Mercer County Criminal Records
Mercer County criminal records are maintained by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at the Mercer County Courthouse in Mercer, PA. The county is home to roughly 112,000 residents and falls under the 35th Judicial District. Anyone who needs to search criminal case information for Mercer County can do so through the statewide UJS Portal or by visiting the courthouse directly. This page explains where to look, what you will find, and how to get copies of criminal records from Mercer County.
Mercer County Quick Facts
Mercer County Clerk of Courts
The Mercer County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is a combined office that serves as the official keeper of criminal records for the county. Ruth A. Bice holds this elected position and oversees the maintenance and release of court records. The office is located at the Mercer County Courthouse, 101 North Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137. You can reach the office by phone at 724-662-7540.
The combined office handles all criminal cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Mercer County. This includes felony cases, misdemeanor cases, summary appeals, and other major criminal proceedings. Staff can help you search by name or case number. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5 to $10 for certified documents. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting in person.
The county website for Mercer County offers general information about county offices and services. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed on weekends and county holidays.
The Mercer County Courthouse has been the center of judicial activity in western Pennsylvania since the county was established in 1800. Records dating back to the county's founding are maintained here, though some older documents may require additional time to retrieve from archives.
The Mercer County government site provides contact details for all county offices, including the Clerk of Courts and the Sheriff's Office, both of which handle criminal justice records.
| Office |
Mercer County Clerk of Courts Mercer County Courthouse 101 North Diamond Street Mercer, PA 16137 Phone: 724-662-7540 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | mercercountypa.gov |
Search Mercer County Criminal Records Online
The fastest way to find Mercer County criminal records is through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal. The portal is free to use and available around the clock. You can search by participant name, docket number, or OTN (Offense Tracking Number). Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us to begin searching Mercer County criminal cases.
The UJS Portal covers cases from the Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas in Mercer County. For each case you find, you can view the charges, dispositions, sentencing details, and court dates. You will not find juvenile records or sealed cases in the public portal. Basic case data is free, but actual document copies must be requested from the courthouse.
Search tips for better results in Mercer County include using the full legal name and date of birth when searching by name. Common last names may return many results. Searching by docket number is the most precise method. Docket numbers for Mercer County follow the format CP-43-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY.
Note: The UJS Portal updates Mercer County case data within 24 to 48 hours of court proceedings, so very recent activity may not appear right away.
Mercer County Criminal Records Pennsylvania Background Checks
For a statewide criminal background check that covers Mercer County and all other Pennsylvania counties, use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH. PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and serves as the central repository for criminal history in the state. Go to epatch.pa.gov to submit a request.
A standard PATCH check costs $22. If you need a notarized copy, the fee is $27. Volunteers can request a free check using Form SP 4-164A. The system returns "No Record" results immediately about 85 percent of the time. When a record is found, the response is mailed and can take two to four weeks. Results show charges, dispositions, and sentencing information from Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies, including those in Mercer County.
PATCH reports cover Pennsylvania records only. They do not include records from other states or federal courts. 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 in Pennsylvania.
What Mercer County Criminal Records Include
Criminal records from the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas contain detailed information about each case. A typical record shows the defendant's name, charges filed with statutory citations, the arresting agency, court dates, and how the case was resolved. Dispositions include guilty verdicts, not guilty findings, dismissals, withdrawals, nolle prosequi entries, and ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) completions.
Sentencing details are part of the record. These include the length of any incarceration, probation terms, fines, court costs, and restitution amounts. The OTN, or Offense Tracking Number, is a unique identifier assigned to each case that allows you to track it through the system. Attorney names, the presiding judge, and financial balances owed to the court are also visible in the UJS Portal for Mercer County cases.
Mercer County criminal records are generally open to the public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. You do not have to be a party to the case to request a copy. The Clerk of Courts can provide certified copies for legal and personal purposes.
Note: Juvenile records from Mercer County are not accessible to the public and are maintained separately under the Juvenile Act.
Mercer County Criminal Records Expungement and Clean Slate
Some criminal records in Mercer County can be removed or sealed from public view. Pennsylvania law provides two paths: expungement and the Clean Slate Act.
Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 allows a person to petition the court to have certain records destroyed or removed from the criminal history database. Eligible records include arrests where charges were withdrawn or dismissed, ARD completions, summary convictions after five years with no subsequent offenses, and records for individuals 70 years of age or older who have been conviction-free for ten years. A petition must be filed with the Mercer County Court of Common Pleas, and a judge must approve it before the record is cleared.
The Clean Slate Act created an automatic sealing process for qualifying convictions. Records eligible for sealing under Clean Slate are processed in batches by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Once sealed, those records no longer appear in public searches through the UJS Portal or PATCH. The Mercer County Clerk of Courts processes Clean Slate sealing quarterly. Individuals can check whether their record qualifies by reviewing the eligibility criteria at pacourts.us.
Requesting Records Under the Right-to-Know Law
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public access to records held by government agencies, including Mercer County. Criminal court records are largely public documents under this law. You can request records from the Clerk of Courts in person, by mail, or by submitting a formal Right-to-Know request.
When making a written request, include the full name of the subject, the approximate year of the case, and the type of record you need. If you have a case number or docket number, include that too. Send your request to the Clerk of Courts at 101 North Diamond Street, Mercer, PA 16137. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope and payment for any applicable copy fees.
The Mercer County Clerk of Courts will respond within the time frames set by the Right-to-Know Law. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 to $10 per document, depending on the type. If the record you need is in older archives, processing may take three to five business days.
Mercer County Inmate and Sheriff Records
The Mercer County Sheriff's Office handles arrests, warrants, and other law enforcement functions in the county. If you need information about an active warrant or a current inmate held in the Mercer County Jail, contact the Sheriff's Office directly through the county website at mercercountypa.gov.
For inmates who have been transferred to a state correctional facility, use the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator. The tool searches the statewide database and shows current facility, DOC number, and other details. Access the locator at pa.gov.
The inmate locator updates daily. It covers individuals currently incarcerated in state prisons and those on parole. It does not track people held in county jails like the Mercer County Prison. Additional Mercer County resources include the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at bop.pa.gov, the Megan's Law sex offender registry at pameganslaw.state.pa.us, expungement information at pa.gov, and the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Nearby Counties
Mercer County is located in western Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. If you need records from a neighboring jurisdiction, the same statewide tools apply, but you would contact that county's Clerk of Courts directly.