Allegheny County Felony Records and Criminal Cases
Allegheny County felony records are managed by the Department of Court Records in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This office serves the function that a Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary hold in most other counties, consolidating criminal, civil, and family division records under one department. Felony cases are filed in the Court of Common Pleas, and docket information is available online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. This page covers how to search, access, and understand Allegheny County felony records.
Allegheny County Quick Facts
Allegheny County Court Records Office
Allegheny County uses a unified Department of Court Records rather than separate Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary offices. Michael McGeever serves as Director of the Department of Court Records. The department handles criminal, civil, family, and wills filings across its divisions at 436 Grant Street in downtown Pittsburgh.
The Criminal Division is located in Room 220 and handles all felony and misdemeanor court records. You can reach the Criminal Division directly at 412-350-5323. The Director's office can be reached at 412-350-5322 or by email at Michael.McGeever@alleghenycounty.us. Fax correspondence goes to 412-350-6061. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
| Office | Department of Court Records - Michael McGeever, Director |
|---|---|
| Criminal Division | 436 Grant Street, Room 220, Pittsburgh, PA 15219 |
| Criminal Phone | 412-350-5323 |
| Director Phone | 412-350-5322 |
| Michael.McGeever@alleghenycounty.us | |
| Fax | 412-350-6061 |
| Hours | Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM |
| Website | Allegheny County |
Other divisions within the department include the Civil Division at Room 114 (412-350-5729), the Wills and Orphans' Court Division also at Room 114 (412-350-4180), and the Family Division at Room 211 (412-350-6321). Magisterial district courts for Allegheny County are administered from 340 Frick Building, 437 Grant Street (412-350-5485). Pittsburgh Municipal Court, which handles lower-level cases in the city, is located at 660 First Avenue (412-350-6715).
Note: Allegheny County is the fifth most populous county in Pennsylvania and processes a significantly higher volume of felony filings than most other counties in the state.
How to Search Allegheny County Felony Records
Three main tools exist for searching Allegheny County felony records online. The first is the statewide UJS Case Search portal, which covers all Pennsylvania courts and is free to use without registration. The second is the Allegheny County criminal records portal at der.alleghenycounty.us, which may require a login or may be temporarily unavailable. The third is the Allegheny County Court website, which provides case lookups and court information for local cases.
The UJS portal is the most reliable starting point. You can search by the person's full name, by docket number, or by date of birth. Results show all matching cases statewide, and you can filter by county to narrow down Allegheny County results. Each docket sheet lists the charges, the filing date, the court, the judge, bail conditions, and the final disposition. PDF downloads of docket sheets are available at no cost.
The Allegheny County criminal records page at alleghenycounty.us/court-records/criminal explains the local search options and links to available resources. In-person searches at the Criminal Division in Room 220 of the Grant Street courthouse are available during business hours. Staff can assist with older paper records not yet digitized.
Allegheny County Criminal Division Felony Records
The Criminal Division of the Department of Court Records maintains docket sheets, case files, and judgment records for all felony cases resolved in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. These records are public under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act, which governs how Pennsylvania courts and agencies collect and disclose criminal history data.
Each felony case in Allegheny County begins at the magisterial district level, where a preliminary hearing is held. If the case is bound over to Common Pleas, the Criminal Division receives the transferred docket and assigns it a Common Pleas docket number. From that point forward, all filings, motions, orders, and dispositions are recorded in the department's system and made available to the public through the court's docket access tools.
The following image is from the Allegheny County Court website at alleghenycountycourt.org, which provides case lookup tools for local court records.
The Allegheny County Court website is an official resource maintained for public access to local case information.
Certified copies of Allegheny County felony records can be requested in person at the Criminal Division. Certification fees apply and vary by the type of document requested. Uncertified copies for personal review are typically available at a lower cost. The PA Courts Allegheny County page lists current judges and administrative contacts for the court.
The following image is from the Allegheny County criminal records page at alleghenycounty.us, showing the county's own criminal records access interface.
This county-maintained page supplements the statewide UJS portal with local search functionality.
