Berks County Police Records Guide
Berks County anchors southeastern Pennsylvania with Reading as the county seat and a population near 434,000. Police records in Berks County come from the Sheriff's office, Reading Police Department, dozens of municipal departments, the Clerk of Courts, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Arrest records, incident reports, and criminal case history are spread across these agencies depending on where an event took place. This guide covers each source and explains how to submit a formal request for Berks County police records, public safety reports, and criminal history data.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Sheriff Police Records
Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht oversees the Berks County Sheriff's Office at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. The main phone number is 610-478-6240. Office hours run from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. The Sheriff handles concealed carry permits, civil process, warrant enforcement, and court security. Concealed carry permits take approximately 15 minutes to process once all required materials are submitted.
The Berks County Sheriff's website lists services, fees, and contact information. Sheriff's records related to civil process and warrant activity are available through a written records request. Some records require a formal submission under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
The image below is sourced from the Central Berks regional resources page, which references the Berks County Sheriff's Office and its public records functions.
The Berks County Sheriff's Office is a central point for several types of public records, including warrant service logs and civil enforcement documents.
For criminal case records, the Berks County Clerk of Courts is the primary source. The Sheriff's office maintains records related to its own enforcement activities. Both offices are in the same courthouse complex at 633 Court Street.
Berks County Clerk of Courts Criminal History
James P. Troutman serves as Clerk of Courts on the 3rd Floor at 633 Court Street, Reading. The phone is 610-478-6550. The Clerk maintains all adult criminal case files for the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. These files include charges, case status, pleas, verdicts, sentencing records, and probation referrals linked to the case docket.
Criminal history records are governed by 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183, the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA). CHRIA controls how courts, law enforcement agencies, and other bodies share and retain criminal record data. Certified copies of Berks County criminal court documents are available for a fee. The Clerk's office can confirm current certification costs and turnaround times.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal offers free online access to Berks County court dockets. Search by defendant name or docket number to review case information including charges, dispositions, and hearing dates. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a criminal case is on record without visiting the 633 Court Street courthouse.
Jonathan K. Del Collo serves as Berks County Prothonotary at 633 Court Street, phone 610-478-6970. The Prothonotary keeps civil court records separate from criminal files. Civil dockets, judgment records, and related civil filings are maintained there and are also searchable through the UJS Portal.
Note: Expunged criminal records do not appear in UJS Portal searches or standard Clerk of Courts responses per Pennsylvania law.
Reading Police Department Berks County Records
Reading is one of the largest cities in Pennsylvania and generates a significant volume of police records. The Reading Police Department Records section is located at City Hall, 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601. The phone number is 610-655-6054.
Reading police report copies cost $0.25 per page. Certification of documents carries an additional $5.00 fee. The Reading PD records page provides details on how to submit a records request. Hours and submission methods may vary, so it is best to call ahead or check the website before visiting in person.
Reading PD is a busy urban department. Incident reports, arrest logs, and case summaries from within Reading city limits are maintained separately from county-level and state police records. If you are looking for records from an event that occurred in Reading, the Reading Police Department is the correct starting point rather than the Berks County Sheriff or PSP.
Berks County Right-to-Know Requests
Renee M. Hess is the Berks County Right-to-Know officer. Her office is at 633 Court Street, Reading. Email: openrecords@berkscounty.gov. Phone: 610-478-6430. Requests submitted under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104 receive a response within five business days. Extensions of up to 30 additional days are permitted with written notice.
The county RTK process covers records held by Berks County agencies. Reading city records and municipal police department records require separate requests to each entity. Copy fees at the county level are $0.25 per page. The RTK officer will identify which exemptions apply if any portion of a request is denied.
Appeals of denied requests go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. File an appeal within 15 business days of receiving a denial. The OOR reviews the denial against the specific exemptions cited and issues a binding order within 30 days in most cases. The OOR regularly overturns denials based on improper exemption claims.
The image below is sourced from the Northern Berks Regional Police Department, one of the municipal agencies in Berks County that maintains its own incident reports and police records.
Municipal departments in Berks County each handle their own records. For incidents outside Reading or other larger cities, the relevant township or borough department is the correct source.
Pennsylvania State Police Berks County Barracks
The Pennsylvania State Police provides coverage in parts of Berks County not served by local municipal departments. PSP incident reports from Berks County barracks are requested through the PSP Records Request portal. Vehicle crash reports cost $22 and are ordered through the crash report page.
Right-to-Know requests addressed to PSP for Berks County records go through the PSP RTK submission page. PSP also manages sex offender registration for Berks County residents required to report under Megan's Law. Registered offenders in Berks County appear in the statewide database at pameganslaw.state.pa.us.
PATCH System for Berks County Criminal Records
PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) provides statewide criminal history checks for $22. Berks County conviction records are included in PATCH results. Requests go online through the PATCH overview page. The system returns conviction data under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183. Arrests without conviction and expunged records do not appear.
PATCH searches rely on name and date of birth. The results are delivered electronically for online requests. For Berks County residents who need to confirm their own criminal history or share it for official purposes, PATCH is the standard state tool. It is updated regularly and reflects current conviction records statewide.
Nearby Counties
Berks County is surrounded by six other counties in southeastern Pennsylvania. Records near a border may be held by a neighboring agency.