Bucks County Criminal History and Court Records
Bucks County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, bordering Montgomery, Philadelphia, and Chester counties. The county seat is Doylestown, home to the Bucks County Justice Center. The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas handles all major criminal cases filed in the county, with the Clerk of Courts maintaining official criminal court records. This page explains how to access Bucks County criminal history records, search court dockets, obtain background checks, and use the county's online record tools.
Bucks County Quick Facts
Bucks County Clerk of Courts and Criminal History Access
The Bucks County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal records for the Court of Common Pleas. Lori Schreiber has served as Clerk of Courts since January 2020. The office maintains a computerized index and docket of all criminal case documents, handling court filings, tracking case records, and ensuring those records remain complete and accurate. The Clerk also issues subpoenas for criminal cases and provides certified copies of official court records.
The office is located at the Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901. The phone number is 215-348-6389 and fax is 267-885-1371. Public access is available during regular business hours. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page, and certified copies cost $5.00 per document. Forms and resources on topics including expungements, appeals, and bail are available for download on the office website. The office also provides E-Filing and Online Records Search capabilities.
Note: For warrant information, contact the Bucks County Sheriff's Office Warrant Division at 215-348-6126. The Sheriff's Office is located at 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901.
Bucks County Criminal Records Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Case Search portal provides free public access to Bucks County criminal court dockets. Searches can be conducted using participant name, case number, docket number, OTN, or other identifiers. Results include charge information, hearing history, case status, and sentencing data for both the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts in Bucks County.
Bucks County also provides its own online docket lookup information at buckscounty.gov. The county's E-Filing and Web Viewer system allows registered users to file and access certain case records electronically. Basic docket searches are free but fees apply for certified copies, detailed reports, or printed documents. Historical records going back several decades are generally available, with very old cases sometimes requiring in-person archive requests.
The Bucks County Clerk of Courts maintains official criminal records at the Justice Center in Doylestown.
The Bucks County Justice Center at 100 North Main Street is the central location for criminal court record access in the county.
Bucks County Court Records and Open Records Office
Bucks County maintains designated open records officers for each court office. The Court Open Records Officer is located at the Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, with a phone of 215-348-6700 and fax of 215-348-6503. Prothonotary Judith Reiss serves as the Prothonotary Open Records Officer at the same address, reachable at 215-348-6191. The Clerk of Courts Open Records Officer can also be reached at 215-348-6389.
The Bucks County Court Records page provides a full list of court offices and their designated open records contacts. Requests submitted under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law must receive a response within five business days. If a response is not received within that window, the request is legally deemed denied. Denied requests can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
The Bucks County Court Records page lists open records contacts and online search tools for criminal and civil cases.
Bucks County's court records page provides direct access to docket lookup tools and open records officer contact information.
Background Checks for Bucks County Through PATCH
For a formal criminal history background check covering Bucks County and all of Pennsylvania, the PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) operated by the State Police is the official source. Access PATCH online at epatch.pa.gov for $22 per request, payable by credit card or pre-registered bank account. PATCH draws from the statewide criminal history repository maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.
Mail requests are also available. Complete Form SP 4-164 and send with payment to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. The process for PATCH online requests involves creating an account, completing the request form, paying the fee, and receiving results electronically. Mail results are delivered to the address listed on the request form.
Bucks County Prothonotary and Civil Court Records
The Bucks County Prothonotary maintains civil court records separate from the criminal records held by the Clerk of Courts. Judith Reiss serves as Prothonotary. The office is located at 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, and can be reached at 215-348-6191, fax 215-348-6184. Civil records include divorces, custody matters, protection from abuse orders, civil lawsuits, judgments, and liens. Public access terminals are available at the courthouse for searching civil case information.
The Register of Wills, handling marriage licenses and estate records, is located at 55 East Court Street, Doylestown, PA 18901, and can be reached at 215-348-6265. The Register of Wills/Clerk of the Orphans' Court accepts both virtual and in-person appointments Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:15 PM. Call 215-348-6254 or 215-348-6264 to schedule an appointment.
Bucks County Court Contact Information
| Clerk of Courts | Lori Schreiber, Bucks County Justice Center, 100 North Main Street, Doylestown, PA 18901 |
|---|---|
| Phone | 215-348-6389 |
| Fax | 267-885-1371 |
| Open Records Phone | 215-348-6700 |
| Prothonotary | Judith Reiss | 215-348-6191 |
| Sheriff's Office | 55 East Court Street, Doylestown | 215-348-6124 |
| Website | buckscounty.gov - Clerk of Courts |
Pennsylvania State Resources for Bucks County Criminal History
Several state resources support criminal history research for Bucks County. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts operates the UJS Web Portal and provides court administration guidance statewide. The Pennsylvania State Police runs the PATCH system and maintains the statewide criminal history database. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals and provides guidance on Right-to-Know Law requests.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections offers an inmate locator for those held in state correctional facilities. Free online resources for Bucks County include the UJS Web Portal for docket information and the Bucks County docket lookup page. Formal records with legal weight require a request from the Clerk of Courts or a PATCH background check.
Cities in Bucks County
Bucks County includes several notable communities with their own local resources for public records.
Nearby Counties
Bucks County borders three neighboring counties in the Philadelphia metropolitan area, each with separate court systems and public record offices.