Union County Criminal History Records
Union County criminal history records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Lewisburg, Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas serves this central Pennsylvania county and handles all criminal matters filed in the county. You can search Union County court records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal or visit the courthouse in person. Records are open to the public under Pennsylvania law unless sealed by court order or protected by statute.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Clerk of Courts and Criminal Records
The Clerk of Courts office in Union County is the primary keeper of criminal case records. This office processes all criminal filings for the Court of Common Pleas, maintains dockets, manages bail paperwork, handles petitions and motions, and prepares prison commitments. Records generated at each stage of a criminal proceeding become part of the permanent court file held at the Union County Courthouse in Lewisburg.
Lewisburg is home to Bucknell University, one of the more prominent liberal arts universities in the state. The county is bordered by Centre, Lycoming, Mifflin, Montour, Northumberland, and Snyder counties. Its central location and relatively small size mean the court system is accessible and cases are processed through one main courthouse location.
The Union County Courthouse holds both the Clerk of Courts and the Prothonotary, which handles civil records separately. For court contact and address information, consult the table below or visit the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal.
| Courthouse | Union County Courthouse 103 South Second Street Lewisburg, PA 17837 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | Union County Clerk of Courts Office |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Records | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Union County Criminal History Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the primary online tool for searching Union County criminal court records. It is free to use and gives access to docket sheets for the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. You can search by name, docket number, offense tracking number, or case number.
Search results show filed charges, hearing dates, attorney assignments, case dispositions, and judge assignments. Recent filings may take a few days to appear on the portal. Results are informational only. They are not certified documents and do not replace an official background check. Still, the portal is the fastest way to get a general view of Union County criminal case history at no cost.
In-person requests are also accepted at the Clerk of Courts during regular hours. Staff can pull records by name or docket number. Plain paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies require an additional fee and must be requested directly from the Clerk.
The UJS Case Search tool provides direct access to Union County criminal court dockets at no cost to the public.
Note: UJS Portal records are not certified and cannot be used in place of an official PATCH report from the Pennsylvania State Police.
Union County Magisterial District Courts
Union County has Magisterial District Courts that handle cases at the local level before they reach the Court of Common Pleas. These courts process preliminary hearings for felony matters, summary offenses, DUI charges, minor misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small civil claims. Each Magisterial District maintains its own docket, which is searchable through the UJS Portal.
When a case advances from a Magisterial District Court to the Court of Common Pleas, the case file transfers and becomes part of the Common Pleas docket. Both sets of records are public. Contact Union County Court Administration if you need help identifying the Magisterial District Court serving a specific address in the county.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts oversees court record access statewide, including Union County's Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.
PATCH Background Checks Covering Union County
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) is the only source for official certified criminal history background checks in Pennsylvania. PATCH covers all counties including Union. The fee is $22.00 per check. You can submit requests online at epatch.pa.gov using a credit card or bank account. Online results are typically returned right away.
Mail requests use Form SP 4-164 and are sent to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository in Harrisburg. Mail processing takes two to four weeks. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the statewide criminal history database used to generate PATCH results.
For state prison records, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates an online inmate locator for individuals in state facilities. For local jail inquiries, contact the Union County Prison directly.
Note: A PATCH report is the only certified criminal background check for Pennsylvania. Court docket searches through the UJS Portal do not substitute for this official document.
Union County Public Records and Right-to-Know Law
Union County is subject to Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, which makes most government records presumed public. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. If no response is received, the request is considered denied and the requester may appeal.
Court records fall under the jurisdiction of the Clerk of Courts for criminal matters and the Prothonotary for civil matters. Many filed court documents are accessible without a formal Right-to-Know request since they are part of the public docket. Sealed records, juvenile files, and investigatory materials are exempt from disclosure under state law.
Submit written Right-to-Know requests to the Open Records Officer at the Union County Courthouse. Appeals of denied requests go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in Harrisburg. That office also publishes guides on how to properly submit requests and what information agencies are required to release.
The Right-to-Know Law statute places the burden of proof on the agency to show why a record is exempt from release. If denied without explanation, requesters have grounds for appeal.
Note: Criminal investigative records held by law enforcement may be exempt from release even if a case is closed, under specific exemptions in the Right-to-Know Law.
What Union County Criminal Records Include
Criminal records from Union County courts contain information created during the judicial process. Typical contents include the defendant's name, charges filed, docket number, court dates, the presiding judge, attorney names, bail decisions, motions, and the final disposition or sentence. Records may also show any appeals filed and their outcomes.
Some details are shielded from public view by Pennsylvania law. Protected information includes social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial source documents, medical and psychological records, state identification numbers, and contact information for victims of certain offenses. Juvenile records are confidential. Expunged records are not available to the public once the expungement is granted.
Arrest records for Union County originate with law enforcement. The Union County Sheriff's Office and local police departments hold arrest information and warrant data. Court records begin when charges are formally filed, so the two sets of records are distinct.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides resources on how court records are organized, what they contain, and how to access them across all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Union County Expungements and Record Sealing
Individuals with Union County criminal records may be eligible to have those records expunged or sealed under Pennsylvania law. Expungement removes the record from public access and, in some cases, physically destroys the file. Eligibility depends on the type of offense, the outcome of the case, and the passage of time.
Common grounds for expungement in Pennsylvania include acquittals, charges that were nolle prossed, completion of an ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) program, summary offenses where the person has remained arrest-free for five years, and certain cases involving individuals 70 or older. The Clean Slate Law also provides for automatic sealing of some records after a waiting period.
Petitions for expungement in Union County are filed with the Court of Common Pleas. The District Attorney's office is notified and may object. A judge reviews the petition and issues a ruling. The Pennsylvania State Police and relevant law enforcement agencies are notified if the expungement is granted so they can update their records accordingly.
Nearby Counties
Union County borders several central Pennsylvania counties. If the records you need involve a case filed elsewhere, search in the county where the proceeding occurred.