York County Criminal Court Records

York County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the county courthouse on North George Street in York. The county is part of the 19th Judicial District and serves approximately 456,000 residents. Cases are filed and tracked through the Court of Common Pleas, with most public docket information available online through Pennsylvania's statewide UJS Portal. This page covers where to find York County criminal court records, how to request copies, and what resources are available for case searches.

York County Clerk of Courts

The Clerk of Courts in York County serves as the official custodian of criminal court records for the 19th Judicial District. This office maintains case files, docket sheets, and certified records for all criminal matters processed through the Court of Common Pleas. Whether you need a copy of a sentencing order, a docket sheet, or documentation of a case outcome, the Clerk of Courts is the starting point for York County criminal records access.

To obtain York County criminal court records in person, visit the Clerk of Courts with valid government-issued photo identification. Staff can search records by defendant name or case number. York County also maintains arrest records through the York County Sheriff's Office, which is a separate contact from the Clerk of Courts. Arrest records document initial police contact and booking, while court records begin with the filing of charges.

Note: For information about currently incarcerated individuals in York County, inmate booking information is available through the York County Prison. Court records and booking records are held by separate offices.

Search York County Criminal Court Cases Online

The statewide Unified Judicial System Portal provides free public access to York County criminal court records. Search by defendant name, case number, or OTN (Offense Tracking Number). Results include docket entries, charges, dispositions, bail information, hearing schedules, and sentencing details for cases filed in the 19th Judicial District.

The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us covers both Magisterial District Judge cases and Court of Common Pleas cases for York County. No account is required, and there is no fee for basic docket searches.

The Unified Judicial System Portal gives free public access to York County criminal dockets without a visit to the George Street courthouse.

The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us provides information about the 19th Judicial District, court schedules, and statewide court resources available to York County residents and attorneys.

The Pennsylvania Courts portal provides district court details and general court resources for the 19th Judicial District serving York County.

Types of York County Criminal Court Records

York County criminal court records are generated throughout the lifecycle of a criminal case. Most cases begin at the Magisterial District Judge level, where preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, and preliminary hearings take place. Felony and serious misdemeanor cases are then transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for trial or plea proceedings.

Records held by the York County Clerk of Courts and accessible through the UJS Portal include criminal complaints, bail orders, MDJ-level hearing outcomes, informations and indictments, trial records, plea agreements, verdicts, sentencing orders, and probation terms. Appeals and post-conviction filings are also part of the public record.

The governing framework for criminal history records in Pennsylvania is the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), found at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183. Public access to court records is defined by the Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 and Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509.

York County also maintains historical arrest records through the York County Sheriff's Office. These records document arrests made by county law enforcement and are separate from criminal court records held by the Clerk of Courts. For booking information on currently incarcerated individuals, contact the York County Prison directly.

Criminal History Checks for York County

The PATCH system (Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History) provides statewide criminal history reports that include York County cases alongside records from all 67 Pennsylvania counties. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and reflects compiled court data from across the state.

Submit PATCH requests online at epatch.pa.gov. Standard background checks cost $22. Individuals checking their own record pay $20. The PATCH helpline is 1-888-783-7972. You can also start a request through the PA.gov criminal history page or the Pennsylvania State Police website.

Note: A PATCH result reflects statewide compiled records and may not include the most recently filed York County cases. For current case information, the UJS Portal provides more up-to-date docket data.

Clean Slate and Public Access in York County

York County criminal court records are public under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509 and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. Most filings and dockets are open to any member of the public. Sealed records, juvenile matters, and court-ordered restricted documents are not publicly accessible.

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 provides for automatic sealing of certain nonviolent conviction records after a qualifying period. Petition-based sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.2 is also available. Records sealed under either provision will not appear in public searches of the UJS Portal or on PATCH reports.

The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) governs access to government agency records. Court records follow the separate Public Access Policy framework. For questions about which process applies to a specific type of record, contact the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.

Nearby Counties

York County is in south-central Pennsylvania. Select a neighboring county below to find its criminal court records resources.

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