How Do You Locate a Loved One Arrested in Chester County?

No one wants a phone call telling them that a loved one has been arrested. You’ll obviously want to help, but knowing where to go and who to contact is incredibly complicated. While locating a loved one in Chester County’s system is not as difficult as it once was, it can still be challenging if you don’t know where they are being held.

The best thing you can do if a loved one has been arrested is to call an experienced criminal defense attorney. Skinner Law Firm represents people who have been arrested in Chester County and other areas to ensure they are treated fairly and get a fair result.

If one of your loved ones has been arrested, call us at (610) 436-1410. We’ll walk you through the process as what we can do to get them home.

Searching Online for Arrests

The internet can make locating a loved one who has been arrested much easier than before. That said, you want to make sure that you are using only official Pennsylvania State or Chester County websites.

There are many search results that link to commercial websites that aren’t actually affiliated with the state or county government. If you use one of those services, you may have to pay a fee to get the information you need. In addition, the information may be outdated or inaccurate.

Probably the best site to use is the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections: Inmate/Parolee Locator.

If you click through the site, you will see a simple form that prompts you to enter information about your loved one. The more information that you enter, the narrower your results. While it’s likely that you won’t have their inmate number, you should be able to locate them by their first, last, and middle name, their gender, their race, and their date of birth.

If you don’t get any results, try broadening your search by eliminating some of the search criteria.

If you can’t find them on the Inmate/Parolee locator page, you may want to try the search page for the Pennsylvania Judicial system. This page will allow you to search all of the docket sheets throughout Pennsylvania.

A docket sheet is created for every criminal case that is filed. You will want to change the default setting in the first drop-down box to search by “participant name.” You will then have the option to search by name, rather than docket number. Note that you will be required to at least enter your loved one’s first and last name. Under “case category” you will want to use the drop-down menu to filter by “criminal.”

Using the Phone

Unfortunately, recent arrests may not always be reflected on these websites. If you can’t locate your loved one on the internet, you may need to begin making some phone calls.

Every criminal case in Chester County will start in one of its magisterial district courts. If you know where they may have been arrested, you can try calling the relevant court for that district. You can review this list to determine which district they may have been arrested in.

A Lawyer Can Help

If you still can’t locate your loved one, an experienced criminal defense lawyer may be able to help you. In addition to searching online or making phone calls, they will likely have contacts with the police or the prosecutor’s office that can help you quickly find out where your loved one is located. They will also be able to find out what charges they are facing and what the next steps will be.

Arrested in Chester County? Call Skinner Law Firm

If you or a loved one has been arrested in Chester County, you need someone on your side. We will work with you every step of the way to make sure you understand your options and what comes next. Don’t leave your case in the hands of the prosecutors – contact us at (610) 436-1410 to schedule a free consultation today.