Mercer County Arrest Records

Mercer County arrest records are official documents containing information about individuals arrested by law enforcement authorities.

Under 234 Pa. Code 515 of the Pennsylvania Code, law officers in Mercer County may arrest persons they observe or suspect of engaging in criminal activities. These acts can be categorized as felonies, misdemeanors, or infractions, each bearing unique legal repercussions. The Mercer County Sheriff's Office is required to provide access to Mercer County Court Records upon request.

Are Arrest Records Public in Mercer County?

Yes. Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, the public can access public records generated and maintained by government agencies. Therefore, requesters can submit a records request to inspect or make copies of Mercer County arrest records produced and stored by law enforcement while discharging their statutory duties and responsibilities.

Nonetheless, Section 708 restricts the disclosure of specific Mercer County arrest records. These include:

• Juvenile records
• Records that have been sealed or expunged by the court
• Records that may jeopardize personal security, public safety, or ongoing investigations

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Mercer County, the Right-to-Know Law permits the general public to access the following components of an arrest record:

1. Offender’s Information: The person’s name, birth date, and sex.
2. Arrest Details: Date and location of the arrest, arresting agency, and booking date.
3. Filed Charges: This includes the specific allegations against the suspect.
4. Photographs and Fingerprints: This comprises the mugshots and fingerprints from the booking process.
5. Bail Information: The sum paid as bail, if any.
6. Court Date: Arrestee’s scheduled court dates.
7. Interrogation Information: Details of the police interrogation, if applicable.

Mercer County Crime Rate

According to a 2023 Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Report, the total number of offenses reported in Mercer County was 1,854. Of this total, violent crimes constituted 40.08% (746). A breakdown of the different violent crime types revealed that murder and nonnegligent manslaughter constituted 0.27% (5) of all crimes in the county and manslaughter by negligence 0.05% (1). Others include rape with 1.78% (33), robbery with 1.35% (25), aggravated assault with 11.06% (205), and simple assault with 25.73% (474).

On the other hand, property crimes constituted 59.92% (1,108) of the total crimes reported in the county. Larceny-theft, burglary, and auto theft accounted for 46.71% (866), 9.65% (179), and 2.86% (53), respectively. Arson crimes constituted 0.54% (10).

Mercer County Arrest Statistics

According to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections statistics, 1,199 inmates were physically present at the State Correctional Institution at Mercer as of June 2024. A breakdown of these figures shows that 1,144 inmates were among the general population. Others include three inmates in administrative custody and ten in disciplinary custody. There were 25 inmates in the therapeutic community and 17 in the infirmary.

Find Mercer County Arrest Records

In Mercer County, requesters seeking the whereabouts of inmates may use the following state and federal resources:

• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections' Inmate/Parolee Locator: This tool allows users to look up inmates and parolees in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections' jurisdiction. Users can search by name, inmate number, or date of birth.
• Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator: This search tool allows interested parties to find federal inmates who have been incarcerated from 1982 to the present. Visitors may search by name, BOP register number, FBI number, or INS number.
• Department of Justice Inmate Locator: This site can help inmate record seekers locate federal prisons where those incarcerated by federal law enforcement authorities are being kept. They can conduct a search by facility name, state, area, kind, and security level.

Free Arrest Record Search in Mercer County

Since the booking process typically takes place in a police agency or precinct near the arrest scene, individuals looking for free arrest records should consider visiting the police precinct closest to where an offender was apprehended. Once they have identified a police precinct of interest, requesters can submit a completed request form for relevant Mercer County arrest records.

Some notable police departments where searchers can begin their search include the Mercer County Sheriff's Office, Hermitage, Sharon, Grove City, and Greenville/West Salem Police Departments.

Individuals seeking free Mercer County arrest records may visit the Mercer County Jail page to use the inmate search tool. The search engine lets users search for inmates by last name and produces results that include the offenders' names, commitment dates, reasons for incarceration, and committing authority. Visitors can also use the Mercer County Jail Report, below the search tool, to study inmate data by gender and learn about inmates who have been transferred to other facilities.

While reviewing arrest records online or in person usually does not attract a fee, requesters should note that they must pay fees to obtain copies in accordance with the State’s Right-to-Know Law.

Get Mercer County Criminal Records

Criminal records are official papers containing information about a person's involvement with the criminal justice system. They often contain details regarding arrests, allegations, convictions, and sentencing. They may also include personal information like the individual's name, date of birth, and aliases.

