Franklin County Pennsylvania Criminal Court Records
Franklin County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in Chambersburg, Pennsylvania. The county is part of the 39th Judicial District and serves about 155,000 people in south-central Pennsylvania near the Maryland border. Criminal case files and docket sheets are kept at 157 Lincoln Way East in Chambersburg. Online docket searches are available for free through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Franklin County also implemented electronic court filing through PACFile as of February 2024, making it one of the more recently modernized courts in the region.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Clerk of Courts in Chambersburg
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts is at 157 Lincoln Way East in Chambersburg. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is (717) 261-3845. Staff maintain the official criminal case records for all cases processed in the Court of Common Pleas for the 39th Judicial District's Franklin County side.
Staff can locate records by docket number or defendant name. Viewing records at the courthouse is free under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509. Copy fees apply when you want paper documents. Certified copies carry a higher rate than plain copies. Call ahead to confirm current fees and to verify whether the file you need is available on site before making the trip to Chambersburg.
The 39th Judicial District includes Franklin County and Bedford County. Franklin County's cases are filed and kept in Chambersburg. Bedford County's cases remain in Hollidaysburg. The two counties share judicial resources but maintain their records separately. Fulton County also participates in the 39th Judicial District and keeps its own records in McConnellsburg.
| Office |
Franklin County Clerk of Courts 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: (717) 261-3845 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Website | pacourts.us |
Franklin County PACFile Electronic Filing
The 39th Judicial District, which includes Franklin County, launched PACFile for criminal cases effective February 1, 2024. PACFile is the statewide electronic filing system for Pennsylvania courts. Electronic filing in criminal cases in Franklin County is permissive under Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1. This means attorneys can choose to file electronically but are not required to do so.
PACFile allows attorneys of record to submit documents electronically and to access filings in cases where they are listed as counsel. Public users cannot use PACFile to view case documents. The general public accesses docket information through the UJS Portal and views documents in person at the Clerk of Courts office. Electronic filing benefits the court by reducing paper and speeding up processing, but it does not change how the public accesses Franklin County criminal records.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us reflects filings made through PACFile just as it reflects paper filings. Docket entries appear regardless of whether the underlying document was submitted electronically or in paper form. This means the portal remains the reliable starting point for any public search of Franklin County criminal dockets.
Note: PACFile implementation in Franklin County is part of a statewide rollout. Attorneys with questions about electronic filing requirements and PACFile access can consult the Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us for current guidance.
Searching Franklin County Criminal Records Online
Free online access to Franklin County criminal dockets is available at ujsportal.pacourts.us. This covers both Court of Common Pleas cases and Magisterial District Court cases. Select the court type, filter by Franklin County, and search by name, date of birth, or docket number. Results load quickly and are free to view.
A docket sheet from the UJS Portal shows the full procedural record of a case. Charges, court dates, bail conditions, continuances, plea information, verdicts, and sentences all appear. The docket also lists the title of every document submitted. The documents themselves are not downloadable. For copies of the actual court filings, contact the Clerk of Courts at (717) 261-3845 or visit 157 Lincoln Way East in person.
Criminal Case Records in Franklin County
Franklin County criminal case files begin with the criminal complaint. They grow to include bail orders, formal charging documents, pre-trial motions and court orders on those motions, plea agreements or trial records, verdicts, and sentencing orders. Cases with post-conviction relief petitions or appeals have additional filings. The docket tracks every step and every filing in the case.
Pennsylvania's statewide retention rules apply in Franklin County. Felony records are retained for 75 years. Misdemeanor records are kept for 25 years. Summary offense records have a 7-year retention period. Capital cases are permanent. All records within these periods are public unless sealed or expunged. Older files within the retention period may be in archival storage. Call (717) 261-3845 before visiting if you need records from more than a few years ago.
Pennsylvania Statewide Criminal History Checks
The Franklin County Clerk of Courts holds records for the Franklin County portion of the 39th Judicial District. For a complete statewide criminal history covering all 67 Pennsylvania counties, use PATCH. PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and is governed by CHRIA, the Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183.
PATCH requests are submitted at epatch.pa.gov. The standard fee is $22. Individuals reviewing their own record pay $20. Qualifying volunteers can request a free check. The PATCH helpline is 1-888-783-7972. The Central Repository is at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. More details are at pa.gov and psp.pa.gov.
Sealing and Expungement in Franklin County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 provides automatic sealing for qualifying misdemeanor convictions. Second- and third-degree misdemeanors with sentences under two years are sealed after seven conviction-free years. No petition is required. Sealed records no longer show in public searches on the UJS Portal or in PATCH results.
For charges that do not qualify for automatic sealing, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 allows a court petition for broader sealing relief. Expungement is available for non-conviction records and certain summary convictions after five years without a new conviction. File the petition in the Franklin County Court of Common Pleas at 157 Lincoln Way East. The District Attorney must be served. Contact the Clerk of Courts at (717) 261-3845 for filing forms and guidance.
Note: The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 applies to county government records outside the court system. Court records are governed by the UJS Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81. For all criminal case file questions, go through the Clerk of Courts, not the county open records office.
Nearby Counties
Franklin County is in south-central Pennsylvania near the Maryland border. The surrounding counties maintain their own separate criminal court records. Contact the appropriate Clerk of Courts if a case was filed in a neighboring county.