Erie City Felony Records and Court Cases
Erie felony records are held by the Erie County Court of Common Pleas at 140 W. 6th Street, Erie, PA 16501. Erie is the fourth largest city in Pennsylvania with roughly 94,000 residents and is the county seat of Erie County. Felony cases filed in Erie are processed through the Erie County Clerk of Records, which operates under a Home Rule Charter as a combined records office. You can search Erie felony records online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal or visit the courthouse in person. This page covers the main tools, local resources, and state programs relevant to Erie felony records.
Erie Quick Facts
Erie County Court of Common Pleas and City Felony Records
The Erie County Court of Common Pleas at 140 W. 6th Street handles all felony cases filed within Erie County, including those originating in the city of Erie. Under Erie County's Home Rule Charter, the Clerk of Records serves as the combined records office for the court. This office processes criminal case filings, stores case documents, and provides public access to felony docket information.
The Erie County Courts website is the main online resource for court information in Erie. It lists contact details, office hours, and guidance on accessing court records. The Courts website is maintained by Erie County and reflects current judicial assignments and administrative procedures for the courthouse at 140 W. 6th Street.
Erie city felony cases follow the same path as other Pennsylvania felony matters. A preliminary hearing takes place at the magisterial district level. If the case is bound over, it moves to the Court of Common Pleas docket. The Clerk of Records then maintains the official file for the duration of the case and after its resolution. Public access to those files is available at the courthouse during regular business hours.
Note: Erie County operates under a Home Rule Charter, which means some administrative procedures differ from standard county structures elsewhere in Pennsylvania.
Erie County Arrest Records and Felony Case Information
Arrest records connected to Erie felony cases provide background on how individual charges began. These records reflect the initial law enforcement action that led to charges being filed. They are separate from court docket records but are often used alongside docket information when researching a specific Erie felony case.
The Erie County arrest records page provides information on how arrest records are organized and where to find them in the Erie County system. Arrest records and court records together give the most complete picture of an Erie felony case, from initial apprehension through final court disposition.
The following image comes from the Erie County arrest records resource at pennsylvaniacourtrecords.us.
Arrest records for Erie cases may be held by the Erie City Police Department or other law enforcement agencies that made the original arrest. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 governs public access to records held by those agencies.
Note: An arrest record documents a law enforcement action and does not indicate guilt; only a court conviction represents a final legal determination on a felony charge.
How to Search Erie Felony Records Online
The UJS Case Search portal is the primary free tool for searching Erie felony records online. The portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. You can search by name, date of birth, or docket number. No account or registration is required.
To search Erie-specific felony cases, set the county filter to Erie. Enter the last name of the person you are researching. Adding a first name or date of birth helps narrow results when there are multiple name matches. Each result links to a docket sheet showing every action taken in the case. Charges, court dates, bail information, and the final disposition are all listed. Docket sheets can be downloaded for free as PDF documents.
The following image comes from the Pennsylvania UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, the statewide case search tool used to locate Erie County felony records.
The UJS Portal reflects data entered by Erie County court staff and typically updates after daily processing rather than in real time. For hearings that just took place, checking back the following business day is advisable.
Note: Very early Erie felony case records that predate electronic filing may exist only in paper form at the Erie County Courthouse and will not appear in UJS Portal searches.
Erie Felony Records Through the PATCH Background Check System
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system provides official statewide criminal history reports. PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. It compiles felony conviction data from all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Erie County. A PATCH search is a reliable way to see all Pennsylvania felony convictions tied to an individual, including any originating in Erie.
PATCH is available online at epatch.state.pa.us. You submit the subject's name and date of birth. The report draws from state police criminal history records rather than directly from the court docket system. The two systems serve different purposes. PATCH shows the official conviction record as reported to the state. The UJS Portal shows the full history of court filings and proceedings. Both are useful for researching Erie felony records.
Individuals can request their own PATCH record to see what the state holds on file. Third-party requests require written consent from the person being searched. PATCH reports do not include records that have been sealed or expunged. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains the database and updates it based on reports from courts across the state, including the Erie County Court of Common Pleas.
What Erie Felony Records Contain
Erie felony records are detailed legal documents. Each case record includes a docket sheet that functions as a running log of everything that happened in the case. The docket lists the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges filed, the judge assigned, bail conditions, every scheduled and completed hearing, and the final outcome.
The case file held by the Erie County Clerk of Records may also contain the following:
- Criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause from the arresting agency
- Bail orders and modification filings
- Defense and prosecution motions filed before trial
- Plea agreements if the case resolved by guilty plea
- Sentencing orders with prison terms, probation conditions, fines, or restitution
- Post-conviction petitions such as PCRA filings or appeals to Superior Court
Most of these documents are open to the public under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. Some documents may be sealed by court order. Juvenile records are not part of the public system. The Erie County Clerk of Records can confirm which parts of a specific file are available when you visit the courthouse in person at 140 W. 6th Street.
Clean Slate Sealing for Erie Felony Records
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law provides for automatic sealing of certain criminal records. Clean Slate 3.0 took effect on February 12, 2024. Under this program, low-level felony convictions may be automatically sealed after ten years if the person completed their sentence and had no new convictions during that period. Misdemeanor convictions may qualify for sealing after seven years under the same rules.
Automatic sealing means that some older Erie felony records may not appear in routine public searches even though the conviction is real and valid. The record still exists inside the court system but is restricted from public view. Law enforcement agencies and certain professional licensing boards retain access to sealed records. The sealing happens without any filing or petition from the individual.
Not every Erie felony conviction qualifies. Serious violent offenses and sex offenses are generally excluded. For cases that do not qualify for automatic sealing, a petition for limited access may be filed in the Erie County Court of Common Pleas. The district attorney receives notice and may object. If the court grants the petition, public access to the record is blocked.
For Erie felony convictions that cannot be sealed through any court process, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons is an option. The Board can be reached at (717) 787-2596. A pardon from the governor, based on a Board recommendation, can lead to full expungement of the Erie conviction. This path takes more time than a sealing petition but results in the record being removed rather than just restricted.
Note: Consulting a licensed Pennsylvania criminal defense attorney is the most reliable way to determine whether a specific Erie felony record qualifies for any form of sealing or expungement.
Requesting Copies of Erie Felony Court Records
Certified copies of Erie felony records are available from the Erie County Clerk of Records at 140 W. 6th Street, Erie, PA 16501. Bring a valid photo ID and the case docket number if available. Staff will locate the file and prepare your copies. Certified copies carry the official court seal. Plain copies are less expensive. Call the Clerk of Records before visiting to confirm current copy costs and office hours.
Written mail requests are also accepted. Include the defendant's full name, date of birth, approximate year the case was filed, and docket number if known. Include payment for the copy cost. The office will process the request and return documents by mail. Mail requests take longer than in-person visits.
For individuals currently incarcerated as a result of an Erie County felony conviction, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains the PA DOC Inmate Locator. This free public tool lets you search for people held in Pennsylvania state correctional institutions. It is maintained by the Department of Corrections and is separate from court records.
Note: Copy fees for certified felony records at the Erie County Courthouse are set by court administration and may be updated periodically.
Erie County Felony Records
Erie city felony records are part of the broader Erie County felony record system. As the county seat, Erie is where the courthouse is located and where all felony cases from throughout the county are filed and heard. Whether a felony case originated in the city of Erie or in another municipality within Erie County, the Clerk of Records at 140 W. 6th Street handles the official record for that case. For a complete view of all felony cases filed in the county, explore the Erie County records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of cities near Erie can access felony records through their respective county courthouses. Select a city below to find felony record resources in that part of Pennsylvania.