Monroe County Pennsylvania Criminal Records
Monroe County criminal records are maintained by the combined Clerk of Courts office at the Monroe County Courthouse in Stroudsburg, PA. With a population of approximately 172,000, Monroe County is one of the faster-growing counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county falls under the 43rd Judicial District. This page explains how to search Monroe County criminal records online, how to request copies from the courthouse, and what options exist for background checks and record clearing.
Monroe County Quick Facts
Monroe County Clerk of Courts
The Monroe County Clerk of Courts serves as the official custodian of criminal court records for the county. This combined office handles all criminal cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas of Monroe County, including felonies, misdemeanors, and summary appeals. The courthouse is located in Stroudsburg, the county seat in the Pocono Mountains region. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Monroe County has grown significantly in recent decades due to its location near the Delaware Water Gap and the Pocono resort area. That growth has expanded the scope of criminal cases filed in the county. The courthouse keeps records dating back to the county's establishment in 1836. Older records may require additional time to locate from physical archives. Recent records are fully digitized and accessible through the statewide portal.
The county website at monroecountypa.gov provides information about county offices, including the Clerk of Courts. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $5 to $10 for certified records. Bring a valid photo ID when visiting the courthouse in person.
The Monroe County website offers a directory of departments including the Clerk of Courts, Sheriff's Office, and District Attorney, all of which play roles in the criminal justice records system.
| Office |
Monroe County Clerk of Courts Monroe County Courthouse Stroudsburg, PA 18360 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | monroecountypa.gov |
Search Monroe County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free online access to Monroe County criminal records. You can search by participant name, docket number, Offense Tracking Number (OTN), complaint number, or citation number. The portal covers both the Magisterial District Courts and the Court of Common Pleas in Monroe County.
Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us to begin a search. For Monroe County Common Pleas cases, docket numbers follow the format CP-45-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY. Each result shows the charges filed, how the case was resolved, sentencing information if a conviction occurred, attorney names, the assigned judge, and any fines or costs owed to the court. The system is available 24 hours a day and costs nothing to use.
The portal does not include juvenile records, Protection from Abuse petitions, expunged cases, or records sealed under the Clean Slate Act. For cases that predate the county's electronic filing system, you may need to contact the Monroe County Clerk of Courts to request a manual search of paper archives.
Note: The UJS Portal is updated within 24 to 48 hours after Monroe County court proceedings, so very recent activity may have a brief delay before appearing.
Criminal Background Checks Covering Monroe County
PATCH, the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, is the official statewide tool for running criminal background checks. PATCH covers all 67 counties, including Monroe County, and pulls from the central repository maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police. You can submit a PATCH request online at epatch.pa.gov.
The cost for a standard PATCH check is $22. A notarized response costs $27. Volunteer checks using Form SP 4-164A are free. For "No Record" results, the system typically sends a response by email within minutes. When a record is found, the report is mailed and can take two to four weeks. The PATCH helpline at 1-888-QUERY-PA is available on weekdays during business hours for questions about pending requests.
PATCH reports include charges, dispositions, and sentencing details from Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies. The system does not include records from other states, federal courts, juvenile adjudications, or records that have been expunged or sealed. Use of PATCH results is governed by CHRIA at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, which establishes the rules for lawful access to and use of criminal history records across Pennsylvania.
What Monroe County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records from Monroe County's Court of Common Pleas include a full case history from arrest through final disposition. The record begins with the defendant's identifying information, then lists each charge with the relevant statutory citation. You will see the date of arrest, the arresting agency, and a list of all court proceedings in the order they occurred.
Dispositions for Monroe County cases include guilty verdicts, not guilty findings, dismissals, withdrawals, nolle prosequi entries, and ARD completions. ARD is available to qualifying first-time offenders in Monroe County. Successful completion leads to dismissal of charges and potential eligibility for expungement. Conviction records include the sentence: any incarceration (minimum and maximum terms), probation conditions, fines, court costs, and restitution amounts.
Criminal records from Monroe County are public documents under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Any person can request to view or copy a record without being a party to the case. The Clerk of Courts can produce both standard and certified copies on request.
Expungement and Record Sealing in Monroe County
Pennsylvania law offers two ways to remove criminal records from public view in Monroe County: expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and automatic sealing under the Clean Slate Act.
Expungement requires a petition filed with the Monroe County Court of Common Pleas. A judge reviews the request and must approve it before any records are cleared. Eligible situations include arrests with no conviction, ARD completions, summary convictions after five crime-free years, and qualifying records for older individuals. Once granted, the expunged records are removed from the PATCH database and the UJS Portal.
The Clean Slate Act allows qualifying misdemeanor convictions and non-conviction records to be sealed automatically after the required waiting period. No action is required by the individual. Monroe County Clerk of Courts processes Clean Slate sealing batches quarterly as directed by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Sealed records remain accessible to courts, law enforcement, and certain licensing boards, but not to the general public. More information is available at pacourts.us.
Monroe County Sheriff and Warrant Records
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office manages arrests, warrants, and civil process for the county. The Sheriff's Office works alongside the Monroe County District Attorney to enforce court orders and execute arrest warrants issued by the Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. If you need information about an active warrant in Monroe County, contact the Sheriff's Office through the county website.
Inmates transferred from Monroe County to state correctional facilities can be located through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at pa.gov. The database is updated daily and shows current facility assignments, DOC numbers, and parole status for state inmates.
For individuals held at the Monroe County Correctional Facility, contact the facility directly or check the Monroe County Sheriff's information through the county site at monroecountypa.gov.
Your Rights Under CHRIA in Monroe County
Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, CHRIA, governs how criminal records are collected, stored, and used in Monroe County and across the state. CHRIA, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, applies to all records originating in Monroe County and sets the standards for lawful access and permissible use of criminal history information.
If you believe your PATCH report contains inaccurate information, you have the right to challenge it. To dispute an error, submit fingerprints along with supporting documentation such as court orders or official disposition records to the Pennsylvania State Police. Correcting an inaccuracy in your criminal history record protects your rights in Monroe County and throughout Pennsylvania.
Note: Individuals can review their own complete criminal history through the Individual Access and Review process using Form SP 4-170, available by mail for $20.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County borders several counties in northeastern and eastern Pennsylvania. If a case was filed in a neighboring county, you will need to contact that county's Clerk of Courts for records.