Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes · § 1904 — Availability of criminal charge information in child custody proceedings

(a) Establishment of criminal charge information system.--The Administrative Office shall establish and maintain an information system to enable a parent who is a party to a custody proceeding or order to have access to information about the criminal charges filed against the other parent to the custody proceeding or order. The criminal charge information that shall be available for access under this section is limited to the information requested by those parents involved in a custody proceeding or order and for which an application has been filed and verified for access as provided for in this section. (b) Criminal charges enumerated.--The criminal charge information that shall be available on the information system shall be limited to the offenses listed in 23 Pa.C.S. § 5329(a) (relating to consideration of criminal conviction). (c) Application for access to criminal charge information.--To obtain information about charges covered in 23 Pa.C.S. § 5329(a), a parent who has been awarded custody or partial custody or who is a party to a custody proceeding must file an application for access to the information with the office of the prothonotary in the county where the proceeding or order was filed. (1) A person who knowingly gives false information with the intent to gain information provided for under this section commits an offense under 18 Pa.C.S. § 4904(a) (relating to unsworn falsification to authorities). (2) The application must be filed with the prothonotary by one of the following methods: (i) In person, at the office of the prothonotary, by the parent who is filing the application. The applicant must have a valid form of photoidentification available for the inspection of the prothonotary. (ii) By mailing a notarized application using first class mail. (iii) By including the application with the original complaint, initial response or any other pleading or motion filed with the prothonotary. (3) The Administrative Office shall develop the application for access to the criminal charge information system. The following information shall be included in the application: (i) Docket number of original court filing. (ii) Date of filing. (iii) Date of birth of all children involved in the custody proceeding or order. (iv) A personal access code. (v) A notice to the parent that additional information relating to criminal history record information is available, as provided for in 18 Pa.C.S. Ch. 91 (relating to criminal history record information). (vi) A statement verifying that: (A) the person who is filing for access to the criminal charge information system is the actual person listed on the application; (B) to the best of the applicant's knowledge and belief, all the information included in the application is true and correct; and (C) the applicant is a party to the custody proceeding or order that is listed on the application. (vii) A warning as to the penalty under 18 Pa.C.S.