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  1. Montgomery County Court
  2. Montgomery County Arrest Records

Montgomery County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

A Montgomery County arrest record is a document on the arrest and detention of a suspected offender by a county-level law enforcement agency. In Montgomery County, the Sheriff’s Office and municipal police departments, including the Abington Township Police Department and the Cheltenham Township Police Department, maintain these documents for transparency and accountability reasons. 

Access to Pennsylvania's government documents, including Montgomery County arrest records, is governed by Chapter 15, Title 65, Sections 67.101 through 67.3104 of Purdon's Statutes. However, the state operates a separate law for the dissemination of criminal history information. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) (Chapter 91, Title 18, Sections 9101 through 9183 of the Purdon's Statutes) governs how law enforcement agencies collect, maintain, and make criminal history records accessible to the public. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Montgomery, Pennsylvania?

Yes, arrest records are public information in Montgomery County. Individuals' rights to access Montgomery County’s arrest records and other government documents are governed by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Per this legislation, anyone can access arrest records in Montgomery County regardless of their residency, unless there is a statutory, judicial, privilege,  or investigative exemption. Likewise, individuals do not require an ID or need to state their reasons to access Montgomery County arrest records. 

While Montgomery County arrest records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law,  the state regulates access to criminal history records under a separate law. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act governs access to criminal offender information in Montgomery County.. 

What Do Public Montgomery County Arrest Records Contain?

In Montgomery County and across Pennsylvania, arrest records are open documents. However, access is limited to details outlined by the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Consequently, a typical public-facing Montgomery County arrest record contains the following information:

  • The full name and basic physical description of the arrestee
  • Age or date of birth
  • Arrest date, time, and location 
  • Criminal charges were filed at the time of the arrest 
  • Mugshot
  • Booking or inmate identification number 
  • The arresting agency 
  • Bail or bond details 
  • Custody/detention status
  • Scheduled court appearance 
  • Case or docket number 
  • Scheduled court appearance 
  • Disposition updates, such as release, dismissal, or conviction information.  

However, not all of Montgomery County’s arrest records are open to public scrutiny. Public access to arrest records under Pennsylvania laws does not include full investigative files. Likewise, individuals cannot access a Montgomery County arrest record if disclosure will violate privacy rights, reveal confidential sources, or expose protected criminal history data. Montgomery County law enforcement agencies and other custodians of the county’s arrest records will also deny public access to juvenile, sealed, and expunged arrest documents. 

Montgomery County,  Pennsylvania Arrest Search

Several search options exist for a Montgomery County arrest record search. While local search tools and custodians may provide direct paths, individuals seeking access to Montgomery County arrest records can use state and federal resources to locate these documents. 

The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) is a state-level search portal that allows interested parties to search for criminal history information for a fee. Users can perform name-based searches for arrest-related entries, disposition, and conviction records that are publicly accessible under Pennsylvania laws. Record seekers can also search for Montgomery County’s arrest records through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial Case System. This search portal can provide access to arrest information through criminal conviction case records. 

The United States government also provides tools for accessing information. At the federal level, the Administrative Office of the United States Courts (AO) Public Access to Court Electronic Records portal (PACER) and the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Identity History Summary Check are two options for locating Montgomery County’s arrest records. PACER allows users to search for case dockets and filed documents on federal civil and criminal cases, including criminal trials linked to arrests within Montgomery County. Individuals can also access their rap sheets, which may include arrests within Montgomery County, through the FBI Identity History Summary Check.

Montgomery County Inmate Locator

Inmate locators provide direct access to arrest information. However, the Montgomery County Correctional Facility (operator of the local jail) does not maintain an inmate locator. Individuals seeking access to Montgomery County’s arrest records should log in to the Pennsylvania Judicial System Web Portal and search for the records through active criminal docket sheets. Interested parties can also use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator to find arrestees transferred from the Montgomery County Correctional Facility to state prisons. 

To access Montgomery County’s arrest records at the local level, contact the arresting agency. Alternatively, inquirers can contact the Montgomery County Correctional Facility or the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Office at the following addresses:

Montgomery County Correctional Facility 

60 Eagleville Road,

Eagleville,

PA 19403

Phone: (610) 635-7100

Montgomery County Clerk of Courts 

Montgomery County Courthouse, 

2nd Floor, 2 E. Airy Street, 

P.O. Box 311,

Norristown, 

PA 19404-0311

Phone: (610) 278-3346

Fax: (610) 278-5188.

Active Warrant Search in Montgomery County

A Montgomery County arrest warrant is a legal order issued by the county's Court of Common Pleas or Magisterial District Courts, authorizing law enforcement officers to apprehend and bring named individuals before a court. Per Title 234 of the Pennsylvania Code (Rules of Criminal Procedure), judges and magistrates of these courts issue arrest warrants when law enforcement agencies provide evidence establishing probable cause that a crime has been committed. The courts also issue bench warrants if suspects fail to appear for trials or if individuals disobey legal orders.

Once a court issues an arrest warrant in Montgomery County, the Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division enters the data into the Pennsylvania Justice Network and the National Crime Information Center (NCIC) database. Every valid arrest warrant must contain specific details to ensure legal compliance such as:

  • The defendant's full name and identifiable descriptors 
  • The specific criminal charges against the wanted person 
  • The signature of the issuing judge/magistrate 
  • Bail or bond conditions.

According to Rules 513 and 212 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, an arrest warrant and its supporting affidavit become public 72 hours after issuance, or immediately upon its execution, unless it relates to sensitive active investigations.

