Chester County Arrest Records

In Chester County, arrests are made when law enforcement officers have probable cause to believe that a crime was committed by an individual. The arrest may either be made by issuing an arrest warrant by a court or without such warrants, according to the provisions of 75 Pa. C.S. § 6304 of the Statutes, codes, and regulations of Pennsylvania.

Records may include court hearings, case files, dockets, and trial transcripts. The local judiciary generates and is responsible for maintaining and storing these records. These agencies are expected to keep these records by law and provide access to them to the general public for various uses. Court records can be stored in various media, including written or typed documents, microfilm, pictures, electronic files, and audio or video recordings.

The Chester County Sheriff's Office, along with local police departments, is primarily responsible for generating arrest records. These are part of broader public records, including court, criminal, and civil case files. Arrest information may also be accessible in Chester County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chester County?

Yes. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law allows the public to inspect and/or obtain copies of public records. However, although court records are generally considered public information, there are some occasions where information may be confidential and exempted from public access. Examples of information exempted from disclosure may include the following.

• Personal information such as the home addresses of court officials and law enforcement officers
• Information that would lead to risk of physical harm or endanger the personal security of an individual
• Information that would disclose individually identifiable health or medical information such as medical, psychiatric, or psychological records
• A record that would include the identity of a confidential source for law enforcement
• A record which contains information made confidential by court order or the law
• Records containing information about the victim of a crime, including anything that would identify or endanger the safety of the victim
• Any information that would deprive an individual of the right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication

Exempted records may still be accessible but may be issued with the confidential parts redacted. Section 708 of the Right to Know Law contains more comprehensive details on information exempt from public disclosure.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Pennsylvania typically contain the following information.

• An Arrestee's Full name and date of birth
• Physical description of the arrested person
• Arrest location,
• Law enforcement agency in charge of the arrest
• Specific charges against the arrestee
• Mugshots and fingerprint records
• Bond amount (if applicable)

Chester County Arrest Statistics

According to Crime in Pennsylvania Online, the total number of arrests in Chester County was 2,260 in 2023 and 2,066 in 2022, increasing arrests by 9.39%. In 2023, arrests made on cases of Larceny-theft accounted for 43.89%, other assaults 36.01%, Aggravated assault 11.37%, burglary, and motor vehicle theft 4.2% were among the other top arrests made. Most arrests were made in May, July, August, September, and October.

On an average day in 2021, 599 people were held in the county prison, 59 percent of the total capacity. The 62 percent increase in incarceration since 1983 does not necessarily reflect an increase in serious crime. In 2020, during the COVID-19 pandemic, the prison population decreased by 31 percent from 2019.

Find Chester County Arrest Records

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) collects, analyzes, and maintains criminal information across the state. Although subsets of criminal records are available at the local law enforcement agencies (police departments and sheriff’s offices) and judicial systems, the PSP generates a condensed summary.

The Pennsylvania State Police's online platform can be used to find arrest records in Chester County. The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system allows individuals to search for arrest and criminal records within the state.

Persons seeking arrest records also need specific information to search and submit their requests. This information can include the individual's full name and any known aliases, the date and place of arrest (if known), and the case or file number (if available).

Free Arrest Record Search in Chester County

In Chester County, Pennsylvania, free arrest records are available for public access, provided that the information being sought after is not confidential or exempt. The following free resources are available for Chester County arrest searches.

Eligible individuals can access arrest records through the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) ePATCH, an online application resource provided by the Pennsylvania State Police. This database provides access to arrest records of individuals who have been convicted by a court of law. The Chester County Sheriff’s office and courts also provide access to arrest records in Chester County.

The FBI Uniform Crime Reporting system can be used to access arrest data in all counties, including Chester County. Third-party websites also provide information on arrest records, although these websites may not always be accurate and are subject to their specific policies, which include fees for certain arrest information.

Chester County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Chester County, an arrest record documents that an individual was arrested. Consequently, it includes circumstances of an arrest, including information about the arrested individual, the incident, and the immediate result, whether the person was remanded or released. It does not however imply guilt or a conviction.

On the other hand, Chester County criminal records comprise police arrests, sex offenders’ listings, court conviction records, traffic violation tickets, parole information, and other filings of criminal implications. Components of a rap sheet are compiled from primary repositories of criminal information: police departments and sheriff offices as well as courthouses across the state.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Whether or not you are convicted of a crime, if you are arrested, you may still have a criminal record visible for anyone doing a background check unless you petition the court for it to be expunged.

Expunge Chester County Arrest Records

According to the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa. C.S. §9122, arrests and criminal records in Pennsylvania can be expunged. The first step to expungement is determining whether or not a criminal record is eligible for expungement. Because criminal records in Pennsylvania can include arrest records and convictions, there are several factors that may determine a person's eligibility for an expungement.

The simplest way to apply for an expungement is if a person has been arrested but not convicted of the crime. In such an instance, the arrest record may be expunged, depending on the specific circumstances of the case.

If a person has a conviction on their record, the process is somewhat more complex. Conviction records may still be expunged in Pennsylvania. However, the requirements are different. Other methods for expungement include:

• The conviction is for a summary offense, and five (5) years have passed without criminal proceedings.
• A person is over 70 years old, and ten (10) or more years have passed since any criminal proceedings have been pressed against them.

When a person faces criminal charges under the age of 18, they are considered a juvenile in almost all instances. The process for expungement of juvenile records is slightly different than what is used for an adult's criminal record. The eligibility requirements for juvenile record expungement in Chester County and throughout Pennsylvania include:

• The juvenile charges have been dismissed.
• Juvenile supervision has been concluded, and 6 months have passed without any criminal proceedings.
• The juvenile was convicted on a juvenile delinquency charge, and 5 years have passed without any criminal proceedings against them.
• An applicant is over 18 and petitions the court for expungement of a juvenile record.

Chester County Arrest Warrants

In Chester County, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement to arrest an individual. By the provisions of the Pa. Rule of Criminal Procedure, arrest warrants are often issued after an investigation has been conducted or when a suspect fails to appear in court after a summons.

These warrants can be an arrest warrant to initiate proceedings, a bench warrant for failing to respond to a citation or a summons that was served. These warrants contain the individual’s name, the alleged offense, the date of issuance of the warrants, the judge’s signature, and instructions for carrying out the arrest.

Do Chester County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants remain valid indefinitely and can be enforced at any time by law enforcement. After issuance, the warrant remains active until the individual is apprehended or the court recalls it.