Search Philadelphia Warrant Records
Philadelphia warrant records cover all active and past cases filed through the city court system. Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county, the largest in Pennsylvania, with about 1.6 million residents. The Philadelphia Sheriff and Philadelphia Police Department both play key roles in serving and tracking warrants. You can search these records through the state court portal, the Sheriff's office, or by contacting city agencies. This page covers how to look up warrants in Philadelphia and what to expect from each source.
Philadelphia Sheriff Warrants Unit
The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office runs a dedicated warrants unit. Sheriff Rochelle Bilal oversees all sheriff operations in the city. The main office is at 100 South Broad Street, 5th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19110. You can call (215) 686-3530 for general inquiries.
The Fugitive Warrant Unit works around the clock. It operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. This unit assists other law enforcement agencies with warrant service. It also enforces Protection From Abuse orders and custody orders issued by the court. The unit handles a wide range of warrant types. These include bench warrants, child support warrants, dependency warrants, body attachments, and fugitive of justice warrants. Cases range from retail theft to murder.
The Sheriff's Warrants Unit is based at 714 Market Street. You can reach it at (215) 683-3726. If you have an active warrant, you can call this office to arrange a safe surrender. This is often the best step to take.
Philadelphia warrant records from the Sheriff's Office reflect all warrants the office has been tasked to serve. The office coordinates with Philadelphia Municipal Court and the Court of Common Pleas to track open cases.
Note: The Sheriff's Office does not provide warrant status by phone for third parties. You must check the court portal or visit in person for that kind of search.
Warrant Records in Philadelphia
The Philadelphia Sheriff's Office is the primary agency for civil and criminal warrant service in the city. The office posts updates and contact details on its main site.
You can visit the Sheriff's Office in person at 100 South Broad Street. Staff can help you check on warrant status or guide you through the surrender process. Bring a valid photo ID when you go.
Philadelphia Police Warrant Service
The Philadelphia Police Department is the city's main law enforcement body. It serves municipal court warrants throughout the city. The department runs a Fugitive Unit that works with regional task forces to locate people with open warrants.
Police district stations across the city can also serve warrants. Officers may execute warrants during routine stops or through organized sweeps. The department coordinates with the Sheriff's Office and the Lehigh County District Attorney on cross-jurisdictional cases when needed. Warrant sweeps are common in Philadelphia. These are planned operations where multiple teams serve warrants across several neighborhoods at once.
If you need to check whether a warrant has been filed through the police department, the UJS Portal is the best starting point. The portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us covers all cases filed in Philadelphia courts.
How to Search Warrant Records
There are several ways to search for warrant records in Philadelphia. Each method has its own strengths.
- Use the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us to search by name or case number
- Visit the Sheriff's Warrants Unit at 714 Market Street in person
- Call the Sheriff's main line at (215) 686-3530
- Contact the Philadelphia Police Department for municipal court warrant status
- Submit a Right-to-Know request for specific records
The UJS Portal is free. It shows case type, filing date, and status. It does not display the full warrant document. For copies of the actual warrant or affidavit, you need to contact the court or file a formal records request. Under Pennsylvania law, arrest warrant affidavits become public once served, per Pa.R.Crim.P. 150.
Note: Search warrants follow different rules. Under Pa.R.Crim.P. 513, search warrant affidavits may be sealed during an active investigation.
Philadelphia Open Records Requests
The City of Philadelphia handles public records requests under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. The city's Open Records Policy page outlines the process. The Open Records Officer is LaVanda K. Harris, Esq. You can reach her at LaVanda.K.Harris@phila.gov.
The city must respond within five business days. Act 22 requires a fee of $125 per recording for certain media. For police-specific records, the Right-to-Know contact is Lt. Barry Jacobs at 400 North Broad Street, 4W-72. The general Right-to-Know office is at 1515 Arch Street, 17th Floor, Philadelphia, PA 19102. You can call (215) 683-5008 or email RightToKnowLaw@phila.gov.
You can also use the state's Office of Open Records to appeal if a request is denied. Warrant-related records are often available once the warrant has been executed.
Types of Philadelphia Warrants
Philadelphia courts issue several kinds of warrants. Each type has a distinct legal basis.
Arrest warrants are issued when a judge finds probable cause that a crime occurred. The police or district attorney files an affidavit, and the judge reviews it before signing. These warrants authorize law enforcement to take a person into custody. Under Pa.R.Crim.P. 513, the affidavit must set out the facts supporting probable cause.
Bench warrants come from a judge directly. They are issued when someone fails to appear in court or violates a court order. The Sheriff's Office and police both serve bench warrants in Philadelphia. These are common in cases involving missed hearings or unpaid fines.
Body attachments are similar to bench warrants but are tied to civil contempt. They are used in family court cases, such as when someone fails to pay child support. The Sheriff's Fugitive Warrant Unit handles these around the clock.
Search warrants allow officers to search a specific place for evidence. A judge must approve them based on a sworn affidavit. In Philadelphia, search warrants for homicide cases require approval under Rule 202 guidelines.
Philadelphia County Warrant Records
Philadelphia is a consolidated city-county. All warrant filings go through the Philadelphia County court system. The county court handles every case within the city limits. For more on the county court, related records, and additional resources, visit the Philadelphia County warrant records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities can look up warrant records through their own local courts. Pick a city below for more details.