Reading Busted Mugshots and Booking Records
Reading busted mugshots come from the county seat of Berks County in southeastern Pennsylvania. The Reading Police Department handles arrests within the city. The department works closely with the Berks County Sheriff and the Berks County Jail on criminal cases. Arrest records, booking photos, and incident reports are stored by the police department and county agencies. This guide walks through how to find busted mugshots and arrest records from Reading.
Reading Quick Facts
Reading Police Arrest Records
The Reading Police Department is at 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601. The phone number is 610-655-6116. The department keeps records of arrests, incidents, and accidents that happen within Reading city limits.
When police make an arrest in Reading, they create a booking record. This record has the charges, personal information, and a booking photo. The department stores these files at its Washington Street location. You can call or visit to ask about getting copies.
The Reading Police Department website has contact details and general information. For copies of police reports, you may need to submit a written request. Fees apply based on the type of record. The Right-to-Know Law (65 Pa. Statute Section 67.101 et seq.) governs public access to these files.
Reading busted mugshots are part of the arrest booking process. The booking photo is taken at the time of arrest. Whether a specific mugshot can be released depends on the status of the case and state law.
Reading Busted Mugshots and Berks County
Reading works closely with Berks County on criminal justice matters. After an arrest, people are often held at the Berks County Jail. The jail keeps its own booking records and photos. The Berks County Sheriff's Office handles warrants, prisoner transport, and court security.
Criminal cases from Reading go through local Magisterial District Courts for preliminary hearings. These courts handle the first stage of a case. If the case moves forward, it goes to the Berks County Court of Common Pleas. That court handles trials, pleas, and sentencing.
The Berks County court system processes all felony and misdemeanor cases from Reading. Court records are available through the UJS Portal. The county also maintains its own records at the courthouse in Reading, since Reading is the county seat.
Note: The Berks County Jail may have its own inmate search tool. Check the county website for current inmate lookup options. Booking photos from the jail are separate from the ones taken by Reading police.
Reading Criminal Court Records
Court records for Reading cases are on the UJS Portal. This free site covers all Berks County courts. Search by name or case number. You can see charges, hearing dates, and case outcomes for any public case.
The Magisterial District Courts in Reading handle preliminary hearings. Each court has its own judge and covers a section of the city or county. After a preliminary hearing, the case moves to Common Pleas for trial or plea proceedings.
To link busted mugshots to court records in Reading, you need the case number. The police report and court case share a reference number. Use that number to pull records from both the police department and the court system.
Busted Mugshots Background Checks in Reading
PATCH at epatch.pa.gov is the state system for criminal background checks. It covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. The Pennsylvania State Police at psp.pa.gov runs this system. A fee applies for each search.
Results from PATCH include convictions and pending cases under the Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. Section 9101 et seq.). The search covers Reading arrests and all other jurisdictions in the state. Most results come back within minutes.
For people in state prison, use the PA Department of Corrections inmate locator at pa.gov. This searches state facilities only. People held on Reading charges before trial are at the Berks County Jail, not a state prison.
- PATCH at epatch.pa.gov for statewide records
- UJS Portal for Berks County court cases
- Reading Police at 610-655-6116 for local reports
- Berks County Sheriff for warrants and jail records
- PA DOC for state prison inmates
Reading Arrest Record Access
Access to busted mugshots and arrest records in Reading follows Pennsylvania law. The Right-to-Know Law gives the public broad access to government records. CHRIA (18 Pa.C.S. Section 9101 et seq.) adds specific rules for criminal records.
Conviction records are public. Records from cases that end in acquittal or dismissal may be sealed. Expunged records are removed from public databases entirely. Reading police and Berks County courts follow these same state rules.
If a records request is denied, you can file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. The appeal deadline is 15 business days from the date of denial. The office reviews the case and issues a binding decision.
The Pennsylvania Courts website has forms, guides, and contact information for courts across the state. Reading residents can use this along with the UJS Portal for court records from any county.
Note: Juvenile records are not public in Pennsylvania. Only adult arrest records and busted mugshots are subject to public access requests in Reading.
How to Search Reading Busted Mugshots
Start your search with the UJS Portal for court records. This free tool shows charges, dates, and case status for all Berks County courts. If you need the police report or booking photo, contact the Reading Police at 610-655-6116.
You will need some basic details to search. A full name is the minimum. A date of birth, case number, or arrest date will narrow the results. The more information you provide, the faster the search goes. Reading police and court staff can help if you are not sure where to start.
Reading is the county seat, so many county offices are in the city. The Berks County Courthouse, the sheriff's office, and the jail are all nearby. This makes it easy to visit multiple offices in one trip if you need records from more than one agency. All of these offices serve both Reading residents and people from across Berks County.
Berks County Busted Mugshots
Reading is the county seat of Berks County. The county court, jail, and sheriff handle criminal cases from across the county. For countywide arrest records, jail information, and more resources, visit the Berks County busted mugshots page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities near Reading have their own police and court systems. Pick a city below to find busted mugshots and arrest records in that area.