Pennsylvania Background Checks for Allegheny County
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system provides official criminal history background checks for individuals with records in Allegheny County and across the state. PATCH is available at epatch.state.pa.us and returns conviction records as reported to the state police by the courts. This differs from the court docket, which shows everything filed regardless of outcome.
PATCH records are compiled under the framework of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 and related provisions of the Criminal History Record Information Act. The state police database reflects final dispositions as reported by courts statewide, including the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. Court dockets accessed through the UJS portal may show arrests, charges, and non-conviction outcomes that do not appear on a PATCH report.
The Pennsylvania State Police website explains the difference between PATCH responses and court records. Individuals who want to review their own criminal history before it is shared with others can submit a self-request through PATCH. The process is online and returns results quickly. Third-party requests require the written consent of the subject.
The following image comes from the PA Courts website at pacourts.us, showing Allegheny County's listing in the statewide court directory.
The PA Courts directory provides judicial contacts and court information for the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas.
Note: A PATCH report reflects convictions only, while UJS dockets show all case activity including dismissed charges and acquittals.
Expungement and Sealing of Allegheny Felony Records
Pennsylvania law provides two paths for limiting public access to Allegheny County felony records. Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 removes the record entirely from state and court databases. Sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 restricts public access without destroying the record. Both processes are handled through the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas Criminal Division.
Clean Slate 3.0, effective February 12, 2024, broadened the scope of automatic sealing in Pennsylvania. Certain non-violent felony convictions now qualify for automatic sealing after ten years, provided the person has no new convictions during that period. Summary offense convictions are automatically sealed after five years under the same law. The court applies these seals without requiring the individual to file a petition, though verifying the seal has taken effect may require checking the docket.
Felony offenses that do not qualify for automatic sealing can still be addressed through a formal petition for limited access filed in the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas. The Allegheny County District Attorney's office receives notice of the petition and may object. A hearing may be scheduled depending on whether an objection is filed. Sealed records remain visible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing agencies but are removed from public docket searches.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons handles pardon applications for individuals seeking to clear felony convictions through executive clemency. A successful pardon can open the door to expungement. Given the volume of cases processed through Allegheny County courts each year, the Board of Pardons receives a significant number of applications from Pittsburgh-area residents. The pardon process is separate from the Clean Slate sealing process and does not have the same waiting-period criteria. The Courts of Common Pleas information page on the PA Courts site has additional guidance on procedures that apply across all Pennsylvania counties.
Open Records in Allegheny County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 establishes a general right of public access to government records. Court records in Pennsylvania operate under separate rules governed by the court system rather than the Right-to-Know Law directly, but the principle of transparency applies equally. Felony dockets at the Allegheny County Court of Common Pleas are presumptively public records open to anyone who requests them.
Certain categories of Allegheny County felony records are restricted from public disclosure. Juvenile records are sealed by default under Pennsylvania law. Records subject to expungement orders or limited access orders are removed from public view. Victim identifying information in certain case types is redacted. Mental health records that arise in criminal proceedings carry their own confidentiality protections. Grand jury materials are sealed until charges are filed or the investigation is closed.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records is the state body that oversees disputes about public access to government information. For Allegheny County court records specifically, requests go to the Department of Court Records at 436 Grant Street. Disputes about court records access are resolved through the court's own rules rather than the Office of Open Records appeals process, but that office can provide guidance on the general framework. The PA Courts public records page explains what can and cannot be obtained from court files.
Allegheny County's size and caseload mean its criminal division processes thousands of felony records each year. Most active cases and closed cases from the past several decades are fully accessible through the UJS portal. Older paper records predating electronic systems may require an in-person visit to the Grant Street courthouse. The PA DOC Inmate Locator can be used to find information about individuals currently serving sentences in state correctional institutions, including those sentenced out of Allegheny County courts.
Note: Allegheny County felony records that have been sealed under Clean Slate or by court order will not appear in a public UJS portal search, even if the case was previously visible.
Cities in Allegheny County
Residents of Allegheny County can search felony records through the Court of Common Pleas in Pittsburgh. Cases from all municipalities within the county are consolidated in the Criminal Division docket maintained by the Department of Court Records.
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.