Divisions
Divisions
Central Booking Division
The Central Booking Division of the Berks County Sheriff's Office is comprised of a captain, 4 sergeants, 18 deputies and 1 staff member. Central Booking opened in March 2003 and booked over 4,200 offenders within the first year. Over 50 Federal, State and Local law enforcement agencies use it. Central Booking operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It has the ability to positively identify offenders by their fingerprints within minutes and free-up police officers to get back on patrol quickly without having to be tied up in the time consuming booking and arraignment process.
The goal of the Central Booking is to provide for better public safety by effectively and efficiently making the latest biometric technology in criminal identification available to all Berks County law enforcement agencies. This goal has been accomplished through the leadership and vision of Former Sheriff Barry J. Jozwiak, Sheriff Eric J. Weaknecht and the cooperation of the County Commissioners Criminal Justice Policy Group, Local and State Police, and the District Attorney's Office.
Central Booking Contact Information:
610-478-6240
The Booking Process
- Police officers make an arrest and transport the suspect to the Berks County Sheriff's Office Central Booking Center.
- Berks County Deputy Sheriffs take custody of the suspect in the secure Central Booking Center Detention Facility.
- Police officers prepare an Affidavit of Probable Cause and Criminal Complaint providing the signed originals to the deputies. The police officers then return to duty.
- Deputies take a digital photograph and demographics of the suspect that are captured via the Commonwealth Photo Network (CPIN). Multiple color and B&W photos are immediately available to Berks County law enforcement agencies.
- Deputies fingerprint the suspect and the fingerprints are electronically captured and submitted to the PA State Police Central Repository, automatically checked for prior criminal history and searched through the Automated Fingerprint Identification System (AFSIS).
- If prior criminal history is found, the new arrest is added to the existing criminal record.
- If no prior criminal history is found a new State ID (SID) number is issued and a criminal record is created.
- A commonwealth Law Enforcement Assistance Network (CLEAN) rap sheet is produced and made available to the Magisterial District Judge for enhanced arraignment decisions.
- The suspect is arraigned via a Closed Circuit Television Network with the on-duty Magisterial District Judge.
- If the suspect is remanded to jail, Deputy Sheriffs transport them to the Berks County Prison in a Berks County Sheriff's Office Prisoner Transport Vehicle.
Court Division
The Court Division of the Berks County Sheriff's Office is the largest division comprised of a captain and 35 deputies. Its responsibility is to transport prisoners to and from Berks County Prison for court, maintain security in the courtrooms and in the Sheriff's Cell Block. The Court Division services the Adult Probation, Juvenile Probation, Domestic Relations and District Attorney's Office by transporting criminal defendants. Each year the Court Division transports over 10,000 criminal defendants from Berks County Prison to Court and over 12,000 criminal defendants are transported from Court to Berks County Prison. This division is also responsible for the transportation of Juvenile defendants. Over 1,500 Juvenile defendants are transported from the Youth Detention Center to Court and over 1,000 Juveniles are transported from Court to the Youth Detention Center.
Court Division Contact information:
610-478-6240
Patrol Division
The Patrol Division of the Berks County Sheriff's Office is comprised of a captain, two sergeants, 14 deputies. The Patrol Division deputies enforce the Pennsylvania Crimes Code and Motor Vehicle Code. They assist other law enforcement agencies throughout Berks County. They also serve legal documents or complete the physical action of the document, Petitions, Real Estate Notices, Summons and Tax Sale Notices. The division also handles the transportation of prisoners throughout the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for the Court of Common Pleas transporting over 1,500 each year.
Patrol Division Contact information:
610-478-6240
Warrants Division
Warrants And Fugitives Division
The Warrants Division is comprised of two units. The first, the Fugitive Warrants Unit, is the larger of the two. This unit comprises 16 deputies and is responsible for all arrest warrants whether they are local, out of county or out of state. The unit also assists out of state agencies in the apprehension of fugitives that are located anywhere in Berks County. The Deputies of this unit are cross designated Special Deputy U.S. Marshals and operate in a taskforce with the U.S. Marshals Service. The Fugitive Warrants Unit also enforces Probation and Parole warrants and conducts extraditions throughout the United States.
The second unit is the DRS (Domestic Relations Section) Warrants Unit. The unit comprises 4 Deputies and is responsible for the enforcement of all non-support warrants in Berks County. It currently handles over 400 open warrants. The unit also receives out of county and out of state warrants for enforcement from jurisdictions that apply criminal charges for non-support.
Warrants Division Contact information:
610-478-6240
WARRANTS TIP LINE - 610-478-6390
Civil Process Division
The Berks County Sheriff's Office receives over 10,000 pieces of civil process each year. This number does not include the thousands of tax sale documents that are processed through and served by the office. The Civil Division is comprised of a Real Estate Administrator and 10 staff members. It is responsible for processing Sheriff's sales, protections from abuse orders, civil complaints, tax notices and the issuing of the Pennsylvania License to Carry Firearms.
Civil Process Division Contact information:
610-478-6240
civil@berkspa.gov
Berks County Sheriff's Costs for Civil Process*
Effective September 1, 2020, the Berks County Sheriff's Office will no longer be accepting CASH as a form of payment. We require payment for services to be made by check, money order or credit card ONLY.
Checks should be made payable to Eric J. Weaknecht, Sheriff*
Civil Services Filed in Berks County Prothonotary's Office | Deposit: 1 to 3 Defendants: $150.00 Additional fee for EACH additional Defendant: $50.00 |
Civil Services Filed Out of County / Out of State | Deposit: 1 to 3 Defendants: $150.00 Additional fee for EACH additional defendant: $50.00 |
| Personal Property (filed with Prothonotary or MDJ) | Deposit: $300.00 |
| Writ of Possessions | Deposit: $400.00 |
| Real Estate | Deposit: $2,500.00 |
| Attachments | 1 to 2 Defendants and up to 3 Garnishees Deposit: $300.00 IF you have more than 2 Defendants and/or more than 3 garnishees call 610-478-6240 x3204 for the fee. |
| *Deputized Services: Contact County where service is to be made for costs **When submitting services to be deputized to the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office please send a postage paid overnight envelope to ensure that Montgomery County has sufficient time to attempt service. Montgomery County Sheriff's Office requires 10 business days in order to attempt service. |
Right-To-Know
The below Right-to-Know Request form must be completed and sent to our Right-to-Know Office.
**Requests cannot be processed without a completed Right-to-Know Request Form.**
Right-to-Know Request Form
By Mail, hand delivery, fax or e-mail:
E-Mail: rtkrequests@berkspa.gov
Mail your request to: Sheriff's Office Open Records Officer
3rd Floor Courthouse
633 Court Street
Reading, PA 19601
Fax: (610) 478-6222
Arrangements can be made for documents to be viewed at no charge.