Search Adams County Criminal Court Records
Adams County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Adams County Courthouse in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. These records cover felony and misdemeanor cases heard by the Court of Common Pleas, as well as summary offense proceedings handled by the Magisterial District Courts. You can search Adams County criminal court records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal or visit the courthouse in person. This guide explains how to find, access, and obtain copies of criminal court records in Adams County.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Clerk of Courts
The Adams County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of all criminal court records for the Court of Common Pleas. Located in Gettysburg, the office keeps records of every criminal case from the initial filing through final disposition. That includes motions, pleadings, orders, transcripts, and all related documents. Staff can help you locate both recent and older cases. The office accepts cash, check, or money order for copy fees.
To request records in person, you will need to complete a records request form and bring a valid photo ID. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry additional fees. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the defendant name, case number if known, your contact information, and whether you need a plain or certified copy. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, courts may not charge you a fee simply to view records at the courthouse.
| Office | Adams County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 117 Baltimore Street, Suite 303, Gettysburg, PA 17325 |
| Phone | (717) 337-9826 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
The Court of Common Pleas sits at 111-117 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg. It handles all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases in Adams County. The court also hears appeals from Magisterial District Court decisions. PACFile, the statewide electronic filing system, is used for criminal filings in Adams County, which means attorneys can file and access documents electronically through ujsportal.pacourts.us.
Searching Adams County Criminal Court Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the primary tool for searching Adams County criminal court records online. It is free to use and requires no account for basic searches. You can look up cases by defendant name, case number, or Offense Tracking Number (OTN). The portal covers both the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts.
Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and select either "Common Pleas Courts" or "Magisterial District Courts" from the search menu. Enter the defendant's name or case number. Results will show the docket sheet, charge details, hearing dates, and case disposition. The docket sheet lists every document filed in the case. To get the actual documents, you must contact the Adams County Clerk of Courts or visit the courthouse.
The UJS Portal is maintained by the Pennsylvania courts system at pacourts.us. It is updated regularly with new filings and case updates. Keep in mind that sealed cases, expunged records, and certain juvenile matters will not appear in public searches.
The UJS Portal gives users a direct view into Adams County court dockets, showing charges, dispositions, and scheduled hearings for criminal cases.
The portal is free to search and accessible to the public at any time, day or night, from any device with an internet connection.
What Adams County Criminal Court Records Include
Criminal court records in Adams County document the full life of a criminal case. They begin when a complaint is filed or an arrest is made. They continue through preliminary hearings, arraignment, pre-trial motions, trial, sentencing, and any appeals. Each step generates documents that become part of the public record unless sealed by court order.
A typical Adams County criminal court docket will contain the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges filed and their grading (felony, misdemeanor, or summary), the arresting officer or agency, all court appearance dates, the names of the judge and attorneys, any bail conditions set, plea information, verdict or disposition, and sentencing details. Supporting documents in the file may include criminal complaints, affidavits of probable cause, motions and responses, and court orders.
Under the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, certain personal details are excluded from public filings. Social Security numbers, financial account numbers, and driver's license numbers are not part of the public record. Most other case information is open for public review.
Note: Docket sheets from the UJS Portal list all filed documents by name and date, but the actual document text must be obtained directly from the Adams County Clerk of Courts.
Adams County Magisterial District Courts
Adams County has three Magisterial District Courts. These courts handle summary offenses, preliminary hearings for more serious crimes, traffic violations, and civil claims under $12,000. If someone is charged with a summary offense such as disorderly conduct or a minor traffic violation, that case is heard at the local MDJ court rather than the Court of Common Pleas.
The three MDJ offices in Adams County are listed below. Docket information for all three is available through the UJS Portal under the Magisterial District Courts section. You can search by defendant name, citation number, or docket number.
- MDJ 01-3-01: 210 Baltimore Street, Gettysburg (717) 334-2011
- MDJ 01-3-02: 5865 York Road, Abbottstown (717) 259-6791
- MDJ 01-3-03: 1011 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg (717) 337-9820
Cases that begin in a Magisterial District Court and involve felony or misdemeanor charges are sent to the Court of Common Pleas after a preliminary hearing. Records from both courts are searchable through the UJS Portal. Physical records for MDJ cases are kept at the individual district court office and at the Clerk of Courts once a case is bound over.
Criminal History Background Checks in Adams County
If you need an official criminal history record rather than a court docket, the Pennsylvania State Police administer the PATCH system. PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. It provides statewide criminal history records that include arrests and convictions from Adams County and all other Pennsylvania counties. The standard fee is $22, and results are usually available within minutes online.
You can request a PATCH check at epatch.pa.gov. The Pennsylvania State Police also provide information on criminal history checks at psp.pa.gov. A reduced fee of $20 applies when an individual requests their own record. Volunteers working with certain organizations may qualify for a free check. For questions about the PATCH system, call the helpline at 1-888-783-7972.
The Pennsylvania State Police Gettysburg Station, located at 22 Burnt House Road, Gettysburg, serves Adams County. The station at (717) 334-8106 can provide information on local arrest records that feed into the PATCH system. Criminal history records under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183, the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), govern how these records are collected, maintained, and shared.
The Pennsylvania courts portal gives access to statewide case information alongside links to criminal history resources for Adams County residents.
The official PA Courts site at pacourts.us links to the UJS Portal and provides guidance on court record access policies statewide.
Note: A PATCH result shows convictions and arrests statewide but does not replace a court docket search, which gives detailed filing and hearing information for specific cases.
Public Access to Adams County Court Records
Pennsylvania law gives the public broad access to criminal court records. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 establishes the public's right to access government records, including court documents. The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov oversees compliance with these requirements across state agencies and county offices.
Adams County provides public access terminals at the courthouse for searching records without needing to request copies. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, no fee can be charged for viewing court records at the courthouse. You only pay when you request copies. Any member of the public can review an Adams County criminal court docket at the Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours without stating a reason.
Some records are not open to the public. Juvenile delinquency records, expunged records, and records sealed under the Clean Slate Law are not available for public search. Cases involving certain protected information may also have portions withheld. If you believe a record has been improperly withheld, the Office of Open Records can assist with the appeals process.
Record Sealing and Expungement in Adams County
Pennsylvania offers two main ways to limit public access to a criminal record: expungement and sealing. Expungement physically destroys the record. Sealing keeps the record but removes it from public view. Both processes are handled through the Adams County Court of Common Pleas.
The Clean Slate Law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 automatically seals certain misdemeanor convictions after seven years if the person has no new convictions. Second and third-degree misdemeanors with sentences of less than two years qualify for automatic sealing. The process runs through the court system without requiring the individual to file a petition. Once sealed, the record will no longer appear in public UJS Portal searches or PATCH results available to most employers.
Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 allows people with certain other convictions to ask the court to seal their record. Not all offenses are eligible. A petition must be filed with the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. The court reviews the petition and may grant or deny the request. Expungement petitions follow a similar process and are available for arrests that did not lead to conviction, certain summary offense convictions after five years, and some other limited situations.
The process for sealing or expungement in Adams County starts with the Clerk of Courts office. Staff can direct you to the correct forms and explain the filing process. Legal aid organizations serving south-central Pennsylvania may also be able to help with these petitions at no cost for those who qualify.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If you are unsure which county has the records you need, check the location where the case was filed or the address of the defendant at the time of the offense.