Search Bradford County Criminal Court Records

Bradford County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, Pennsylvania. Bradford County is part of the 42nd Judicial District with a population of approximately 59,000. All felony and misdemeanor criminal cases are heard by the Court of Common Pleas. You can search Bradford County criminal court records for free using the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or visit the courthouse to request copies of case documents. This page explains each way to access these records and what you can expect to find.

Bradford County Clerk of Courts

The Bradford County Clerk of Courts is the official keeper of all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas. The office is at 301 Main Street in Towanda. It maintains every document in a criminal case from the initial complaint through sentencing and any appeals. Staff can assist with record searches and copy requests. The Clerk's office handles both in-person visits and mail requests.

For in-person visits, go to 301 Main Street during regular business hours. Bring a valid photo ID. Public access terminals may be available at the courthouse for on-site record searches at no cost. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, there is no charge for viewing records at the courthouse. Copy fees apply only when you take printed documents. Standard copies are typically $0.25 per page. Certified copies require an additional fee and may take more time to prepare.

The Bradford County Prothonotary handles civil matters from the same building and can be reached at (570) 265-1701. For mailed requests, send a letter to the Clerk of Courts at 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848. Include the defendant's name, case number if available, your contact information, and whether you need a plain or certified copy.

Searching Bradford County Criminal Court Records Online

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the best free online resource for Bradford County criminal court records. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us. Select "Common Pleas Courts" for felony and misdemeanor cases. Select "Magisterial District Courts" for summary offense cases and preliminary hearing records. You can search by defendant name, case number, or Offense Tracking Number.

The search results show the full docket sheet for each case. The docket lists all charges filed, every court appearance, bail information, motions and orders, plea details, and final case outcome. You do not need to create an account to do a basic search. The portal is free to use and is maintained by the Pennsylvania courts at pacourts.us. To get actual copies of any document listed in the docket, contact the Bradford County Clerk of Courts by phone, in person, or by mail.

Note: Some very old Bradford County records may not be available on the UJS Portal. Contact the Clerk of Courts directly for older case files that predate the electronic docket system.

What Bradford County Criminal Court Records Include

Bradford County criminal court records document the entire history of a criminal case. They start when someone is charged and continue through every court action until the case is closed. If there is an appeal, those records are added to the file as well.

The typical documents in a Bradford County criminal case file include the criminal complaint and affidavit of probable cause, arraignment and bail paperwork, preliminary hearing record, pre-trial motions and court rulings, plea agreement if applicable, hearing or trial transcript, sentencing order, and any appeal filings. Each item is listed on the docket sheet by title and date. To read the full text of any document, you must contact the Clerk of Courts or visit the courthouse.

Under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, the Pennsylvania Public Access Policy protects certain private data. Social Security numbers, bank account numbers, and driver's license numbers are excluded from the public portions of court filings. All other case information is generally accessible to any member of the public. Records that have been expunged or sealed under the Clean Slate Law will not appear in public searches.

Criminal History Background Checks in Bradford County

PATCH is the statewide criminal history check system run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It covers arrests and convictions from Bradford County and all other counties in Pennsylvania. The standard fee is $22. Submit your request at epatch.pa.gov for quick online results. More information is available at pa.gov.

Individuals checking their own record pay $20. Some volunteers may be eligible for a free check. Questions about PATCH can be directed to the helpline at 1-888-783-7972. Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, CHRIA, at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 governs how these statewide records are collected, held, and shared.

A PATCH search gives you a statewide summary of arrests and convictions. A UJS Portal search gives you detailed case filings and hearing information for a specific case in Bradford County. Both tools serve different purposes and may both be useful depending on what you need.

Public Access to Bradford County Court Records

Bradford County criminal court records are public by default. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives any person the right to access government records in Pennsylvania. Court records are also subject to the Pennsylvania court system's public access rules. No reason or ID is required just to view records at the courthouse.

Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, courts cannot charge a fee for viewing records in the courthouse. You pay only when you want printed copies. The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov can assist with any disputes about access to public records in Bradford County or anywhere in Pennsylvania.

Record Sealing and Expungement in Bradford County

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 allows for automatic sealing of qualifying misdemeanor records. Second and third-degree misdemeanors with sentences under two years are sealed after seven years of no new convictions. The court system handles this without any action required from the person whose record is sealed. Once sealed, the case no longer shows up in public UJS Portal searches or PATCH results available to most users.

Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 is available for some offenses not covered by automatic sealing. A person may file a petition with the Bradford County Court of Common Pleas to ask the court to seal their record. The court reviews the request and decides. Expungement destroys the record entirely and is available in specific circumstances, including arrests that did not result in conviction and summary offense convictions after five years of no new offenses.

To begin the sealing or expungement process in Bradford County, contact the Clerk of Courts at 301 Main Street in Towanda for forms and filing guidance. Legal aid organizations serving north-central Pennsylvania may also assist eligible individuals at no cost.

Note: Bradford County criminal court records follow standard Pennsylvania retention schedules, with felony records kept 75 years and misdemeanor records kept 25 years from the date of final disposition.

Nearby Counties

Bradford County is in north-central Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Records from neighboring counties are also searchable through the UJS Portal.

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