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Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes

18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104 (2026)

  Scope.

✓ current as of May 2026
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§ 9104.  Scope.

(a)  General rule.--Except for the provisions of Subchapter B (relating to completeness and accuracy), Subchapter D (relating to security) and Subchapter F (relating to individual right of access and review), nothing in this chapter shall be construed to apply to:

(1)  Original records of entry compiled chronologically, including, but not limited to, police blotters and press releases that contain criminal history record information and are disseminated contemporaneous with the incident.

(2)  Any documents, records or indices prepared or maintained by or filed in any court of this Commonwealth, including but not limited to the minor judiciary.

(3)  Posters, announcements, or lists for identifying or apprehending fugitives or wanted persons.

(4)  Announcements of executive clemency.

(b)  Court dockets, police blotters and press releases.--Court dockets, police blotters and press releases and information contained therein shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be considered public records.

(c)  Substitutes for court dockets.--Where court dockets are not maintained any reasonable substitute containing that information traditionally available in court dockets shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be considered public records.

(d)  Certain disclosures authorized.--Nothing in this chapter shall prohibit a criminal justice agency from disclosing an individual's prior criminal activity to an individual or agency if the information disclosed is based on records set forth in subsection (a).

(e)  Noncriminal justice agencies.--Information collected by noncriminal justice agencies and individuals from the sources identified in this section shall not be considered criminal history record information.

(Dec. 14, 1979, P.L.556, No.127, eff. imd.; June 11, 1982, P.L.476, No.138, eff. 180 days)

 

1982 Amendment.  Act 138 amended subsecs. (a) and (b).

1979 Amendment.  Act 127 deleted subsec. (d) and relettered subsec. (e) to (d) and subsec. (f) to (e).

Cross References.  Section 9104 is referred to in sections 9102, 9122 of this title.

