Sullivan County Criminal History and Public Records
Sullivan County criminal history records are held by the Clerk of Courts at the Sullivan County Courthouse in Laporte, Pennsylvania. Sullivan County is located in north-central Pennsylvania and is the second least populous county in the state. It is a heavily forested, rural county home to Worlds End State Park. Criminal records are accessible through the county court office, the statewide Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal, and the PATCH system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. This page covers how to find and request criminal history records in Sullivan County.
Sullivan County Quick Facts
Sullivan County Criminal History Records Overview
The Clerk of Courts at the Sullivan County Court of Common Pleas maintains all criminal court records for the county. These records document each step of criminal proceedings from the initial filing through final disposition. That includes arraignments, preliminary hearings, motion practice, plea entries, trial records, sentencing orders, and appellate filings.
Most of these records are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. Certain categories are shielded from public access. Juvenile records, sealed cases, expunged filings, adoption proceedings, mental health matters, and grand jury materials do not appear in public searches.
As a small and rural county, Sullivan County sees fewer court filings than larger counties. But the same rules for public access apply. Online databases may lag behind actual courthouse activity by at least one business day.
Note: Docket data from online portals should not be used as a substitute for a certified criminal history background check from the Pennsylvania State Police.
How to Search Sullivan County Criminal Records
The primary tool for Sullivan County criminal history searches is the Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This free statewide system lets anyone search docket sheets by participant name, docket number, organization name, or offense tracking number. It covers Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts across Pennsylvania, including Sullivan County.
Search results show each case with the presiding judge, parties, case type, and a chronological list of all court actions and filed documents. Docket sheets can be viewed and printed at no charge.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal provides free public access to Sullivan County court dockets at both the Magisterial District Court and Common Pleas levels.
For in-person access, visit the Sullivan County Courthouse, Main Street, Laporte, PA 18626. The Clerk of Courts office is open during regular weekday business hours. Bring valid photo identification when requesting records in person.
Given the rural nature of Sullivan County, visiting the courthouse in person is often the most reliable way to access specific records, particularly for recent filings.
Note: Online databases may take one or more business days to reflect new courthouse filings. For urgent or time-sensitive searches, direct courthouse contact is recommended.
Sullivan County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts is the official keeper of criminal court records in Sullivan County. This office maintains all criminal dockets for the Court of Common Pleas, processes case filings, manages bail documentation, and sends required sentencing data to state agencies. The Clerk also handles paperwork for appeals filed with the Superior Court or Commonwealth Court of Pennsylvania.
| Office | Sullivan County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | Sullivan County Courthouse, Main Street, Laporte, PA 18626 |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH System | epatch.pa.gov |
| PA State Police | pa.gov/agencies/psp |
The Prothonotary maintains civil court records and is located in the same courthouse. For Right-to-Know requests involving Sullivan County government records outside the judicial system, contact the county's open-records officer through the courthouse directly.
PATCH Background Checks for Sullivan County
PATCH, the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, is the official statewide source for certified criminal background checks. It is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and available at epatch.pa.gov. The fee is $22 per check and is non-refundable.
To use PATCH online, visit epatch.pa.gov and click "Submit a New Records Check." Accept the terms, choose "Individual Request," enter the subject's information, and pay by credit or debit card. Results are typically returned within minutes for online submissions.
Mail requests are accepted using Form SP 4-164. Include a $22 check or money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and send to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail processing takes significantly longer than online requests.
Sullivan County criminal convictions reported to the State Police under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 are included in PATCH results. This covers felony, misdemeanor, and summary offense data when properly reported.
What Sullivan County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records in Sullivan County differ in content depending on the source. Court dockets from the UJS Portal list the case number, parties, assigned judge, case type, and a log of all actions and filings in a case. They show the full history from initial charge through sentencing and any appeal.
A certified PATCH result may include arrest history, charge classifications, disposition outcomes such as conviction or acquittal, and sentencing details including incarceration terms, probation, fines, costs, and restitution. Active warrants and bench warrants may appear in certain searches.
Records that have been expunged or sealed by court order are not visible through public portals or in certified PATCH results. The State Police remove expunged records from their repository once they receive the court's expungement order.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Sullivan County Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, enacted as Act 3 of 2008, gives residents the right to request most government records. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. Failure to respond is treated as a denial, which may be appealed.
Sullivan County criminal court records fall under the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System, not the RTKL. Requests for court documents go to the Clerk of Courts. Requests for other county government records go through the county's open-records officer.
Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL exempts active criminal investigation materials, confidential informant identities, and records that could compromise a prosecution or endanger a person's safety. These exemptions apply to law enforcement investigative files, not to public court records.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, the Criminal History Record Information Act sets rules for who may obtain criminal history data and how it may be used. Appeals of denied RTK requests may be filed with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Expungement of Criminal Records in Sullivan County
Certain criminal records in Pennsylvania can be expunged. Expungement petitions must be filed with the Sullivan County Court of Common Pleas. Once a court grants an expungement, 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 offense convictions where five years have passed without a new arrest, charges that ended in acquittal or nolle prosequi, and arrests that did not result in conviction. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, the Clerk of Courts processes expungement orders and notifies the Pennsylvania State Police.
Pennsylvania's limited access law allows certain nonviolent misdemeanor convictions to be sealed from public view after a waiting period, without requiring a full expungement. Individuals in Sullivan County seeking expungement or limited access should contact the Clerk of Courts or a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Sullivan County Magisterial District Courts and Criminal History
Sullivan County has Magisterial District Courts that handle the first stage of criminal proceedings. These courts conduct arraignments, preliminary hearings for felony and misdemeanor charges, summary offense trials, and minor civil matters. All Magisterial District Court records are searchable on the UJS Portal free of charge.
Cases advanced 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 by name or case number.
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system provides certified Sullivan County criminal history records including convictions from all court levels.
Note: Summary offense records from Magisterial District Courts appear in PATCH results when reported to the Pennsylvania State Police as required under state law.
Nearby Counties
Sullivan County is bordered by several Pennsylvania counties in the north-central region. Search criminal history records for nearby counties using the links below.