Schuylkill County Arrest Records

Pennsylvania law enforcement officers are typically authorized to arrest individuals caught violating Pennsylvania state statutes. Once an individual has been arrested and taken into custody, the arresting officer initiates a booking process, which involves documenting key details regarding the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the crime committed. Important details, including the person's description, are collected. These include photographs, fingerprints, a physical description, personal information, and every other necessary detail that may be relevant in the future. The next step depends on the crime's severity; the arrested individual may then be detained in a jail managed by the arresting police department or set free until their arraignment in court.

The primary law enforcement agency in Schuylkill County is the Sheriff's Office. It is tasked with maintaining public order, upholding the law, and preventing crime in the county. Individuals who are interested in obtaining arrest records in Schuylkill County can do so by contacting the Sheriff's office. Arrest records can also be obtained via different state and local agencies; these agencies include Schuylkill County Court records and other databases maintained by either local or state agencies.

Are Arrest Records Public in Schuylkill County?

Yes, arrest records are considered public documents per Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law. According to the law, all government agencies in the state are mandated to provide access to records generated during the course of their official function unless otherwise determined by law/court order. In Schuylkill, arrest records are usually managed by either the local police department or the Sheriff's office. In accordance with the provisions of the Right to Know law, interested individuals can formally request arrest records from either office. Meanwhile, when the arrest was a joint effort of multiple agencies, the request for records may be directed to the agency with custody of the arrested party.

However, certain records are exempt from public disclosure per the Pennsylvania Right to Know law; they include:

• Records with details that may reveal a confidential source
• Records containing active confidential surveillance or investigation
• Record stipulated confidential by law
• Documents that contain details capable of endangering the life of a person
• Details related to ongoing investigation
• Documents that contain the personal information of law enforcement officers.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records in Schuylkill County generally provide an overview of an individual's arrest by law enforcement agencies. They typically contain:

• Description of the arrested person: Arrest records contain details such as weight, height, hair color, race, tattoos, birthmarks, or scars.
• Personal information of the arrested subject: An arrest record includes details such as name, age, date of birth, and address. Social security numbers, contact information, and aliases may also included.
• Description of arrest circumstance: This includes details of the alleged offense, usually based on the statements of witnesses and victim(s)
• Crime classification: An arrest record contains the type of crime; thus, the alleged crime can be classified as a felony, infraction, or misdemeanor.
• Booking details and interrogation: An arrest record documents details regarding the arrest, such as the date, location, charges, fingerprints, and bail amount, if any bail was set. In a situation where the arrested individual has been charged to court, the arrest record should also contain information like court dates, specific charges filed against the person, and details from police interrogations.

Schuylkill County Crime Rate

The Pennsylvania State Police compiles and publishes crime data for Schuylkill County and other counties across the state. Schuylkill County reported 318 violent crimes and 1,556 property offenses in its 2018 report. There were five murders, 39 rapes, 26 robberies, and 248 aggravated assaults in that year's violent crime total. There were 83 motor vehicle thefts, 1,198 robberies, and 275 burglaries related to property crimes. The rate of violent crime increased by 21% over the previous year, while the rate of property offenses fell by 17%. Specifically, there was a 50% decline in the murder rate, a 22% drop in rape, a 24% drop in robbery, and a 19% decline in burglaries. In comparison, there was a 33% increase in aggravated assaults and a 19% increase in motor vehicle thefts.

Schuylkill County Arrest Statistics

According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System, Schuylkill had 2,474 crime-related arrests in the year 2022. Below is a breakdown of the crimes and their numbers:

Arrests related to violent crimes include one manslaughter by negligence, 8 rapes, 5 robberies, and 97 aggravated assaults. Property-related crimes led to a significant number of arrests, of which larceny-thefts had a total of 239 arrests, motor vehicle theft had 26, burglaries-47, and 8 arrests were made for arson.