Notes of Decisions
Cited in 19 cases (5 in the last 5 years), 1982–2025 · leading case: Pennsylvania State Police v. Off. of Open Records, 5 A.3d 473 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010).
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Pennsylvania State Police v. Off. of Open Records, 5 A.3d 473 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2010). · cites it 4× “Section 9104 of the CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9104. Similarly, Section 708(b)(16) expressly excludes police blotters, as defined by Section 9102 of the CHRIA, from the criminal investigative record exemption.”
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 882 A.2d 1049 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). · cites it 8× “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). [6] Expungement requires the removal of all "trace[s] or indication that such [criminal history] information existed.”
Doe v. Zappala, 987 A.2d 190 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2009). · cites it 6× “[3] Appellant contends the trial court erred when it declined to enjoin the Commonwealth from using the records retained from the Waite case in his prosecution for the murder of Morgan.”
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007). “Indeed, under Section 9104(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, it appears that the scheme embodied in CHRIA Section 9122 — on which Appellant relies, see Brief for Appellant at 18 — does not apply to records maintained by the judiciary in the first instance.”
Troutman v. Court of Common Pleas of Berks Cnty., 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007). “Indeed, under Section 9104(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, it appears that the scheme embodied in CHRIA Section 9122 — on which Appellant relies, see Brief for Appellant at 18 — does not apply to records maintained by the judiciary in the first instance.”
Dep't of the Auditor Gen. v. Pennsylvania State Police, 844 A.2d 78 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2004). · cites it 2× “[5] Section 9104 of the CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9104, specifies that court dockets, police blotters, press releases and the information contained therein shall be considered public records.”
Nunez v. Pachman, 578 F.3d 228 (3rd Cir. 2009). “18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9104(a). 5 . As the Eighth Circuit reasoned in Eagle v.”
Garner v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Optometry, 97 A.3d 437 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). Arguably, certified records of Garner’s conviction from the Dauphin County Common Pleas Court do not constitute criminal history record information subject to CHRIA’s limitations.”
In Re Pittsburgh Citizen Police Review Bd., 36 A.3d 631 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2011). · cites it 2× “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104. Therefore, police blotters are not subject to the protections of Section 9106 of the CHRIA.”
Lebanon News Publ'g Co. v. City of Lebanon, 8 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2347 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1982). · cites it 2× “Turning to the first issue presented, Section 9104 of the CHEI Act, 18 Pa. C. S. §9104, provides the following with regard to police blotters: (¡a) General rule.”
Heffran v. Dep't of Corr., 878 A.2d 985 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(b) provides: Court dockets, police blotters and press releases and information contained therein shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be considered public records.”
Commonwealth v. Fenstermaker, 502 A.2d 181 (Pa. 1985). “§ 9101 et seq., which prohibits the release of certain information, does not bar access to the affidavits, for it expressly does not apply to "any documents, records or indices prepared or maintained by or filed in any court of this Commonwealth, including but not limited to the…”
Show all 19 citing cases →
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(a) — 5 cases
Nunez v. Pachman, 578 F.3d 228 (3rd Cir. 2009). “18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9104(a). 5 . As the Eighth Circuit reasoned in Eagle v.”
Garner v. Bureau of Prof'l & Occupational Affairs, State Bd. of Optometry, 97 A.3d 437 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2014). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). Arguably, certified records of Garner’s conviction from the Dauphin County Common Pleas Court do not constitute criminal history record information subject to CHRIA’s limitations.”
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 882 A.2d 1049 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). [6] Expungement requires the removal of all "trace[s] or indication that such [criminal history] information existed.”
Lebanon News Publ'g Co. v. City of Lebanon, 8 Media L. Rep. (BNA) 2347 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 1982). “Turning to the first issue presented, Section 9104 of the CHEI Act, 18 Pa. C. S. §9104, provides the following with regard to police blotters: (¡a) General rule.”
Croley v. Jewish Residential Servs., Inc. (W.D. Pa. 2025).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(a)(1) — 3 cases
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 882 A.2d 1049 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). [6] Expungement requires the removal of all "trace[s] or indication that such [criminal history] information existed.”
Mezzacappa, T. v. Northampton Co., Aplt. (Pa. 2025).
Mezzacappa, T. v. Northampton Co., Aplt. (Pa. 2025).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(a)(2) — 5 cases
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007). “Indeed, under Section 9104(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, it appears that the scheme embodied in CHRIA Section 9122 — on which Appellant relies, see Brief for Appellant at 18 — does not apply to records maintained by the judiciary in the first instance.”
Troutman v. Court of Common Pleas of Berks Cnty., 936 A.2d 1 (Pa. 2007). “Indeed, under Section 9104(a)(2) of the Crimes Code, it appears that the scheme embodied in CHRIA Section 9122 — on which Appellant relies, see Brief for Appellant at 18 — does not apply to records maintained by the judiciary in the first instance.”
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 882 A.2d 1049 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). [6] Expungement requires the removal of all "trace[s] or indication that such [criminal history] information existed.”
Commonwealth v. Fenstermaker, 502 A.2d 181 (Pa. 1985). “§ 9101 et seq., which prohibits the release of certain information, does not bar access to the affidavits, for it expressly does not apply to "any documents, records or indices prepared or maintained by or filed in any court of this Commonwealth, including but not limited to the…”
Croley v. Jewish Residential Servs., Inc. (W.D. Pa. 2025).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(b) — 5 cases
In Re Admin. Order No. 1-Md-2003, 882 A.2d 1049 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(a) (emphasis added). [6] Expungement requires the removal of all "trace[s] or indication that such [criminal history] information existed.”
Heffran v. Dep't of Corr., 878 A.2d 985 (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2005). “18 Pa.C.S. § 9104(b) provides: Court dockets, police blotters and press releases and information contained therein shall, for the purpose of this chapter, be considered public records.”
R.S. Martin v. J.M. Blake (Pa. Commw. Ct. 2020).
Mezzacappa, T. v. Northampton Co., Aplt. (Pa. 2025).
Mezzacappa, T. v. Northampton Co., Aplt. (Pa. 2025).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(d) — 1 case
Croley v. Jewish Residential Servs., Inc. (W.D. Pa. 2025).
— 18 Pa. Cons. Stat. § 9104(e) — 1 case
Croley v. Jewish Residential Servs., Inc. (W.D. Pa. 2025).
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