Armstrong County Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Armstrong County
Arrest records in Armstrong County, Pennsylvania, are generally considered public records under state law. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) establishes the public's right to access records maintained by government agencies, including law enforcement. Under this framework, basic arrest information — such as the name of the person arrested, the charges filed, and the date and location of the arrest — is presumptively accessible to members of the public upon request.
It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement; it does not indicate guilt or a finding of criminal liability. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal judicial determination of guilt following a plea or trial. Under Pennsylvania law, individuals who are arrested but not convicted retain certain rights regarding the disposition of those records, including potential eligibility for expungement.
The Pennsylvania State Police maintain the central repository for criminal history record information in the Commonwealth. The Public Information Release Reports published by the Pennsylvania State Police include press releases and incident summaries covering Armstrong County and surrounding jurisdictions, providing an additional avenue through which members of the public may access law enforcement information.
Armstrong County Sheriff's Office 500 E. Market St., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 548-3280 Armstrong County Sheriff's Office
What's in Armstrong County Arrest Records
Arrest records maintained by Armstrong County law enforcement agencies typically contain a standardized set of data elements compiled at the time of booking and throughout the processing of a criminal matter.
Arrestee Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and any known aliases
- Date of birth and age at time of arrest
- Gender, race, and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
- Last known residential address
- Social Security Number (restricted from public disclosure in most circumstances)
Arrest Details:
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Name and badge number of the arresting officer
- Arresting agency (e.g., Kittanning Police Department, Armstrong County Sheriff's Office, Pennsylvania State Police)
Charge Information:
- Specific criminal charges filed, including statute citations
- Classification of each offense (felony, misdemeanor, summary)
- Disposition of charges, if available
Warrant Information (if applicable):
- Warrant number and issuing court
- Date of warrant issuance
- Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)
Booking Information:
- Booking number assigned by the detention facility
- Date and time of booking
- Facility where the individual was processed
Bond/Bail Information:
- Bail amount set by the court
- Type of bail (cash, surety, recognizance)
- Bail bondsman information, if applicable
Court Information:
- Assigned docket number
- Scheduled court dates and hearing types
- Presiding judicial officer
Custody Status:
- Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
- Location of detention if currently incarcerated
Additional Information May Include:
- Fingerprint records and biometric data (not publicly released)
- Photographs taken at booking (mugshots)
- Incident or offense reports associated with the arrest
How To Look Up Arrest Records in Armstrong County in 2026
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Armstrong County may pursue several official channels depending on the type of information required and the agency that maintains the relevant records.
- Submit a Right-to-Know Request: Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.301, any person may submit a written Right-to-Know request to the applicable agency's Open Records Officer. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically using the agency's designated form.
- Contact the Armstrong County Sheriff's Office: The Sheriff's Office processes requests for arrest-related records originating from county law enforcement operations. Requesters should provide the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any known case or docket numbers.
- Contact the Kittanning Police Department: For arrests made within the borough of Kittanning, requests should be directed to the Kittanning Police Department.
- Pennsylvania State Police: Arrests made by PSP Troop A (Butler) or other PSP units operating in Armstrong County may be requested through the Pennsylvania State Police Records Division.
- Court Records via UJS Portal: Criminal docket information, including charges and dispositions, is accessible through the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's online portal.
Kittanning Police Department 300 N. McKean St., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 543-2323 Kittanning Borough
Pennsylvania State Police — Troop A, Butler 200 Barracks Rd., Butler, PA 16001 (724) 284-8100 Pennsylvania State Police
How To Find Armstrong County Arrest Records Online
Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest and criminal justice records pertaining to Armstrong County residents and incidents.
- Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) Web Portal: The UJS Case Search portal allows members of the public to search criminal dockets by name, docket number, or date of birth across all Pennsylvania courts of common pleas, including the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas (28th Judicial District). Search results include charges, case status, and scheduled hearings.
- Pennsylvania Office of Open Records — Docket Search: The OOR Docket Search Results for Armstrong County provides a searchable index of Right-to-Know appeals filed against Armstrong County agencies, including law enforcement bodies. This resource is useful for understanding what records have been requested and whether access was granted or denied.
- Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator: The Inmate/Department Supervised Individual Locator maintained by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections allows users to search for individuals currently incarcerated in state correctional institutions, including those from Armstrong County.
- Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Releases: The PSP publishes public information release reports that include press releases and incident summaries for Armstrong County, accessible through the Commonwealth's official website.
How To Search Armstrong County Arrest Records for Free?
Multiple no-cost resources are currently available to members of the public seeking arrest record information in Armstrong County.
- UJS Web Portal (Free): The Unified Judicial System's online case search is available at no charge and provides access to criminal docket information for all Pennsylvania courts, including Armstrong County.
- Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Releases (Free): Press releases and incident summaries published by the PSP are freely accessible online and cover Armstrong County incidents.
- OOR Appeals Docket (Free): The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records' Armstrong County appeals docket is publicly searchable at no cost.
- In-Person Inspection at the Courthouse: Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Armstrong County Courthouse during regular business hours without charge, though fees may apply for copies.
- Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH): The Pennsylvania State Police operate the PATCH system, which provides criminal history record checks. A nominal fee applies for certified reports, but basic docket information accessible through the UJS portal remains free.
Armstrong County Courthouse — Clerk of Courts 500 E. Market St., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 548-3251 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Armstrong County
How To Delete Arrest Records in Armstrong County
Pennsylvania law provides two primary mechanisms for limiting public access to arrest records: expungement (legal erasure of the record) and limited access (sealing, which restricts public access while preserving the record for law enforcement purposes). These remedies are distinct in scope and eligibility requirements.
