Criminal Records in Erie County, Pennsylvania
Erie County criminal records are kept by the Clerk of Records at the Erie County Courthouse in Erie, Pennsylvania. As the fourth most populous county in the state with around 267,000 residents, Erie County handles a significant volume of court cases each year. The 6th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas serves the county. Criminal records are available online through the UJS Portal and through the PATCH system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. This guide walks you through every step of searching for Erie County criminal records.
Erie County Quick Facts
Erie County Clerk of Records
The Erie County Clerk of Records is the elected official responsible for maintaining all criminal court records in the county. Kenneth A. Girsch serves as Clerk of Records for Erie County. His office is located at the Erie County Courthouse, 140 West Sixth Street, Erie, PA 16501. The phone number for the office is 814-451-6250.
The Clerk of Records office in Erie County handles all criminal cases for the Court of Common Pleas, including felonies, misdemeanors, summary appeals, and major proceedings. Erie County implemented the CourtPro case management system in April 2024, which improved electronic filing and record management across the county. Attorneys and registered users can access CourtPro for e-filing and case tracking. The general public can search criminal records through public access terminals at the courthouse or through the UJS Portal online.
The Erie County Clerk of Records website provides additional details about services and procedures. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. ADA-accessible entrances and elevators are available at the Erie County Courthouse, and public parking is available nearby in downtown Erie.
The Erie County Clerk of Records office can conduct staff-assisted name searches for a $10 fee. Self-service public access terminals in the courthouse are free to use. Mail requests are accepted with specific case information, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment.
| Office |
Erie County Clerk of Records Erie County Courthouse 140 West Sixth Street Erie, PA 16501 Phone: 814-451-6250 Fax: 814-451-6240 Email: clerkofrecords@eriecountypa.gov |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | courts.eriecountypa.gov |
Search Erie County Criminal Records Online
The best free way to search Erie County criminal records online is through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by participant name, docket number, OTN, or citation number. You can filter results to show only Erie County cases or search across all 67 Pennsylvania counties at once.
Erie County criminal case dockets are formatted as CP-25-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY, where 25 is the county code for Erie. Each docket sheet shows all charges, court proceedings, attorney names, and the assigned judge. Dispositions including guilty verdicts, acquittals, dismissals, ARD completions, and nolle prosequi entries all appear in the online docket. Sentencing data including prison minimums and maximums, probation length, fines, and restitution amounts are also listed.
Case information on the UJS Portal is typically updated within 24 to 48 hours of any court activity. The portal also covers Magisterial District Court cases from Erie County, where preliminary hearings and summary offenses are handled. Juvenile cases and Protection from Abuse filings are not available through the public portal.
Erie County Criminal Record Copy Fees
Standard copies from the Erie County Clerk of Records cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more and range from $10 to $20 depending on the document type. The office accepts cash, check, money order, and credit cards. Call 814-451-6250 to confirm current fees before visiting.
Felony records in Erie County are kept permanently. Misdemeanor records are retained for 20 years. Summary offense records are kept for 3 to 7 years. Archived records that have been moved off-site may take 3 to 5 business days to retrieve. For records that are readily available in the electronic system, same-day service is often possible.
Note: Same-day processing is available for current electronic records. Older Erie County cases stored in archives may require a few business days.
PATCH Criminal Background Checks for Erie County
PATCH, the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, is the official portal for background checks that draw from the Pennsylvania State Police central repository. PATCH covers Erie County criminal records along with records from all other Pennsylvania jurisdictions. Use it for licensing applications, record verification, and other formal purposes.
Visit epatch.pa.gov to submit a PATCH request. A standard criminal history check costs $22. Adding notarization costs $5 more for a total of $27. Volunteer position checks are free using Form SP 4-164A but cannot be notarized. Use of criminal history information obtained through PATCH is governed by 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, which establishes the rules for lawful access to and use of criminal history records across Pennsylvania.
PATCH reports list offense descriptions, statutory citations, disposition outcomes, and sentencing details. "No Record" responses return immediately via email in most cases. If the system flags a record for manual review, it can take up to two weeks to receive the mailed response. For help with a PATCH request, call 1-888-QUERY-PA.
What Erie County Criminal Records Contain
Erie County criminal records from the Court of Common Pleas are detailed documents. Each docket begins with the defendant's identifying information, including name, date of birth, and physical descriptors. The charges section lists each offense with the Pennsylvania Crimes Code citation and the grade of the offense.
The proceedings section of an Erie County criminal docket covers every step of the case from arraignment to final resolution. You can see bail amounts and conditions, hearing dates, whether the preliminary hearing was waived, all motions filed by both sides, and trial information. Each entry is dated and includes the result.
Common dispositions in Erie County criminal cases include:
- Guilty (after trial or by plea)
- Not Guilty (acquittal after trial)
- Dismissed or Withdrawn
- Nolle Prosequi (prosecutor declined to proceed)
- ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a diversion program)
- Probation Without Verdict (for certain first-time offenders)
After sentencing, the docket in Erie County shows the full financial record including fines, court costs, and restitution. Payment history is tracked and updated as payments come in.
Clearing Erie County Criminal Records Through Clean Slate
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act allows certain criminal records to be automatically sealed without a court petition. Misdemeanor convictions and many non-conviction records qualify for automatic sealing after the required waiting period if the person has stayed conviction-free and paid all outstanding fines and costs. Once sealed, these records no longer show up on PATCH background checks.
For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, individuals in Erie County can file an expungement petition with the Court of Common Pleas. The petition is filed with the Clerk of Records. The district attorney's office is notified and may object. If the court grants the expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122, the record is removed from public view. The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us offers information on the expungement process and forms.
ARD completions and charges that resulted in acquittal or dismissal are generally eligible for expungement in Erie County on a shorter timeline than convictions. Reach out to a criminal defense attorney if you need help navigating the expungement process in Erie County. Additional resources include the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at bop.pa.gov, the Pennsylvania Megan's Law sex offender registry at pameganslaw.state.pa.us, the state inmate locator at pa.gov, expungement information at pa.gov, and the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Nearby Counties
Erie County is in the far northwest corner of Pennsylvania. It borders Lake Erie to the north and shares borders with several Pennsylvania counties to the east and south. Each county has its own Court of Common Pleas for criminal records.