Beaver County Arrest Records

When someone is found committing or is suspected of committing a crime under the state's penal law, Beaver County, Pennsylvania, law enforcement personnel are legally authorized to make an arrest. The offense may be categorized as a misdemeanor, felony, or summary offense, each with distinct legal consequences. The offenders are typically held in Beaver County Jail.

A Beaver County arrest record is typically generated when an individual is booked in Beaver County Jail. The arrestee's personal information, fingerprinting, and photographs are recorded. In some cases, bail must be set within 12 hours of filing the complaint. In other cases, bail is not required. If the released defendant fails to appear before the magistrate for the court date, a warrant for their arrest is issued.

Local law enforcement organizations like the Beaver County Sheriff's Office and Municipal Police Departments are largely responsible for creating arrest records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. Arrest records are the foundation of judicial procedures and are documented in the Beaver County court records, managed by the Beaver County, PA Clerk of Courts. The public record system benefits from both kinds of records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Beaver County?

Yes. The Right to Know Law (RTKL) in Pennsylvania allows public access to arrest records. This statute gives citizens the right to obtain copies of public records, including arrest records, from government agencies.

In Pennsylvania, arrest records are generally "presumed" to be public records. However, there are specific exceptions listed in Section 708 of the Right to Know law that might not be accessible to the public. These exceptions aim to balance public access to information with individual privacy rights and maintain the integrity of the criminal justice process. They include:

• Reports of possible criminal activity are not part of a private criminal complaint.
• Investigative materials, notes, correspondence videos, and reports.
• A document that reveals the identity of an anonymous source or an unaccused suspect who has been promised confidentiality.
• A document containing information that a court order or statute declares confidential.
• Information on the victim, especially details that can compromise their safety.
• A document that, if it was made public, could make it more difficult to find a defendant or co-defendant.
• Deny someone their right to a fair trial or an unbiased decision-making process.
• Interfere with the agency's ability to arrest, prosecute, or convict.
• Put someone's life or physical safety in danger

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per Section 708(b) of Pennsylvania's RTKL, the following information in a Beaver County arrest record is releasable to the public:

• Personal information about the individual, including their full name, age, sex, race, and address
• Physical description of the individual.
• Mugshot
• Fingerprints
• Date, time, and location of arrest
• Reason for the arrest i.e. charges or offences
• Arresting Agency
• Booking Number: A reference or identification number assigned to the arrest record.
• Arrest Report Summary.
• Scheduled dates for court hearings related to the case.
• Details regarding any bail set or conditions for release, if applicable.

Beaver County Crime Rate

The most recent one-year trend data, displayed on the dashboard and covering the period from August 2023 to August 2024, indicates that a total of 2,176 offenses were reported, according to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) System, which serves as the state repository for all crime statistics and offers an online reporting system where members of the public can visit to examine crime statistics. 345 (15.8%) of those offenses were classified as violent crimes, whereas 1,700 (78.12%), the greatest total, were part 1 offenses.

Aggravated assault was the most common violent crime, ranking 289 (83.7%), whereas larceny-theft was the most common index crime/part 1 offense, ranking 1,165 (68.5%). Compared to index crime or part 1 offenses, the data clearly shows a low rate of violent crimes. In comparison with other Pennsylvanian counties, Beaver County appears to have a relatively low crime rate.

Beaver County Arrest Statistics

Arrest data for every Pennsylvania county is also available through the UCR system. From September 2023 to September 2024, for example, 1,827 arrests were made overall, according to the arrest distribution report. 629 (34.4%) of the total number of people were arrested, while 1,198 (65.5%) of the men were. A total of 438 (23.9%) arrests were made for DUI offenses; larceny-theft followed with 431 (23.5%) and drug abuse infractions with 303 (16.5%) per total.

Find Beaver County Arrest Records

The local law enforcement or police agencies, who often make the majority of the county's arrests, are the first places to check for arrest records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania. For instance, the Beaver County Sheriff's Office provides public records, including arrest data, to anyone who requests them. Interested parties can contact the criminal division by phone at (724) 770-4602, via fax at (724) 728-5080, or in person at

810 3rd St., Beaver,
PA 15009, USA.

The Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository offers an internet search engine called "PATCH" that allows residents of Pennsylvania to access criminal history records for a state-wide search. Requests submitted online or by mail are solely compared to criminal histories held by Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies; federal records are not consulted. Depending on the type of search, interested and qualified parties must fill out the request form and pay any related costs.

Through the Office of the Clerk of Courts, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal also provides public access to case files containing arrest data. Additionally, the UJS launched an application named "PAeDocket" that makes court case information easily accessible to the general public. Users can search by state I.D. number, police incident or complaint number, offense tracking number, participant name, organization name, or case number.

Inquirers can use the Online Detainee Locator System to look up arrests conducted by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). If the information is not available online, the interested party may contact a local field office or, if known, the particular ICE detention facility.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) offers an inmate finder to verify the arrest details of its arrests. Users can use the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator to look up anyone incarcerated in federal prisons—including certain Pennsylvanian inmates. They can look up information about federal prisoners by entering their name or BOP register number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Beaver County

It is possible to look for arrest records for free, albeit access and availability vary by jurisdiction. Certain public records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, may be accessed in person or online. Inquirers might begin by visiting the websites of the Magisterial District Courts and the Beaver County Court of Common Pleas, where a docket search may reveal criminal records. To obtain more thorough records, an in-person visit to the Beaver County Clerk of Courts or the Beaver County Sheriff's Office might be required.

