Bucks County Criminal Records and Court Dockets

Bucks County sits in the southeastern corner of Pennsylvania, just north of Philadelphia. The county is part of the 7th Judicial District. Its Court of Common Pleas handles all felony cases filed within county lines. Felony Records from Bucks County are stored by the Clerk of Courts and can be accessed online or in person at the courthouse in Doylestown. This guide covers the main ways to search, what records show, and how state law shapes what is public. There are no fees discussed here.

Bucks County Court of Common Pleas

The Bucks County Court of Common Pleas is located at 100 North Main Street in Doylestown. This is where all felony criminal cases are filed, heard, and finalized. The court serves as the trial court of general jurisdiction for the county. It handles everything from arraignments to sentencing in felony matters.

Two offices manage the records side of criminal cases. The Clerk of Courts holds the official criminal case files. The Prothonotary handles civil filings. Both offices are in the same building on North Main Street. If you need a copy of a felony case file, the Clerk of Courts is the correct starting point.

Eileen Hartnett Albillar serves as Clerk of Courts. Coleen Christian is the Prothonotary. The District Court Administrator is Stephen D. Watson. President Judge Raymond F. McHugh leads the bench. District Attorney Jennifer Schorn oversees prosecution in felony matters throughout the county.

The court website at buckscountycourt.org/administration lists each office and its contact details. You can confirm hours and current procedures before visiting in person.

The following image is sourced from buckscountycourt.org, the official site for Bucks County court operations.

The court site provides links to forms, schedules, and contact pages for each division within the Court of Common Pleas.

Note: Bucks County has a 2025 fee bill document available through the court; check the court website for the most current schedule before requesting certified copies.

How to Search Bucks County Felony Records

The primary tool for searching Bucks County Felony Records online is the Unified Judicial System portal. The UJS Case Search lets you look up cases by name, date of birth, docket number, or OTN. It covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including Bucks.

To run a useful search, you need at least a last name and a first name. Adding a date of birth narrows results when many people share the same name. Docket numbers are the most direct route if you already have one from a prior court notice or document.

For in-person access, visit the Clerk of Courts at 100 North Main Street. Office staff can help locate case files and explain the process for ordering certified copies. Mail requests are also accepted, though turnaround times vary. The PA Courts page for Bucks County at pacourts.us has current contact information for the court.

The image below is from the Bucks County Court administration page, which lists each clerk office and its role in maintaining court records.

This page confirms the separation between the Clerk of Courts, who handles criminal files, and the Prothonotary, who handles civil matters.

Note: The UJS portal shows public docket data only; sealed, expunged, or limited-access records will not appear in search results.

Bucks County Criminal Records Online

When you pull up a felony case through the UJS portal, you get the full docket sheet. This is a structured document that tracks every action in the case from filing to disposition. It is the same document used by attorneys and court staff.

A typical docket sheet for a Bucks County felony case includes the defendant's name and date of birth, the charges with their grading and statute references, the names of the assigned judge and the prosecuting attorney, bail status and conditions, all hearing dates with outcomes, and the final verdict and sentence if the case is closed.

Case status is shown clearly. You can see if a case is still active, if a trial date is set, or if sentencing is complete. For closed cases, the docket shows the disposition, such as guilty, not guilty, or nolle prosequi. Sentence details like probation length or incarceration terms appear in the sentencing entry rows.

Docket sheets are public documents under Pennsylvania law. Anyone can access them through the portal without creating an account. The records are updated as court activity occurs, so they generally reflect current case status within a short lag time.

Pennsylvania PATCH Background Checks

The UJS portal shows court dockets. It is not the same as a criminal history check. For a formal background check tied to a person's state criminal history record, Pennsylvania uses the PATCH system. PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History.

PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police. It draws from the central repository maintained under the Criminal History Record Information Act, which is codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 and related sections. The PATCH portal is available at epatch.state.pa.us. Requesters can search by name or submit a fingerprint-based check for a higher accuracy result.

Court dockets and PATCH records can differ. A court docket shows everything filed in a case, including charges that were later dropped. A PATCH result may reflect only final convictions, depending on the disposition and any sealing actions. For a full picture, many people check both sources. The Pennsylvania State Police website at psp.pa.gov has guidance on which type of check fits a given need.

The CHRIA statute at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 governs who can request criminal history records and how they may be used. Understanding this law helps clarify what a PATCH result can legally show and how that information may flow to third parties.

Clean Slate and Expungement in Bucks County

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law has been updated several times. The most recent version, Clean Slate 3.0, took effect on February 12, 2024. It expanded automatic sealing to cover certain low-level felony convictions after a 10-year crime-free period. Misdemeanor convictions can be sealed after 7 years. Summary offense convictions are automatically sealed after 5 years under the original Clean Slate provisions.

Automatic sealing happens through the court system without any action by the individual. The record does not disappear, but it is hidden from public view in the UJS portal and from most non-criminal-justice searches. Law enforcement and certain licensing boards can still access sealed records depending on the context.

For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, a person can file a petition for expungement or limited access with the Court of Common Pleas. In Bucks County, that petition goes through the court at 100 North Main Street. The process involves filing the petition, notifying the District Attorney's office, and attending a hearing if the DA objects. The court then rules on whether to grant the relief.

For more serious felony convictions, the path to relief runs through the Board of Pardons. A pardon does not erase the record, but it can open the door to expungement afterward. The Board of Pardons at bop.pa.gov explains the application process. The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles questions about record access under state law more broadly.

Note: Sealing under Clean Slate does not affect inmate location records; those remain accessible through the DOC Inmate Locator regardless of sealing status.

Accessing Public Records in Bucks County

Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, found at 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public a broad right to access government records. Court records in Bucks County are presumed public unless a specific exemption applies. The Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary both maintain records subject to this framework.

Not every document in a court file is open to all requesters. Certain records are protected. These include juvenile delinquency proceedings, mental health commitment records attached to criminal cases, victim personal information in some circumstances, and records sealed by court order under Clean Slate or expungement provisions. Grand jury materials are also shielded until and unless they become part of a public proceeding.

The following image is sourced from the Pennsylvania Courts page for Bucks County, which provides links to court resources statewide.

This statewide resource connects to local court contacts, docket search tools, and forms for each county in Pennsylvania.

To make a formal Right to Know request in Bucks County, submit a written request to the relevant office. The county's open records officer handles these requests. Responses are due within five business days, though extensions are allowed under the law. If a request is denied, the requester may appeal to the Office of Open Records.

Felony Records held by the court are generally available for public inspection during normal business hours without filing a formal RTK request. Certified copies carry a per-page fee set by the county's fee bill. The 2025 Bucks County fee schedule is available through the court website for current pricing on certified copies and other services.

Cities in Bucks County

Bucks County includes several cities and boroughs where felony cases may originate and be filed with the Court of Common Pleas in Doylestown.

Nearby Counties

Bucks County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Felony Records in neighboring counties are held by their own clerks and can be searched through the same UJS portal.

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