Find Criminal Records in Bradford County PA
Bradford County criminal records are held by the combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office at the Bradford County Courthouse in Towanda, Pennsylvania. The county is part of the 42nd Judicial District and was established in 1810. With a population of approximately 60,000, Bradford County is one of the less densely populated counties in Pennsylvania but maintains full court record services at the courthouse in Towanda. Searching Bradford County criminal records is available online at no cost through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or in person at the courthouse.
Bradford County Quick Facts
Bradford County Clerk of Courts
Bradford County operates a combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office. This office handles both civil and criminal court records in Bradford County. The current officeholder is Janet A. Keeler. The office is located at the Bradford County Courthouse, 301 Main Street, Towanda, PA 18848. The main phone number for record inquiries is 570-265-1727. The fax number is 570-265-2239. You can email the office at clerkofcourt@bradfordcountypa.org for general inquiries.
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. In-person requests require a valid photo ID. Staff can assist with locating records when you provide the case number or the full name of the party involved. For same-day service, records need to be readily available. Archived records may take three to five business days to retrieve.
Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies run $5 to $10 per document. Criminal record searches conducted by staff cost approximately $10 to $15. Mail requests are accepted with specific case information, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Cash, checks, and money orders are accepted for payment at the Bradford County courthouse.
| Office |
Bradford County Prothonotary/Clerk of Courts Janet A. Keeler 301 Main Street Towanda, PA 18848 Phone: 570-265-1727 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | bradfordcountypa.org |
Bradford County Government Criminal Records Website
The Bradford County government website serves as the online hub for county departments, public services, and elected officials. The site provides access to court office information, the sheriff's department, and resources for residents across the county's townships and boroughs.
Visit bradfordcountypa.org to find department listings, contact information, and public notices. The sheriff's office section covers active warrants and arrest information for Bradford County. The county's rural character means many residents need to plan ahead when traveling to the Towanda courthouse, so calling ahead at 570-265-1727 is advised before making the trip.
Search Bradford County Criminal Records Free
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal gives the public free access to court case information from all 67 Pennsylvania counties. For Bradford County, the portal covers both the Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas in Towanda. You can search at any time at ujsportal.pacourts.us.
Search options include participant name, docket number, OTN (Offense Tracking Number), and complaint number. For Bradford County Court of Common Pleas cases, dockets follow the format CP-08-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY. The portal shows case status codes such as Active, Closed, and Adjudicated. It also lists the charges filed, dispositions, sentence information, fines and costs, and the names of attorneys and judges involved in the case.
Records are typically updated within 24 to 48 hours of court proceedings. Some older Bradford County records may only exist in paper form at the courthouse. Searching by docket number returns the most precise results. When searching by name, use the full legal name and consider including a date of birth to filter results.
The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us provides an overview of how the UJS Portal works and what record types are accessible. The free PAeDocket mobile app also provides access to Bradford County case records on iOS and Android devices.
Note: The UJS Portal does not show juvenile records, Protection from Abuse filings, or any records that have been sealed or expunged by court order.
Bradford County Criminal Records PATCH Background Checks
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system provides official background check reports that include records from Bradford County. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, which receives disposition reports from all county courts in Pennsylvania.
You can submit a standard background check request online at epatch.pa.gov. The cost is $22.00. Notarized copies are available for an extra $5.00. Volunteer position checks are free using Form SP 4-164A. For mail requests, send a completed Form SP 4-164 with payment to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository-164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail payments must be certified checks or money orders made payable to "Commonwealth of Pennsylvania."
A PATCH report lists the subject's name and aliases, date of birth, arrest information, charges, dispositions, and sentencing data for Pennsylvania records. No Record results are returned immediately by email in about 85% of cases. When manual review is needed, processing can take up to two weeks. Call 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972) for help with pending requests. PATCH covers Pennsylvania records only and does not include federal convictions or records from other states.
Bradford County Criminal Record History
Bradford County has maintained court records since its establishment in 1810. Quarter Sessions records from the early history of the county are available through the Clerk's office and are used for genealogy and historical research. The county holds criminal records going back many generations.
Under the standard Pennsylvania retention schedule, felony records are kept permanently. Misdemeanor records are retained for 20 years. Summary offense records are held for three to seven years. All case dispositions are reported to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository and become part of the statewide PATCH database.
Expungement petitions are filed through the Bradford County Clerk of Courts. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122, individuals may petition to have certain arrest records expunged if charges were dismissed or did not result in conviction. Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law provides for automatic sealing of eligible records after the required conviction-free period and full payment of fines and court costs.
Juvenile records in Bradford County are maintained separately and are not available for public inspection under the Juvenile Act provisions.
Additional resources for Bradford County include the Pennsylvania Megan's Law sex offender registry at pameganslaw.state.pa.us, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at bop.pa.gov, the Pennsylvania inmate locator at pa.gov, and the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Nearby Counties
Bradford County is located in northern Pennsylvania. Its neighboring counties each maintain their own criminal records through their respective court offices. The UJS Portal covers all of these counties as well.