. Websites offer their free service to get more attention and convert visitors to potential customers.

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