Delaware County Criminal Records and Court Dockets

Delaware County criminal records are maintained by the Office of Judicial Support at the Delaware County Government Center in Media, Pennsylvania. Media is the county seat. Delaware County operates under a Home Rule Charter, which gives it a unique government structure and combines the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts functions under one office. With a population of about 570,000, Delaware County is the fifth most populous county in Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas handles all felony and misdemeanor criminal cases, and the Office of Judicial Support keeps those records available to the public.

Delaware County Office of Judicial Support

Delaware County's Home Rule Charter created the Office of Judicial Support as a unified records office that handles both the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts functions. For criminal records, this means all felony and misdemeanor case records from the Court of Common Pleas in Media are maintained by this single office. The combination streamlines access for the public and attorneys.

The Office of Judicial Support is located at the Delaware County Government Center, 201 West Front Street, Media, PA 19063. The main phone number is 610-891-4150. Email inquiries can be sent to judicialsupport@co.delaware.pa.us. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Free public parking is available at the Government Center.

The Delaware County government website at delcopa.gov provides department listings, online services, and access to court-related information. The Office of Judicial Support also offers self-service public access terminals in the Government Center for visitors who want to search records themselves before requesting copies.

Delaware County Judicial Support and Criminal Records Access

The Delaware County government website provides direct access to the Office of Judicial Support and county court services. The screenshot below shows the county portal where residents and professionals can find court record resources, contact information for the Office of Judicial Support, and links to online services in Media.

The Delaware County government site links to the Office of Judicial Support, the Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney, and other criminal justice offices. For criminal records specifically, the Office of Judicial Support is your main contact in Media.

Delaware County also uses the PACFile electronic filing system for attorneys and registered users who submit filings and access case documents electronically. The public can view dockets for free through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal without needing a PACFile account.

Search Delaware County Criminal Records Online

Delaware County criminal dockets are searchable for free through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal. This system is run by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and covers all courts in Delaware County, including the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in the county.

To search, go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and choose a search type. Participant name searches require the full legal name. Adding a date of birth helps with common names. The system returns all matching cases in Delaware County. Click any result to see the full docket, including charges, case history, and disposition.

Delaware County docket numbers follow the format CP-23-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY, where 23 is the county code assigned to Delaware County. The portal also includes Magisterial District Court records using the MDJ prefix. These lower-level courts handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and minor criminal matters across Delaware County. Cases that advance to the Court of Common Pleas in Media continue with a separate CP docket number.

The portal updates within 24 to 48 hours of court activity. For very recent filings in Delaware County, call the Office of Judicial Support to confirm current case status before relying on portal information.

Delaware County Criminal Background Checks

For a certified statewide criminal history check covering Delaware County, use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police under the authority of the Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91. It includes records from all Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies and courts, including those in Delaware County.

Submit PATCH requests online at epatch.pa.gov. A standard check costs $22. Notarized checks cost $27. Free checks are available for volunteer positions using Form SP 4-164A. If you want to review your own record, Individual Access and Review costs $20 using Form SP 4-170 and requires a fingerprint card submitted by mail to the State Police in Harrisburg.

Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 (CHRIA), individuals have the right to review and challenge their own criminal history records. Delaware County residents can request their own record through the Individual Access and Review process to verify accuracy before any licensing or legal proceeding.

Note: PATCH covers only Pennsylvania state records, not federal convictions or records from other states. Delaware County residents who work in or travel to other jurisdictions may have records that would not show on a PATCH check.

Contents of Delaware County Criminal Records

Criminal records from the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas follow the standard Pennsylvania docket format. The docket begins with the case identification number, defendant identification details, and a full list of charges. Each charge references the applicable section of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code under Title 18 of the Pennsylvania Consolidated Statutes and identifies the offense grade from first-degree felony down through misdemeanor and summary.

The docket tracks every event in the case in order. Preliminary arraignment before an MDJ, preliminary hearing, formal arraignment at the Common Pleas level, all motions filed, continuances, plea entries, trial proceedings, verdict, and sentencing all appear. If the case ended in conviction, the sentence is recorded in full with incarceration minimum and maximum dates, probation terms, fine amounts, court costs, and any victim restitution orders. Post-sentence matters including appeals to the Superior Court and PCRA petitions also appear on Delaware County dockets when filed.

Records in Delaware County go back to the county's establishment in 1789, though older records are in paper archives at the Media courthouse. Felony records are retained permanently. Misdemeanor records are kept for 20 years. Summary offense records are retained for three to seven years.

Clearing Criminal Records in Delaware County

Delaware County residents can seek expungement of eligible criminal records under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122. A petition for expungement is filed with the Office of Judicial Support and presented to the Court of Common Pleas in Media. Qualifying grounds include arrest without conviction, completion of the ARD first-offender program, summary conviction after five crime-free years, and age-based provisions for individuals 70 years or older who have been crime-free for ten years.

The Clean Slate Act provides automatic sealing for qualifying nonviolent misdemeanor convictions. After ten years with no new convictions and full payment of all fines and costs, the record is automatically sealed from public access. Delaware County processes Clean Slate sealings quarterly. No petition is required. The sealing does not delete the record but removes it from public view while preserving access for courts and law enforcement.

For more information about both processes, visit pa.gov. Individuals seeking legal help with expungement in Delaware County can also contact Pennsylvania Legal Aid at palegalaid.net.

Related Criminal Records Resources in Delaware County

Several other resources complement the court records system in Delaware County. The Pennsylvania Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry is a statewide public database of registered sex offenders. Delaware County offenders appear on the registry along with their address, offense details, and registration status. Search the registry at pameganslaw.state.pa.us.

The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an inmate locator for people currently serving time in a state prison. If a Delaware County resident was sentenced to a state facility, you can look up their location and status through the PA DOC system. This is updated daily and is separate from the court records maintained by the Office of Judicial Support in Media.

The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons handles clemency requests for people convicted in Delaware County courts. A pardon does not expunge a record but provides official relief from the legal consequences of a conviction. Information about pardons is available at bop.pa.gov.

Nearby Counties

Delaware County is located in southeastern Pennsylvania, southwest of Philadelphia. It borders Chester County to the west and Montgomery County to the north. Criminal cases in this densely populated area may be filed in different jurisdictions depending on where the offense occurred.

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