Philadelphia Police Records and Public Safety Reports
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city with approximately 1.6 million residents and one of the largest police departments on the East Coast. The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) operates 21 police districts across the city, each responsible for patrol, incident response, and local records. Police records in Philadelphia include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, fire reports, and other public safety documents. This guide explains how to request reports from the Department of Records, submit Right-to-Know requests to the PPD, use online reporting tools, and access criminal history information through state systems.
Philadelphia Quick Facts
Philadelphia Police Records Overview
Philadelphia is Pennsylvania's largest city with about 1.6 million residents. The Philadelphia Police Department (PPD) operates 21 police districts across the city. Police records include incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and public safety documents maintained across multiple PPD divisions and the Department of Records. The department is headquartered at 750 Race Street in Center City Philadelphia.
The non-emergency number for the Philadelphia Police Department is (215) 686-8686. For all emergencies, call 911. Because Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, the city handles its own records through the Department of Records rather than through the county sheriff's office. This is different from most Pennsylvania counties, where the sheriff and separate municipal departments each maintain distinct records.
Whether you need a copy of a police incident report for insurance purposes, a background check for employment, or documentation for a legal matter, understanding the correct process for each record type will save time and prevent delays. The sections below cover every major record category available through the Philadelphia Police Department and associated city offices.
How to Get a Philadelphia Police Report
The Philadelphia Department of Records processes all public safety report requests in the city. Location: City Hall, Room 170, 1400 John F. Kennedy Blvd, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Phone: (215) 686-2266. Email: policereports.info@phila.gov. Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM.
Police incident reports (Form 82-47) cost $25 per report. Payment must be made by business check or money order payable to "City of Philadelphia." Cash is not accepted for mail-in requests. Processing takes 10 to 12 weeks for incident reports. Plan accordingly if you need the document for a court date, insurance deadline, or other time-sensitive purpose.
Crash reports and fire reports are available online at public-safety-reports.phila.gov through a secure city account. All other report types require in-person or mail submission. Download all request forms at phila.gov/documents/public-safety-report-request-forms/. Mail requests to: Department of Records, Incident Reports, Room 170, City Hall, Philadelphia, PA 19107. Include two self-addressed stamped envelopes with your submission to help expedite the return of your completed report.
The city's official guide to getting a public safety report is at phila.gov/services/crime-law-justice/get-a-copy-of-a-public-safety-report/ and covers every report type available.
The page explains online versus in-person options and lists all required forms and fees. Review it before submitting any request to confirm that you are using the correct form and current fee amount.
Philadelphia Police Right-to-Know Requests
Formal Right-to-Know requests for Philadelphia Police records go to the PPD Open Records Officer. The designated officer is LaVanda K. Harris, located at 1500 Arch Street, 10th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102. Phone: (215) 686-2176. Email: police.openrecords@phila.gov.
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104), agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a written request. The response may grant access, deny the request with a written explanation, or request a 30-day extension. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard paper copies. If your request is denied, you can appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Body camera footage and audio recordings require a separate request under 42 Pa.C.S.A. Sec. 67A03, not the RTK Law. This is a distinct process with different requirements, and it must be submitted separately from any standard RTK request. The Open Records Officer can direct you to the correct form and procedure for audio-visual records requests involving PPD personnel.
The Philadelphia Police Department's web presence at phila.gov/departments/philadelphia-police-department/ includes links to records, community programs, and department contacts.
The department maintains multiple divisions, each with its own contact information and records procedures. If you are unsure which division holds the records you need, start with the Open Records Officer who can redirect your request appropriately.
Online Reporting in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Police online reporting portal at prod.phillypolice.com accepts select non-emergency reports 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This is for incidents that have already occurred, not for ongoing emergencies. Call 911 for all emergencies. The portal is limited to specific incident types, so review the list of eligible report categories before attempting to file online.
The online system requires a valid email address to receive your confirmation and report copy. Once your report is processed, the department will send you a copy of the completed report at the email address you provided. This method is convenient for common non-emergency incidents such as minor thefts, lost property, and certain vandalism cases that do not require an officer to respond in person.
Vehicle crash reports and fire incident reports are available through public-safety-reports.phila.gov using a secure city account. These reports are separate from general police incident reports and are managed through a different division within the Department of Records. The online portal for crash and fire reports generally processes requests faster than the 10 to 12 week window for incident reports submitted by mail.
PATCH and Criminal Background Checks
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system provides statewide conviction records including all Philadelphia arrests and convictions maintained in the state database. The fee is $22 per search. Access PATCH at pa.gov/agencies/psp/programs/records-request/overview-of-patch. PATCH results are typically returned quickly for online submissions.
PATCH searches return conviction data governed under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183, the Criminal History Record Information Act. Results do not include arrests that did not lead to a conviction, federal records, or records from other states. If you need a broader criminal history check that covers multiple jurisdictions, additional requests to federal agencies or individual state systems may be required.
Local background checks specific to Philadelphia are available through the Department of Records. Letters of good conduct, which confirm that an individual has no arrest or conviction record in Philadelphia, can be requested through the Department of Records for a fee of $10. A basic name check with no letter costs nothing. Contact the Department of Records at (215) 686-2266 for information on background check options specific to Philadelphia.
Philadelphia Court Records
Criminal court records for Philadelphia cases are available through the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This free tool lets you search by name or docket number at no charge. It covers both Philadelphia Municipal Court and Philadelphia Court of Common Pleas records, giving you access to case information at both the misdemeanor and felony level without needing to visit the courthouse.
For certified copies of court documents, contact the Philadelphia Clerk of Courts directly. Certified copies are required for many legal proceedings, including expungement petitions, employment background clearances, and immigration matters. Fees for certified copies vary by document type and page count. The Clerk of Courts is located at the Philadelphia Criminal Justice Center, 1301 Filbert Street, Philadelphia, PA 19107.
The District Attorney's Office at phila.gov/departments/district-attorneys-office/ handles prosecution records separately with its own RTK process. Records held by the DA's office, including investigative materials and prosecution case files, must be requested directly from the DA's designated RTK officer. Active criminal investigation records are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law and will not be released through any of these channels.
Philadelphia Crime Statistics
Crime data for Philadelphia is compiled and published through the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting system at attorneygeneral.gov/pennsylvania-uniform-crime-reporting-system/. This statewide system aggregates crime data from all participating law enforcement agencies in Pennsylvania, including the Philadelphia Police Department, and presents it in standardized formats for year-over-year comparison.
The Philadelphia Police Department also publishes its own crime statistics and district-level data on its website. Annual reports and neighborhood crime maps are updated regularly and available to the public online. This data helps residents, researchers, journalists, and policymakers understand crime trends and public safety patterns across the city's 21 police districts. District-level breakdowns allow users to compare activity in specific neighborhoods over time.
Statistics published through official sources reflect reported incidents only. Many crimes go unreported, so official counts represent a floor rather than a complete count of all criminal activity. For analysis and context around Philadelphia crime data, the Department of Justice and various academic and nonprofit organizations publish supplementary reports that draw on PPD statistics alongside other data sources.
Note: Investigative reports related to active criminal cases are exempt from public disclosure under Pennsylvania law and will not be released through the Department of Records or any RTK request to the Philadelphia Police Department.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities access police records through their own local departments and county offices. Select a city below to learn about police records and report requests in that area.