York County Pennsylvania Criminal Records
York County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the York County Judicial Center in York, Pennsylvania. York County is one of the larger counties in the state, with a population of approximately 455,000. The county handles all felony, misdemeanor, and summary criminal cases through its Court of Common Pleas in the York County Judicial District. You can search York County criminal records for free through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal, or visit the Judicial Center at 45 North George Street in York to request certified copies in person.
York County Quick Facts
York County Clerk of Courts
The York County Clerk of Courts is Jean M. Clark, an elected official serving as the official custodian of all criminal records for the York County Court of Common Pleas. The office is located at the York County Judicial Center, 45 North George Street, York, PA 17401. You can reach the office by phone at 717-771-9611. The fax number is 717-771-4815. General email inquiries can be sent to clerkofcourts@yorkcountypa.gov.
Office hours are Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM. This is earlier than many Pennsylvania counties, opening at 8:00 AM rather than 8:30 AM. Security screening is required for entry to the Judicial Center. Standard copies are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $10 to $25 depending on the document type. The Judicial Center has multiple public access terminals in the lobby for free record searching. Payment options include cash, check, money order, and credit cards, with online payment available for some services.
York County provides free online access to civil dockets dating back to 1986 through its website, which is one of the more generous civil docket access policies in the state. Criminal dockets are free through the UJS Portal. The county has been established since 1749 and maintains historical records going back to the county's founding, with very old records stored at the State Archives in Harrisburg.
The York County Court Records page at yorkcountypa.gov/940/Court-Records provides details on record access, fees, and services available through the Clerk of Courts in York.
The York County Court Records page links to the Clerk of Courts services, copy fee schedules, and public access options at the Judicial Center on North George Street.
| Office |
York County Clerk of Courts Jean M. Clark York County Judicial Center 45 North George Street York, PA 17401 Phone: 717-771-9611 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | yorkcountypa.gov |
Search York County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal is the main free tool for searching criminal court records in York County. The portal covers all cases from the York County Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in the county. The system is maintained by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and is available at no cost around the clock.
Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us and search by participant name, docket number, OTN (Offense Tracking Number), or complaint number. York County criminal docket numbers follow the format CP-67-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY. Name searches work best with a full first and last name. Adding a date of birth significantly helps narrow results for common names in York County's large record set. The PAeDocket mobile app for iOS and Android provides the same search capability on smartphones.
Results show the complete case docket including charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, all hearings and outcomes, case status, disposition details, sentencing information, fines and restitution, attorney names, and judge assignments. Juvenile records and Protection from Abuse filings are restricted from public view. For complete document access beyond docket entries, visit the Clerk of Courts in person at the Judicial Center in York.
Note: The UJS Portal shows court proceedings only. It does not display arrest records that were never forwarded to court. Contact the York County Sheriff or York City Police for arrest-only records.
Pennsylvania PATCH Criminal History Checks
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. It is the official statewide criminal history database covering records from all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including York County. PATCH is the standard resource for professional licensing checks, volunteer screening, and personal record review across Pennsylvania.
A standard PATCH check costs $22.00 online. Notarized copies cost $27.00 total. Volunteer background checks through Form SP 4-164A are free but cannot be notarized. Submit 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 payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. For system assistance, call 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972).
No Record results are typically returned by email quickly in the majority of cases. Records requiring manual review take up to two weeks to process. PATCH reports include the subject's name and aliases, date of birth, charges with statutory citations, disposition outcomes, and sentencing information from York County and the rest of the state. Federal records, out-of-state records, juvenile records, and records expunged or sealed under Clean Slate are not part of the PATCH database.
The York County government website at yorkcountypa.gov provides contact information, office directories, and links to court services and online tools for residents across the county.
The York County portal connects residents to the Clerk of Courts, court services, and online tools for accessing York County criminal records and public information.
What York County Criminal Records Contain
Criminal records in York County are detailed court documents that trace every stage of a case. Each record opens with the defendant's full legal name, date of birth, address, and physical description. Charges are listed individually with the specific section from Pennsylvania's Crimes Code and the offense grade. York County processes cases at all grade levels including first through third degree felonies, misdemeanors, and summary offenses.
The docket shows all court proceedings in order. Preliminary arraignment and bail conditions come first. Preliminary hearing results, formal arraignment, pre-trial motions, and all scheduled hearings are listed in sequence. Disposition entries show how the case was resolved, including guilty verdicts, acquittals, plea agreements, ARD diversion, or dismissals. Sentencing entries record incarceration minimums and maximums, probation terms and conditions, fines, court costs, and restitution owed.
York County provides same-day access for readily available records. Archived records may take three to five business days to retrieve. Payment records tracking fines and costs are part of the public docket and remain visible until balances are satisfied. York County has processed Clean Slate automatic sealing for eligible records quarterly since the law took effect.
A York County criminal record typically shows:
- Defendant name, date of birth, address, and physical description
- All charges with Crimes Code citations and offense grade
- Docket number and OTN for case identification
- Complete hearing history with dates and outcomes
- Final disposition and sentencing details
- Outstanding and paid financial obligations
- Defense attorney, prosecutor, and judge information
Expungement and Clean Slate in York County
York County residents with criminal records may be eligible to have those records removed from public access. Pennsylvania provides two routes: expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122 and automatic Clean Slate sealing. Expungement through a court petition works for arrest records that did not result in conviction, certain summary convictions after five offense-free years, and other qualifying categories under state law.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law allows automatic sealing of qualifying misdemeanor convictions without filing a court petition. Second and third degree misdemeanors and certain ungraded offenses with a maximum sentence of two years or less may be sealed after a ten-year conviction-free period, once all fines and costs are fully paid. York County processes automatic sealing on a quarterly schedule. Once sealed, records are removed from the public UJS Portal and PATCH checks while remaining accessible to courts and law enforcement.
To petition for expungement in York County, file the petition through the Clerk of Courts at the Judicial Center on North George Street in York. The district attorney receives notice and may object. If the court grants the petition, the record is cleared from all public sources including the State Police repository. A Pennsylvania attorney can review your York County record and advise on eligibility before you file.
Note: Juvenile records in York County are maintained separately under the Juvenile Act with restricted access regardless of the offense involved. They are not available through the public UJS Portal or to general requestors.
Right-to-Know Requests in York County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. Section 67.101, governs public access to records held by government agencies in York County. Court records are generally public. Records not available at the Clerk of Courts counter may require a formal RTK request to the York County Open Records Officer.
York County is required to respond to RTK requests within five business days, though that period may be extended when requests involve a large volume of records. Appeals of denied requests go to the Office of Open Records. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, individuals in York County have the right to review and challenge the accuracy of their own criminal history records.
Nearby Counties
York County is in south-central Pennsylvania near the Maryland border. Each neighboring county maintains its own court records and is searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal.