Cumberland County Criminal History Records
Cumberland County criminal history records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. Located in south-central Pennsylvania, Cumberland County is part of the 9th Judicial District. The county seat of Carlisle is home to the U.S. Army War College and sits along a busy corridor between Harrisburg and the state's western regions. Residents and researchers can access criminal history through local court offices, the UJS Web Portal, or the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Cumberland County Quick Facts
Cumberland County Criminal Records Overview
Cumberland County criminal history records document court proceedings and case outcomes for matters handled within the county's judicial system. These records include dockets, charge details, hearing dates, plea entries, and sentencing information. Records originate from both the Court of Common Pleas and the county's Magisterial District Courts.
The Cumberland County government provides public access to court schedules and has Right-to-Know procedures in place. The Board of Commissioners oversees county operations, while the court system operates independently under judicial authority. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal records, and the Prothonotary maintains civil records.
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and the Unified Judicial System's Public Access Policy, most court records are available to the public. Records that are shielded include juvenile files, sealed court orders, expunged records, mental health proceedings, and adoption matters. These categories cannot be accessed through standard public channels.
Note: Records shown through online tools may not reflect actions taken within the past 24 hours or more. Contact the Clerk of Courts directly for current case status.
How to Search Cumberland County Criminal Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the main free resource for searching Cumberland County criminal records. The portal covers all Pennsylvania courts including the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas and all local Magisterial District Courts. Searches can be run by participant name, docket number, or case type.
Results show docket sheets with full case information including case numbers, parties, charges, attorneys, and dispositions. The portal is free and does not require registration. The direct link for case lookups is ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch.
The Cumberland County government website provides access to court schedules, Right-to-Know procedures, and contact information for the Clerk of Courts in Carlisle.
For in-person access, the Cumberland County Courthouse is located at One Courthouse Square, Carlisle, PA 17013. The Clerk of Courts office can assist with name searches and certified copies. Bring valid identification and expect to pay copy fees where applicable.
Note: Court docket data from the UJS Portal is not a certified criminal background check. Only the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system issues certified criminal history records.
Cumberland County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Cumberland County serves as the official record keeper for criminal proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas. The office maintains all criminal dockets, processes bail, handles appeals to higher state courts, collects court-ordered fines and fees, and coordinates expungement orders with the State Police.
| Office | Cumberland County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | One Courthouse Square, Carlisle, PA 17013 |
| County Website | cumberlandcountypa.gov |
| Court Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
The county also accepts Right-to-Know requests online through the county website. The Board of Commissioners maintains links to court schedules and RTK request forms as part of the county's Quick Links section. For criminal investigative records held by the District Attorney, requests and appeals follow the process set out in Section 503(d) of the Right-to-Know Law.
PATCH Background Checks in Cumberland County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, PATCH, is the official source for certified criminal background checks in Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and available at epatch.pa.gov. Each check costs $22, paid at submission.
To submit online, visit the PATCH site, click "Submit a New Records Check," accept the terms, choose "Individual Request," enter the subject's name and other required details, and pay by credit or debit card. Results are returned through the secure portal. Mail submissions using Form SP 4-164 are also accepted and sent to the State Police Central Repository in Harrisburg, but processing time is longer.
PATCH draws from the statewide criminal history repository maintained by the State Police. Results cover arrests and convictions across all 67 Pennsylvania counties. This makes PATCH the most complete option for a thorough criminal background check on any Pennsylvania resident, including those from Cumberland County.
What Cumberland County Criminal Records Contain
Court dockets from Cumberland County show the case number, parties, presiding judge, all charges filed, and a chronological list of court actions and filings. They record plea entries, trial outcomes, sentencing dates, and whether the case was dismissed, acquitted, or resulted in a conviction.
A PATCH report includes arrest information, charge classifications, sentencing outcomes such as incarceration terms, probation periods, fines, costs, and restitution orders. It covers both felony and misdemeanor convictions as well as summary offense dispositions from Magisterial District Courts. Bench warrants and Protection from Abuse orders may appear in certain searches.
Certified copies of court records from Cumberland County can be obtained directly from the Clerk of Courts in Carlisle. Fees for copies are set by court rule. Standard copies and certified copies have different rates. Contact the Clerk of Courts for the current schedule.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Cumberland County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, Act 3 of 2008, gives residents and others the right to access government records. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. A failure to respond in time constitutes a denial.
Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL exempts criminal investigative records from public access when release could harm an ongoing investigation, endanger a witness, or impair a prosecution. These protections apply to records held by the Cumberland County District Attorney. The DA designates an appeals officer to handle RTK denials involving criminal investigative records.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, the Criminal History Record Information Act, access to criminal background data is governed by specific rules about who can request records and how those records may be used. These rules apply to both PATCH results and direct requests to county court offices.
Appeals of denied RTK requests may be filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. The OOR reviews agency denials and may order records released.
Cumberland County Magisterial District Courts
Cumberland County has Magisterial District Courts that handle the earliest stages of criminal matters. These courts conduct preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor charges, preside over summary offenses, address DUI cases, and resolve civil claims up to $12,000. All Magisterial District Court records are searchable for free through the UJS Portal.
Cases that advance past the preliminary stage are certified to the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas, where the Clerk of Courts creates and maintains the formal docket. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts at pacourts.us oversees the statewide court system and provides guidance on accessing court records and case information.
Note: Both Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records are available through the UJS Portal. Both include party names, charges, hearing outcomes, and other public case details.
Expungement of Cumberland County Criminal Records
Pennsylvania law allows certain criminal records to be expunged under conditions set in 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. A petition must be filed with the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas. If the judge grants it, the record is sealed from public access and the State Police are directed to remove it from their criminal history database.
Eligibility includes summary offense convictions after five years with no further arrests, charges resulting in acquittal or dismissal, and some arrests where no charges were ever filed. The Cumberland County Clerk of Courts processes approved expungement orders and coordinates with the Pennsylvania State Police on removal.
Individuals seeking expungement in Cumberland County should contact the Clerk of Courts in Carlisle or consult with an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania expungement procedures.
Nearby Counties
Cumberland County borders several counties in south-central Pennsylvania. Search criminal history records for neighboring counties using the links below.