Requesters seeking Mercer County criminal records should visit the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website for the fastest response. Alternatively, the applicant may submit a mail-in request.

For a regular criminal history background check, the applicant should visit the PATCH site or download form SP 4-164, complete it, and mail it. This check costs $22, with an extra $5 fee for notarization if necessary.

Volunteer criminal history checks are free but cannot be notarized. The applicant can request a volunteer check via the PATCH site or by downloading, filling out, and mailing form SP 4-164A.

For individual access and review, the applicant must submit a request by mail using form SP 4-170. This check costs $20 and cannot be notarized.

All requests, whether made online or by mail, are solely reviewed against criminal history records from Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies, not federal databases.

Mercer County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

The information contained in arrest records and criminal records in Mercer County is distinct and serves different purposes.

Arrest records record the specifics of an individual's arrest. They typically comprise the person's identity, date of birth, the date and location of the arrest, the arresting agency, and the charges filed at the time of the arrest.

Conversely, criminal records offer a thorough account of a person's involvement with the criminal justice system. These records include allegations, legal proceedings, convictions, sentences, and arrests.

In conclusion, criminal records provide a more comprehensive understanding of an individual's criminal history in Pennsylvania, whereas arrest records concentrate on specific incidents.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Whether a Pennsylvania arrest record stays permanently on one's record depends on the offense and whether or not the person is convicted or sentenced. Individuals whose cases were dismissed, never taken to court, or cleared as not guilty may have their arrest records expunged.

Expunge Mercer County Arrest Records

To expunge arrest records, the petitioner must meet specific eligibility requirements. Non-conviction records can be expunged if the arrest did not result in a conviction. Summary offenses can be expunged if five years have passed since the conviction and the applicant has not been arrested. Individuals 70 and older can apply for expungement if they have been arrest-free for ten years after being released from jail or supervision.

The expungement procedure begins with acquiring a copy of the applicant's Pennsylvania State Police criminal history report by completing Form SP 4-170. The applicant must then submit a petition for expungement to the Mercer County Clerk of Courts, including specific information regarding the arrest and the reasons for expungement.

The applicant must serve a copy of the petition to the District Attorney's office and court administration, pay the required filing costs, and attend a court hearing. At the hearing, a judge will consider the petition and any objections the District Attorney raises. If the judge grants the expungement, the court will direct the Pennsylvania State Police to expunge the record.

Mercer County Arrest Warrants

In Mercer County, an arrest warrant is an official document granted by a judge or magistrate authorizing law enforcement to arrest a defendant. To get an arrest warrant, a police officer needs to demonstrate probable cause in the form of an affidavit, showing that a crime has occurred and that the suspect is most likely responsible. This process can be sped up because law enforcement may speak with the judge remotely by phone or other audio-visual devices.

Arrest warrants are often issued when there is enough evidence to believe the suspect committed a crime. This covers cases in which the accused person threatens public safety, is likely to flee, or has failed to appear in court as mandatory.

Mercer County arrest warrants include details such as the offender's name, the alleged offense, and any additional information to help identify and apprehend the individual in question. Once issued, the warrant grants law enforcement the authority to arrest the suspect anywhere within the county's boundaries.

Mercer County Arrest Warrant Search

Requesters seeking active arrest warrants in Mercer County may avail themselves of the following resources:

Mercer County Sheriff's Office: Requesters may visit the Wanted Fugitives page on the Sheriff's Office website or visit their office in person to inquire about active warrants. The office is located at:

205 South Erie Street
Mercer, PA 16137
205 S Erie St,
Mercer, PA.
Hours: 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday to Thursday

Pennsylvania State Police: Searchers can also look up active warrants on the Pennsylvania State Police website.

Third-Party Websites: Several websites provide warrant search services. Requesters may easily access warrant records for a fee through these sites.

Do Mercer County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Mercer County arrest warrants generally do not expire. Once issued, they remain active until the suspect is apprehended or the warrant is recalled by a judge. Arrest warrants are not subject to a statute of limitations, meaning they can be enforced at any point in time.

Nonetheless, a judge may overturn a warrant if law enforcement fails to make a significant effort to execute it. The status of an arrest warrant can be influenced by factors such as the seriousness of the crime and the efforts made by law enforcement to locate the suspect.