Expungement results in the physical destruction or removal of arrest records from agency files and databases. Under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122, expungement is available in the following circumstances:
- The individual was arrested but not convicted, and the charges were dismissed, withdrawn, or resulted in a not-guilty verdict
- The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free of arrest or prosecution for ten years following final release from confinement or supervision
- The individual has been deceased for three years
- The individual successfully completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for certain offenses
Limited Access (Sealing) restricts public access to certain misdemeanor convictions after a specified period of crime-free behavior, pursuant to Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law. Records sealed under this provision remain accessible to law enforcement and criminal justice agencies but are not available to the general public or most employers.
Steps to Pursue Expungement or Sealing:
- Obtain a copy of the criminal docket from the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas to confirm the charges and disposition
- Determine eligibility based on the applicable statutory criteria
- File a Petition for Expungement or Order for Limited Access with the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas, 28th Judicial District
- Serve the petition on the District Attorney's Office and any other required parties
- Attend the scheduled hearing, if one is ordered by the court
- Upon entry of the court order, the order is transmitted to the Pennsylvania State Police and relevant agencies for implementation
Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas 500 E. Market St., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 548-3251 Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas
What Happens After Arrest in Armstrong County?
The criminal justice process in Armstrong County follows the standard Pennsylvania procedural framework from the point of arrest through final disposition.
- Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Armstrong County Jail or the arresting agency's processing facility, where booking procedures are completed, including fingerprinting, photographing, and recording of personal information.
- Arraignment: The individual appears before a Magisterial District Judge (MDJ) for a preliminary arraignment, at which formal charges are read and bail is set. This typically occurs within hours of arrest.
- Preliminary Hearing: A preliminary hearing is scheduled before the MDJ, generally within three to ten days of arraignment, at which the Commonwealth must establish a prima facie case.
- Court of Common Pleas: If the case is held for court, it is transferred to the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas for formal arraignment, pre-trial proceedings, and trial or plea.
- Sentencing: Upon conviction by plea or verdict, the court imposes sentence in accordance with Pennsylvania sentencing guidelines.
- Post-Conviction: The individual may pursue appeals, post-conviction relief, or, where eligible, expungement or limited access as described above.
Armstrong County Jail 100 John Wise Ave., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 548-3430 Armstrong County Jail
How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Armstrong County?
Retention periods for arrest records in Armstrong County are governed by Pennsylvania statutes and the records retention schedules established by the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission and applicable state agencies.
Under Pennsylvania law, criminal history record information maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police is subject to the retention requirements of 18 Pa. C.S. § 9101 et seq., which governs the collection, maintenance, and dissemination of criminal history records. Key retention principles include:
- Arrest records without conviction: Records of arrests that did not result in conviction are subject to expungement upon petition, but absent a court order, agencies may retain such records indefinitely in accordance with their internal retention schedules.
- Conviction records: Records of convictions are generally retained permanently by the Pennsylvania State Police central repository and by the courts.
- Local law enforcement agencies: Individual municipal police departments and the Armstrong County Sheriff's Office maintain their own records in accordance with the Pennsylvania Municipal Records Manual, which prescribes minimum retention periods for various categories of law enforcement records.
- Court records: Criminal dockets maintained by the Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas are subject to the Unified Judicial System's records retention policies, which generally require permanent retention of felony case files and extended retention of misdemeanor files.
Records retention serves the dual purposes of preserving evidence for ongoing or future legal proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system. Different agencies operating within Armstrong County may apply different retention schedules depending on the nature of the record and the agency's classification.
How to Find Mugshots in Armstrong County
What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken by law enforcement at the time of booking following an arrest. They are part of the official booking record and serve as a means of identifying individuals processed through the criminal justice system.
Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Armstrong County, mugshots are maintained by the Armstrong County Jail, the arresting law enforcement agency, and the Pennsylvania State Police central repository as part of the criminal history record.
Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking mugshots may submit a Right-to-Know request to the Armstrong County Jail or the relevant arresting agency. Requests should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest.
Can They Be Found Online At present, Armstrong County does not operate a publicly accessible online mugshot database. Some third-party websites aggregate and publish booking photographs; however, such sites are not official government sources and may not reflect current custody status or case disposition.
Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official requests for booking photographs should be directed to the Armstrong County Jail or the applicable law enforcement agency via a written Right-to-Know request. The agency's Open Records Officer will process the request in accordance with 65 P.S. § 67.301.
Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain booking photographs may be withheld from public disclosure where release would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, endanger a witness, or where the subject's charges were dismissed and an expungement order has been entered. Juvenile booking photographs are not subject to public disclosure under Pennsylvania law.
Armstrong County Jail — Records Division 100 John Wise Ave., Kittanning, PA 16201 (724) 548-3430 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Armstrong County Jail
Lookup Arrest Records in Armstrong County
- Inmate/Department Supervised Individual Locator — Search for individuals currently supervised by the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, including those from Armstrong County Jail
- Public Information Release Reports — Pennsylvania State Police — Access press releases and incident summaries covering Armstrong County law enforcement activity
- Armstrong County Open Records Appeals Docket — Review Right-to-Know appeals filed against Armstrong County agencies through the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records
- UJS Case Search — Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania — Search criminal dockets and case information for Armstrong County Court of Common Pleas proceedings