Cambria County Criminal History Records

Cambria County sits in the Allegheny Mountains of west-central Pennsylvania. The county seat is Ebensburg, home to the courthouse where criminal court records are filed and maintained. Residents, attorneys, and members of the public can request access to Cambria County criminal history through the Clerk of Courts office. State tools also exist for broader background check searches. This page explains the local and state options available to you.

Cambria County Clerk of Courts and Criminal Records

The Cambria County Clerk of Courts is the main office for criminal court records in the county. It is part of the Court of Common Pleas and handles all paperwork tied to criminal cases. The office is located at 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. The phone number is (814) 472-0761. Staff are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office pledges prompt, courteous, and professional service to all who visit or call.

The Cambria County Clerk of Courts maintains criminal records for cases handled in the Court of Common Pleas. These include felonies, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from lower courts. Each case file holds a docket number, the names of parties, charges filed, hearings, motions, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing details. Staff can help you find records by case number or by a person's name and date of birth.

Felony case files are kept on a permanent basis. Misdemeanor files are typically held for seven years after a case closes. Arrest reports may be kept from five years to permanently, depending on the nature of the offense.

The office provides fee schedules for certified copies and standard photocopies. Certified copies cost $25. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. You may view records in person for free at the clerk's office or at public access terminals in the courthouse.

The clerk's office also makes appeal forms and fee schedules available online through the county website.

How to Request Cambria County Criminal History In Person

Visiting the Clerk of Courts in Ebensburg is the most direct way to access criminal records. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You will need to fill out a record request form and provide the full name of the subject plus their date of birth if you have it. Payment for copies can be made by check or money order. Cash may also be accepted at the counter.

Mail requests are another option. Send a written request to the Clerk of Courts office at 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. Include a completed request form, a self-addressed stamped envelope, payment for fees, and the specific case or person information you are searching for. Allow extra time for mail processing and turnaround.

Note: Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free viewing of docket information without submitting a formal request.

Pennsylvania PATCH System for Cambria County Background Checks

The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It gives you a statewide criminal history check rather than a county-level search. This covers arrests and convictions from all 67 counties, including Cambria. The cost is $22 per request. You can submit requests online through the PATCH website.

PATCH results reflect official Pennsylvania State Police records. They are considered more complete than a single-county search because they draw from a centralized state database. If a person has lived in more than one Pennsylvania county, PATCH will capture records from all of them. Results are typically available quickly when submitted online.

For federal criminal history, the FBI provides a separate service requiring fingerprints and an $18 fee. Contact the FBI directly for that process.

The Pennsylvania State Police website at pa.gov/agencies/psp has more details on PATCH, expungements, and DNA record removal.

Searching Cambria County Court Records Online

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System offers free online access to court docket sheets. You can search by case number, party name, organization name, or offense tracking number. The UJS portal covers the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts across all Pennsylvania counties, including Cambria.

Visit the UJS Case Search page to begin an online lookup. Basic docket information is free. Docket sheets list case filings, hearing dates, motions, and dispositions. However, actual documents filed in a case are not available for download from the portal. You must contact the Clerk of Courts to obtain copies of specific documents. The UJS also notes that recent court entries may not appear right away, so allow time for updates.

Note: Docket sheet information from the UJS portal should not replace a full criminal history background check from the Pennsylvania State Police.

Cambria County Open Records and Right-to-Know Requests

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public a path to request government records. Cambria County has a designated Open Records Officer who handles these requests. The office is at 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. The phone number is (814) 472-1607. The fax is (814) 472-6940. Melissa Kestermont serves as the Open Records Officer. Her email is mkestermont@co.cambria.pa.us.

Requests must be submitted in writing. Use the standard Right-to-Know request form from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Agencies must respond within five business days. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the state Office of Open Records. Some records are exempt under the law, including active criminal investigations and certain law enforcement materials.

The Right-to-Know Law covers county government records. For court records specifically, the Clerk of Courts is the appropriate office rather than the Open Records officer. Always confirm which office holds the records you need before submitting a request.

The Cambria County Open Records page has forms and contact details for submitting requests.

What Cambria County Criminal Records Contain

Criminal records in Cambria County follow a standard format used across Pennsylvania. Each record includes identifying details such as the person's name, date of birth, and physical description. Arrest information shows the date, arresting agency, charges, and bail conditions. Court case information covers the docket number, all charges, attorney names, and hearing dates. The record also shows the final outcome, including the verdict, sentence, fines, and any probation or parole terms.

Records are maintained under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, which is found at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. This law sets standards for how criminal records are kept, who can access them, and how they can be used. It also outlines rights for individuals who want to challenge or seek to expunge their records.

Expungement requires filing a petition with the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania law sets out the conditions under which a record may be eligible for expungement. Not all records qualify.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides guidance on how court records are managed statewide.

Note: Individuals who believe their record contains errors may contact the Clerk of Courts or the Pennsylvania State Police to pursue a correction through established procedures.

Cambria County Sheriff and Arrest Records

The Cambria County Sheriff's Office is also located at 200 South Center Street, Ebensburg, PA 15931. The phone number is (814) 472-1691. The Sheriff's Office handles courthouse security, service of process, and civil and criminal warrants. Arrest records tied to sheriff activity may feed into court records held by the Clerk of Courts.

For active warrants, the UJS Web Portal provides public access to statewide warrant information for registered users. Some warrant data is also accessible through local law enforcement upon request. If you have concerns about a specific warrant, contact the Cambria County Sheriff or the relevant Magisterial District Court.

Nearby Counties

Criminal history records in these adjacent counties follow similar Pennsylvania processes.

View All 67 Counties