Find Criminal Court Records in Cameron County
Cameron County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Emporium. Cameron County is one of the smallest counties in Pennsylvania by population, with around 4,500 residents. It shares the 57th Judicial District with neighboring Potter County. You can search criminal cases from this north-central Pennsylvania county online through the state's free UJS Portal or by contacting the Clerk of Courts office directly in Emporium.
Cameron County Quick Facts
Cameron County Clerk of Courts Contact and Location
The Cameron County Clerk of Courts office handles criminal case records for the 57th Judicial District. Because Cameron and Potter counties share this judicial district, some administrative matters may involve coordination with Potter County. The Cameron County courthouse in Emporium is the filing location for criminal cases originating in Cameron County.
Staff at the Clerk's office can help you search for criminal case records by name or case number. You may view records in person at the office during business hours. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, there is no fee to view records at the courthouse. Copy fees apply to printed documents. Call ahead to confirm current fees and what identification you should bring to Emporium.
| Office |
Cameron County Clerk of Courts Court of Common Pleas, 57th Judicial District 20 E. 5th Street Emporium, PA 15834 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (814) 486-2315 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM |
Note: Cameron County closes at 4:00 PM, which is earlier than many other Pennsylvania county offices. Plan your visit accordingly.
Cameron County Criminal Docket Search Online
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System Portal covers all 67 counties including Cameron. You can search Cameron County criminal dockets at no charge. The portal includes cases handled at the Court of Common Pleas and at the Magisterial District Judge level. Both Common Pleas and MDJ records appear in search results when you enter a name or case number.
To begin, visit ujsportal.pacourts.us and select the docket search tool. Enter the defendant's name or the case number. You can also search by OTN if you have that number. Results include docket sheets that show charges, hearing dates, and dispositions for Cameron County criminal cases. No login is required to access this free tool.
The UJS Portal shows docket-level information. Actual court documents such as motions, transcripts, and evidence records are not available through the portal. Contact the Cameron County Clerk of Courts in Emporium for copies of documents within a specific case file.
The image below is from the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, used to search Cameron County criminal records.
The UJS Portal is maintained by the Pennsylvania court system and is updated as cases move through the Cameron County courts.
The 57th Judicial District: Cameron and Potter Counties
Cameron County and Potter County together form Pennsylvania's 57th Judicial District. This shared district means that the same judges may hear cases in both counties. Court scheduling and administration are coordinated between Emporium and Potter County's seat in Coudersport. Criminal cases filed in Cameron County are docketed and maintained in Cameron County, while cases filed in Potter County stay in that county's records.
Sharing a judicial district is more common among Pennsylvania's smaller counties. The arrangement helps manage caseloads across rural communities where the volume of cases in any single county may not justify a fully independent court staff. If you are looking for records from a case that was moved or consolidated across counties, contact both the Cameron County Clerk and the Potter County Clerk for guidance.
Statewide Criminal History Records Through PATCH
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system provides statewide criminal history reports drawn from the PA State Police Central Repository. A PATCH search covers convictions and certain arrest records from all Pennsylvania counties, including Cameron. Results may return as "Record," "No Record," "Request Under Review," or "No Items Found."
Submit a PATCH request at epatch.pa.gov. Standard requests cost $22. Individual review requests cost $20. Volunteers serving certain organizations may receive a free check. For help with the PATCH system, call the helpline at 1-888-783-7972. Additional background check resources are available through the pa.gov criminal history page.
A PATCH check gives you a broader picture than a county courthouse search. The UJS Portal covers court case activity, while PATCH draws from the state's centralized criminal history repository. For a complete picture of someone's criminal history in Pennsylvania, both sources can be useful.
Note: PATCH results reflect what is in the state repository and may not include very recent court activity from Cameron County courts.
Criminal Records Maintained by Cameron County Courts
The Cameron County Court of Common Pleas creates and stores a range of criminal case documents. Felony records include criminal complaints, preliminary hearing transcripts, grand jury materials when applicable, information sheets, plea agreements, verdict forms, and sentencing orders. These documents stay in the case file at the Clerk of Courts in Emporium.
Misdemeanor records follow a similar pattern, though many lower-level offenses are handled and resolved at the Magisterial District Judge level without moving to Common Pleas. Summary offense records from Cameron County cover traffic violations and minor local offenses processed by district justices in the area.
Pennsylvania law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 governs the collection and use of criminal history record information. Retention schedules set by state rules keep felony records for 75 years, misdemeanor records for 25 years, and summary offense records for 7 years. Capital cases are kept permanently under state rules.
PA Courts Website for Cameron County Information
The official Pennsylvania court system website at pacourts.us contains information about all judicial districts including the 57th. You can find contact information, court rules, and general guidance for navigating the court system in Cameron County. The site also links to forms and self-help resources for people who need to file or access records without an attorney.
The image below comes from pacourts.us, the official website of Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System.
The PA Courts website is the best starting point when you need official guidance about court procedures in Cameron County or the 57th Judicial District.
Public Access to Cameron County Criminal Records
Most criminal court records in Cameron County are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101. Docket sheets, charging documents, and final orders are available for public review at the courthouse. The public access policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 defines what records are accessible and what may be withheld. Juvenile records, sealed records, and certain victim information are not available to the general public.
If you have questions about access to a specific Cameron County record or believe a record was improperly withheld, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records for guidance. The office handles appeals from all state and local agencies including courts and provides written guidance on public access rights across Pennsylvania.
Nearby Counties
Cameron County is surrounded by several rural Pennsylvania counties. If you need criminal court records from an adjacent county, each maintains its own Clerk of Courts office.