Philadelphia County, PA Public Records
Public records entail the definition set by the Right to Know Law without any restrictions stipulated. Philadelphia’s Right to Know Law pertains to information regardless of form, illustrating transactions or pursuant to the Law. Philadelphia County public records include documents, audio recordings, film, maps, and letters. It is public records if federal or state law does not exempt any disclosure as well. Birth and death records are only open to eligible individuals like relatives, spouses, those named on the birth certificates, and step-relations. Marriage records, though, do not have as many restrictions. These are open to public viewing and are accessed at the Register of Wills. Divorce records from 1885 are also public domain, but applicants would have to supply names of the divorcees, case numbers assigned to the action, and the year the divorce was filed.
Courts in Philadelphia County
Court Records in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania common law stipulates that the public can view and copy court records. There are restrictions against particular cases, such as juvenile delinquency, domestic abuse, child custody, and certain criminal cases. Municipal Philadelphia County courts also allow interested requesters access to civil and criminal cases. Requesters may also file a Request for Case Records form. That is before it is emailed to the Municipal Court Civil Division. While one-time copies cost 25 cents a page for one-time applicants, recurring report requests will incur a flat rate of $300 a month. Alternatively, requesters can utilize a statewide service, where applicants can gain access via the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. Applicants also fill out a public records form. In Philadelphia, there is no centralized repository for criminal history. Rather requesters can get information from both the courts and state police departments.
Jails and Prisons in Philadelphia County
Find Inmate Search and Jail Records in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
The Philadelphia County inmate records are available to the public following the Right to Know Act. Inmate searches are maintained in a centralized repository for county correctional facilities. These are via a six-digit police identification number or person's name, revealing an inmate's booking number, physical descriptors, and the detention facility the inmate is based. The public may also contact the Office of Community Justice for more information. Inmates can get visits for a time of one hour each week. These are open to family and friends, provided the individuals do not pose a security threat, were incarcerated in the past six months, or are on conditional release from such facilities. The county has 12 jails and prisons serving a population of 1.576 million.
Police Departments and Sheriff Offices in Philadelphia County
Arrest Records in Philadelphia County, Pennsylvania
Philadelphia County arrest records include details leading up to detainment by a law enforcement officer. Philadelphia County arrest records on incidents within the county are usually published periodically, and the statistics are broken down according to age, race, and charge category. These are kept by the Philadelphia police department considering arrest records form part of the criminal records. The Department of Records of Philadelphia is also an archive for arrest records. Depending on the nature of the information, these can be revealed to the public. Reports, including juveniles, threats to national security, or ongoing criminal investigations, are confidential. Requesters of open records can contact the police departments in person or via mail. Philadelphia County has 35 police departments in Philadelphia County, and the crime rate is 35 per 1,000 residents.
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Popular Cities in Philadelphia
- Philadelphia