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​PATCH Fact Sheet

The Pennsylvania State Police established a web-based computer application Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History, or PATCH. Using this system, a requestor can apply for a criminal background check on an individual. Eighty-five percent of the time, “No Record” certificates are returned immediately through the Internet to requestor.
 
The information provided by the requestor will be checked against the criminal history database maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. If the subject's information does not match any information in the database, the requester will receive the results instantly over the Internet and the requester can print out the "No Record" certificate. If the subject's information matches information in the database, the requester receives an immediate "Request Under Review" response. A "Request Under Review" response does not necessarily mean that the individual has a record.  A manual review of the information will occur. After the review, the status will be updated to “No Record” or “Record”. An email will be sent to the requestor when the status has been updated. All “No Record” and “Record” checks must be printed out at the requestor’s computer. It may take up to two weeks for a status to be updated from a “Request Under Review” to a “No Record” or “Record”.

PATCH accepts both registered users and unregistered users

Registered Users

Registered Users are defined as companies, agencies, or offices that routinely have a need to make criminal record checks. The company, agency, or office can contact the EPATCH help desk at 888-783-7972, option #4. Registered users are placed into a billing cycle that is invoiced every thirty days. Registered users also have the option to use an approved credit card. Approved credit cards are Visa, Mastercard, Discover, and American Express. They can submit up to ten requests during any one session. If a request goes "under review" it will be updated to the status of “No Record” or “Record” within two weeks. All “No Record” and “Record” checks must be printed out at the requestor’s computer.

Non-Registered Users

Individuals are considered non-registered users. They will not be accepted as registered users. Companies, agencies, or offices can also use the system as a non-registered user if they so desire.  Non-registered users navigate to the ePatch website and select "Submit a New Record Check". The non-registered user can submit up to ten record checks during one session. They must provide the requestor’s name and mailing address; information on the individual they want to make the check on; and credit card information. If a request goes "under review" it will be updated to the status of “No Record” or “Record” within a minimum of two weeks but could take up to 4 weeks. All “No Record” and “Record” checks must be printed out at the requestor’s computer. PATCH does not maintain requester and credit card information for non-registered users; therefore, this information must be entered each time a non-registered user logs onto PATCH.

Validating Criminal History Results

The information on a “No Record” or “Record” certificate form can be validated by accessing the PATCH Record Check Status screen and submitting a search request that contains: the Control Number assigned the request; the Subject's Name as it was entered on the original request; and the date the request was submitted to PATCH. PATCH will find and display the corresponding record check request. Details on the request can be viewed by clicking on the control number. A copy of this certification form can be obtained by clicking on the Certification Form hyperlink provided on the request details screen.