A few more noteworthy arrests are 494 for drug addiction offenses, 422 for driving under the influence (DUI), and 769 for other assaults. 32 people were detained for sexual offenses (apart from prostitution and rape), and 59 arrests had to do with weapons violations.

Find Schuylkill County Arrest Records

Individuals interested in obtaining arrest records in Schuylkill County may contact the local police departments with jurisdiction over the respective boroughs, cities, or towns where the arrest occurred. If this is unclear, the inquirer may contact the Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office at the address below:

Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office
401 North Second Street
Pottsville, PA 17901
Phone: (570) 628-1440
Fax: (570) 628-1014

The state of Pennsylvania also provides access to arrest records via its Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system. However, users must first create an account on the PATCH website before proceeding to request records. Upon creating the account, inquirers will be required to fill out the necessary forms to conduct a thorough background search. Details such as individuals' full names, current and past addresses, any previous names used, and social security numbers are typically required. A credit card should be provided to cover the search fees of about $10.

Alternatively, interested individuals can also request a criminal history record by submitting a written application. In this case, the requesting party will be required to submit a request containing details of the record of interest along with a $10 payment to:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

For arrests made by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) in Schuylkill County, the individuals are held in a facility pending arraignment in court. To find arrest records related to these individuals, interested parties may use the FBI's Federal Inmate Locator tool. This tool requires the interested party to input data such as the subject's name or identification number.

Similarly, information about arrests made by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Schuylkill County, including arrest records, can be obtained using the agency's remote search tool, the Online Detainee Locator System. If the information needed is not readily available, interested parties can alternatively contact any local field office or the specific ICE detention facility.

Free Arrest Record Search in Schuylkill County

In Schuylkill County, most law enforcement agencies offer free access to these records via their remote search platforms. Record seekers are typically charged when they request physical copies of a record.

Get Schuylkill County Criminal Records

Per Pennsylvania State statutes, criminal records are publicly accessible in Schuylkill County. These records may be accessed through the Pennsylvania Police Criminal History unit, which is responsible for providing criminal records for all counties in the state, including Schuylkill County. The Electronic Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (EPATCH) tool allows researchers to search for records by choosing the option 'submit a new record search.' Each search requires a fee of $22, which can be paid using a credit card. To process a search, certain records pertinent to the record being sought must be provided; these details include the subject's Name, Date of Birth, and sometimes their Social Security Number. Additional identifying details, such as Sex, Race, Maiden Name, and Aliases, may also be required.

Inquirers who require a notarized copy of the criminal history report may download and fill out the Criminal History Request Form - SP4-164. The form, along with a money order for $22, plus an extra $5 for notarization, may then be sent to:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Phone: (888) 783-7972 (Help Desk)

Schuylkill County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Schuylkill County, arrest records provide details regarding the arrest of an individual; these details include time and location of arrest, reason for arrest, holding facility, and the arresting officers' identity. While arrest records form a part of criminal records, arrest records in themselves do not equate a criminal record. When an individual has been arrested and the case goes to trial, such an arrest record will be considered a criminal record. However, if a case does not proceed to trial, the arrest may not lead to the creation of a criminal record.

On the other hand, criminal records refer to official documents containing detailed information regarding an individual's involvement in criminal activities. Commonly called rap sheets, criminal records serve as the government's official archive for data on indictments, arrest, pending and past case outcome and convictions for people who have interacted with the justice system, whether as convicted criminals or as suspects.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

There is no specific timeframe for how long an arrest record remains on an individual's file in Schuylkill County, Pennsylvania. Arrests typically stay on file until they are sealed or expunged. However, certain arrest records may be removed from an individual's history after a certain period has passed and no charges have been filed.

