Huntingdon County Criminal History Records Guide
Huntingdon County criminal history records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Huntingdon County Courthouse in Huntingdon, Pennsylvania. Located in central Pennsylvania, Huntingdon County borders Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties. The county is home to Juniata College and operates within the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System. Residents and researchers can find criminal records online through the UJS Portal, request them in person at the courthouse, or obtain a certified statewide background check through the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police. This page explains each method.
Huntingdon County Quick Facts
Huntingdon County Criminal History Records Overview
Huntingdon County criminal records document proceedings in the Court of Common Pleas in Huntingdon. These records encompass the full lifecycle of a criminal case: charges filed, preliminary hearings, arraignments, bail conditions, motions, plea agreements, trial outcomes, verdicts, and sentences. The Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of all criminal dockets in the county.
Court records are public under the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System and the state Right-to-Know Law. Certain records are not public. These include juvenile adjudications, sealed and expunged records, mental health proceedings, adoption files, and grand jury materials. Any record sealed or expunged by court order will not appear in public searches online or in person.
Huntingdon County also operates Magisterial District Courts that handle the initial stages of criminal proceedings. Summary offenses, DUI cases, and preliminary hearings for more serious charges are heard at this level. MDJ dockets are searchable online for free through the UJS Portal. Updates to online records may lag by 24 hours or more after a filing.
Note: UJS Portal dockets are informational only and do not substitute for a certified criminal history record from the Pennsylvania State Police.
How to Search Huntingdon County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the primary free tool for searching Huntingdon County criminal records. No registration or fee is required. Users can search by participant name, docket number, or offense tracking number. The portal covers both Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records in Huntingdon County.
The UJS Case Search at ujsportal.pacourts.us/CaseSearch lets users narrow results by selecting Huntingdon County. Each docket sheet shows the case number, presiding judge, parties, all filings, hearing dates, and case status. This is a free public service and does not require an account.
Because the Huntingdon County official website had certificate issues at the time of research, the UJS Portal is the most reliable online source for Huntingdon County court data.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts oversees the statewide court system and provides public access tools including the UJS Portal for finding Huntingdon County criminal records.
For in-person access, visit the Clerk of Courts at the Huntingdon County Courthouse, 223 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652. Bring valid ID and ask about copy fees before requesting records.
Huntingdon County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Huntingdon County is the official keeper of all criminal case dockets filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This office stores official records, processes appeals to higher courts, handles bail documentation, and manages expungement orders once granted by the court. It is the primary source for official criminal court records in Huntingdon County.
| Office | Huntingdon County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 223 Penn Street, Huntingdon, PA 16652 |
| Phone | (814) 643-2740 |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Prothonotary office at the same courthouse handles civil court records separately from the criminal division. The District Attorney's office maintains prosecution files and designates an appeals officer for Right-to-Know requests related to criminal investigative records. For non-investigative court record requests, contact the county's designated Right-to-Know officer.
PATCH Criminal Background Checks for Huntingdon County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, provides certified criminal background checks covering all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Huntingdon County. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police at epatch.pa.gov. Each search costs $22 per check, which is non-refundable.
To submit an online check, go to epatch.pa.gov and 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 card. Results come back quickly for most searches. The report includes statewide arrest history, charges, dispositions, and sentences from courts across Pennsylvania.
Mail-in checks are also available. Complete Form SP 4-164 and send it with a $22 payment to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail results take longer than online ones.
Full PATCH instructions and forms are at pa.gov/agencies/psp.
What Huntingdon County Court Records and Arrest Records Contain
A Huntingdon County criminal court docket shows the docket number, court, presiding judge, all parties, and a chronological log of case activity. Entries include initial charges, bail conditions, preliminary hearing results, motions, continuances, plea entries, trial events, and sentencing. Sentencing details may include incarceration length, probation terms, fines, court costs, and restitution.
A certified PATCH result provides statewide coverage. For a Huntingdon County arrest, the record shows the arresting agency, charges, case disposition, and sentence type. Felony and misdemeanor convictions are included, as are summary offense dispositions from Magisterial District Courts. Bench warrants and active warrants may also appear in certain search types.
Individuals serving state sentences can be located using the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at pa.gov/agencies/cor.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Huntingdon County Records
Huntingdon County criminal court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (Act 3 of 2008) and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Agencies must respond to written RTK requests within five business days. No response within that window is treated as a legal denial.
Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL exempts active investigation materials, notes, reports, videos, and records that would expose a confidential source or compromise a prosecution. The agency seeking to withhold a record must prove the exemption applies by a preponderance of the evidence. Requesters who disagree may appeal the denial.
The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 governs who may access criminal background data from the State Police repository and how that information may be used. CHRIA is the core legal framework for criminal history record access in Pennsylvania.
Note: Denied RTK requests in Huntingdon County may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Expungement of Huntingdon County Criminal Records
Pennsylvania law under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 permits eligible individuals to petition the Huntingdon County Court of Common Pleas for expungement of certain criminal records. When the court grants an expungement, the Clerk of Courts processes the order and notifies the State Police to remove the record from their statewide repository. After expungement, the record no longer appears in PATCH results or public UJS Portal searches.
Grounds for expungement include summary offense convictions where the person has been arrest-free for five or more years, charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal, and certain arrests that never led to a conviction. The petition must be filed with the Court of Common Pleas. The process requires a formal court order, and consulting a licensed attorney is strongly recommended.
The Pennsylvania State Police website at pa.gov/agencies/psp provides forms and instructions for the statewide expungement process, including how to request that the State Police update their records after an order is granted.
Huntingdon County Magisterial District Courts
Huntingdon County has several Magisterial District Courts that handle the first level of criminal proceedings in the county. These courts preside over summary offenses, DUI cases, preliminary arraignments, and preliminary hearings for misdemeanors and felonies. Cases held over to the Court of Common Pleas after a preliminary hearing become part of the criminal docket managed by the Clerk of Courts.
All Huntingdon County MDJ dockets are searchable through the UJS Portal at no cost. Each entry shows the charges, bail conditions, hearing dates, and preliminary hearing result. In-person access to MDJ records is also available during regular court hours at each district office.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts at pacourts.us maintains statewide court information including MDJ locations, contact details, and procedures for all levels of the Pennsylvania court system.
Nearby Counties
Huntingdon County borders Bedford, Blair, Centre, Fulton, Juniata, and Mifflin Counties in central Pennsylvania. Use the links below to search criminal history records in neighboring counties.