Fulton County Criminal Court Records in McConnellsburg
Fulton County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. Fulton County is one of Pennsylvania's smaller counties with a population of about 15,000 people. The county is part of the 39th Judicial District, which it shares with Franklin and Bedford Counties. Criminal case files, docket sheets, and related documents are available at 171 N. 2nd Street in McConnellsburg. The statewide UJS Portal provides free online access to docket information. This page explains how to access, search, and obtain criminal records from Fulton County.
Fulton County Quick Facts
Fulton County Clerk of Courts Office
The Fulton County Clerk of Courts is at 171 N. 2nd Street in McConnellsburg. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Phone is (717) 485-6321. This office holds the official record for every criminal case processed in the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas. Docket books, charging documents, bail orders, motions, plea agreements, and sentencing orders are all maintained here.
Fulton County is small enough that staff are typically able to locate files quickly. Bring the docket number if you have it. A full name with an approximate year of the case also works. Call ahead to confirm the file is available on site, especially for older records that may be stored in an archival format. Viewing records at the courthouse is free under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509. Copy fees apply only when you want paper documents to take with you.
Because the 39th Judicial District spans three counties, it is important to know where a case was filed before making the trip to McConnellsburg. A case involving a Fulton County resident is filed in Fulton County. A case from Franklin County stays in Chambersburg. Bedford County cases are in Hollidaysburg. The UJS Portal can help you confirm the county before you travel.
| Office |
Fulton County Clerk of Courts 171 N. 2nd Street McConnellsburg, PA 17233 Phone: (717) 485-6321 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Court Website | pacourts.us |
Searching Fulton County Criminal Dockets Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us allows free online searches of Fulton County criminal dockets. The system covers both Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records. Choose the court type, select Fulton County from the dropdown, and search by name, date of birth, or docket number.
Search results show the full procedural history of the case. Every charge appears with the statute cited. Court dates, bail orders, continuances, plea information, verdicts, and sentences are all visible on the docket sheet. The docket lists every document filed, but the documents themselves are not downloadable. Call (717) 485-6321 or visit the Clerk of Courts office in McConnellsburg to request copies of specific documents.
Fulton County's small population means the docket search returns a limited number of results. This makes it relatively easy to confirm you have found the right person and case. Still, use a full name and date of birth when possible to avoid any ambiguity in your search results.
Note: All three counties in the 39th Judicial District, which are Fulton, Franklin, and Bedford, appear separately in the UJS Portal. Always select the specific county when searching to get accurate results for Fulton County cases.
The 39th Judicial District and Fulton County
Fulton County is part of the 39th Judicial District along with Franklin and Bedford Counties. This shared district arrangement allows smaller counties to pool resources and share judges. Despite the shared district, each county keeps its own Clerk of Courts office and its own physical case files.
The 39th Judicial District implemented PACFile for criminal filings in February 2024 under the provisions of Pa.R.Crim.P. 576.1. Electronic filing is permissive in this district, meaning attorneys may file electronically but are not required to do so. For the public, this has no effect on how records are accessed. Docket entries still appear on the UJS Portal, and physical documents are still available at each county's Clerk of Courts office.
Fulton County Criminal Record Content and Retention
Criminal case files in Fulton County cover the complete arc of a case. The file starts with the criminal complaint and adds documents at each stage. Bail orders, formal charges, preliminary hearing results, motions, court orders, plea agreements or trial records, verdicts, and sentencing orders are all part of the file. Post-conviction filings such as motions for reconsideration or appeals to the Superior Court also appear in the docket.
Pennsylvania retention rules require felony records to be kept for 75 years. Misdemeanor records stay on file for 25 years. Summary offense records are retained for 7 years. Capital cases are maintained permanently. All records within these windows are public unless sealed or expunged by court order. In a small county like Fulton, older records may be stored in compact archives. Call ahead to confirm that records from earlier periods are available without a lengthy retrieval wait.
Statewide Criminal History: PATCH and CHRIA
Fulton County records cover the 39th Judicial District's Fulton County portion only. For a complete Pennsylvania criminal history covering all 67 counties, the PATCH system is the right tool. PATCH is managed by the PA State Police under the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 (CHRIA). CHRIA governs how criminal record information is collected, stored, and used in Pennsylvania.
Access PATCH online at epatch.pa.gov. The standard search costs $22. Individuals reviewing their own record pay $20. Volunteers with qualifying organizations may be eligible for a free check. The PATCH helpline is 1-888-783-7972. The Central Repository is at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. More information is at psp.pa.gov. For general guidance on criminal history requests, see pa.gov.
Record Sealing and Expungement in Fulton 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 seven years after the last conviction. No petition is needed. Once sealed, the record is removed from public docket searches and PATCH results.
For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, a petition under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 may provide a path to sealing. Expungement is available in additional situations, such as arrests not leading to conviction and certain summary convictions after five years. File the petition with the Fulton County Court of Common Pleas at 171 N. 2nd Street. Serve the District Attorney. Contact the Clerk of Courts at (717) 485-6321 for forms and instructions on how to file in Fulton County.
For broader context on public record access, the PA Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles disputes about government records. Court records are not covered by the Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 but are subject to the UJS Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81.
Nearby Counties
Fulton County is a small, rural county in south-central Pennsylvania. Neighboring counties each operate their own Clerk of Courts offices and maintain separate criminal case records.