In Montgomery County, the Sheriff’s Office maintains, manages, tracks, and serves these warrants. Individuals seeking access to Montgomery County arrest warrants have several options. Montgomery County arrest warrants are accessible online through the Montgomery County Active Warrant Search page, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Docket Sheets Portal, or the Montgomery County CRIMEWATCH Warrant Platform. Alternatively, call the Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office Warrant Division at (610) 278-3340 or contact the office at:

2 E. Airy Street, 

Norristown, 

PA 19401

Email: sheriffwarrant@montgomerycountypa.gov.

Agency / Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Notes

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office

Maintains, serves warrants, and tracks Montgomery County's arrest and bench warrants 

Phone, online, in person

Provides access to warrant information through its Active Warrant Search portal and Most Wanted List 

Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS)

State-wide repository for civil and criminal court records 

Online 

Allows users to search for arrest and bench warrants through case dockets 

Montgomery County Clerk of Courts 

Custodian of Montgomery County’s criminal case records 

Phone, mail, and in-person 

Maintains paperwork for warrants issued during active criminal trials

Pennsylvania State Police (PSP)

Coordinates state-wide warrant tracking 

Phone or in person 

Maintains a state-wide network of active criminal investigations. While county-level systems provide direct access to local records, individuals can also query for warrant information through PSP barracks in Montgomery County. 

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Montgomery County

In Montgomery County, there are several options for accessing arrest information for free, particularly recent records. The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal allows free access to arrest records through criminal case records. Likewise, Montgomery County arrest records are freely accessible through the Montgomery County CRIMEWATCH Platform. 

However, while it is possible to access Montgomery County’s arrest records free of charge, note that free-tier tools may not provide records or redacted information. Additionally, inquirers cannot access juvenile, sealed,  and expunged records through online portals. Free access to Montgomery County’s arrest records does not require an ID. Nevertheless, for the best results, information seekers may need to provide some or all of the following details:

  • The subject’s full name
  • Approximate date of birth 
  • County or municipality 
  • Arrest date or year
  • Case number. 

Montgomery County Arrest Report

Montgomery County arrest records and arrest reports are distinct law enforcement documents. While arrest records summarize arrest incidents, arrest reports give detailed accounts of arrests. These documents are created by arresting officers to provide firsthand accounts of arrest incidents. An arrest record outlines basic information, such as:

  • The name of the arrestee 
  • Date, time, and location of the arrest 
  • Criminal charges filed at the time of booking or formal filing 
  • Booking or case number 
  • Bail or bond information.

By comparison, in addition to basic information, a Montgomery County arrest report contains:

  • A narrative of the circumstances leading to the arrest 
  • Probable cause statement 
  • Statements by witnesses 
  • Evidence collected at the crime scene
  • The arresting officer’s observations on the suspect's behavior 
  • Incident-specific investigative notes
  • Procedural steps.

While there are multiple overlapping laws on public access to Montgomery County arrest records and arrest reports, including the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, the Pennsylvania Criminal History Records Information Act, and the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Public Access Rules, only authorized entities can access arrest reports.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Montgomery County

Pennsylvania permits expungement and sealing of arrest records. However, true expungement (destruction) of criminal records is limited to certain cases. Per Rule 490 and Rule 790 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, a Montgomery County arrest record is eligible for expunction if:

  • The arrest does not result in a criminal conviction.
  • The owner of the arrest record completes the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program, probation, and community service.
  • The arrest is for minor-level violations, such as disorderly conduct, minor retail theft, or public drunkenness. 
  • The owner of the arrest record is 70 years or older and has been arrest-free for 10 years. 
  • The arrestee received a pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania. 

While expungement of a record makes it legally non-existent, sealing a Montgomery County arrest record under Pennsylvania law hides the information from the public. However, a sealed Montgomery County arrest record remains internally accessible to law enforcement agencies, courts, and certain licensing boards. 

There are two pathways to sealing a Montgomery County arrest record: automatic sealing under the Pennsylvania Clean Slate Act and sealing by request. A Montgomery County arrest record qualifies for automatic sealing if the owner of the record observes the applicable waiting periods for the following crimes:

  • Summary offenses - 5 years
  • 2nd and 3rd degree misdemeanors - 7 years
  • Non-violent felony drug charges - 10 years.

For a non-automatic sealing of a Montgomery County arrest record, the subject must observe a 7-year waiting period if the arrest is for a first-degree misdemeanor or a 10-year waiting period for a non-violent third-degree felony. Additionally, the individual must fulfill all court-imposed conditions and maintain clean behavior during the waiting period. 

To expunge or seal a Montgomery County arrest record:

  • Obtain the criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police.
  • File a formal petition for expungement or sealing with the Montgomery County Clerk of Courts Office. 
  • Pay the filing fee.
  • The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office will review the petition. If there are no objections, a judge of the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas will sign the expungement order, sealing order, and the Clerk of Court Office will distribute the certified order to the relevant agencies to erase or seal the arrest record.

How Do You Remove Montgomery County Arrest Records From the Internet?

Removing a Montgomery County arrest record from the internet involves expungement or sealing and removal requests to non-official online publishers of the information. To remove a Montgomery County arrest record from the internet:

  • Expunge or seal the arrest record through the Montgomery County Court of Common Pleas; this makes the information inaccessible through official channels.
  • Identify the third-party platforms publishing the record online and submit removal requests through their “Opt-Out” or “Privacy” links or “Contact Us” email. The requests should include copies of the expungement/sealing order. 
  • Request search engine de-indexing tools to hide the information from search results.