Butler County Criminal History and Court Records
Butler County is located in western Pennsylvania, bordering Allegheny, Armstrong, Clarion, Lawrence, Mercer, and Venango counties. The county seat is Butler, where the Court of Common Pleas handles all major criminal cases. The Butler County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal and juvenile records for the court system. This guide outlines how to search Butler County criminal history records, obtain background checks, and access court case information through local and state resources.
Butler County Quick Facts
Butler County Clerk of Courts and Criminal History Records
The Butler County Clerk of Courts is an independent constitutional officer elected by county voters to a four-year term. The Clerk serves as the official custodian of records for the Criminal and Juvenile Divisions of the Court of Common Pleas. The office mission is to effectively and efficiently maintain accurate criminal and juvenile records for the court and citizens of Butler County. Services provided include criminal record checks, subpoena requests, private detective licensing orders, court calendar management, expungement processing, and summary appeals.
The Clerk's office maintains complete files for all criminal cases heard in the Court of Common Pleas, including charge information, bail records, motions, petitions, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. The office works closely with law enforcement agencies, attorneys, and the courts. Fee schedules, filing information, and downloadable forms are available on the county website. Contact the Clerk of Courts at butlercountypa.gov or visit the Butler County Courthouse in Butler, PA.
Note: For personal use, the UJS Web Portal is the recommended free tool. For official criminal history checks, use the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov.
Butler County Criminal History Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Case Search portal provides free public access to Butler County criminal court dockets. The portal covers cases from the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts throughout the county. Searches work using participant name, case number, docket number, OTN, or other identifiers. Case results include charge details, hearing dates, case status, and final dispositions.
The UJS portal is available around the clock and does not require account creation for basic searches. Updates occur regularly, though there may be brief delays after new courthouse filings. The PAeDocket mobile app provides the same search capability on Apple and Android devices and is available for free download. For older cases not yet digitized, in-person requests at the Clerk of Courts office may be required.
The Butler County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal records for the Court of Common Pleas.
The Clerk of Courts office at the Butler County Courthouse provides in-person access to criminal case files and dockets.
Butler County Criminal Background Checks via PATCH
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) is the authoritative source for formal criminal background checks in Butler County. The PATCH portal is available at epatch.pa.gov and charges $22 per request, payable online by credit card or pre-registered bank account. Results draw from the statewide criminal history repository and cover all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Butler.
Mail requests use Criminal History Request Form SP 4-164, sent with the applicable fee to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail-in requests take longer than online processing. PATCH is the correct system to use when a comprehensive, certified criminal history record is required for legal or personal use.
Butler County Open Records and Right-to-Know Requests
Butler County public records are available upon written request through the county's open records process. The county's open records email is openrecords@co.butler.pa.us. For requests to county administration, contact Maria Malloy, the Open Records Officer. Completed request forms can be delivered in person, by mail, or by fax to the appropriate open records office. Some records are already published on the county website, including meeting minutes, agendas, excess funds lists, and budgets, and do not require a formal request.
Important: The county does not hold police reports. Requests for those must go directly to the relevant municipality or law enforcement agency. For criminal records, direct requests to the Butler County District Attorney's Office or the Clerk of Courts. Criminal investigative records are handled through the District Attorney's open records office. Court records including criminal case information come from the Clerk of Courts, civil case information from the Prothonotary, and Magisterial District Court records from the individual MDJ offices.
The Butler County Open Records page outlines procedures for requesting public records under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
Open records requests for Butler County criminal records can be sent by email, mail, fax, or in-person delivery to the designated open records officer.
Note: Denied requests can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR also provides guidance and mediation services for records disputes.
Butler County Court Structure and Case Information
The Butler County Court of Common Pleas is the primary trial court for criminal and civil matters in the county. It handles all felony and serious misdemeanor cases, appeals from Magisterial District Courts, and post-conviction matters including expungements and appeals to the Superior Court. The court operates under the oversight of the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts, which provides the UJS Web Portal for public access to case records statewide.
Magisterial District Courts across Butler County handle summary offenses, preliminary hearings, traffic citations, and civil claims up to $12,000. Records from these courts are included in the statewide UJS portal. Visits to individual district court offices are permitted during business hours. The Prothonotary's office handles civil court records including divorces, protection from abuse orders, custody matters, judgments, and civil lawsuits, separate from the criminal records held by the Clerk of Courts.
Arrest Records and Law Enforcement in Butler County
Arrest records in Butler County are maintained by the arresting agency. The county includes multiple municipal police departments serving different communities, as well as Pennsylvania State Police coverage in areas without local departments. For specific arrest records or incident reports, contact the department that handled the case. The Butler County Sheriff's Office provides county-level law enforcement and handles warrant execution and courthouse security.
The Pennsylvania State Police handles law enforcement in parts of Butler County and provides accident report services statewide. Accident reports are available online 14 days after a crash for $22 per copy. For individuals serving sentences in state correctional facilities, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides an inmate locator through its website.
Butler County Court Contact Information
| Clerk of Courts | Butler County Courthouse, Butler, PA |
|---|---|
| Open Records Email | openrecords@co.butler.pa.us |
| Open Records Officer | Maria Malloy (County Administration) |
| Clerk Website | butlercountypa.gov - Clerk of Courts |
| Open Records Page | butlercountypa.gov - Open Records |
| State PATCH | epatch.pa.gov - $22 per check |
Pennsylvania State Resources for Butler County Criminal History
Several statewide resources provide access to Butler County criminal history information. The Pennsylvania State Police manages the PATCH system and the criminal history repository at 1800 Elmerton Avenue in Harrisburg. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts runs the UJS Web Portal and oversees court operations statewide. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles RTK law appeals and provides guidance on public record access.
These state agencies work with local county offices to ensure public access to criminal records under the framework of the Right-to-Know Law and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Butler County residents can use both local and state resources to find the level of detail they need.
Nearby Counties
Butler County borders six counties in western and central Pennsylvania, each with separate court systems and criminal record access procedures.