Find Clarion County Clerk of Courts Records

Clarion County Clerk of Courts Office

Clarion County lists the Clerk of Courts with the Prothonotary in one local office, but the Clerk of Courts function is the criminal record keeper. The county page lists the office at the courthouse, first floor Suite 25, 421 Main Street, Clarion, PA 16214, with telephone 814-226-4000, fax 814-297-7904, and direct line 814-226-1119. Staff listed for criminal and juvenile work include Kim Baumcratz in the Criminal Division, Cameron Bish for Juvenile and Dependency, and Beth Stewart for Criminal and Juvenile.

The office accepts payments payable to Clarion County Clerk of Courts, Clarion County Courthouse, 421 Main Street, Suite 25, Clarion, PA 16214. Include the docket number. The county says bad check charges must be paid by money order or cash only, and a self-addressed stamped envelope should be included when a receipt is requested. Online payments may route through UJS, but not all case costs are payable online.

Clarion County Criminal Record Duties

The Clerk of Courts administers oaths and affirmations, collects and transmits fines and forfeited bonds, holds bail bond money, and maintains Common Pleas criminal, ARD, summary appeal, miscellaneous, and juvenile dockets. The office also handles expungement petitions and swears juries and witnesses. These duties place the Clerk of Courts at the center of Common Pleas criminal record access after a case moves beyond the Magisterial District Court stage.

A criminal docket may start with a complaint and preliminary hearing in a Magisterial District Court, then move to Common Pleas for formal arraignment, motions, plea, trial, disposition, and sentencing. Public docket events can appear through UJS, but a certified copy, payment status question, expungement filing, or older file question may need Clerk of Courts staff. Civil litigation, divorce, judgments, and name changes are covered by the Clarion County Prothonotary.

Search Clarion County Criminal Dockets

Public criminal docket lookup starts with UJS Case Search. The system covers criminal Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court docket sheets. Search by docket number, participant name, organization name, OTN, police incident or complaint number, or state ID, then narrow to Clarion County when possible. UJS warns that recent entries from court filing offices may not appear right away and that docket sheets should not be used as a Pennsylvania State Police criminal history background check.

1. Search the public UJS docket by exact docket number, OTN, or participant name.
2. Confirm whether the case is still at Magisterial District Court or has reached Common Pleas.
3. Review public events for arraignment, motions, bench warrant entries, plea, disposition, sentencing, and costs.
4. Call the Clerk of Courts for certified copies, payment questions, criminal file access, or missing recent entries.
5. Use PSP criminal-history channels when a formal background check is required.

Clarion County Clerk of Courts Fees

The same official fee schedule contains criminal-side filing and copy charges. Confirm fees before mailing or appearing because no filing is accepted without the proper fee, and the county page says filings are not accepted by fax or email. Criminal costs, fines, restitution, or payment plans may be visible on a public docket, but payment eligibility online depends on UJS approval for that obligation.

Clarion County Expungement Filings

Clarion County's local expungement page directs self-represented filers to Pennsylvania court forms and asks them to read the relevant criminal rules. The research names Pa.R.Crim.P. 319, 320, 490, and 790 for expungement, and Rule 791 for limited access petitions under Act 5 of 2016. Rule 490 forms relate to summary offenses. Rule 790 forms relate to criminal cases, including misdemeanors, felonies, and summary offenses included with other offenses, and may be used for partial expungements.

The county warns that a Pennsylvania State Police background check must be attached under Rules 490 and 790. ARD matters may also need notice from Adult Probation showing ARD completion. Expungement removes or destroys eligible records only in limited circumstances, while limited access seals eligible records from public view under Pennsylvania law. Juvenile, sealed, expunged, and limited-access records should not be expected in ordinary public docket results.

Request Clarion County Criminal Copies

A criminal copy request should identify the defendant name, docket number, OTN if known, case type, document requested, copy type, and return address. Include payment and a self-addressed stamped envelope if mail return or receipt is needed. For payment questions, the county instructs requesters to include the docket number and use the official Clerk of Courts payee. If a case started in a Magisterial District Court and never reached Common Pleas, contact that lower court first.