Somerset County Criminal History Records Search
Somerset County criminal history records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Somerset County Courthouse in Somerset, Pennsylvania. The county is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and is known for the Flight 93 National Memorial and winter sports destinations in the Laurel Highlands. Criminal records are accessible through the county court office, the statewide Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal, and the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police. This page outlines how to find and request criminal history records in Somerset County.
Somerset County Quick Facts
Somerset County Criminal History Records Overview
Criminal records in Somerset County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Court of Common Pleas. These records document all criminal proceedings in the county from initial filing through final disposition. Covered documents include arraignment records, preliminary hearing outcomes, motion filings, plea entries, jury verdicts, sentencing orders, and appellate transfers.
Most criminal court records in Somerset County are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Certain categories are exempt. Juvenile records, sealed cases, expunged records, mental health commitments, adoption matters, and grand jury proceedings are not available through public channels.
Online databases may not reflect the most recent courthouse activity. Filings entered at the Somerset County Courthouse can take at least one business day to appear on the UJS Portal. Anyone needing current, verified data should contact the Clerk of Courts or visit in person.
How to Search Somerset County Criminal Records
The main online tool for Somerset County criminal history searches is the Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This statewide resource is free and allows searches by participant name, docket number, organization name, or offense tracking number. It covers Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts across Pennsylvania, including Somerset County.
Results show each case with a list of parties, assigned judge, case type, and a full log of docket entries documenting all court actions. Docket sheets can be viewed and printed from the portal at no cost.
The Somerset County government site at co.somerset.pa.us provides contact details for the Clerk of Courts and information on requesting criminal court records in Somerset.
For in-person access, visit the Somerset County Courthouse, 111 East Union Street, Somerset, PA 15501. The Clerk of Courts office is open during regular weekday business hours. Bring valid photo identification when requesting records in person.
Note: Online records may not reflect filings made within the most recent business day. Allow time for new entries to appear in the system.
Somerset County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal court records in Somerset County. This office maintains all criminal dockets for the Court of Common Pleas, processes new case filings, handles bail-related documentation, and transmits sentencing data to the Pennsylvania State Police and other state agencies as required by law. Appeals to the Superior Court or Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania also pass through this office.
| Office | Somerset County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | Somerset County Courthouse, 111 E. Union Street, Somerset, PA 15501 |
| County Website | co.somerset.pa.us |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH System | epatch.pa.gov |
The Prothonotary, which maintains civil court records, is located in the same courthouse. For Right-to-Know requests involving Somerset County government records outside the judicial system, contact the county's designated open-records officer through the official county website.
PATCH Background Checks for Somerset County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, PATCH, is the official source for certified criminal background checks statewide. Operated by the Pennsylvania State Police, it is available at epatch.pa.gov. The fee is $22 per check and is not refundable.
To use PATCH online, go to epatch.pa.gov, click "Submit a New Records Check," accept the terms, choose "Individual Request," enter the subject's information, and pay by credit or debit card. Most online requests are processed within minutes.
Mail requests use Form SP 4-164 and must include a $22 check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. Mail to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail processing takes longer than online submissions.
PATCH results draw from statewide criminal history data maintained by the State Police. Somerset County convictions reported under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 are included in PATCH results for that individual.
Note: Docket sheets from the UJS Portal are not a substitute for a certified PATCH result. The State Police certification is required for official background check purposes.
What Somerset County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records in Somerset County vary in detail based on their source. Court dockets from the UJS Portal list the case number, parties, presiding judge, case type, and a full sequence of filings and judicial actions. They document the entire progression of a case from initial filing through sentencing and any appeal.
A certified PATCH result from the State Police may include arrest records, charge classifications, conviction dispositions, and sentencing details such as incarceration terms, probation conditions, fines, costs, and restitution. Felony, misdemeanor, and summary offense data are all included when they have been reported to the State Police.
Active warrants, bench warrants, and Protection from Abuse orders may appear in some searches. Records that have been expunged or sealed by court order are removed from all public databases and PATCH results once the order is processed.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Somerset County Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, established by Act 3 of 2008, gives residents the right to request most government records. Agencies must respond within five business days of receiving a written request. No response within that window is treated as a denial.
Somerset County criminal court records are governed by the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, not the RTKL. Requests for court records go to the Clerk of Courts. Requests for non-judicial county government records go through the county's open-records officer.
Exemptions under Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL protect active criminal investigation files, informant identities, and records that could compromise a prosecution or endanger a person. These exemptions apply to law enforcement investigative files, not filed court records.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, the Criminal History Record Information Act governs who may obtain criminal background data and for what purposes. Appeals of denied RTK requests may be filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Expungement of Criminal Records in Somerset County
Pennsylvania law allows certain criminal records to be expunged under specific conditions. Expungement petitions must be filed with the Somerset County Court of Common Pleas. When granted, the record is removed from public court databases and the State Police criminal history system is directed to remove it as well.
Common grounds for expungement include summary convictions with five years free from arrest, charges ending in acquittal or nolle prosequi, and arrests that did not result in conviction. The Clerk of Courts processes expungement orders and notifies the Pennsylvania State Police as required under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91.
Pennsylvania's limited access law allows certain nonviolent misdemeanor convictions to be sealed from public view after a waiting period, without a full expungement. Individuals seeking either remedy in Somerset County should consult the Clerk of Courts or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Somerset County Magisterial District Courts
Somerset County has Magisterial District Courts located throughout the county. These courts handle the first stage of criminal proceedings: arraignments, preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor charges, summary offense trials, and minor civil matters. Records from these courts are searchable on the UJS Portal at no charge.
- Arraignments and initial bail hearings take place at the Magisterial District Court level
- Preliminary hearings determine whether charges advance to the Court of Common Pleas
- Summary offense trials are resolved entirely at the Magisterial District Court level
- All Magisterial District Court dockets are available on the UJS Portal
Cases certified to the Court of Common Pleas become part of the criminal record maintained by the Clerk of Courts. Both court levels are searchable through the UJS Portal.
The PATCH system provides certified Somerset County criminal history including convictions from both Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas.
Note: Summary offense records from Magisterial District Courts appear in PATCH results when reported to the Pennsylvania State Police as required by law.
Nearby Counties
Somerset County borders several Pennsylvania counties as well as Maryland to the south. Search criminal history records for nearby counties using the links below.