Dauphin County Criminal Records in Harrisburg
Dauphin County criminal history records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Dauphin County Courthouse in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. Dauphin County is the home of Pennsylvania's state capital and is part of the 12th Judicial District. Its position as the seat of state government means the county hosts a wide range of public records resources and state agencies. Residents and researchers can find criminal history through local court offices, the free UJS Web Portal, or the PATCH background check system run by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Dauphin County Quick Facts
Dauphin County Criminal History Records Overview
Criminal history records in Dauphin County document all court proceedings and outcomes within the county's judicial system. These include case dockets, charge details, hearing schedules, plea information, and sentencing records. Both the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts throughout the county generate these files.
Harrisburg serves as both the county seat and the state capital, making Dauphin County a particularly active judicial district. Several state agencies with public records functions are located in or near Harrisburg, including the Pennsylvania State Police headquarters and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and the Unified Judicial System's Public Access Policy, most court records are public. Records excluded from public access include juvenile proceedings, sealed court orders, expunged records, mental health records, and adoption files. These are not available through standard public search tools.
Note: Online court records may not reflect filings from the past 24 hours or more. Visit the courthouse or call the Clerk of Courts for the most current case information.
How to Search Dauphin County Criminal Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the primary free tool for searching Dauphin County criminal records. It covers all Pennsylvania courts, including the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in the county. You can search by participant name, docket number, or case type.
The UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch is the direct path to case lookups. Results show docket sheets with case numbers, parties, charges, hearing dates, and final dispositions. The service requires no account and is free for public use around the clock.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides free public access to Dauphin County court docket sheets and case information, searchable by name or docket number.
The Dauphin County website at dauphincounty.org also provides court schedule information and contact details for court offices. For in-person requests, the Dauphin County Courthouse is at 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101. The Clerk of Courts office handles name searches and copy requests during regular business hours.
Note: Docket sheet data from the UJS Portal does not serve as a certified criminal history background check. Only PATCH results from the Pennsylvania State Police carry that certification.
Dauphin County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Dauphin County is the official record keeper for criminal cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas. The office maintains all criminal dockets, processes bail, manages appeals to the Commonwealth and Superior Courts, collects court-ordered fines and fees, and handles expungement orders in coordination with the State Police.
| Office | Dauphin County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 101 Market Street, Harrisburg, PA 17101 |
| County Website | dauphincounty.org |
| Court Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard business hours |
The Prothonotary maintains civil records and is a separate office at the courthouse. For Right-to-Know requests related to criminal investigative records held by the Dauphin County District Attorney, a separate written request must go to the DA's office. Under Section 503(d) of the Right-to-Know Law, the DA designates an appeals officer to handle denials of such requests.
PATCH Background Checks in Dauphin County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, PATCH, provides certified statewide criminal background checks. The Pennsylvania State Police operates PATCH and makes it available online at epatch.pa.gov. Each request costs $22, a non-refundable fee paid at the time of submission.
Online requests are fast and straightforward. Go to the PATCH website, click "Submit a New Records Check," accept the terms, select "Individual Request," provide the required information, and pay by credit or debit card. Results are delivered through the secure portal. Mail requests using Form SP 4-164 are also accepted, sent to the State Police Central Repository, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.
The PATCH system, located in Harrisburg, is the official source for certified criminal background checks covering Dauphin County and all other Pennsylvania counties.
Note: Because the State Police Central Repository is located in Harrisburg, Dauphin County residents have direct geographic proximity to the agency that administers PATCH, though all requests are submitted online or by mail regardless of location.
What Dauphin County Criminal Records Contain
Court dockets from Dauphin County list case numbers, parties, charges, the presiding judge, all filing dates, and the final outcome. They show plea entries, trial results, sentencing dates, and whether charges were dismissed or resulted in conviction.
A PATCH result from the Pennsylvania State Police includes arrest data, charge classifications, and full sentencing details such as incarceration lengths, probation terms, fines, costs, restitution, and community service. Both felony and misdemeanor convictions are included, as are summary offense dispositions from Magisterial District Courts. Active bench warrants and Protection from Abuse orders may appear in certain searches.
Certified copies of Dauphin County criminal records can be obtained from the Clerk of Courts in Harrisburg. Copy fees apply and are set by court rule. Contact the Clerk of Courts for the current fee schedule.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Dauphin County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, enacted in 2008, gives the public the right to access government records. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. No response within that window is treated as a denial.
Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL exempts criminal investigative records when their release could harm an ongoing investigation, compromise a prosecution, endanger a witness, or hinder an arrest. Records from active investigations held by the Dauphin County District Attorney fall under this protection.
The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 governs access to criminal background data statewide, including rules about who may request records and how results may be used. These rules apply to PATCH requests and direct requests to county court offices alike.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals of denied Right-to-Know requests. The OOR is located in Harrisburg and reviews agency denials. Its mailing address as of late 2025 is 555 Walnut Street, Suite 605, Harrisburg, PA 17101.
Dauphin County Magisterial District Courts
Dauphin County has multiple Magisterial District Courts across the county. These courts handle preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor cases, summary offense proceedings, DUI matters, and civil claims up to $12,000. All records from Magisterial District Courts are accessible for free through the UJS Portal.
Cases that move past the preliminary stage are certified to the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas, where they become part of the formal criminal docket maintained by the Clerk of Courts. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts at pacourts.us oversees all Pennsylvania courts and provides statewide guidance on accessing case records.
Note: Magisterial District Court dockets and Common Pleas dockets are both searchable through the UJS Portal at no cost. Both show party names, charges, hearing results, and case status information.
Expungement of Dauphin County Criminal Records
Pennsylvania law permits expungement of certain criminal records under conditions defined in 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. A petition must be filed with the Dauphin County Court of Common Pleas in Harrisburg. If granted, the record is removed from public court databases and the State Police are directed to purge it from their criminal history repository.
Common grounds for expungement include summary offense convictions after five years without a further arrest, charges that resulted in acquittal or dismissal without conviction, and some arrests where no charges were filed. The Dauphin County Clerk of Courts processes expungement orders and notifies the Pennsylvania State Police of the required record removal.
Individuals seeking expungement should contact the Clerk of Courts or an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania's expungement statutes before filing a petition.
Nearby Counties
Dauphin County is bordered by several Pennsylvania counties in the south-central region. Search criminal history records for neighboring counties using the links below.