Fayette County Pennsylvania Criminal Court Records
Fayette County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Uniontown, Pennsylvania. The county is part of the 16th Judicial District and serves a population of about 128,000 people in southwestern Pennsylvania. Criminal case files, docket sheets, and related documents are available to the public at 61 E. Main Street in Uniontown. Online docket searches are available free of charge through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. This page explains how to access Fayette County criminal records, what information they contain, and what other resources are available for background research.
Fayette County Quick Facts
Fayette County Clerk of Courts in Uniontown
The Fayette County Clerk of Courts is located at 61 E. Main Street in Uniontown. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff maintain the complete record of every criminal case handled by the Court of Common Pleas in the 16th Judicial District. These records include charging documents, bail orders, motions, orders, plea agreements, verdicts, and sentencing information.
To access records at this office, bring the case docket number or the full name of the defendant. Staff can search by either method. Call ahead at (724) 430-1238 to confirm that the file you need is on site and to ask about current copy fees. Viewing records is free under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509. Copy fees apply only when you want paper copies to take with you.
| Office |
Fayette County Clerk of Courts 61 E. Main Street Uniontown, PA 15401 Phone: (724) 430-1238 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Website | pacourts.us |
Note: Fayette County is in southwestern Pennsylvania. If you are traveling from another part of the state, plan to arrive well before 4:30 PM to allow enough time for your records research.
Searching Fayette County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free online access to criminal docket information for Fayette County. This system covers both Court of Common Pleas cases and Magisterial District Court cases. To search, select the court type, choose Fayette County from the county filter, and enter a name, date of birth, or docket number.
Search results show the full procedural history of a criminal case. Every charge is listed along with the statute cited. Court dates appear in chronological order. Bail conditions, continuances, plea information, verdicts, and sentences are all visible. Each entry on the docket identifies the document type that was filed on that date. The portal does not allow you to download the actual documents. For that, contact the Clerk of Courts at (724) 430-1238 or visit 61 E. Main Street in person.
Using the UJS Portal before visiting the courthouse saves time. You can confirm the docket number, verify that the case is in Fayette County, and note which documents you want to review or copy before making the trip to Uniontown.
Criminal Case Records Maintained in Fayette County
Fayette County criminal case files span the entire lifecycle of a criminal proceeding. The record begins with the criminal complaint filed by police or the District Attorney. From there, it grows to include bail orders, formal charges, pre-trial motions, and court orders on those motions. Plea agreements or trial records form the core of the file along with sentencing documents. If there is an appeal, correspondence and orders from the Superior Court may also be included.
Pennsylvania requires courts to retain criminal records for varying periods depending on the offense type. Felony records stay on file for 75 years. Misdemeanor records are kept for 25 years. Summary offense records have a 7-year retention period. Capital case records are maintained permanently. All records within these windows remain publicly accessible unless a court has ordered them sealed or expunged. Older files within the retention period may be stored off-site; call ahead to confirm availability.
Magisterial District Court records for Fayette County cover the preliminary stages of criminal cases. These courts handle preliminary arraignment, bail, preliminary hearings, and summary offense trials. Their records appear on the UJS Portal under the Magisterial District Court search option.
Pennsylvania Background Checks and Criminal History
The Fayette County court system holds records only for the 16th Judicial District. A comprehensive statewide criminal history check requires the PATCH system, operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. PATCH covers convictions and dispositions from all 67 Pennsylvania counties. The cost is $22 for a standard search. Individuals checking their own record pay $20. Qualified volunteer organizations can get a free check.
Request a PATCH check online at epatch.pa.gov or by calling 1-888-783-7972. The PA State Police Central Repository is at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. More information is at pa.gov. The Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 (CHRIA), governs how criminal records are collected, stored, and shared in Pennsylvania. CHRIA limits who can use criminal history information and for what purposes.
Clean Slate and Expungement in Fayette County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act 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 are automatically sealed after seven years without a new conviction. No court filing is required from the individual. Once sealed, the record is removed from public-facing searches including the UJS Portal and PATCH results.
Cases that do not qualify for automatic sealing may be eligible for relief through a court petition under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2. This process requires filing in the Fayette County Court of Common Pleas and notifying the District Attorney's office. A judge reviews the petition and issues a decision. Expungement, which results in physical destruction of the record, is also available for certain categories of cases, including arrests with no conviction and some summary offenses after five conviction-free years. Contact the Fayette County Clerk of Courts at (724) 430-1238 for information on filing procedures and required forms.
Public Access Rights for Fayette County Records
Court records in Fayette County follow the UJS Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. This policy defines which parts of a criminal case file are available to the public and which are restricted. Protected items include Social Security numbers, financial account data, and information identifying minors involved in the case. Everything else in the file is generally available to any member of the public who visits the Clerk of Courts office.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 applies to county and state government records outside the court system. For non-court Fayette County government records, contact the county open records officer. For criminal court case files, go through the Clerk of Courts. The PA Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles disputes and provides guidance on accessing government records across the state. The PA Courts website at pacourts.us covers court-specific access rules and policies.
Nearby Counties
Fayette County sits in the southwestern corner of Pennsylvania. The surrounding counties each maintain their own criminal court records systems. Contact the appropriate county's Clerk of Courts if the case you are looking for was filed in a neighboring area.