Berks County Felony Records and Criminal Cases
Berks County maintains felony records and criminal case files through the 23rd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, based in Reading, Pennsylvania. The Clerk of Courts office under Beth A. Jones manages official criminal filings, while the Prothonotary under Jonathan DelCollo handles civil matters separately. Members of the public can search case information using the statewide UJS portal or by contacting county offices directly. This guide covers how records are kept, where to look, and what the courts in Berks County oversee.
Berks County Quick Facts
Berks County Felony Records Overview
Felony cases in Berks County begin at the magisterial district court level before moving to the Court of Common Pleas. The Court of Common Pleas for the 23rd Judicial District handles all major criminal proceedings, including trials, sentencing, and post-conviction matters. Reading serves as the county seat and is home to the main courthouse at 633 Court Street.
The Clerk of Courts office is the primary keeper of criminal docket records in Berks County. This includes felony charges, plea records, verdict entries, and sentencing documents. Beth A. Jones currently holds the position of Clerk of Courts. Her office is located on the 12th Floor of the courthouse. You can reach them at 610-478-6000 ext. 5003, or by fax at 610-478-6002. These records are part of the public record unless sealed by court order.
Berks County operates with separate offices for criminal and civil matters. The Prothonotary, Jonathan DelCollo, handles civil court filings and is reachable at 610-478-6970. This separation between offices is worth noting when you are trying to locate the right type of record.
Note: Berks County uses a dual-office structure, so criminal and civil filings are maintained by different elected officials at the same courthouse address.
How to Search Berks Felony Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System web portal offers the most direct path to Berks County felony records online. The UJS Case Search portal lets you look up cases by name, docket number, or date range. Results include charge details, case status, and court dates. This tool covers cases filed across all Pennsylvania counties, including Berks.
The county also maintains its own criminal records resource. The Berks County criminal records page provides additional guidance on how to access local case information. It is a useful starting point if you are not sure which docket number to enter into the statewide system.
For background checks tied to employment screening or licensing, the Pennsylvania State Police runs the PATCH system. This is a fee-based service that returns statewide criminal history. The Pennsylvania State Police website has more detail on how PATCH works and who can request a check.
Note: The UJS portal shows docket-level data only. Full case documents must be requested from the Clerk of Courts in person or by mail.
Berks County Courthouse and Records Office
The Berks County Court of Common Pleas sits at 633 Court Street in Reading. All three key offices — Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and District Attorney — share this address. The building houses courtrooms, clerk offices, and administrative staff across multiple floors.
The image below, sourced from the Berks County criminal records site, shows the county sheriff's office and its connection to local criminal record management.
The sheriff's office works alongside the Clerk of Courts to process arrest records and court commitments for felony cases in the county.
District Attorney John T. Adams leads prosecution for Berks County. His office is on the 5th Floor of the same building and can be reached at 610-478-6000 ext. 5057. The DA's office handles charging decisions for felony cases that move from the magisterial courts to the Court of Common Pleas.
Juvenile Court Records in Berks County
Juvenile records in Berks County are handled differently than adult felony files. The Honorable Eleni Dimitriou Geishauser serves as Juvenile Court Judge and can be reached at 610-478-6208 ext. 3737. Juvenile proceedings are generally not open to the public in the same way adult criminal cases are.
The Chief Juvenile Probation Officer for Berks County is Daniel C. Heydt, reachable at 610-478-3200 ext. 5499. The probation office maintains supervision records for juveniles on active court orders. These files are typically confidential and not part of the public record.
Under Pennsylvania law, some juvenile adjudications may be expunged or automatically sealed under the Clean Slate Act. Clean Slate 3.0, signed into law on February 12, 2024, expanded the scope of automatic sealing for qualifying records. Adults with older juvenile records should review whether their history qualifies for relief under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.
Pennsylvania Record Access Laws
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, governs how criminal records are collected, stored, and shared across the state. It sets limits on who can access certain types of criminal history and how that data can be used. Berks County courts and law enforcement agencies must follow this framework.
The Right to Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public a formal right to request government records. This includes some court administrative records. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles disputes and appeals when agencies deny requests. County offices must respond to RTKL requests within a set period.
Individuals seeking to clear their criminal history in Berks County can look into expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 or limited access sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. The Board of Pardons at bop.pa.gov reviews applications for pardons and commutations when other relief is not available. Pardon is the only path to relief for many serious felony convictions.
Note: Sealing under Clean Slate does not erase a record from law enforcement databases; it removes it from public-facing court searches only.
Berks County Court of Common Pleas Details
The 23rd Judicial District serves Berks County exclusively. This is a single-county judicial district, meaning the Court of Common Pleas here handles only cases arising from within Berks County. The court has divisions for criminal, civil, family, and orphans' court matters.
The second image below comes from the Pennsylvania Courts website and shows the official profile for Berks County within the statewide court system.
The PA Courts profile page includes contact information for the president judge, court administration, and clerk offices. It is a reliable source for confirming current office holders and updated phone numbers.
Berks County also maintains its own official website at co.berks.pa.us, which covers a range of county services beyond court records. Department listings, meeting schedules, and public notices are all available there.
Inmate and Supervision Records
Individuals convicted of felonies in Berks County and sentenced to state prison can be located through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator. The DOC Inmate Locator lets you search by name or inmate number. It shows current facility placement and projected release dates for state inmates.
County jail sentences are served at the Berks County jail, not a state facility. Berks County Jail records are managed locally and are not included in the DOC system. Contact the Berks County jail or sheriff's office directly for information about county-held inmates.
Felony probation supervision in Berks County is handled by the county adult probation office. Supervision records are not public, but court-ordered conditions may appear in the public docket through the UJS portal. Sentences involving probation are typically noted in the sentencing entry of the case record.
Requesting Berks County Court Records by Mail
If you cannot visit the courthouse in Reading, you can request records by mail from the Clerk of Courts. Written requests should be directed to Beth A. Jones at 633 Court Street, 12th Floor, Reading, PA 19601. Include the full name of the defendant, approximate date of case, and docket number if available. The office fax is 610-478-6002.
Requests should be specific. Vague or overly broad requests may be returned or delayed. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope if you want copies mailed back. The clerk's office can confirm whether a record exists before processing a copy request.
Some records from older cases may not be indexed in the UJS portal. For cases predating electronic filing, the physical docket book at the courthouse may be the only source. Staff can assist with older record lookups during normal business hours.
Note: Copy fees vary by document type and page count; confirm current rates with the clerk's office before submitting a mail request.
Cities in Berks County
Reading is the county seat and largest city in Berks County. It is home to the county courthouse and most county government offices.
Nearby Counties
Berks County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Each has its own court system and record offices. Follow the links below to find records information for neighboring counties.