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  1. Fayette County Court
  2. Fayette County Arrest Records

Fayette County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

Fayette County arrest records are legal documents containing details about the apprehension of individuals alleged to have committed an offense or who were formally charged in the county. Law enforcement agencies usually create and maintain these records after they make arrests. Most arrests in Fayette County, Pennsylvania, are made by local law enforcement agencies, such as the Fayette County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments. As a result, these agencies are the primary custodians of local arrest records

Generally, Fayette County arrest records are subject to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL). This ensures transparency of arrests made by law enforcement agencies. The general public may review these records to find out pertinent information about an arrest, including who was arrested, why, how, and where they were arrested, as well as where they are currently being held. Although an individual's criminal history record information (CHRI) issued by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) may feature Fayette County arrest records, public dissemination of CHRIs is governed by Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA).

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Fayette, Pennsylvania?

Yes. Fayette County arrest records are presumed public under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL), codified in Pennsylvania Statutes (PS) §§ 101 to 3104. Section 305 of the RTKL established the presumption that records in possession of state and local agencies are public unless they are exempt from disclosure by a federal or state law, a judicial order, or decree. This rule governs local law enforcement disclosures, including arrest records, in Fayette County.

Any legal resident of the United States may request public Fayette County arrest records under the RTKL. The law does not require requesters to be a Pennsylvania or Fayette County resident to request these records. Additionally, the law prohibits agencies from requiring requesters to provide a reason for requesting a record.

What Do Public Fayette County Arrest Records Contain?

Typical details found in public Fayette County arrest records include:

  • The arrestee's full name and age
  • Mugshot
  • Physical descriptors such as weight, height, gender, race, eye color, and hair color
  • Description of the alleged offense or charge
  • Arrest date, time, and location
  • The name of the arresting agency
  • Bail or bond details
  • Warrant details (if applicable)

Not all Fayette County arrest records (or information they contain) are public. Certain records are exempt from public access pursuant to Section 708 of the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL) or relevant federal or state law. Examples of such records include, but are not limited to:

  • Records expunged or sealed by court order
  • Records that reveal the identity of a juvenile
  • Records whose disclosure would jeopardize or reveal the progress or result of an ongoing criminal investigation
  • Investigative materials.

Fayette County, Pennsylvania Arrest Search

The most convenient way to locate Fayette County arrest records at the state level is by conducting Pennsylvania criminal history record checks through the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). These checks typically reveal a search subject's arrest dates, indictments, convictions, disposition, and other information collected by local criminal justice agencies. The PSP offers two ways of conducting these checks: online or by mail.

Interested persons may use the PSP's EPATCH website to conduct a Pennsylvania criminal history record check online. They are charged a $22.00 non-refundable fee for each request made on the website, regardless of the outcome. These fees are payable by credit card or by billing the requester's pre-established PATCH account.

If a requester is the subject of the sought Pennsylvania criminal history record, they may request the record by mail using form SP4-170. They would be charged a $20 fee per request, and results cannot be notarized. Meanwhile, individuals seeking a notarized copy of a criminal record check may send their request strictly by mail using form SP4-164. This request is subject to a $27 fee. All mail-in request fees may be paid by money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For mail-in requests, the appropriate request form and relevant fee payment may be sent to:

Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository

164 1800 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

Record seekers may also find basic Fayette County arrest information by reviewing court records of local cases resulting from an arrest. They may use Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal to search and access docket sheets and court summaries of local cases. These documents usually contain basic arrest details, such as the arrestee's name, arrest date, arresting agency, arresting officer's name, description of the charges, and case disposition. Alternatively, they may visit local courthouses to access and request court records in person.

Arrests made by federal agencies, such as the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI), in Fayette County may lead to a federal case. Such cases may fall under the jurisdiction of the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Pennsylvania, and record seekers may review its court records to find basic arrest details. They may visit the clerk's office at the courthouse of the specific division that handled the case to access or request court records. Alternatively, they may use the PACER website to access records online.

Another way of accessing Fayette County arrest information is by conducting inmate searches. Interested persons may use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator (for state inmates) and the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator (for federal inmates).

