Centre County Criminal History and Court Records

Centre County sits in the geographic heart of Pennsylvania. Bellefonte is the county seat, home to the Centre County Courthouse at 414 Holmes Street. The county is also home to State College and Penn State University, which draw a large population from across the state and region. Criminal history records for Centre County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Bellefonte. State tools such as PATCH and the UJS Portal offer additional ways to search records. This page outlines all the main options.

Centre County Criminal History Through the Clerk of Courts

The Clerk of Courts in Centre County maintains criminal court records for all cases handled in the Court of Common Pleas. These include felony cases, serious misdemeanors, and appeals from Magisterial District Courts. The office is located in the Centre County Courthouse at 414 Holmes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Visiting in person during business hours is the most direct way to request criminal records.

When you visit, bring a valid government-issued photo ID. Tell the staff the name of the person you are searching or provide the case number if you have it. Date of birth helps narrow results when searching by name. Fees for copies are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certified copies carry a higher fee. You may view records at the courthouse public terminal at no charge if you do not need a copy.

Mail-in requests are possible. Send a written request with the subject's full name, date of birth, and any case information you have. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for applicable fees. Address the request to the Clerk of Courts at the Centre County Courthouse in Bellefonte.

The Centre County Government website provides online access to Right-to-Know requests, the Sheriff's Office, the county correctional facility, and general government services.

Centre County Court Records Online via the UJS Portal

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System offers a free online search of court docket sheets. Centre County records are included in this statewide database, which covers the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts. You can search by case number, party name, offense tracking number, police incident number, or state ID number.

Start a search at the UJS Case Search page. Results include docket sheets that show case filings, hearing dates, motions, and final dispositions. The information is free and public. However, actual documents filed in a case are not downloadable from the portal. For copies of specific filings, contact the Clerk of Courts in Bellefonte. The system notes that very recent court entries may not appear immediately due to processing time at the filing offices.

Note: The UJS docket sheet is useful for tracking a case but should not replace an official state background check when a formal criminal history is needed.

PATCH Background Checks for Centre County Records

The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, called PATCH, is the state's official tool for criminal background checks. It is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and costs $22 per search. PATCH covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties, making it a far broader search than a county-level court lookup alone. If a person has had criminal cases in multiple counties, PATCH will capture them all in one report.

Request a PATCH check online at epatch.pa.gov. Online requests are processed quickly. The result is an official state criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police database. PATCH is the only source for an official Pennsylvania criminal history background check. The Pennsylvania State Police page at pa.gov/agencies/psp also has information on expungements and DNA record clearing for eligible individuals.

The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the PATCH system, handles expungement requests, and provides Right-to-Know request procedures for PSP records.

Centre County Arrest Records and Magisterial District Courts

Magisterial District Courts in Centre County are the first stop for most criminal matters. They hold preliminary hearings for felony cases before those cases move to the Court of Common Pleas. They also handle summary offenses, traffic violations, DUI matters, and civil claims up to $12,000. Each MDJ office keeps its own dockets, which are also searchable through the UJS Portal.

State College, the largest community in Centre County, has its own local police force. Other areas of the county rely on Pennsylvania State Police coverage. Arrest records tied to State Police activity in Centre County feed into the statewide PATCH database and may also appear in court records held by the Clerk of Courts after charges are filed.

Centre County also has the Centre County Correctional Facility. For individuals currently held in state prisons rather than the county facility, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates an Inmate Locator at pa.gov/agencies/cor.

Centre County Criminal Records Content and Retention

Criminal records maintained by the Centre County Clerk of Courts include all the standard components required under Pennsylvania law. Each record shows identifying information, arrest details, charges filed, arraignment information, and court proceedings through the final verdict or plea. Sentencing data covers fines, probation, and any incarceration ordered by the court.

Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, governs how these records are stored, who can access them, and how disputes over their accuracy are handled. Felony records are kept permanently. Misdemeanor case files are retained for seven years after a case closes. Arrest reports may be kept from five years up to permanently, depending on the type of offense involved.

Records that are not public include juvenile case files, sealed or expunged records, social security numbers, DNA records, and medical or psychological information. Individuals who want to seek expungement in Centre County must file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas and meet the conditions set out in Pennsylvania law.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides resources on court records, docket sheets, and the structure of the statewide judicial system.

Centre County Right-to-Know Requests for Public Records

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives residents the right to request public records from state and local government agencies. Centre County government has a designated Open Records Officer. All requests must be submitted in writing. Use the standard form from the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records or write your own request that includes the agency name, a description of the records sought, and your contact information. Agencies must respond within five business days.

The Centre County website offers a direct Right-to-Know request link for submitting requests to county government offices. Note that criminal court records fall under the judicial branch and must be requested from the Clerk of Courts, not through the general county Right-to-Know process. The county's online portal is best used for administrative government records such as budget documents, meeting minutes, and contracts.

Appeals of denied requests go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The burden of proving that a record is exempt falls on the agency, not on the person making the request.

Note: Centre County also provides emergency alert sign-ups through ALERTCentre, which allows residents to receive notifications about public safety events in the area.

Nearby Counties

These counties share borders with Centre and follow the same Pennsylvania court records system.

View All 67 Counties