Reading Pennsylvania Felony Records
Reading felony records are maintained by the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. Reading is the county seat of Berks County and the fifth largest city in Pennsylvania, with roughly 95,000 residents. Felony cases filed in Reading are heard at the Berks County Services Center at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. The public can search Reading felony records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal or in person at the courthouse. This page covers the main resources for finding, requesting, and understanding felony records connected to Reading and Berks County.
Reading Quick Facts
Reading Felony Records at the Berks County Courthouse
All Reading felony cases are filed at the Berks County Court of Common Pleas at 633 Court Street in Reading. The Clerk of Courts office maintains the criminal case files for every felony charged in the county. This includes charges originating in Reading and in all other municipalities within Berks County. The Clerk of Courts processes new filings, stores case documents, and provides public access to docket information.
Each felony case record includes a docket sheet. The docket lists the charges, the judge assigned, bail status, every hearing date, and the final outcome of the case. Docket sheets are public records under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. You can review them in person at the courthouse or access them online through the UJS Portal without any registration or cost.
Reading serves as the physical and administrative center for all Berks County felony records. If a felony offense occurred within Reading city limits, the case is filed in Berks County Common Pleas and becomes part of the Reading-area felony record database maintained by the Clerk of Courts. Requests for certified copies of felony case documents are handled by this same office.
Note: The Berks County Clerk of Courts cannot provide legal advice or interpret case outcomes for members of the public visiting the courthouse.
How to Search Reading Felony Records Online
The UJS Case Search portal is the primary tool for finding Reading felony records online. It is free and open to the public. No registration is needed. You can search by name, date of birth, or docket number. The portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Berks County.
To focus your search on Reading-area cases, set the county filter to Berks. Enter the last name of the person you are looking for. Add a first name or date of birth to narrow results when there are many matches. Each result links to a docket sheet. The docket sheet shows every action taken in the case from initial charges through final disposition. You can download the docket sheet as a free PDF.
The UJS Portal is the fastest way to confirm whether a felony case was filed in Reading. It reflects information entered by Berks County court staff. Updates generally appear after daily processing rather than in real time. For very recent cases or hearings that just occurred, checking back the following day is advisable.
Note: Some older Reading felony records from before electronic filing exist only in paper form at the Berks County Courthouse and may not appear in the UJS Portal search results.
Central Berks Police Right-to-Know and Reading Records
For records held by municipal police agencies serving the Reading area, the Central Berks Regional Police Department offers a Right-to-Know process. Central Berks covers several municipalities in Berks County outside of Reading proper. Their public records page provides information on how to submit a Right-to-Know request for police reports and related documents.
The Central Berks Police right-to-know page describes what records are available, how to submit a request, and what to expect in terms of response time. Police incident reports and arrest records from Central Berks are separate from felony case records held by the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. Both types of records can be useful when researching Reading-area felony activity.
The following image comes from the Central Berks Police right-to-know page at centralberks.org.
The Central Berks right-to-know process is governed by Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101, which sets timelines and requirements for how government agencies must respond to public records requests.
Note: Police incident reports from the Central Berks Regional Police Department are separate from court records and may not reflect the final outcome of a criminal case.
Reading Felony Records and the PATCH System
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system provides official statewide criminal history reports. PATCH draws from arrest and conviction data submitted by courts across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Berks County. A PATCH search will return felony convictions connected to a Reading address or a Berks County case if they were properly reported to the state police database.
PATCH is available online at epatch.state.pa.us. You submit the subject's name and date of birth. The report is generated from state police records. PATCH does not show records that have been sealed or expunged. It shows the official conviction record as reported to the state, which may differ slightly from what a UJS Portal docket search returns.
The following image is sourced from the Pennsylvania PATCH background check system at epatch.state.pa.us, showing the statewide lookup tool used for Reading and Berks County felony records.
Individuals can request their own PATCH record at any time to review what appears before authorizing any disclosure to another party. Third-party requests require written consent from the person being searched.
Note: PATCH reports reflect records held by the Pennsylvania State Police and may not capture very recent convictions that have not yet been reported from the Berks County court system.
What Reading Felony Records Contain
A Reading felony case record is a collection of court documents and docket entries. It starts at the time charges are filed and continues through every stage of the case. The docket sheet is the summary document. It lists defendant information, charges, the assigned judge, hearing dates, bail decisions, and the final disposition including any sentence imposed.
Beyond the docket sheet, the case file held by the Berks County Clerk of Courts may include:
- Criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause from the arresting officer
- Bail orders and any requests to modify bail conditions
- Pretrial motions filed by the defense or prosecution
- Plea agreements if the case resolved without trial
- Sentencing orders reflecting prison terms, probation, fines, or other conditions
- Post-conviction filings such as appeals or petitions for relief
Most of these documents are open to the public. Some items may be sealed by court order. Juvenile records are not part of the public felony record system. The Berks County Clerk of Courts can confirm which portions of a specific file are available for public review when you visit in person at 633 Court Street in Reading.
Clean Slate Sealing of Reading Felony Records
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law expanded automatic sealing for criminal records. As of February 12, 2024, certain low-level felony convictions may be sealed automatically after ten years. Misdemeanor convictions may qualify after seven years. The waiting period begins after completion of the sentence. The person must remain conviction-free during the entire period for the seal to apply.
Automatic sealing means that some older Reading felony records may no longer appear in public searches even if the conviction happened and was valid at the time. The record still exists in the court system but is restricted from public access. Law enforcement and certain licensing boards can still see sealed records. The court system applies these seals without requiring any petition from the individual.
Not all felony convictions qualify. Serious violent offenses and sexual offenses are generally excluded from Clean Slate sealing. For cases that do not qualify automatically, a person may petition the Berks County Court of Common Pleas for limited access under Pennsylvania statute. The district attorney has the right to object to such a petition. If granted, the record is shielded from public view going forward.
For felony convictions that cannot be sealed through the courts, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons offers another path. The Board reviews pardon applications and holds hearings before recommending action to the governor. The Board of Pardons can be reached at (717) 787-2596. A pardon can lead to expungement, which fully removes the record rather than simply restricting public access.
Note: Whether a specific Reading felony record qualifies for sealing or expungement depends on the offense grade, sentence, and time elapsed since conviction, so consulting a Pennsylvania attorney is advisable.
Requesting Copies of Reading Felony Court Records
Certified copies of Reading felony records are available through the Berks County Clerk of Courts at 633 Court Street, Reading, PA 19601. Bring a valid photo ID and the docket number if you have it. Staff will locate the file and prepare copies. Certified copies carry the official court seal. Plain copies are also available at a lower cost. Call the Clerk of Courts before visiting to confirm current copy prices and office hours.
Mail requests are accepted for Reading felony records. Send a written request with the defendant's full name, date of birth, approximate year of filing, and docket number if available. Include a check or money order for the copy fee. The office will process the request and mail documents back to you. Mail processing takes longer than an in-person visit.
If you need to locate an individual currently serving a sentence for a Reading felony conviction, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains the PA DOC Inmate Locator. This free tool searches for individuals held in Pennsylvania state correctional facilities. It is separate from court records and reflects current incarceration status rather than case history.
Berks County Felony Records
Reading felony records are part of the broader Berks County felony case system. As the county seat, Reading is where the Berks County Court of Common Pleas is located and where all felony cases from throughout the county are filed and decided. Whether a case originated in Reading or another Berks County municipality, the Clerk of Courts at 633 Court Street is the office responsible for maintaining and providing access to those felony records.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of cities near Reading can access felony records through their own county courthouse. Select a city below to learn about felony records in that area of Pennsylvania.