Delaware County Criminal Court Records
Delaware County criminal court records are maintained by the Office of Judicial Support at the Government Center in Media, Pennsylvania. Delaware County is one of the more populous counties in the Philadelphia suburbs, with over 576,000 residents served by the 32nd Judicial District Court of Common Pleas. Public access to criminal court records is available through the statewide UJS Portal online and by visiting the Office of Judicial Support in person. This page covers how to search, access, and obtain criminal records from Delaware County courts.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County Office of Judicial Support Records
Delaware County handles court records through its Office of Judicial Support rather than a traditional Clerk of Courts office. The director of this office is Mary J. Walk, Esquire. The office is located in Room 127 of the Government Center Building at 201 W. Front Street in Media. This is where you go for access to criminal case files, civil records, and related court documents filed in the 32nd Judicial District.
The Office of Judicial Support maintains all criminal court records for cases heard in Delaware County. This includes charging documents, bail orders, plea agreements, trial records, sentencing orders, and every other filing in a criminal case. Staff can retrieve files by docket number or party name. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, there is no fee to view records at the courthouse. Copy fees apply when you want printed documents.
The Delaware County fee schedule for copies is: one-sided copies cost $1 per page, record certification costs $6 for the first page and $1 per page after that. These fees are set by the county and can change. Call ahead to confirm current rates before your visit.
| Office |
Delaware County Office of Judicial Support Government Center Building, Room 127 201 W. Front Street Media, PA 19063 Phone: (610) 891-4370 |
|---|---|
| Director | Mary J. Walk, Esquire |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court of Common Pleas | 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063 | Phone: (610) 891-4000 |
| Open Records | delcopa.gov/departments/openrecords.html |
Searching Delaware County Criminal Dockets Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal is the free, statewide tool for searching court docket information. Delaware County criminal records are fully searchable through this system at ujsportal.pacourts.us. You can search by defendant name, date of birth, or docket number. The portal covers cases in the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts that serve Delaware County.
Search results from the UJS Portal show case details including all charges, court dates, bail status, plea information, verdicts, and sentences. The docket also lists every document that has been filed in the case. However, the actual documents are not available for download from the portal. To get copies of the documents themselves, contact the Office of Judicial Support at (610) 891-4370 or visit the Government Center in Media.
Delaware County's size means there are many active cases in the system at any given time. Searches may return multiple results for common names. Narrow your results by adding a date of birth or using a full name to identify the right case. Using a docket number is the most precise method when you have one available.
Note: The UJS Portal shows docket information only. For document images, certified copies, or full file review, you must contact the Office of Judicial Support directly or visit Room 127 at the Government Center in Media.
Magisterial District Courts in Delaware County
Delaware County has multiple Magisterial District Courts spread across the county. These courts handle the early stages of criminal cases, including preliminary hearings, bail determinations, and summary offense trials. Records from these courts are also searchable through the UJS Portal.
One of the more active district courts in Delaware County is MDJ 32-2-51, which serves Upper Darby. This court is located at the Barclay Square Building, 1550 Garrett Road, Upper Darby, PA 19082. The phone number is (610) 626-6900. Upper Darby is one of the most densely populated townships in Pennsylvania, and this district court handles a high volume of cases. Other MDJ offices are located throughout Delaware County to serve the various municipalities and townships.
Summary offense cases decided at the Magisterial District Court level stay in the MDJ records system. If the case is appealed or upgraded to the Court of Common Pleas, records move to the Office of Judicial Support. The UJS Portal allows you to search both court levels at the same time.
Delaware County Inmate Lookup and Jail Records
The Delaware County Sheriff operates the county jail and provides an online inmate lookup tool. You can search for current inmates held at the Delaware County jail through the Sheriff's website. The inmate lookup is available at delawarecountysheriff.org/jail/inmate-lookup/.
Jail records and court records are separate systems. The inmate lookup tells you whether someone is currently held at the county jail and basic booking information. Court records at the Office of Judicial Support contain the criminal case file with charges, hearings, and dispositions. Both systems serve different purposes and are maintained by different offices. For complete information about a criminal matter in Delaware County, check both sources.
Pennsylvania Criminal Background Checks and CHRIA
Delaware County court records cover cases in the 32nd Judicial District only. A statewide criminal history check through the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. The standard PATCH fee is $22. Personal review is $20. Volunteers at qualifying nonprofits may be eligible for a free check. For questions, call the PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972.
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 (CHRIA), governs how criminal records are maintained and shared in this state. CHRIA sets standards for accuracy, limits who can access certain records, and defines what information must be included in a criminal history report. The PA State Police administer these records at the Central Repository in Harrisburg. More information is at psp.pa.gov.
Record Sealing and Expungement in Delaware County
People with qualifying convictions in Delaware County may be eligible to have their records sealed or expunged. Under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1, second- and third-degree misdemeanor convictions with sentences under two years are automatically sealed after seven conviction-free years. No petition is needed. The record is removed from public-facing systems once the court processes the sealing.
Petitions for sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 and expungement petitions are filed with the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas at 201 W. Front Street in Media. The District Attorney must be notified. The Office of Judicial Support at (610) 891-4370 can provide information on required forms and filing procedures. Each case is reviewed individually, and a judge decides whether to grant the petition based on the law and the facts presented.
The Delaware County Open Records office coordinates Right-to-Know requests for county government records. That office is separate from the court records function. For court records, work through the Office of Judicial Support. The Open Records office can be reached through delcopa.gov/departments/openrecords.html.
Nearby Counties
Delaware County is part of the Philadelphia metropolitan area and borders several neighboring Pennsylvania counties. Each has its own court records system for criminal cases filed within its boundaries.