Reading Jail Roster and Released Inmate Search
Reading released inmate records are managed through the Reading Police Department and the Berks County Jail System. Reading is the county seat of Berks County with about 95,000 residents. People arrested in Reading are processed by the Reading Police Department at 815 Washington Street. After booking, they are transferred to the Berks County Jail for pretrial detention or to serve county sentences. This guide explains how to find Reading inmate records using city, county, and state tools.
Reading Quick Facts
Reading Inmate Records and Custody Information
The Reading Police Department at 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601 handles all arrests within the city. The Records Division can be reached at 610-655-6208. Records requests must be made in writing. The city limits access to three records per requestor per 24-hour period. Standard reports cost $15 each. Requests go to the City Law Department, Room 2-54, or through the city's Right-to-Know portal at readingpa.gov/right-to-know.
Booking records from Reading arrests include the individual's name, date of birth, arrest date, charges listed by Pennsylvania Crime Code statute, the arresting officer's name and badge number, and initial case status. As cases move through Berks County courts, additional information such as bail determinations, preliminary hearing dates, and disposition data is added to the record. Pennsylvania's CHRIA statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 et seq., limits what parts of criminal history are publicly available.
| Police Department | Reading Police Department |
|---|---|
| Records Address | 815 Washington Street, Reading, PA 19601 |
| Records Phone | 610-655-6208 |
| RTK Officer | City Law Department, Room 2-54 |
| Berks County Jail | berkspa.gov |
Reading police report requests must be submitted in writing. Phone requests are not accepted for records under the RTKL process. If the request involves an active criminal investigation, the agency may deny access under the exemption at 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16). The agency has 5 business days to respond to any RTK request filed with Reading city government.
Note: Reading limits records requests to three per 24 hours per requestor. Plan your requests accordingly if you need multiple reports.
How to Search Released Inmate Records in Reading
The Berks County Sheriff's Office maintains an inmate roster for the Berks County Jail. Search it at berkspa.gov/departments/sheriffs-office/inmate-roster. The roster lists current inmates by name and includes basic custody information. Released individuals are removed once they leave county custody. The roster is the best starting point for anyone looking for a Reading resident currently in Berks County custody.
Court records through the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us show the full legal history of cases from Reading. A name search pulls up all dockets filed in Berks County Court of Common Pleas and Berks County Magisterial District Courts. Docket sheets include charges, dispositions, and sentencing data. This is the most reliable way to trace a released inmate's criminal history from Reading.
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov covers Reading residents who were sentenced to state prison. The locator is free and updated daily. It only shows current state inmates, not those who have already completed their sentences. For historical state records, use PATCH.
PA SAVIN at pavictimhelp.org sends automatic custody change alerts to registered users. The line is 1-866-972-7284 and the service is free 24 hours a day. For Reading crime victims and families, registering with PA SAVIN provides real-time notice when an inmate is released or transferred from Berks County or state custody.
Berks County Jail and Reading Residents
The Berks County Jail serves as the primary detention facility for Reading and all of Berks County. Individuals arrested in Reading are transferred to county custody after processing through city police. The jail holds pretrial detainees and individuals serving county sentences. The Berks County Sheriff's Office manages the jail inmate roster and related records.
For questions about specific Reading residents in Berks County custody, contact the Berks County Sheriff's Office through the county government portal at berkspa.gov. The Berks County inmate roster is updated regularly and searchable by name. Berks County participates in PA SAVIN, connecting county jail records to the statewide victim notification network.
When someone is sentenced to more than two years in prison after a Reading case, they are typically transferred from the Berks County Jail to a Pennsylvania DOC facility. At that point, their record moves from the county system to the state system. Use the PADOC Inmate Locator to find them in state custody. The transition usually occurs within several weeks of sentencing.
Note: The Berks County Jail roster shows current inmates only. For historical custody records of individuals who have been released, use the UJS Portal or submit a Right-to-Know request to Berks County.
Right-to-Know Requests in Reading
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, applies to the City of Reading and all its agencies. RTK requests for city records go to the Reading City Law Department, Room 2-54, or through the online portal at readingpa.gov/right-to-know. The main number is 610-655-6208. Written requests are required. Phone or walk-in verbal requests do not satisfy the formal RTK process.
Standard RTKL copy fees apply: $0.25 per page for photocopies. Police reports have a flat fee of $15 per copy. The city has 5 business days to respond. Extensions up to 30 days are permitted but must be communicated in writing. Denials must cite a specific exemption from the RTKL. Common exemptions for Reading police records include active investigation materials and personal identifying information of third parties.
Appeals from Reading RTK denials go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial. File online at openrecords.pa.gov or call 717-346-9903. The OOR can also be reached by mail at 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The standard RTK request form is at openrecords.pa.gov/RTKL/StandardRTKForm.cfm.
State Resources for Reading Residents
State systems supplement local records for Reading inmate searches. The Pennsylvania DOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov is the first stop for anyone looking for a Reading resident in state prison. The PA DOC main site at cor.pa.gov has information about facilities, programs, and reentry resources.
PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us provides statewide criminal background checks for $22 per search. Call 1-888-783-7972 for help. The Pennsylvania State Police manages this system. Records eligible for sealing under the Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018) may not appear. Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 can remove qualifying convictions from PATCH results.
The PA State Police at psp.pa.gov can assist with records that cross jurisdictional lines. The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at pbpp.pa.gov supervises state parolees including those from Reading-area cases. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to all Berks County court records without a formal records request.
Berks County Released Inmates
Reading is the county seat of Berks County, and most Reading inmate records flow through county systems. For the full Berks County inmate roster, jail details, and additional resources, visit the Berks County released inmates page.