How Do I Look Up Warrants in Pennsylvania?

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    You can use PennsylvaniaCourts.us to locate a warrant in Pennsylvania, as it compiles publicly available information reported by Pennsylvania's courts and law enforcement agencies into a single search. A search may reveal the warrant type, issuing court, case number, alleged offense, and bail or bond amount, when available.

    Pennsylvania is unusual among U.S. states in that it operates a genuine statewide court records system — the Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal — covering all 67 counties, from magisterial district courts through the appellate courts. That portal is free and searchable by participant name, case number, or offense tracking number. But it is a case docket system, not a warrant-specific search tool. A user looking for an active warrant would need to identify the correct case, open its docket sheet, and scan the entries for warrant-related notations. If the case originated at a magisterial district court — which handles preliminary arraignments and most initial warrant issuances — the docket may be sparse, and the warrant entry may not carry the detail a person expects.

    A consolidated warrant search streamlines that process by surfacing warrant-related records without requiring the user to navigate Pennsylvania's multi-tier court structure or interpret raw docket sheets.

    Are Warrants Public Information in Pennsylvania?

    Pennsylvania has one of the more structured frameworks in the country for governing public access to warrants. Arrest warrant information — defined under Pa.R.Crim.P. 513 as the criminal complaint, the warrant itself, and any supporting affidavits — becomes public 72 hours after issuance or upon execution, whichever comes first. That default can be delayed only if the affiant has specifically requested a delay and the issuing authority has found good cause under Rule 513(C). Sealing beyond the initial 72-hour window requires a separate motion under Rule 513.1, which limits seal orders to 60 days with judicial renewals available in 30-day increments.

    Search warrants follow a different timeline. Under Pa.R.Crim.P. 212, the warrant and its supporting affidavit become public upon execution — not upon return of the inventory, which can take considerably longer. Unexecuted search warrants are not public, and courts may destroy them. If the Commonwealth seeks to restrict access to an executed search warrant, it must obtain a seal order from a court of record under Rule 211, which carries the same 60-day limit and 30-day renewal structure as arrest warrant seals.

    Bench warrants issued under Pa.R.Crim.P. 150 for failure to appear are part of the court's docket and are accessible through the UJS Portal as soon as the entry is posted. The broader framework for records access is the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (Act 3 of 2008), which requires public bodies to respond to written records requests within five business days, with the possibility of a 30-day extension. Court records, however, are governed by the UJS Public Access Policy rather than the Right-to-Know Law — a distinction that matters because the UJS Policy redacts certain information (names of minors, Social Security numbers, financial account numbers) before the docket sheet reaches the public portal.

    How to Search for a Warrant in Pennsylvania

    1. Search PennsylvaniaCourts.us. Our Instant Warrant Lookup presents you with warrant record data compiled from available public resources in one convenient search. When available, you can find warrant type, issuing court, case number, alleged offense, and bail/bond amount, among other details, depending on the record type and issuing county.
    2. Search the UJS Portal directly. The UJS Portal Case Search provides free access to docket sheets across all 67 Pennsylvania counties, covering criminal courts of common pleas, magisterial district courts, and the Philadelphia Municipal Court. Search by participant name, docket number, or offense tracking number. Warrant entries appear as line items within a case's docket sheet — they are not displayed as a standalone searchable category. The portal also offers PAeDocket, a free mobile app with the same search capabilities.
    3. Call the county sheriff's office or clerk of courts. Have the subject's full legal name and date of birth available. Pennsylvania's sheriffs serve warrants issued by the courts of common pleas, while constables and police departments serve warrants from the magisterial district courts. If you know the county, contact the sheriff's office first for common pleas warrants, or the magisterial district court directly for lower-level cases.
    4. Visit in person. Clerks of courts in each county allow public inspection of filed case documents during business hours. If you are checking on a warrant issued in your own name, appearing at a sheriff's office or courthouse may lead to immediate arrest.
    5. Retain an attorney. A Pennsylvania attorney can review docket sheets, contact the district attorney's office, and determine a warrant's current status — including whether grounds exist to petition the court for recall or quashal.

    How Long Is a Warrant Active in Pennsylvania?

    Arrest warrants and bench warrants do not expire in Pennsylvania. They remain active until the individual is apprehended, the warrant is recalled, or the case is resolved. Search warrants carry one of the shortest execution windows in the country: Pa.R.Crim.P. 205(a)(4) limits execution to two days from the date of issuance, after which the warrant cannot be served. The rule's commentary notes that a warrant could grow stale in even less than two days, and the issuing authority may set a shorter period. For electronically stored information, the two-day clock applies to the initial seizure of the media — not to any subsequent off-site copying or forensic analysis.

