Westmoreland County Criminal History Records
Westmoreland County criminal history records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Greensburg, Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas handles all criminal cases filed in this southwestern Pennsylvania county. You can search Westmoreland County court records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal or visit the courthouse in person during regular business hours. Criminal court records are open to the public under Pennsylvania law unless sealed by a court order or protected by statute.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts and Criminal Records
The Clerk of Courts in Westmoreland County is the primary keeper of criminal case files produced by the Court of Common Pleas. This office records charges, processes bail paperwork, handles petitions and motions, manages court commitments, and prepares records for appeals to higher Pennsylvania courts. Every stage of a criminal case generates documents maintained at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg.
Westmoreland County is located in southwestern Pennsylvania and is part of the Pittsburgh metropolitan area. It borders Allegheny, Armstrong, Fayette, Indiana, and Somerset counties. Greensburg is the county seat and largest city, serving as the hub for all court activities in the county. The county spans a broad area that includes both suburban communities close to Pittsburgh and rural townships in the eastern reaches.
The Westmoreland County Government website provides information on county departments, court offices, and online services. The Prothonotary maintains civil records separately from the Clerk of Courts, which manages all criminal matters.
| Courthouse | Westmoreland County Courthouse 2 North Main Street Greensburg, PA 15601 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts Office |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Records | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Westmoreland County Criminal History Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the primary free tool for searching Westmoreland County criminal court records. The portal gives access to docket sheets for the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in the county. You can search by party name, docket number, case number, or offense tracking number.
Search results show charges, court hearing dates, case status, dispositions, attorney information, and judge assignments. New filings may take a few days to show up. Portal records are not certified and cannot be used as official background check documentation. They are well-suited for general research or case tracking purposes.
In-person access is available at the Clerk of Courts office during regular hours at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are available from the Clerk for an additional fee and require a direct request at the office.
The Westmoreland County Government website links to court offices and provides resources for accessing criminal history records in Westmoreland County.
Note: UJS Portal dockets are informational only and do not constitute a certified background check under Pennsylvania law.
Westmoreland County Magisterial District Courts
Westmoreland County has numerous Magisterial District Courts serving communities throughout its large geographic area. These courts handle preliminary hearings for felony charges, summary offenses, DUI matters, traffic violations, minor misdemeanors, and small civil claims. MDJ docket records are public and searchable through the UJS Portal.
When a case advances from a Magisterial District Court to the Court of Common Pleas, the file transfers and joins the Common Pleas docket. Both levels of records remain accessible to the public. The volume of cases processed in Westmoreland County reflects its size and population as a significant southwestern Pennsylvania county. Contact Westmoreland County Court Administration to identify the Magisterial District Court responsible for a specific municipality or township.
The UJS Case Search tool provides free access to Westmoreland County criminal court dockets, including records from Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas.
PATCH Background Checks Covering Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) is the only certified source for criminal background checks in Pennsylvania. It covers Westmoreland County and every other county in the state. The fee is $22.00 per check. Submit online at epatch.pa.gov using a credit card or bank account. Online submissions usually return results within minutes.
Mail requests are submitted using Form SP 4-164. Download the form from the Pennsylvania State Police website. Send the completed form and payment to the PSP Central Repository in Harrisburg. Allow two to four weeks for mail requests. PATCH results come from the statewide criminal history database maintained by the State Police, which is the most complete source available.
For state correctional facility records, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides an online inmate locator. For local jail inquiries, contact the Westmoreland County Prison directly.
Note: Only PATCH produces a certified Pennsylvania criminal history report. Court portal searches do not provide that certification.
Westmoreland County Public Records and Right-to-Know Law
Westmoreland County operates under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, which presumes most government records are public. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. An unanswered request is treated as a denial and can be appealed.
Criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Courts. Civil records are managed by the Prothonotary. Many docket documents are part of the public record and available without a formal RTK request. Protected categories include juvenile records, sealed records, medical information, ongoing investigatory materials, and certain victim contact details.
Submit written Right-to-Know requests to the Open Records Officer at the Westmoreland County Courthouse. If a request is denied, appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records in Harrisburg. Under the Right-to-Know Law, the agency must prove a record is exempt. Denials must be provided in writing with reasons.
What Westmoreland County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal case records from Westmoreland County courts document each step in the judicial process. Standard contents include the defendant's name and identifying details, charges filed, docket number, hearing dates, the presiding judge, attorney names, bail decisions, motions filed, and the final disposition or sentence. Post-conviction proceedings and appeals are also reflected in the docket record.
Some details are shielded from public access under Pennsylvania law. Protected items include social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial source documents, medical and psychological records, state identification numbers, and contact details for certain crime victims. Juvenile records are confidential. Expunged records are removed from public access after the court issues the expungement order.
Arrest records differ from court records and originate with law enforcement agencies. The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office and local police departments hold arrest information and warrant data. Court records begin when charges are formally filed with the Clerk of Courts. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts offers statewide guidance on the structure and accessibility of court records in Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County borders several southwestern and central Pennsylvania counties. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, search there to find the relevant records.