Forest County Criminal Records Access Guide
Forest County criminal history records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Forest County Courthouse in Tionesta, Pennsylvania. Forest County is one of Pennsylvania's least populous counties, largely covered by the Allegheny National Forest in the northwest part of the state. It borders Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, Venango, and Warren Counties. Despite its small size, Forest County operates within the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System and maintains public criminal court records. This page explains how to find those records through the UJS Portal, the courthouse, or the PATCH system run by the State Police.
Forest County Quick Facts
Forest County Criminal History Records Overview
Forest County criminal records document cases handled by the Court of Common Pleas in Tionesta. These records cover the full life of a criminal case: initial charges, arraignment, bail, preliminary hearing outcome, plea, trial, verdict, and sentencing. The Clerk of Courts maintains these files and is the official custodian of criminal dockets in Forest County.
Records are public under the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System and the state Right-to-Know Law. Some categories are excluded. These include juvenile adjudications, sealed and expunged records, mental health proceedings, adoption matters, and active investigation materials. A sealed or expunged record does not appear in any public search result, whether online or in person.
Note: There can be a delay between a court action and when it appears online. Check with the Clerk of Courts directly for the most current status on any case.
How to Search Forest County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the primary free resource for Forest County criminal record searches. Anyone can search by participant name, docket number, or offense tracking number without creating an account. The portal covers both the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts statewide, including Forest County.
The UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch allows users to filter by county. Selecting Forest County returns docket results for cases filed there. Each docket sheet shows case details, judge, filings, hearing dates, and dispositions. Recent entries may not be reflected immediately.
Because Forest County's official website experienced access issues, the UJS Portal is the most reliable online route to Forest County criminal court data.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides free public access to Forest County criminal case dockets and offense history without requiring an account or fee.
For in-person access, visit the Forest County Courthouse at 526 Elm Street, Tionesta, PA 16353. Contact the Clerk of Courts office for office hours and any applicable copy fees before making the trip.
Forest County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Forest County is the official record keeper for all criminal case filings in the Court of Common Pleas. This office stores dockets, processes appeals to higher courts, handles bail documentation, and manages expungement orders. It is the first stop for anyone seeking official criminal court records from Forest County.
| Office | Forest County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 526 Elm Street, Tionesta, PA 16353 |
| Phone | (814) 755-3537 |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Prothonotary, a separate office at the same courthouse, handles civil records. The District Attorney's office maintains prosecution files for active and past criminal cases in the county. For Right-to-Know requests involving criminal investigative records, contact the Forest County District Attorney's office, which designates a specific appeals officer for such disputes under Pennsylvania law.
PATCH Background Checks for Forest County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and provides certified criminal history results for any individual with a Pennsylvania record. PATCH is available online at epatch.pa.gov and costs $22 per check. Results are statewide, covering all 67 counties including Forest County.
To run an online check, go to epatch.pa.gov, click Submit a New Records Check, accept the terms of use, select Individual Request, provide the subject's identifying information, and pay the $22 fee by credit or debit card. Most results are returned within minutes. The search includes arrests, charges, dispositions, and sentences from courts across Pennsylvania.
Mail requests are also available. Send the completed SP 4-164 form and a $22 payment to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail responses take significantly longer than online results.
The Pennsylvania State Police page at pa.gov/agencies/psp has further information on PATCH, expungement, and other State Police record services.
What Forest County Court Records and Arrest Records Include
A Forest County criminal court docket contains the docket number, court, presiding judge, all parties, and a full log of case activity. This covers initial charges, bail conditions, preliminary hearing results, motions, continuances, plea entries, trial dates, verdicts, and sentencing. Sentencing entries may include incarceration terms, probation, fines, costs, and restitution requirements.
A PATCH result from the State Police covers all Pennsylvania counties. For a Forest County arrest, the record may show the arresting agency, charges, case disposition, and sentence. Both felony and misdemeanor convictions are included, as well as summary offense dispositions from Magisterial District Courts. Active warrants and bench warrants may also appear depending on the type of search performed.
Individuals serving state sentences may be located through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator tool at pa.gov/agencies/cor.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Forest County Records
Forest County criminal court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL) and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. The RTKL, established by Act 3 of 2008, requires agencies to respond to written records requests within five business days. An unanswered request is legally considered denied after that window.
Some criminal records are exempt. Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL protects active investigation materials, records that identify confidential sources, and information that could compromise a prosecution. The agency receiving the request bears the burden of showing by a preponderance of evidence that the exemption applies.
The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 governs how criminal background data from the State Police may be accessed and disseminated. CHRIA sets the framework for who can obtain records and how that information may be used.
Note: Denied RTK requests may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Expungement of Forest County Criminal Records
Pennsylvania law allows eligible individuals to have criminal records expunged under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. An expungement removes the record from court databases and directs the State Police to clear it from their statewide repository. After a successful expungement, the record will not appear in public UJS Portal searches or PATCH results.
Grounds for expungement include summary offense convictions where the person has been arrest-free for at least five years, charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal, and certain arrests that did not lead to a conviction. The petition is filed with the Forest County Court of Common Pleas. Once the judge signs the order, the Clerk of Courts processes it and notifies the State Police to update their records.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts at pacourts.us provides general guidance on the court system and how expungement orders are processed through the judicial system statewide.
Forest County Magisterial District Courts
Forest County operates a Magisterial District Court that handles initial criminal proceedings for the county. This court has jurisdiction over summary offenses, DUI cases, preliminary arraignments, and preliminary hearings for misdemeanors and felonies. Cases that move from the MDJ to the Court of Common Pleas become part of the criminal docket maintained by the Clerk of Courts.
MDJ dockets in Forest County are searchable through the UJS Portal at no cost. These dockets show charges, bail conditions, and the result of preliminary hearings. In-person access to MDJ records is also available at the court office during regular hours. Because Forest County is small and rural, scheduling a visit in advance is advisable.
Nearby Counties
Forest County is surrounded by Clarion, Elk, Jefferson, Venango, and Warren Counties. Use the links below to search criminal history records for neighboring counties.