Clarion County Criminal Court Records Search
Clarion County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the Court of Common Pleas in Clarion, the county seat. The 33rd Judicial District handles all criminal proceedings for Clarion County, a rural county in west-central Pennsylvania with approximately 37,000 residents. You can search criminal case records online using Pennsylvania's free UJS Portal or visit the Clerk of Courts at 421 Main Street in Clarion during regular business hours.
Clarion County Quick Facts
Clarion County Clerk of Courts Location and Hours
The Clerk of Courts at 421 Main Street in Clarion is the official office for criminal case records in the 33rd Judicial District. This office files and stores criminal complaints, docket entries, plea and sentencing records, and related documents for all felony and misdemeanor cases originating in Clarion County. Staff can search records by defendant name or case number and process requests for copies.
When you visit in person, bring a valid photo ID. You may view records at the courthouse without paying a fee under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509. Copy fees apply when you want printed documents. Call ahead to confirm what identification and information you need to bring for your specific request in Clarion.
| Office |
Clarion County Clerk of Courts Court of Common Pleas, 33rd Judicial District 421 Main Street Clarion, PA 16214 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (814) 226-4000 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
Searching Clarion County Criminal Records Through the UJS Portal
Pennsylvania's UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to docket sheets for Clarion County criminal cases. You can search by defendant name, case number, or OTN. No account is required. The portal covers both Court of Common Pleas records and Magisterial District Judge records from Clarion County. Results are updated regularly as case activity is entered into the system.
The image below is from the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, showing where you can search Clarion County criminal dockets at no cost.
Docket sheets from the UJS Portal show charges, hearing dates, plea or verdict information, and sentencing details for Clarion County criminal cases.
For actual court documents beyond the docket sheet, contact the Clerk of Courts in Clarion. The portal provides case-level information only. Motions, transcripts, and filed exhibits are stored at the courthouse and are not available through the online search tool.
Note: The UJS Portal search is free and covers both open and closed Clarion County criminal cases going back many years.
PATCH: Pennsylvania's Statewide Criminal History System
The PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) is administered by the Pennsylvania State Police and draws from the Central Repository. A PATCH check returns criminal history information from all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Clarion County. The scope of a PATCH result is broader than a courthouse search because it covers the statewide database rather than a single county's records.
Submit a PATCH request at epatch.pa.gov. Standard checks cost $22. Checking your own record costs $20 through the individual review process. Volunteers in qualifying programs may receive a free check. PATCH processes requests chronologically. Results come back as "Record," "No Record," "Request Under Review," or "No Items Found." Call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972 for assistance. More information is at the PA State Police criminal history page.
Criminal Case Records Held in Clarion County
Felony cases in Clarion County produce documents at every step of the criminal process. A criminal complaint starts the record. Preliminary hearing transcripts, arraignment records, pretrial motions, and plea agreements all become part of the case file. After resolution, sentencing orders and any post-sentence filings are added. All of these are maintained at the Clerk of Courts in Clarion.
Many misdemeanor and summary offense cases in Clarion County are handled entirely at the Magisterial District Judge level. These records appear on the UJS Portal under MDJ dockets. When a case is appealed from a district justice to the Court of Common Pleas, it is added to the Common Pleas docket in Clarion and a full case file is opened there.
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 governs the handling of criminal records across the state. Felony records are retained for 75 years, misdemeanor records for 25 years, and summary offense records for 7 years. Capital case records are kept permanently under state rules.
PA Courts Website and Clarion County
The official Pennsylvania courts website at pacourts.us provides information about the 33rd Judicial District and Clarion County courts. You can find general procedural guidance, court forms, and contact information on this site. The PA Courts website also explains how the statewide court system is organized and how to use official resources for navigating criminal cases in Clarion County.
The image below is from pacourts.us, the statewide Pennsylvania courts website that includes court information for Clarion County.
The PA Courts site is a reliable source for accurate court contact information and procedural resources for Clarion County.
Record Sealing Under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law
The Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 allows for automatic sealing of qualifying misdemeanor convictions. Second and third degree misdemeanors with sentences under two years may be automatically sealed after seven consecutive conviction-free years. Some drug felony convictions with sentences under 30 months may be sealed after ten years.
For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 is an option. A petition is filed with the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas. The court reviews the facts and may hold a hearing before issuing a ruling. Sealed records no longer appear in standard public searches like the UJS Portal.
Expungement is a separate process that physically removes records from the system. Qualifying arrests, dismissed charges, and some convictions may be eligible. A petition must be filed with the Clarion County Court of Common Pleas. Consulting a local attorney is the best way to determine what options are available for a specific case.
Open Records and Public Access in Clarion County
Criminal court records in Clarion County are generally public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101. You can view docket sheets and case filings at the Clerk of Courts in Clarion without paying a fee. The court public access policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 defines what is open and what may be withheld. Juvenile records, sealed files, and certain victim information fall outside the public record.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles disputes about access to government records. If you believe a Clarion County court record was improperly withheld, the Office of Open Records is the appropriate place to file an appeal. Their services are free and do not require a lawyer.
Nearby Counties
Clarion County is surrounded by several counties in western and central Pennsylvania. Criminal records for each are held at their respective Clerk of Courts offices.