Fee: $10.00 payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/cwp/browse.asp?A=15&BMDRN=2000&BCOB=0&C=70427
The Pennsylvania State Police has established a web-based computer application called "Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History" or PATCH. Using this system, a requestor can apply for a criminal background check on an individual. Eighty percent of the time, "No Record" certificates are returned immediately through the Internet to the requestor.
The information provided by the requestor will be checked against the criminal history database maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. If the subject’s information does not hit on any information in the database, the requestor will receive the results instantly over the Internet and the requestor can print out the "No Record" certificate. If the subject’s information hits on something in the database, the requestor receives an immediate "Request Under Review" response. A "Request Under Review" response does not necessarily mean that the individual has a record. At this point the information is manually reviewed. After the review the status will be updated to "No Record" or "Record". The requestor should check the PATCH website periodically for an updated status to their request. For all "No Record" responses, the certificate must be printed out at the requestor’s computer. All "Record" responses will be mailed to the requestor at the address provided by the requestor. It may take up to two weeks for the status to be updated from a "Request Under Review" to a "No Record" or "Record".
PATCH accepts both Registered and Non-Registered Users.
REGISTERED USERS: Companies, agencies, or offices that routinely have a need to make criminal record checks. The company, agency, or office logs onto https://epatch.state.pa.us and then completes and submits the registration form.
NON-REGISTERED USERS: Individuals are considered non-registered users. They will not be accepted as registered users. Companies, agencies, or offices can also use the system as a non-registered user if they so desire. Non-registered users log onto https://epatch.state.pa.us and select "Submit a New Record Check" under credit card users. The non-registered user can submit up to ten record checks during one session.
VALIDATING CRIMINAL HISTORY RESULTS: The information on a
"No Record" or "Record" certificate form can be validated by
accessing the PATCH Record Check Status screen https://epatch.state.pa.us/RCStatusSearch.jsp
and submitting a search request.
*Applicants may also use Form SP-164, Pennsylvania State Police
Request for Criminal Record Check. http://www.psp.state.pa.us/psp/cwp/view.asp?A=4&Q=48275
1) Applicant must secure Form SP-164 from the schools, Pennsylvania State Police Barracks or from the Pennsylvania State Police web site: www.psp.state.pa.us.
2) Send the REQUEST FOR CRIMINAL RECORD CHECK with payment to the following address: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository-164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
For status of the Criminal Record Check, call (717) 783-9144.
Applicant presents background check information to prospective employer. The school entity shall make and keep a copy of the original. The copy shall include the date copied and name of administrator who saw the original. The ORIGINAL should be RETAINED BY THE APPLICANT and is valid for one year after issuance.