Expunge Schuylkill County Arrest Records

To get a record expunged in Pennsylvania, individuals must first determine if they are eligible to petition the court for the removal. According to Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes § 9122, the state's expungement eligibility requirements include:

• If no charges have been filed after 18 months of the arrest, an expungement application can be considered.
• Court Order: If a court orders the expungement of non-conviction data, the arrested individual is at liberty to seek criminal history record expungement.
• Offenders who were under 18 years of age at the time of the offense are also at liberty to seek criminal record expungement upon reaching 21 or older. This application would, however, be reviewed by a court, which may then order that all related criminal history and administrative information be expunged.
• A person's criminal record will be cleared by the court if they are found not guilty of any charges. Partial acquittals, on the other hand, are not covered by this, and the court must provide a formal notice of acquittal.
• Age and Arrest-Free Period: Another condition under which an individual is at liberty to get an expungement is if, at 70 years of age, the arrested individual remains free from prosecution or arrest for 10 years after being released from confinement and supervision.
• Death: The criminal records of deceased people can be expunged if they have been dead for at least three years.
• Summary Offenses: A person may apply to the court for expungement if, after being found guilty of a summary offense, they have not been arrested or charged for 5 years.

Certain records are considered ineligible offenses, and for such records, there is no expungement for them. For instance, Pennsylvania courts cannot order the expungement of records for individuals who have been placed on Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for certain sexual offenses involving victims under 18.

Interested and eligible individuals in Schuylkill County can follow the steps below to expunge arrest records:

• Complete the SP 4-170 form and the "Request for Individual Access and Review" form.
• Submit the completed forms to the Central Repository address found on the form, along with
  • A copy of a government-issued photo ID
  • A certified check or money order for $20, payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
  • An affidavit or letter of representation

Upon submitting the application, the researcher would receive a letter from the Central Repository containing their full arrest record.

Once the court agrees to the petition, it will issue an expungement order. The Pennsylvania State Police will then remove the record from the database.

In 2018, the 'Clean Slate Bill" was introduced, granting permission for an automatic expungement (Sealing) of minor, non-violent cases from public records if no felony or misdemeanor convictions occur within a specified period. The law, which took effect in 2019, was primarily instituted to fight against discrimination against individuals with low-level criminal convictions by shielding their records from public view. To qualify for clean slate protection, such an individual must meet the following criteria:

• The arrest didn't result in any criminal charges
• In the case where the charges were filed, they must have been dismissed, or the individual must have been acquitted.
• Those with non-traffic infractions or second- and third-degree misdemeanors that carry a maximum sentence of two years in jail are also qualified. But after the conviction, they must have paid all fines and fees and stayed out of trouble for ten years.

Once a record is sealed under the Clean Slate Law, only certain entities, such as law enforcement agencies, prosecutors, and employers who conduct FBI background checks or have federal clearance, may access the records. Owing to the huge backlog of cases, certain records may experience delays in expungement. However, if a record fails to be sealed due to the backlog or omission, interested parties can file an Act 5 petition for limited access to alert the courts.

Schuylkill County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Schuylkill County is a court order granting law enforcement the right to arrest an individual suspected of engaging in criminal activities. Although police have the authority to conduct an arrest without a warrant if they have reasonable suspicion, an arrest warrant is often required in some situations. For such situations, police must obtain an arrest warrant before proceeding with the lawful arrest, as any arrest conducted without a warrant is deemed illegal.

• To issue an arrest warrant, a judge or magistrate must find a reasonable ground to believe that an individual has committed a crime. This is done via sworn affidavits provided by police officers or investigators.
• In Pennsylvania, only a judge or magistrate has the legal oversight to issue an arrest warrant, thus ensuring unlawful or arbitrary arrests.

Arrest warrants typically contain:

• The full name of the individual to be arrested.
• Description of the offense the individual has been accused of committing.
• Date of warrant issue
• Signature of the issuing judge or magistrate.
• The specific location or jurisdiction where the warrant is valid.

Schuylkill County Arrest Warrant Search

The Sheriff's Department website allows members of the public to look up active Schuylkill County warrants. Interested persons may query the office or look up published wanted lists on their website.

Do Schuylkill County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Schuylkill County, like those in other Pennsylvania counties, usually have no expiration date. Until the warrant is executed or revoked by the court, an arrest warrant typically remains active.