Cambria County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Cambria County are filed with the Clerk of Courts at the Court of Common Pleas in Ebensburg. The 25th Judicial District handles all criminal cases for county residents. You can search these records online through the state's free court portal or visit the courthouse in person. Records include docket sheets, charging documents, and case dispositions for felony, misdemeanor, and summary cases filed in Cambria County. This guide explains the main ways to find and obtain criminal court records from this central Pennsylvania county.

Cambria County Clerk of Courts

The Clerk of Courts in Cambria County manages all criminal case records filed in the 25th Judicial District. This office stores docket sheets, charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, and related case filings. Staff can look up cases by name or case number and provide copies of documents in your case file. The office is located inside the Cambria County Courthouse in Ebensburg.

When you visit the Clerk of Courts, bring a valid photo ID. You can request copies at the counter, and staff will pull records for in-person review. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, viewing records at the courthouse is free of charge. Copy fees apply when you want printed documents. Call ahead to confirm the current copy fee schedule before your visit to Ebensburg.

The screenshot below was taken from the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, the state's free docket search system for Cambria County criminal cases.

The UJS Portal lets you search Cambria County docket sheets by party name, case number, or OTN without creating an account.

Search Cambria County Criminal Dockets Online

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal provides free access to criminal docket sheets for all 67 counties, including Cambria County. You do not need an account to search. The portal covers cases filed at the Court of Common Pleas and at the Magisterial District Judge level. Case information is updated regularly as courts enter new activity.

To search Cambria County criminal cases, go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and choose the docket search option. You can look up cases by defendant name, case number, or OTN (Offense Tracking Number). The results show docket sheets with charge details, court dates, and case outcomes. These docket sheets are public documents. Viewing them online at the portal is free.

Keep in mind that the portal shows docket information but does not provide actual court documents like motions or transcripts. For those, contact the Clerk of Courts in Ebensburg directly. The portal is a good first step when you need to find basic case details fast.

Note: Docket sheets on the UJS Portal may reflect recent changes within one to two business days of a court entry in Cambria County.

Pennsylvania Criminal History Records and PATCH

The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It draws from the state's Central Repository, which holds records from courts across all 67 counties including Cambria. A PATCH search covers statewide criminal history, not just Cambria County cases. Results come back as "Record," "No Record," "Request Under Review," or "No Items Found."

You can request a PATCH check online at epatch.pa.gov. The standard fee is $22. An individual review request costs $20. Volunteers in certain programs may qualify for a free check. PATCH processes requests in chronological order. For help, contact the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972. Results cover convictions and some arrests statewide, though the scope of records returned depends on the type of request you submit.

For more on the PATCH program, visit the Pennsylvania State Police criminal history page. You can also access the pa.gov criminal history background check service for direct links to the request portal.

Types of Cambria County Criminal Case Records

Criminal cases in Cambria County generate many types of public records. Felony cases tend to produce the most documents, including criminal complaints, preliminary hearing records, information sheets, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. Misdemeanor cases follow a similar path, though some minor matters are handled entirely at the magisterial district level in Ebensburg and surrounding areas.

Summary offense records are created for minor violations such as traffic offenses and some disorderly conduct charges. These cases are handled by Magisterial District Judges throughout Cambria County. Appeals from magisterial courts move up to the Court of Common Pleas, where they become part of the Common Pleas docket in Ebensburg.

Cambria County criminal records are governed by the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 (CHRIA). This law sets standards for how records are collected, stored, and shared. Courts retain felony records for 75 years, misdemeanor records for 25 years, and summary offense records for 7 years. Capital case records are kept permanently.

Note: Some records filed in Cambria County cases may be sealed or have certain information redacted under applicable court orders or state law.

Cambria County Court Information at PA Courts

The official Pennsylvania courts website at pacourts.us provides general information about the state court system, including the 25th Judicial District. You can find links to court rules, forms, and contact information for Cambria County courts. The site also covers how the appellate courts interact with trial courts across the state.

The image below is from pacourts.us, the official website of the Pennsylvania court system, which covers Cambria County criminal court operations.

For Cambria County specific questions, the PA Courts site can direct you to local court contacts in Ebensburg.

Record Sealing and Clean Slate in Cambria County

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law provides for automatic sealing of certain criminal records. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, second and third degree misdemeanor convictions with sentences under two years may be automatically sealed after seven consecutive conviction-free years. Some drug felonies with sentences under 30 months may be sealed after ten years under the same framework.

Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 allows individuals to seek sealing of records that do not qualify for automatic sealing. This requires filing a petition with the Cambria County Court of Common Pleas. The court reviews the petition and may hold a hearing before ruling. An attorney familiar with Cambria County courts can help guide this process.

Once a record is sealed in Cambria County, it no longer appears on standard public searches including the UJS Portal. Law enforcement and some licensing agencies may still access sealed records under certain conditions set by state law. Expungement is a separate process that results in physical destruction of records and requires a court order.

Public Access to Cambria County Court Records

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, governs access to government records including court documents. Most criminal court records in Cambria County are public and available without a special request. The public may view docket sheets and case filings at the Clerk of Courts office in Ebensburg during business hours. The Office of Open Records handles disputes and provides guidance on record access across Pennsylvania.

Court filings protected by specific orders, juvenile records, and certain victim information may be restricted. If you believe a record was improperly withheld, you can file an appeal with the Office of Open Records or seek relief from the court. The public access policy for Pennsylvania courts is found at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, which sets clear standards for what records must remain open and what may be restricted.

Nearby Counties

Cambria County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If you need criminal court records from a neighboring area, each county has its own Clerk of Courts office.

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