Franklin County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

Franklin County has several arresting agencies, including the Franklin Sheriff's Office, the Borough of Chambersburg Police Department, and the Waynesboro Police Department, that regularly execute arrests and maintain the corresponding arrest records. 

Franklin County arrest records provide formal documentation of an arrest and can be found as standalone files or within broader criminal history records. In accordance with Pennsylvania statutory definitions, arrest records are part of "criminal offender record information" reported to the state. This designation encompasses all data collected and preserved by law enforcement agencies concerning an individual's legal encounters. Such records typically feature the subject's physical description, personal identifiers, relevant dates, specific charges, and final case dispositions.

18 Pa. C.S. §§ 9101–9183 regulate the availability and distribution of state-reported criminal history data, including Franklin arrest records. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Franklin, Pennsylvania?

Yes, Franklin County arrest records are public records under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Also, 18 Pa. C.S. § 9104(b) provides that police blotters and press releases (including those containing arrest information) are open to the public. Requesters must typically follow a set of procedures to access such records, including

• Providing accurate search details
• Submitting a completed form or a written request
• Paying a fee (in some cases)

If a record is not publicly available, unauthorized persons cannot access it. Such records include juvenile arrest records and expunged records. Generally, there is no limit to the public records that a person may review, except for records exempt from public disclosure or those disposed of because of retention policies or the death of the arrestee.

What Do Public Franklin County Arrest Records Contain?

A Franklin public arrest record may include the following details:

• Descriptive information about the arrestee, such as name, age, weight, height, sex, hair color, eye color, and headshot 
• Arrest information, including the arrest date, arresting agency, and arresting officer
• Charges and bond amount 

Authorities typically redact or exclude information in accordance with state law or judicial order, such as sensitive personal data (e.g., SSNs), materials related to ongoing investigations, and witness testimonies. 

Franklin County, Pennsylvania Arrest Search

Franklin County arrest records may exist as independent records or as part of another record. At the local level, requesters may obtain standalone arrest records from local law enforcement agencies. However, individuals searching for Pennsylvania or national arrest records may broaden their search by requesting criminal history records for the appropriate state or federal agency.

Pennsylvania Criminal History Records

Interested persons can obtain Pennsylvania criminal records through the online Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) website, operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. The repository allows authorized requesters to access the criminal history information of any person by providing identifying details. Users may conduct these criminal history searches online or submit requests by mail. The Pennsylvania State Police charges a nominal fee for this service.

National Criminal Records

Only the subject of the record or authorized law enforcement personnel may obtain national criminal records. The Federal Bureau of Investigation maintains these records and provides access to them for a fee ($18). Requesters may submit a written request by mail, through the eFOIPA portal, or through an approved channeler.

Franklin County Inmate Locator

The Franklin County Prison Board oversees the Franklin County Jail. The board consists of the district attorney, the president judge, the county controller, the county's commissioners, and the Sheriff's Office. It also manages inmates and related information concerning individuals housed at the facility. 

Individuals seeking inmate records may conduct an inmate search through available channels, including mail and in-person inquiries, as the board does not provide an online inmate locator. However, individuals seeking information about arrests that occurred within the county may direct their requests to the arresting agency or the agency with jurisdiction over the location where the arrest occurred. 

Requesters may submit written requests or visit the agency during business hours. Requesters typically need to provide details such as the subject's name, date of arrest, or date of birth.

The Sheriff's Office is located at Franklin County Judicial Center, 14 North Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201. Individuals can call (717) 261-3877, fax (717) 261-3882, or email sheriff@franklincountypa.gov.

Active Warrant Search in Franklin County

The following statements regarding Franklin's arrest warrants are true under Rule 513, Pa. R. Crim. P:

• A judge issues an arrest warrant when probable cause exists to suppose that a crime has occurred
• A law enforcement officer executes the warrant 
• The warrant authorizes the arrest of the named subject 
• The warrant remains active until law enforcement executes it or the subject voluntarily surrenders
• Access to and dissemination of arrest warrants are restricted, and the warrants remain confidential until execution. 

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office and the Franklin County Courts maintain records of Franklin County warrants. Members of the public may submit requests to either agency. Although the Sheriff's Office does not provide an online searchable database, requesters may make inquiries in person. Individuals may also contact the county court that issued the warrant. 

To conduct a warrant search, requesters must provide the subject's name, date of birth, or the warrant issuance date.

Agency / Resource	Purpose	Search Methods	Notes
Franklin County Sheriff's Office	Responsible for maintaining and executing warrants within Franklin County	In person	Warrant information is accessible only in person
Franklin County Courts	Handle the issuance of warrants	Online, mail, in person	Records are available to the public through officially approved channels, including the Franklin County Clerk of Courts' Case Information Online (CIO) and in person at the issuing courthouse

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Franklin County

Individuals can access Franklin arrest records at no cost only via an in-person inspection. Requesters may visit the arresting agency to request an inspection of available arrest records. Basic searches can be done at no cost and typically require only a name or booking number. However, comprehensive or extensive searches may incur a fee, and agencies typically charge for copies as such services are not complimentary. 

Other methods of obtaining Franklin County arrest records through government agencies may require payment. While local searches may not require identification or verification, state or federal agencies may require some form of identification before releasing records.

Franklin County Arrest Report

Following an arrest, the arresting officer prepares an official report that details the events leading to the arrest. This document focuses on a single arrest incident for which it provides a comprehensive account. It is different from an arrest record, which is more of a summary or booking log created after an arrest.

Requesters should determine the exact information they need before requesting either a public arrest record or an arrest report, as the two documents do not contain identical information. 

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Franklin County

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law allows eligible individuals to apply to seal their arrest records and convictions for certain qualifying, non-violent offenses. The law provides automatic sealing (expungement) for some offenses after a specified waiting period, while others require eligible petitioners to file an expungement petition. 

To begin the process, petitioners must first determine whether they qualify. Eligible individuals may then

• Download and complete Form SP 4-170.
• Submit the form to the Pennsylvania State Police's Central Repository, along with a government-issued identification card, a money order of the required nominal fee, and a legal affidavit or letter of representation if applicable.

Pennsylvania State Police

Central Repository – RCPU

1800 Elmerton Avenue

Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

The Pennsylvania State Police will return the applicant's arrest record after processing the request. The applicant may then file a petition with the court that handled the case, including all required documents and applicable fees.

If the court grants the expungement, the Pennsylvania State Police will remove the record, and it will no longer be available to the public upon receiving the Commonwealth Court judge-signed court order.

Pa. C.S § 091.022 outlines the circumstances under which arrest or criminal history records may qualify for expungement and identifies ineligible records. Arrests that do not result in convictions generally qualify for expungement.

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

Once expungement is granted, removing an arrest record from online platforms is generally straightforward. Individuals whose records have been expunged typically need only to submit a copy of the court order, signed by a judge, authorizing the expungement to the Pennsylvania State Police and any other agency that has published the record on its platform. Once the agency receives the order, it will remove or redact the record from its systems.

If the record still appears on third-party websites, the individual may also send a copy of the court order to those sites and request that the information be removed or redacted accordingly.