Access Reading Pennsylvania Criminal Court Records
Reading criminal court records are filed and maintained through the Berks County Court system, which serves the 23rd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. Reading is both the county seat and the largest city in Berks County, with approximately 95,000 residents. The Berks County Services Center on Court Street houses the Clerk of Courts and the Court of Common Pleas, making it the central location for accessing Reading criminal court records. Cases range from summary offenses heard by Magisterial District Judges to felony matters resolved in Common Pleas. This guide explains how to find Reading criminal court records, what each office holds, and where to search online.
Reading Quick Facts
Berks County Clerk of Courts: Reading Criminal Records
The Berks County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal court records for Reading and all of Berks County. The office is on the 4th floor of the Berks County Services Center at 633 Court Street in downtown Reading. This is where all Common Pleas criminal case files are maintained, where new filings are accepted, and where certified copies of records can be obtained.
| Office | Berks County Clerk of Courts (Criminal Division) |
|---|---|
| Address | 633 Court Street, 4th Floor Reading, PA 19601 |
| Phone | (610) 478-6550 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
| Open Records Office | 13th Floor, 633 Court Street | Fax: (610) 478-6293 |
| Open Records Email | Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com |
In-person visits are the most direct way to access specific Reading criminal court records, especially for older cases or when you need certified copies. Mail requests are accepted with the proper forms, which are available from the Clerk of Courts. Bring as much identifying information as possible, such as the case number, the defendant's name, or the approximate year of filing.
Copy fees for Reading criminal court records are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certification of a document costs $10 per document plus copying fees on top. The office accepts cash, check, and money order. Mail requests need to include the appropriate request form along with payment.
Searching Reading Court Cases Online
The statewide UJS Portal is the primary online tool for searching Reading criminal court records. The portal is free and covers cases at both the MDJ level and the Common Pleas level for Berks County. You can search by defendant name, case number, or OTN to find docket sheets, charge information, and case dispositions.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal provides free access to Reading criminal case dockets, including Magisterial District Judge cases and Court of Common Pleas records for Berks County.
The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us provides additional information on how court records are maintained statewide, how the UJS Portal works, and what the Public Access Policy covers. For general questions about navigating the system, this site is a useful starting point alongside the UJS Portal itself.
The Pennsylvania Courts website explains statewide court structure, the public access policy for court records, and how to navigate court systems across all 67 counties including Berks County.
Multiple Magisterial District Judge courts serve Reading and the surrounding Berks County communities. For questions about which MDJ court handles a specific address in Reading, contact the Berks County Court Administrator. MDJ records appear in the UJS Portal under the MDJS case type category.
Note: The UJS Portal does not show sealed or expunged records. If you expect a case to appear but cannot find it, it may have been sealed under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1) or expunged by court order. The Clerk of Courts can confirm whether a record exists with restricted access.
What Reading Criminal Court Records Contain
Reading criminal cases generate records at two levels of the court system. Summary offenses, traffic violations, and preliminary proceedings go to the Magisterial District Judge. Felonies and most misdemeanors proceed to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas after the preliminary hearing phase. The records at each level are distinct but linked through the statewide case management systems.
MDJ-level records include the criminal complaint, bail determination, and the outcome of the preliminary hearing. When a case is held for court, the record moves to the Common Pleas level. Common Pleas criminal records include the bill of information or indictment, any pretrial motions, plea agreements, trial transcripts, verdict records, and the sentencing order. Post-conviction filings and appeals also attach to the Common Pleas case docket.
The Berks County Court of Common Pleas participates in PACFile, Pennsylvania's electronic filing system. Many newer filings are submitted electronically and are reflected quickly in the UJS Portal. Older records may be in paper form and require an in-person request at the Clerk of Courts. The Clerk's office can tell you whether a specific case is available in electronic form or requires a manual search of paper files.
Reading Open Records and Right-to-Know Requests
Berks County maintains a dedicated Open Records Office on the 13th floor of the Services Center at 633 Court Street. This office handles Right-to-Know Law requests for county agency records. The email address is Countyopenrecordsofficer@countyofberks.com, and requests can also be faxed to (610) 478-6293. The Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) governs access to Berks County government records that are not court records.
Court records are governed by a different standard. The Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System (Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509) controls access to records held by the courts. For criminal dockets and court filings in Reading, the Clerk of Courts at (610) 478-6550 is the right contact. If a formal request is needed, it should identify the specific record with enough detail for staff to locate it.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov is a helpful resource for understanding whether a specific request falls under the Right-to-Know Law or the court public access policy. They can also provide guidance on appealing a denied records request through the proper administrative channel.
Reading Police and Arrest Records
The Reading Police Department maintains arrest records for incidents within Reading city limits. The department is at 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601, and can be reached at (610) 655-6116. Police records are separate from court records. Arrest documentation reflects what the police observed and recorded before charges were filed.
Court records begin after charges are submitted to the Clerk of Courts or the MDJ. If you are looking for records of a specific incident in Reading, both the police department and the court system may hold relevant documents. Arrest records from the Reading Police Department and criminal case records from the Berks County Clerk of Courts together provide a complete picture of what happened and what the courts decided.
Criminal History Checks for Reading Residents
Statewide criminal history background checks are processed through PATCH (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) at epatch.pa.gov. PATCH results reflect the statewide database maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police, which includes Berks County court records. Standard checks are $22. Individuals checking their own record pay $20. The PATCH helpline is 1-888-783-7972.
PATCH results show criminal history compiled from courts statewide under CHRIA (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183). Reading and Berks County cases reported to the Pennsylvania State Police appear in these results. For complete docket-level information about a specific case, the UJS Portal or the Berks County Clerk of Courts provides more detail than a PATCH result alone. More information is available at the Pennsylvania State Police website.
Note: PATCH results do not include records sealed under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate provisions or expunged records. The same limitations apply to UJS Portal searches. If you are checking your own record and believe something should be sealed or expunged, contact the Clerk of Courts for guidance on the process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 or 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2.
Berks County Criminal Court Records
Reading is the county seat of Berks County, and all criminal cases from the city are processed through the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. For a full overview of the county court structure, clerk contact details, and additional records resources, visit the Berks County criminal court records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Criminal court records in other Pennsylvania cities are maintained through each city's respective county court. Choose a nearby city below to find records access information for that location.