Clearfield County Criminal Records and Court Filings

Clearfield County criminal court records are filed and maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Court of Common Pleas in Clearfield. The 46th Judicial District covers all criminal proceedings for this central Pennsylvania county, which has a population of approximately 80,000. You can search Clearfield County criminal cases online through Pennsylvania's free UJS Portal or visit the courthouse at 1 N. 2nd Street in Clearfield. This page covers the main ways to find criminal court records, access background checks, and understand how the records system works in Clearfield County.

Clearfield County Clerk of Courts Office

The Clerk of Courts at 1 N. 2nd Street in Clearfield is the official filing office for criminal case records in the 46th Judicial District. All felony and misdemeanor cases originating in Clearfield County are recorded here. The office stores criminal complaints, docket sheets, plea records, sentencing orders, and related documents. Staff can search records by name or case number and process requests for copies during regular business hours.

Viewing records at the Clearfield County courthouse is free under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509. This rule prohibits courts from charging a fee just for looking at public records. Copy fees do apply when you want printed documents from a case file. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person. Calling ahead is always a good idea, especially if you are searching for records that may be older or need specific documents from a case.

Clearfield County Criminal Docket Search on the UJS Portal

The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is Pennsylvania's free online tool for searching criminal court dockets. It covers all 67 counties including Clearfield County. You can search by defendant name, case number, or OTN. No account or login is needed. The portal shows docket sheets with charge descriptions, court dates, and case outcomes.

The screenshot below is from the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, which provides free access to Clearfield County criminal docket information.

The UJS Portal covers both Court of Common Pleas records and Magisterial District Judge records from across Clearfield County.

When using the portal, keep in mind that docket sheets show case summary information but not the actual documents in the file. For motions, orders, transcripts, or other documents from a Clearfield County case, contact the Clerk of Courts in Clearfield directly. The portal is updated as courts enter new activity, typically within one to two business days of a court event.

Note: The UJS Portal is maintained by the Pennsylvania court system and covers active and closed criminal cases throughout Clearfield County.

Pennsylvania Criminal History Checks Through PATCH

PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) provides statewide criminal background reports administered by the Pennsylvania State Police. The system pulls from the Central Repository, which holds records from courts across all 67 counties including Clearfield. A PATCH result covers more ground than a single county courthouse search because it reflects the statewide database.

Request a PATCH check online at epatch.pa.gov. The standard fee is $22. Individual review requests to check your own record cost $20. Qualified volunteers may receive a free check. Results come back as "Record," "No Record," "Request Under Review," or "No Items Found." Call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972 for help. You can also visit the PA State Police background check page or the pa.gov criminal history request page for more information.

What Records Are Kept in Clearfield County Criminal Cases

Criminal cases in Clearfield County generate documents at every stage of the process. A felony case starts with a criminal complaint filed at the MDJ level, then moves through preliminary hearing, formal arraignment at Common Pleas, pretrial proceedings, and trial or plea. Sentencing orders and post-conviction filings close out the record. Each of these documents is part of the public case file at the Clerk of Courts in Clearfield.

Summary offense cases involving minor traffic violations and low-level disorderly conduct are typically handled at the Magisterial District Judge level throughout Clearfield County. These records appear in the UJS Portal under MDJ dockets and are generally separate from Common Pleas records unless an appeal is filed. Appealed cases move up to Common Pleas and are added to that court's docket in Clearfield.

Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183, the Criminal History Record Information Act, Clearfield County follows the same statewide rules for criminal record retention. Felony records stay in the system for 75 years. Misdemeanor records are retained for 25 years. Summary offense records are kept for 7 years. Capital case records are permanent.

PA Courts Website and the 46th Judicial District

The official Pennsylvania courts website at pacourts.us covers the 46th Judicial District and Clearfield County court operations. The site provides general information about the court system, links to forms, and guidance for self-represented individuals navigating criminal proceedings. You can find contact information for Clearfield County courts and learn how the appellate process works for cases that go beyond the Common Pleas level.

The image below comes from pacourts.us, the official Pennsylvania court system website that includes information about Clearfield County courts.

For accurate court contact information and official procedural rules in Clearfield County, the PA Courts website is the best official source.

Sealing Clearfield County Criminal Records

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 provides automatic sealing for qualifying convictions. Second and third degree misdemeanors with sentences under two years may be automatically sealed after seven conviction-free years. Drug felony convictions with sentences under 30 months may qualify for sealing after ten conviction-free years.

Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 is available for records that do not automatically qualify. A petition is filed with the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas. The court may schedule a hearing and will issue a written order. Once sealed, the record does not appear on standard public searches. Law enforcement agencies retain access under state-defined conditions.

Expungement results in the physical removal of records. A separate petition must be filed with the Clearfield County Court of Common Pleas. Qualifying arrests, dismissed charges, and some convictions may be eligible for expungement under Pennsylvania law. An attorney familiar with the 46th Judicial District can help evaluate which process applies to your case.

Accessing Public Records in Clearfield County

Most Clearfield County criminal court records are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101. Docket sheets, charging documents, and court orders are available to the public at the Clerk of Courts in Clearfield. Viewing these records is free under court rules. The court public access policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 sets standards for what must remain open and what may be restricted. Sealed records, juvenile files, and certain victim information are not available to the general public.

If you have a dispute about access to a Clearfield County record, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records provides guidance and handles appeals. Their services are free and available to anyone seeking access to government records across Pennsylvania.

Nearby Counties

Clearfield County is surrounded by multiple counties across central Pennsylvania. Each county's criminal records are held at its own Clerk of Courts.

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