Criminal Records in Washington County PA
Washington County criminal records are maintained by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts in Washington, Pennsylvania. This is a combined office serving the 27th Judicial District of the Court of Common Pleas. With a population of approximately 207,000, Washington County is a mid-sized county in southwestern Pennsylvania, southwest of Pittsburgh. You can search Washington County criminal records for free through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or request certified copies at the courthouse in Washington.
Washington County Quick Facts
Washington County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
The Washington County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is Phyllis J. Matheny. This is a combined office that handles both civil and criminal record functions for the 27th Judicial District. The office is located at the Washington County Courthouse at 1 South Main Street, Suite 1004, Washington, PA 15301. You can reach the office by phone at 724-228-6828. Fax inquiries can be sent to 724-228-6815. General email inquiries go to prothonotary@co.washington.pa.us.
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The office is closed weekends and county holidays. A valid photo ID is recommended when visiting in person. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5 to $10 per document depending on the type. Criminal record searches run approximately $10 to $15. Mail requests are accepted with the case information, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and enclosed payment. Washington County provides free access to civil dockets through its C-Track Public Portal for online searching.
Washington County criminal records date back to the county's establishment in 1781. Records from the earliest years are in paper archives. The Washington County website at co.washington.pa.us provides information on county offices and services, though the site has experienced certificate issues at times. Call ahead to confirm current procedures.
| Office |
Washington County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts Phyllis J. Matheny 1 South Main Street, Suite 1004 Washington, PA 15301 Phone: 724-228-6828 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | co.washington.pa.us |
Search Washington County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal provides free access to criminal court records for all 67 counties. Washington County cases from the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts throughout the county are included. The portal is available around the clock and requires no account or payment.
Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by participant name, docket number, OTN (Offense Tracking Number), or complaint number. Washington County criminal docket numbers use the format CP-63-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY. Name searches require at least a first and last name. Entering a date of birth helps when the name appears frequently in county records. The PAeDocket mobile app provides the same search capability on smartphones.
Search results show the full docket including charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, all hearing dates, disposition, sentencing, attorney names, and judge assignments. Fines, costs, and restitution balances are also shown. Juvenile records and Protection from Abuse filings are not accessible through the public portal. For complete record details, visit the Prothonotary's office at the Washington County Courthouse.
Note: The portal shows only court filings. It does not display arrest records that never led to court charges. Contact the Washington County Sheriff or local police department for arrest-only records.
Pennsylvania PATCH Criminal History Checks
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, commonly called PATCH, is run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It serves as the official statewide criminal history repository, covering records from all Pennsylvania counties including Washington County. PATCH is the standard tool for certified criminal history reports used for licensing and legal purposes, volunteer background checks, and individual record review across Pennsylvania.
A standard check costs $22.00 online. Notarized reports cost $27.00 total. Volunteer checks with Form SP 4-164A are free but cannot be notarized. Submit requests at epatch.pa.gov or mail to Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository-164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758. Mail payments must be certified checks or money orders made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. The PATCH helpline number is 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972).
No Record results come back by email quickly in most cases. Records requiring manual review take up to two weeks. PATCH reports include names and aliases, date of birth, offense citations from the Crimes Code, disposition outcomes, and sentencing information. Federal records, out-of-state records, juvenile records, and records expunged or sealed under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law are not part of the PATCH database.
What Washington County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records in Washington County document every step of a court case from the initial filing through final resolution. Each record identifies the defendant by full legal name, date of birth, address, and physical description. Charges are listed individually with the relevant section of Pennsylvania's Crimes Code and the offense grade, whether felony, misdemeanor, or summary.
The case docket shows all proceedings in order. The record begins with the preliminary arraignment, bail conditions set by the Magisterial District Judge, and the outcome of the preliminary hearing. It then tracks formal arraignment, pre-trial motions, trial or plea proceedings, and the final disposition. Disposition entries specify whether the case ended by jury verdict, bench trial, plea agreement, diversion (such as ARD), or dismissal.
Sentence entries in Washington County criminal records show incarceration minimums and maximums, probation term and conditions, fines, court costs, and restitution orders. Financial payment history is part of the public record. Attorney of record and judge assignments are also shown on all dockets.
Washington County criminal records are public documents accessible under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Copies are available at the Prothonotary's office at the courthouse. Records that are not at the counter may require a formal RTK request to the county Open Records Officer. The Office of Open Records handles appeals when a records request is denied.
Expungement and Clean Slate in Washington County
Pennsylvania allows individuals to clear qualifying criminal records through expungement or automatic sealing under the Clean Slate law. Both options apply to Washington County records. Expungement petitions under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122 are filed with the Washington County Court of Common Pleas through the Prothonotary's office. Eligible records include arrests without conviction, certain summary convictions after five years without additional offenses, and other qualifying circumstances.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law created automatic sealing for qualifying misdemeanor convictions. Second and third degree misdemeanors and certain ungraded offenses may be sealed after a ten-year conviction-free period, provided all fines and costs are paid in full. Clean Slate sealing happens automatically and does not require a petition. Once sealed, records are removed from the public UJS Portal and PATCH checks, though law enforcement agencies retain access.
Note: Washington County residents with questions about expungement eligibility should consult an attorney familiar with Pennsylvania criminal law and the Clean Slate provisions before filing any court petition.
Nearby Counties
Washington County is in southwestern Pennsylvania, south of Pittsburgh. Each neighboring county maintains its own court records and is searchable through the statewide UJS Portal.