Wyoming County Criminal History Records
Wyoming County criminal history records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Tunkhannock, Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas handles all criminal cases filed in this rural northeastern Pennsylvania county. You can search Wyoming County court records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal or visit the Clerk of Courts office in person. Public criminal records are open under Pennsylvania law unless a court has ordered them sealed or statute provides an exemption.
Wyoming County Quick Facts
Wyoming County Clerk of Courts and Criminal Records
The Clerk of Courts in Wyoming County maintains all criminal case records generated through the Court of Common Pleas. This office processes charges, manages bail paperwork, records petitions and motions, handles court commitments, and prepares case files for appeals to the Pennsylvania Superior and Supreme Courts. The county courthouse in Tunkhannock is the sole location for in-person access to these records.
Wyoming County is located in northeastern Pennsylvania. It borders Bradford, Lackawanna, Luzerne, Sullivan, and Susquehanna counties. The county is largely rural in character, with Tunkhannock serving as its primary population center and the seat of government and court activity. The county takes its name from the Wyoming Valley, a name that also appears in neighboring Luzerne County where the valley itself is located.
The Wyoming County Government website provides information on county offices and contact details. The Prothonotary at the courthouse maintains civil court records. The Clerk of Courts handles criminal matters exclusively.
| Courthouse | Wyoming County Courthouse 1 Courthouse Square Tunkhannock, PA 18657 |
|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | Wyoming County Clerk of Courts Office |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Online Records | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Wyoming County Criminal History Online Search
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the best free tool for searching Wyoming County criminal court records online. The portal provides access to docket sheets for both the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts. You can search by party name, docket number, case number, or offense tracking number.
Results include charges, hearing dates, case status, dispositions, attorney information, and judge assignments. New filings may take a few days to appear. Records from the portal are not certified and should not be used as formal background check documentation. They are useful for tracking cases or reviewing criminal court history in Wyoming County.
In-person access is available during regular business hours at the Clerk of Courts in Tunkhannock. Staff can help locate records by name or case number. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are available from the Clerk for an additional fee.
The Wyoming County Government website provides links to courthouse offices and contact information for accessing criminal history records in Tunkhannock, PA.
Note: UJS Portal records are not certified documents and should not be presented in place of an official PATCH background check.
Wyoming County Magisterial District Courts
Wyoming County has Magisterial District Courts that handle cases at the local level. These courts process preliminary hearings for felony charges, summary offenses, DUI matters, traffic violations, minor misdemeanors, and small civil claims. MDJ records are part of the public record and accessible through the UJS Portal.
When a case is bound over from a Magisterial District Court to the Court of Common Pleas, the record transfers and becomes part of the Common Pleas docket. Both levels of records are open to the public. Wyoming County's rural nature means most case activity flows through a limited number of district courts. Contact Wyoming County Court Administration to identify the correct Magisterial District Court for any location in the county.
The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts oversees record access across all 67 counties, including Wyoming County's Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts.
PATCH Background Checks for Wyoming County
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) is the only certified source for criminal background checks in Pennsylvania. PATCH covers Wyoming County along with all 67 counties in the state. The fee is $22.00 per check. Submit requests online at epatch.pa.gov using a credit card or bank account. Online results are returned quickly.
Mail requests use Form SP 4-164, available from the Pennsylvania State Police website. Send the form and payment to the PSP Central Repository in Harrisburg. Mail processing takes two to four weeks. PATCH draws from the statewide criminal history database managed by the State Police, which is the most thorough source available for certified records.
For individuals in state prison, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an online inmate locator. For local jail inquiries, contact the Wyoming County Correctional Facility directly.
Note: A PATCH report is the only certified criminal history background check available in Pennsylvania. Portal docket searches do not carry that certification.
Wyoming County Public Records and Right-to-Know Law
Wyoming County is governed by Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, which presumes that most government records are public. Agencies must respond to written requests within five business days. No response within that window is treated as a denial and gives the requester grounds to appeal.
The Clerk of Courts handles criminal records while the Prothonotary manages civil records. Many docket documents are accessible without a formal Right-to-Know request since they are part of the public court record. Exempt categories include juvenile records, sealed records, investigatory materials, and medical or psychological information. Certain victim details are also protected.
Submit Right-to-Know requests in writing to the Open Records Officer at the Wyoming County Courthouse. If the request is denied, appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR provides appeal guidance and templates to help requesters who believe a denial was improper.
Under the Right-to-Know Law, the agency bears the burden of proving a record is exempt. Denials must be given in writing with a specific explanation citing the applicable exemption.
What Wyoming County Criminal Records Contain
Wyoming County criminal records are public documents produced during the court process. They typically include the defendant's name and identifying information, charges filed, docket number, court dates, the presiding judge, attorney names, bail decisions, motions, and the final disposition or sentence. Any post-conviction proceedings or appeals are also reflected on the public docket.
Some information is shielded from public disclosure by Pennsylvania law. Protected details include social security numbers, driver license numbers, financial source documents, medical and psychological records, state identification numbers, and contact information for certain crime victims. Juvenile records are confidential and not part of the public record. Once a court grants an expungement, the record is removed from public access.
Arrest records come from law enforcement rather than the courts. The Wyoming County Sheriff's Office and local police departments hold arrest records and warrant data. Court records begin when charges are formally filed. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provides statewide guidance on how criminal records are maintained and accessed in Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Wyoming County borders several northeastern Pennsylvania counties. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, search there to find the records you need.