§ 195.1. Definitions.
The following words and terms, when used in this chapter, have the following meanings unless the context clearly indicates otherwise:
Act—18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101—9183 (relating to criminal history record information).
Administration of criminal justice—The activities directly concerned with the prevention, control, or reduction of crime and the apprehension, detention, pretrial release, post-trial release, prosecution, adjudication, correctional supervision, or rehabilitation of accused persons or criminal offenders; criminal identification activities; or the collection, storage, dissemination, or usage of criminal history record information.
Automated systems—A computer or other internally programmed device capable of automatically accepting and processing data, including computer programs, data communication links, input and output data, and data storage devices.
Central repository—The central location for the collection, compilation, maintenance, and dissemination of criminal history record information by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Criminal history record information—Information collected by criminal justice agencies concerning individuals and arising from the initiation of a criminal proceeding, consisting of identifiable descriptions, and dates and notations of arrests, indictments, informations, or other formal criminal charges and any dispositions arising therefrom; the term does not include intelligence information, investigative information, treatment information, or information and records specified in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9104.
Criminal justice agency—Any court including the minor judiciary with criminal jurisdiction or any other governmental agency or subunit thereof created by statute or by the State or Federal constitutions, specifically authorized to perform as its principal function the administration of criminal justice, and which allocates a substantial portion of its annual budget to such function. Criminal justice agencies include, but are not limited to organized State and municipal police departments, local detention facilities, county, regional and State correctional facilities, probation agencies, district or prosecuting attorneys, parole boards, and pardon boards.
Disposition—Information indicating that criminal proceedings have been concluded including information disclosing that police have elected not to refer a matter for prosecution, that a prosecuting authority has elected not to commence criminal proceedings, or that a grand jury has failed to indict and disclosing the nature of the termination of the proceedings or information disclosing that proceedings have been indefinitely postponed and also disclosing the reason for such postponement. Dispositions of criminal proceedings in this Commonwealth shall include, but not be limited to acquittal, acquittal by reason of insanity, pretrial probation or diversion, charge dismissed, guilty plea, nolle prosequi, no information filed, nolo contendere plea, convicted, abatement, discharge under the provisions of 234 Pa. Code (relating to rules of criminal procedure), demurrer sustained, pardoned, sentence commuted, mistrial-defendant discharged, discharge from probation or parole, or correctional supervision.
Dissemination—The oral or written transmission or disclosure of criminal history record information to individuals or agencies other than the criminal justice agency which maintains the information.
Expunge—To remove information so that there is no trace or indication that such information existed; or to eliminate all identifiers which may be used to trace the identity of an individual, allowing remaining data to be used for statistical purposes.
Intelligence information—Information concerning the habits, practices, characteristics, history, possessions, associations or financial status of any individual.
Investigative information—Information assembled as a result of the performance of any inquiry, formal or informal, into a criminal incident or an allegation of criminal wrongdoing; the term may include modus operandi information.
Repository—Any location in which criminal history record information is collected, compiled, maintained, and disseminated by a criminal justice agency.
Secondary dissemination—[Reserved].
Treatment information—Information concerning medical, psychiatric, psychological, or other rehabilitative treatment provided, suggested, or prescribed for any individual.
Source. The provisions of this § 195.1 amended January 4, 1980, effective January 5, 1980, 10 Pa.B. 216.
Regulatory text reproduced from the Pennsylvania Code, Title 37, Chapter 195, as published by the Legislative Reference Bureau (current through 56 Pa.B. 4026, July 4, 2026). The official source is the Pennsylvania Code and Bulletin. This page is not legal advice; consult a licensed Pennsylvania attorney for guidance on specific legal questions.