Furthermore, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's website provides a free public docket search for cases nationwide. Though basic information may be freely accessible, exhaustive examinations or official duplicates usually cost money.

Get Beaver County Criminal Records

Criminal records describe a person's dealings with the criminal justice system, including details on arrests, charges, court proceedings, and convictions.

Local and state law enforcement organizations keep records of criminal offenses. The Pennsylvania State Police provides public access to criminal records in Pennsylvania. Chapter 91 of Title 18, Crimes Code of the Pennsylvania Criminal History Information Act outlines the state's provisions for the creation and upkeep of the repository. Additionally, this Act requires the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) to provide criminal history information upon request to people, non-criminal justice organizations, and criminal justice agencies. The law's edit standards apply to requests from people and non-criminal judicial agencies.

Users can request criminal background checks online using the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system for a fee of $22 and can be notarized for $5. Users could also download and fill out the S.P. 4-164 for mail requests. Account registration is required to use this service. Alternatively, one can request non-notarized records with the S.P. 4-170 form by mail at:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

Beaver County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records and criminal records are two different but related legal documents in Beaver County, Pennsylvania.

When law enforcement takes someone into custody on suspicion of committing a crime, an arrest record is made. These documents usually contain information on the arresting officer and agency, the charges or alleged offenses, and the date and time of the arrest. An arrest record does not prove someone is guilty or innocent; rather, it just shows that they were placed under arrest.

However, criminal records offer a more comprehensive account of a person's dealings with the criminal justice system. In addition to arrest records, criminal records document official charges, court hearings, convictions, penalties, and any later legal measures, such as probation or parole. A person's criminal record documents the results of court proceedings, indicating whether they were found guilty of the accusations made against them.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest records in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, usually stay on an individual's record indefinitely. Until they are sealed or purged by a court order, they are regarded as a permanent part of the criminal record. Expungement is a legal procedure that allows the arrest record to be made private provided specific requirements are met, such as when charges are withdrawn, the person is found not guilty, or they complete a diversionary program. Nevertheless, if the arrest record is not expunged, it is still available to the public, courts, and law enforcement for the duration of the person's life.

Expunge Beaver County Arrest Records

Expungement is a legal process that requires state criminal justice agencies to permanently erase a criminal record, making it seem like the arrest or conviction never occurred. Under some circumstances, criminal records may be sealed or erased according to Pennsylvania's expungement rules. They include:

• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122: For records where charges were not filed or where the charges were withdrawn, dismissed, or resulted in an acquittal.
• 18 Pa.C.S.§9123: Addresses expungement of criminal records, including misdemeanors and felonies. Eligible for expungement after a specified period if the individual has no further convictions.
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9124: Provides for the expungement of juvenile records. Juvenile adjudication records can be erased if the offender fulfills specific requirements, such as completing their sentences and avoiding further offenses.
• 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 (Clean Slate Act): Facilitates automatic sealing of certain non-violent records. If the person doesn't commit new crimes after a waiting period, records of some summary offenses and small misdemeanors may be automatically sealed.
• 42 Pa.C.S. § 5505: Allows for modification or rescission of court orders relevant to expungement cases. If a defendant is at least 70 years old and has gone without any criminal proceedings for at least ten (10) years, they may be eligible to have their criminal records expunged.

Beaver County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate authorizing the police to take an individual accused of a crime into custody.

In Pennsylvania, police have the authority to arrest someone without a warrant under section 8902 of Title 42 of the state statutes. Typically, officers can arrest without a warrant if they witness a crime being committed and have reason to believe that an individual has committed a felony. Only a court has the authority to issue an arrest warrant. Without first demonstrating to a judge that they have reasonable cause to believe someone has committed a crime, the police are not allowed to make an arrest or place someone in custody. Generally, issuance of arrest warrants is guided by Pennsylvania's Rules of Criminal Procedure - Rule 510

A Beaver County Pennsylvania, arrest warrant will have information on:

• The individual's full name.
• Describe the individual in detail.
• Details on the alleged crime and probable cause.
• It must be signed and authorized by a judge or magistrate.
• The date, time, and location of the issuance of the warrant
• The charging authority.

Beaver County Arrest Warrant Search

There are several ways to find an active warrant in Beaver County, and these include the following:

• Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) is a tool managed by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) that offers access to various criminal history information. A fee is needed to process this.
• You can also use the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. Anyone can search for warrants in the state for free without contacting or visiting a law enforcement agency.
• The Pennsylvania State Police allows individuals and others to obtain information on outstanding warrants for a non-refundable fee per request.
• To get general warrant information, visit a county sheriff's office or the issuing law enforcement agency.

Do Beaver County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Beaver County, Pennsylvania, are perpetual. An arrest warrant is valid from the time a judge issues it until it is revoked by the court or carried out by law enforcement. Serving a warrant is not subject to a statute of limitations. Therefore, it can be carried out whenever the warrant is needed, no matter how much time has elapsed. This applies to all arrest warrant categories, encompassing felonies and misdemeanors. A court order is required to revoke or recall a warrant, albeit this is not always the case.