Fulton County, PA Criminal Records
Fulton County criminal records are maintained at the county courthouse in McConnellsburg, Pennsylvania. With about 16,000 residents, Fulton County is one of the smaller counties in the state. It shares the 39th Judicial District with Franklin County, meaning court administration for both counties is handled together. Fulton County criminal records are available online through the UJS Portal and through the PATCH background check system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. This page explains how to search those records and what to expect from each source.
Fulton County Quick Facts
Fulton County Clerk of Courts
Fulton County participates in the 39th Judicial District, which is shared with Franklin County. This arrangement means some judicial administration is centered at the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg, while local courthouse services are still available in McConnellsburg for Fulton County residents. The combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office handles criminal records for both counties within the shared district.
Fulton County residents can access court records in McConnellsburg at the county courthouse. The county website at fultoncountypa.com provides contact details for county offices and department directories. Office hours in Fulton County run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page, and certified copies typically range from $5 to $15.
Because the 39th Judicial District is shared, some Fulton County criminal cases may be processed at the Franklin County Courthouse in Chambersburg. If you are searching for a specific case and cannot find it in McConnellsburg, contact the Franklin County Clerk of Courts at 717-261-3822 to verify where the records are filed. Both locations use the same UJS Portal for online access.
| County Office |
Fulton County Courthouse McConnellsburg, PA 17233 |
|---|---|
| Shared District |
39th Judicial District Franklin County Courthouse 157 Lincoln Way East Chambersburg, PA 17201 Phone: 717-261-3822 |
| Website | fultoncountypa.com |
Search Fulton County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the free online resource for Fulton County criminal records. Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by name, docket number, OTN, citation number, or complaint number. You can filter results to show only Fulton County cases or search the entire state at once.
Fulton County criminal cases use the county code 29 in the docket number format CP-29-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY. Searching by docket number returns the most direct result. The portal shows all charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, bail information, court dates, attorney and judge names, the full case proceeding history, the disposition, and sentencing details for any conviction in Fulton County.
Magisterial District Court cases from Fulton County also appear in the UJS Portal. These include preliminary hearings for felonies and misdemeanors, summary offense citations such as traffic tickets, and small civil claims. Searching the portal covers both MDJ and Common Pleas levels in one place. Case data is updated within 24 to 48 hours of any court activity.
Note: Juvenile records, Protection from Abuse filings, and expunged cases do not appear in the public portal. For those records, contact the court directly.
PATCH Background Checks for Fulton County
PATCH, the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, provides official background checks for Fulton County and all other Pennsylvania jurisdictions. The Pennsylvania State Police operate PATCH and maintain the central repository that stores records from courts, law enforcement agencies, and correctional facilities across the state.
To request a PATCH check, go to epatch.pa.gov. A standard criminal history check costs $22. Notarized copies cost $27. Free volunteer checks are available using Form SP 4-164A but cannot be notarized. Most "No Record" results return immediately via email. Records requiring manual review take up to two weeks and are mailed to the requester. Call 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972) for help with a pending request.
PATCH reports from Fulton County include arrest information, charges, dispositions, and sentencing data. Records from other states and federal agencies do not appear on PATCH. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 (CHRIA), individuals have the right to review and challenge their own criminal history records.
What Fulton County Criminal Records Include
A Fulton County criminal docket from the Court of Common Pleas starts with identifying information about the defendant. This includes their name, date of birth, and address. Each charge appears with the full Pennsylvania Crimes Code citation, the grade of the offense, and the date of the alleged incident.
The proceedings section of a Fulton County criminal docket captures the timeline of the case. You can see when the preliminary arraignment took place, whether the preliminary hearing was held or waived, and every subsequent court event at the Common Pleas level. Motions filed by both sides, conference dates, and trial information all appear in the docket. The assigned judge and attorneys for both sides are identified.
Common outcomes found in Fulton County criminal dockets include:
- Guilty plea or trial verdict
- Acquittal after trial
- Dismissal or withdrawal
- Nolle Prosequi (district attorney declined to prosecute)
- ARD completion (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition)
- Probation Without Verdict for first-time offenders
Sentencing information follows any conviction in a Fulton County case. This covers incarceration terms with minimum and maximum dates, probation length and conditions, fines, court costs, and any restitution ordered. The financial section of the docket also shows payment history for outstanding obligations.
Clean Slate and Expungement in Fulton County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law provides for automatic sealing of certain records across all counties, including Fulton. Qualifying misdemeanor convictions are automatically sealed after 10 years if the person has had no new convictions and has satisfied all court costs and fines. Non-conviction records such as acquittals and dismissed charges are eligible for expungement on a shorter timeline.
To petition for expungement in Fulton County, file the petition with the 39th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas. Because Fulton and Franklin Counties share a judicial district, contact the Clerk of Courts at 717-261-3822 to confirm where to file. The court will notify the district attorney, who has an opportunity to object. If granted under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122, the court order is forwarded to the Pennsylvania State Police to remove the record from PATCH. The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 governs how records are used and challenged statewide.
Individuals who want to review their own record can submit Form SP 4-170 to PATCH with fingerprints and a $20 fee. This Individual Access and Review shows exactly what the State Police repository holds for your name. The Pennsylvania Courts website at pacourts.us offers information on the expungement process in any county.
Police Records and Right-to-Know in Fulton County
Criminal court records and police reports are separate categories of records in Fulton County. Court dockets are held by the Clerk of Courts and are searchable through the UJS Portal. Police reports, incident records, and arrest reports are held by the law enforcement agency that responded.
The Pennsylvania State Police play a major role in Fulton County law enforcement given the rural nature of the county. RTK requests for state police records go through the Pennsylvania State Police Open Records process. Local law enforcement agencies in McConnellsburg and other municipalities handle their own records separately. Submit a written request under the Right-to-Know Law to the Open Records Officer of the specific department.
The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov provides forms and guidance for Right-to-Know requests and appeals statewide. Agencies must respond within 5 business days. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Office of Open Records for a formal review of the denial.
Nearby Counties
Fulton County is in south-central Pennsylvania and shares a judicial district with Franklin County. Neighboring counties each maintain their own court records. The UJS Portal lets you search across all Pennsylvania counties at once.