    Pennsylvania Warrant Records by County

    Pennsylvania's 67 counties each have a court of common pleas, a clerk of courts, and an elected sheriff. Unlike most states, Pennsylvania does offer a centralized statewide court records system — the UJS Portal — which covers criminal docket sheets from every county. That system is free to search and includes magisterial district court cases (where most warrants originate) as well as common pleas and appellate courts. However, the portal is a docket system, not a warrant database. Users must locate the relevant case and review its entries individually. Direct contact with a county sheriff's office remains the most efficient way to confirm whether an active warrant exists for a specific individual.

    The table below lists all 67 Pennsylvania county sheriff's offices, sourced from the Pennsylvania Sheriffs' Association.

    County

    Organization

    Address

    Phone Number

    Adams

    Adams County Sheriff's Office

    117 Baltimore Street, Room 4, Gettysburg, PA 17325

    (717) 334-6781

    Allegheny

    Allegheny County Sheriff's Office

    436 Grant Street, Room 111, Pittsburgh, PA 15219

    (412) 350-4711

    Armstrong

    Armstrong County Sheriff's Office

    500 East Market Street, Suite 106, Kittanning, PA 16201

    (724) 548-3412

    Beaver

    Beaver County Sheriff's Office

    810 Third Street, Beaver, PA 15009

    (724) 728-5700

    Bedford

    Bedford County Sheriff's Office

    200 S. Juliana Street, Suite 108, Bedford, PA 15522

    (814) 623-4818

    Berks

    Berks County Sheriff's Office

    633 Court Street, Courthouse 3rd Floor, Reading, PA 19601

    (610) 478-6390

    Blair

    Blair County Sheriff's Office

    423 Allegheny Street, Suite 44, Hollidaysburg, PA 16648

    (814) 693-3100

    Bradford

    Bradford County Sheriff's Office

    215 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848

    (570) 265-1711

    Bucks

    Bucks County Sheriff's Office

    Justice Center, 100 N. Main Street, Office B2, Doylestown, PA 18901

    (215) 340-8100

    Butler

    Butler County Sheriff's Office

    300 S. Main Street, Butler, PA 16003

    (724) 284-5245

    Cambria

    Cambria County Sheriff's Office

    200 S Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931

    (814) 472-1690

    Cameron

    Cameron County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, 20 East Fifth Street, Emporium, PA 15834

    (814) 486-9351

    Carbon

    Carbon County Sheriff's Office

    4 Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229

    (570) 325-2821

    Centre

    Centre County Sheriff's Office

    213 E. High Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823

    (814) 355-6803

    Chester

    Chester County Sheriff's Office

    201 W. Market Street, Suite 1201, West Chester, PA 19380

    (610) 344-6850

    Clarion

    Clarion County Sheriff's Office

    421 Main Street, Suite 11, Clarion, PA 16214

    (814) 226-4000

    Clearfield

    Clearfield County Sheriff's Office

    1 North Second Street, Suite 116, Clearfield, PA 16830

    (814) 765-2641

    Clinton

    Clinton County Sheriff's Office

    230 E. Water Street, Lock Haven, PA 17745

    (570) 893-4070

    Columbia

    Columbia County Sheriff's Office

    35 W. Main Street, Bloomsburg, PA 17815

    (570) 389-5628

    Crawford

    Crawford County Sheriff's Office

    Judicial Center, 359 E. Center Street, Meadville, PA 16335

    (814) 333-7504

    Cumberland

    Cumberland County Sheriff's Office

    1 Court House Square, Room 303, Carlisle, PA 17013

    (717) 240-6390

    Dauphin

    Dauphin County Sheriff's Office

    P.O. Box 1067, Harrisburg, PA 17108

    (717) 780-6590

    Delaware

    Delaware County Sheriff's Office

    201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063

    (610) 891-4289

    Elk

    Elk County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, 250 Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853

    (814) 776-5344

    Erie

    Erie County Sheriff's Office

    140 W. 6th Street, Room 400, Erie, PA 16501

    (814) 451-6228

    Fayette

    Fayette County Sheriff's Office

    61 East Main Street, Uniontown, PA 15401

    (724) 430-1253

    Forest

    Forest County Sheriff's Office

    528 Elm Street, Tionesta, PA 16353

    (814) 755-3697

    Franklin

    Franklin County Sheriff's Office

    157 Lincoln Way East, Chambersburg, PA 17201

    (717) 261-3877

    Fulton

    Fulton County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, McConnellsburg, PA 17233

