Clearfield County Criminal History and Court Records

Clearfield County is located in central Pennsylvania. The city of Clearfield serves as the county seat. The county borders Blair, Cameron, Centre, Clinton, Elk, and Jefferson counties. Criminal history records in Clearfield County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts through the Court of Common Pleas. The Pennsylvania UJS Portal and the PATCH system provide additional statewide tools for searching criminal records. This page explains how to use each of those resources to access Clearfield County criminal history.

Clearfield County Clerk of Courts and Criminal History

The Clerk of Courts in Clearfield County is responsible for maintaining all criminal court records from the Court of Common Pleas. This includes records of felony cases, serious misdemeanor cases, and appeals from Magisterial District Courts. The clerk's office is located in the Clearfield County Courthouse in Clearfield, PA. The Prothonotary, which handles civil records, is a separate office within the same courthouse.

To access records in person, visit the Clerk of Courts during regular business hours, Monday through Friday. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID. You can search by case number or by the subject's name and date of birth. Standard photocopies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee. If you only need to view a record, you may do so at the courthouse public access terminal at no charge.

You can also submit a mail request to the Clerk of Courts at the Clearfield County Courthouse. Include the subject's full name and date of birth, a description of the records you need, payment for fees, and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return documents. Check or money order is the standard payment method for mailed requests.

The Clearfield County Government website provides access to county services, departments, and contact information for all county offices.

Clearfield County Arrest Records Through the UJS Portal

Pennsylvania provides free public access to court docket information through the Unified Judicial System Web Portal. Clearfield County records are included in this statewide database, covering both the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in the county. You can search by case number, party name, organization name, offense tracking number, police incident number, or state ID number.

Visit the UJS Case Search page to run your search. Docket sheets show the full timeline of a case, including filings, hearings, motions, and the final outcome. The search is free and open to the public. You cannot download actual case documents from the portal. For certified copies or specific documents, contact the Clearfield County Clerk of Courts directly. The portal notes that very recent entries may not appear immediately due to processing time at filing offices.

Note: The UJS docket sheet is a useful tool for tracking case status, but it does not replace an official background check from the Pennsylvania State Police.

PATCH Background Checks for Clearfield County Criminal History

The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is the official statewide background check run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It costs $22 per request and returns results from all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Clearfield. If a person has had criminal cases in more than one county, PATCH will include them all in a single report. This makes it a stronger option than searching only county-level court records.

Submit your PATCH request online at epatch.pa.gov. Online submissions are processed quickly. Results come directly from the Pennsylvania State Police records system and are the only source for an official Pennsylvania criminal history check. The Pennsylvania State Police website has details on PATCH, expungement procedures, and DNA record removal for eligible individuals.

For federal criminal history, the FBI offers a separate background check service requiring fingerprints and an $18 fee. Contact the FBI directly for instructions on that process.

The PATCH online system at epatch.pa.gov is available around the clock for submitting official Pennsylvania statewide background check requests.

Clearfield County Criminal Records and What They Include

Criminal court records in Clearfield County follow a standard format used across Pennsylvania. Each record includes identifying information such as the person's name and date of birth. Arrest information shows the date, the arresting agency, and the charges filed. As the case moves through the courts, the record is updated to show arraignment details, bail conditions, hearing dates, motions, and plea agreements. The final portion of the record covers the verdict or disposition, any sentence imposed, fines, probation terms, and incarceration periods.

Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, sets the rules for how records are maintained and who can access them. Felony case files are held permanently. Misdemeanor case files are kept for seven years after a case closes. Arrest reports may be retained from five years to permanently, depending on the nature of the offense. Criminal records are generally public under Pennsylvania law, with exceptions for juvenile cases, sealed or expunged records, and information such as social security numbers and medical data.

Individuals who want to seek expungement of a Clearfield County record must file a petition with the Court of Common Pleas. Pennsylvania law sets the eligibility conditions. Not every record qualifies, and the court must approve the petition before a record is cleared.

The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts oversees court records management and provides public guidance on how docket sheets and court filings work across all Pennsylvania counties.

Clearfield County Right-to-Know and Open Records Access

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law allows the public to request records from government agencies. Clearfield County has a designated Open Records Officer for processing written requests. 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 you need, and your contact information. Agencies must respond within five business days. A denied request can be appealed to the state Office of Open Records within 15 business days.

Criminal court records held by the Clerk of Courts fall under the judicial branch and are not accessed through the standard Right-to-Know Law process. Those must be requested directly from the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse. The Right-to-Know Law applies to county administrative records, Sheriff's Office records, District Attorney administrative functions, and similar executive branch offices in Clearfield County. Exempt records include active criminal investigation materials, confidential source information, and data that could endanger public safety.

The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records offers guidance on how to submit requests, file appeals, and use mediation to resolve disputes over records access.

Note: Mediation through the Office of Open Records can resolve many records disputes without a formal appeal and is available at no cost to the requester.

Clearfield County Magisterial District Courts and Case Process

Clearfield County has Magisterial District Courts located throughout the county. These courts handle the first steps in most criminal cases. Felony matters start with a preliminary hearing at the MDJ level before moving to the Court of Common Pleas. Summary offenses, traffic violations, DUI cases, and civil claims up to $12,000 are often resolved at the MDJ level without going to Common Pleas.

MDJ records are public and are included in the UJS Portal search results. Contact Clearfield County Court Administration to find which MDJ court serves a specific municipality within the county. Each MDJ office keeps its own dockets and can assist with questions about local cases. PAePay, available through the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, allows you to pay traffic tickets and court costs online without a trip to the courthouse.

For individuals held in state correctional facilities rather than the county jail, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections offers an Inmate Locator at pa.gov/agencies/cor to search for currently incarcerated individuals across all state prisons.

Nearby Counties

Clearfield County borders these counties, each with their own local court records offices.

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