Adams County Felony Records and Court Cases
Adams County felony records are held at the Court of Common Pleas in Gettysburg, Pennsylvania. The Clerk of Courts office maintains criminal case files, docket sheets, and disposition records for felony charges filed in the county. You can search many of these records through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at no cost. In-person access is also available at the courthouse on Baltimore Street. This page explains how to find, request, and understand felony records in Adams County.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Court of Common Pleas Records
The Adams County Court of Common Pleas handles all felony cases filed within the county. The Clerk of Courts office, led by Kelly Lawver, is the official custodian of criminal court records in Adams County. This office processes new filings, maintains case files, and provides public access to docket information for felony and misdemeanor cases.
Adams County was formed from York County in 1800 and named for President John Adams. Its seat, Gettysburg, is home to the county courthouse where criminal records dating back many decades are stored. The Clerk of Courts office can be reached by phone at 717-337-9806 or by email at klawver@adamscountypa.gov for questions about specific cases or records requests.
| Office | Clerk of Courts - Kelly Lawver |
|---|---|
| Address | 117 Baltimore Street, Rooms 103-104, Gettysburg, PA 17325 |
| Phone | 717-337-9806 |
| klawver@adamscountypa.gov | |
| Prothonotary | Beverly Boyd, 717-337-9834 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | Adams County Clerk of Courts |
The PA Courts Adams County page lists current judges and contact details for the Court of Common Pleas. Cases that begin at the magisterial district level and are bound over for trial move into the Common Pleas docket, where the Clerk of Courts keeps the permanent record.
Note: The county website at adamscounty.us may present a browser security warning due to SSL configuration; the site is operated by Adams County government and is safe to visit.
How to Search Adams County Felony Records
The fastest way to search Adams County felony records is through the UJS Case Search portal run by the Pennsylvania court system. You can search by name, docket number, or date of birth. The portal returns results from all Pennsylvania courts, including Adams County's Court of Common Pleas and its magisterial district courts.
To search by name, enter the last name and first name of the person you are looking for. Results will show matching dockets, charge descriptions, filing dates, and case dispositions. Docket sheets can be downloaded as PDF files at no cost. You do not need an account to use the public search tool.
In-person searches are available at the Clerk of Courts office at 117 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg during regular business hours. Staff can assist with pulling older records that may not appear in the online system. Bring the full name and approximate date of birth of the person you are researching to speed up the process.
Note: Some older Adams County felony records from before electronic filing may only exist in paper form at the courthouse.
Adams County Felony Records Online
The UJS portal displays docket sheets for active and closed felony cases in Adams County. Each docket sheet lists the charges, the court, the judge assigned, bail information, hearing dates, and the final disposition. These records are public under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, which sets out what criminal history information the state may collect and share.
Adams County has four magisterial district courts that handle preliminary hearings for felony cases before they move to Common Pleas:
- MDJ 01-3-01: 1600 Fairfield Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325, 717-334-2046
- MDJ 01-3-02: 6655 Lincoln Way West, St. Thomas, PA 17252, 717-369-4625
- MDJ 01-3-03: 2255 Emmitsburg Road, Gettysburg, PA 17325, 717-334-8008
- MDJ 01-3-04: 3945 Hanover Road, Littlestown, PA 17340, 717-359-7141
Records from all four district courts feed into the Common Pleas docket once a case is bound over. The UJS portal captures both the district-level preliminary proceedings and the full Common Pleas case record. You can use the PA Courts case information page for additional guidance on reading docket sheets and understanding the case flow.
The following image comes from the PA Courts website at pacourts.us, showing the Adams County court listing.
The PA Courts directory is updated regularly and reflects current judicial assignments for Adams County.
Adams County Background Check Records
Criminal history background checks for Adams County residents are processed through the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system. PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. It is a fee-based service available at epatch.state.pa.us that returns the statewide criminal history record for an individual, including felony convictions from Adams County and every other Pennsylvania county.
PATCH results come from the state police criminal history database, which is maintained separately from the court docket system. Court dockets show what was filed and how cases resolved. The PATCH report shows the official conviction record as reported by courts to the state. Both sources have value, but they serve different purposes.
The Pennsylvania State Police website explains what PATCH covers and how to submit a request. For third-party background check requests, the subject of the check must consent in writing. Individuals can request their own record through PATCH to review what appears before authorizing any disclosure. Understanding the difference between a PATCH report and a court docket is important when evaluating Adams County felony records.
The following image is sourced from the UJS Case Search portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us, showing the statewide search interface used to locate Adams County records.
The UJS portal is free to use and does not require registration for public case searches.
Expungement and Sealing of Adams County Felony Records
Pennsylvania law provides two main paths to limit public access to criminal records: expungement and limited access (sealing). Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 erases a record from state and court databases. Sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 restricts who can see a record without fully destroying it. Both processes run through the Adams County Court of Common Pleas.
Clean Slate 3.0, which took effect on February 12, 2024, expanded automatic sealing in Pennsylvania. Under the current law, certain non-violent felony convictions may qualify for automatic sealing after ten years if the person has no further convictions during that period. Summary offense convictions can be automatically sealed after five years. The court system applies these seals without requiring a petition from the individual.
For felony offenses that do not qualify for automatic sealing, a person may file a petition for limited access through the Adams County Court of Common Pleas. The petition must be served on the district attorney's office, which has the right to object. If no objection is filed or the court grants the petition over objection, the record is sealed from public view. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement and certain licensing boards.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons offers another avenue. A pardon from the governor, on recommendation of the Board, can lead to expungement of a felony conviction. The Board of Pardons reviews applications and holds hearings before making recommendations. This process takes longer than a sealing petition but results in a full expungement if granted. Questions about eligibility for any of these options in Adams County should be directed to a licensed Pennsylvania attorney.
Public Access to Adams County Felony Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, found at 65 P.S. § 67.101 and the sections that follow, gives residents the right to request records held by government agencies. Court records in Pennsylvania are governed separately by court rules rather than by the Right-to-Know Law, but the general principle of open access to public records applies to felony case dockets. Most felony case records at the Adams County Court of Common Pleas are open to public inspection.
Certain categories of records are excluded from public access. Juvenile records are sealed by default. Records that have been expunged or placed under limited access orders are not available to the public. Mental health records tied to a criminal case are restricted. Victim information in certain cases may be redacted from publicly available documents. These exclusions exist to protect individuals while keeping the broader criminal justice process transparent.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles disputes about access to government records statewide. For court-specific records, requests go directly to the Clerk of Courts office in Gettysburg. If a records request is denied, the Office of Open Records can provide guidance on the appeals process. The Adams County government website also lists contacts for public records across county offices.
Note: Court records requests made in person at the Adams County Clerk of Courts office are typically fulfilled the same day for dockets that are already in the electronic system.
Cities in Adams County
Residents of Adams County can search felony records through the Court of Common Pleas in Gettysburg. All criminal cases from municipalities across Adams County, including Gettysburg, Littlestown, and Hanover, are consolidated in the Common Pleas docket maintained by the Clerk of Courts.
Nearby Counties
Pennsylvania felony records are maintained at the county level. If you are not sure which county to search, check the address of the courthouse or use the statewide UJS Portal.