    (717) 485-4413

    Greene

    Greene County Sheriff's Office

    10 E. High Street, Room 106, Waynesburg, PA 15370

    (724) 852-5276

    Huntingdon

    Huntingdon County Sheriff's Office

    430 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652

    (814) 643-3091

    Indiana

    Indiana County Sheriff's Office

    825 Philadelphia Street, Indiana, PA 15701

    (724) 465-3930

    Jefferson

    Jefferson County Sheriff's Office

    200 Main Street, Brookville, PA 15825

    (814) 849-3691

    Juniata

    Juniata County Sheriff's Office

    26 N. Main Street, Mifflintown, PA 17059

    (717) 436-7716

    Lackawanna

    Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office

    200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503

    (570) 963-6717

    Lancaster

    Lancaster County Sheriff's Office

    50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17608

    (717) 299-8100

    Lawrence

    Lawrence County Sheriff's Office

    430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101

    (724) 658-2222

    Lebanon

    Lebanon County Sheriff's Office

    400 South 8th Street, Lebanon, PA 17042

    (717) 228-4490

    Lehigh

    Lehigh County Sheriff's Office

    455 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101

    (610) 782-3170

    Luzerne

    Luzerne County Sheriff's Office

    200 North River Street, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711

    (570) 825-1511

    Lycoming

    Lycoming County Sheriff's Office

    48 West Third Street, Williamsport, PA 17701

    (570) 327-2260

    McKean

    McKean County Sheriff's Office

    17013 Route 6, Smethport, PA 16749

    (814) 887-3300

    Mercer

    Mercer County Sheriff's Office

    205 South Erie Street, Mercer, PA 16137

    (724) 662-6135

    Mifflin

    Mifflin County Sheriff's Office

    20 North Wayne Street, Lewistown, PA 17044

    (717) 248-8124

    Monroe

    Monroe County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse Annex, Room 215, 610 Monroe Street, Stroudsburg, PA 18360

    (570) 517-3131

    Montgomery

    Montgomery County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, P.O. Box 311, Norristown, PA 19404

    (610) 278-3331

    Montour

    Montour County Sheriff's Office

    253 Mill Street, Danville, PA 17821

    (570) 271-3020

    Northampton

    Northampton County Sheriff's Office

    669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042

    (610) 559-3063

    Northumberland

    Northumberland County Sheriff's Office

    201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801

    (570) 988-4154

    Perry

    Perry County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, 2 E. Main Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068

    (717) 582-2131

    Philadelphia

    Philadelphia Sheriff's Office

    100 S. Broad Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19103

    (215) 686-3500

    Pike

    Pike County Sheriff's Office

    412 Broad Street, Suite 5, Milford, PA 18337

    (570) 296-7613

    Potter

    Potter County Sheriff's Office

    1 East Second Street, Room 24, Coudersport, PA 16915

    (814) 274-9730

    Schuylkill

    Schuylkill County Sheriff's Office

    401 N. Second Street, Pottsville, PA 17901

    (570) 628-1440

    Snyder

    Snyder County Sheriff's Office

    9 West Market Street, Middleburg, PA 17842

    (570) 837-4207

    Somerset

    Somerset County Sheriff's Office

    111 E. Union Street, Suite 100, Somerset, PA 15501

    (814) 445-1413

    Sullivan

    Sullivan County Sheriff's Office

    245 Muncy Street, Laporte, PA 18626

    (570) 946-7071

    Susquehanna

    Susquehanna County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, 11 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801

    (570) 278-4631

    Tioga

    Tioga County Sheriff's Office

    116 Main Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901

    (570) 724-1927

    Union

    Union County Sheriff's Office

    103 S. Second Street, Lewisburg, PA 17837

    (570) 524-8631

    Venango

    Venango County Sheriff's Office

    Courthouse, 1168 Liberty Street, Franklin, PA 16323

    (814) 432-9551

    Warren

    Warren County Sheriff's Office

    407 Market Street, Warren, PA 16365

    (814) 728-3600

    Washington

    Washington County Sheriff's Office

    95 West Beau Street, Suite 110, Washington, PA 15301

    (724) 228-6840

    Wayne

    Wayne County Sheriff's Office

    925 Court Street, Courthouse Annex, Honesdale, PA 18431

    (570) 253-5970

    Westmoreland

    Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office

    2 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601

    (724) 830-3435

    Wyoming

    Wyoming County Sheriff's Office

    1 Courthouse Square, Tunkhannock, PA 18657

    (570) 836-3200

    York

    York County Sheriff's Office

    45 North George Street, York, PA 17401

    (717) 771-9601