Fayette County Inmate Locator

The most current information about the Fayette County jail roster is accessible through the Fayette County Sheriff's app. The app is available for both Android and IOS devices. Interested persons may make inquiries about how to use the app and the information needed to conduct an inmate search by contacting the Fayette County Sheriff's Office at:

61 East Main Street

1st Floor

Uniontown, PA 15401

Phone: 724-430-1295

Fax: 724-430-4030

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Fayette County

In Fayette County, record seekers may find limited arrest details for free by reviewing court records of local criminal cases arising from arrests. The Fayette County Clerk of Courts Office is the primary custodian of court records of criminal cases handled by the criminal division of Fayette County Court of Common Pleas. Thus, interested persons may directly contact or visit the Clerk during regular business hours (typically from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.) to view or request criminal court records. They typically must provide sufficient information to identify the case, such as the case party name or case number, to facilitate their search. The Clerk's Office may be contacted and is situated at:

61 East Main Street

1st Floor

Uniontown, PA 15401

Phone: 724-430-1253

Fax: 724-438-8410

Email: tdye@fayettepa.org

Alternatively, interested persons may use the access docket sheets and court summary of local criminal cases for free online through Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal.

Fayette County Arrest Report

A Fayette County arrest report is a narrative document that provides details of the circumstances surrounding an arrest based on the arresting officer's account of the incident. The arresting officer typically creates this document after apprehending and booking a criminal suspect to provide a detailed overview of the event leading up to, during, and after the incident. These may include the officer's observations, the suspect description, statements provided by witnesses and the suspect, and descriptions of any evidence collected at the scene. These reports play a crucial role in law enforcement investigation and are usually not public until the investigation has been finalized.

Meanwhile, an arrest record provides a summary of the facts about an arrest. These include the arrestee's name, physical descriptors, basic arrest details (time, date, and location), and charges. These records are usually public and entered into custodial and case management systems maintained by criminal justice agencies.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Fayette County

In Fayette County, an arrest record may be expunged provided any of the eligibility requirements established in Pennsylvania Statutes § 9122 are met. These requirements include but are not limited to:

  • The arrestee was acquitted of their charges
  • The arrestee's criminal charge(s) were withdrawn or dismissed
  • The arrestee is over 70 years old and has been free of arrest or prosecution for 10 years
  • The arrestee was convicted of a summary offense, and five (5) years have passed since the completion of their sentence
  • The arrestee was ordered to participate in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program instead of receiving a conviction, and they have completed the program.
  • The arrestee was convicted of certain misdemeanor offenses, and 10 years have passed since the completion of their sentence

Generally, the steps eligible individuals may take to petition to get their arrest record expunged include the following:

  • Step 1: Prospective petitioners need to obtain their complete criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository: They may complete Form SP 4-170 and mail it with other required items and documents to the agencies. These required items include:
    • A $20.00 filing fee (via a certified check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania)
    • A copy of the petitioner's government-issued photo ID
    • A letter of representation or legal affidavit (if applicable)

These required items and the completed Form SP 4-170 may be mailed to:

Pennsylvania State Police

Central Repository - RCPU

1800 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

  • Step 2: Complete the appropriate expungement petition form and file it along with the criminal history record issued by the RCPU with the court that heard the case that resulted from the arrest.
  • Step 3: Pay the $185.20 non-refundable filing fee

A hearing may be scheduled if any relevant agency files an objection to the petition. However, the court may issue a signed expungement order without a hearing if it does not receive any objections and the petitioner meets relevant eligibility requirements. The expungement order would then be forwarded to Pennsylvania State Police to effect necessary changes to the petitioner's criminal history record.

How Do You Remove Fayette County Arrest Records From the Internet?

The main requirement to remove a Fayette County arrest record from the internet is getting the record expunged. Once expunged, the record holder may forward the expungement order to relevant government entities, such as county sheriffs, local police departments, and courts, along with a removal request for the record. These government entities are legally required to grant the request.

Most third-party aggregate websites streamline the process for requesting the removal of an arrest record and other public records from their website. They usually provide an opt-out form that individuals may complete and submit to request the removal of a specific record from their website. Individuals may also bolster their request by submitting the expungement order for their record.