Carbon County Felony Records and Criminal Docket Lookup
Carbon County felony records are managed by the Clerk of Courts in Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania. The county operates within the 56th Judicial District. Criminal case files, docket sheets, and court dispositions are accessible through the county courthouse and the statewide online portal. This page explains who holds these records, how to contact the right offices, and what tools are available for an online search. No legal advice is provided here, and all content is for informational purposes only.
Carbon County Quick Facts
Carbon County Felony Records Overview
Carbon County lies in eastern Pennsylvania, bordered by the Lehigh Valley to the south and the Pocono region to the north. The county seat of Jim Thorpe is home to the Court of Common Pleas, which handles all felony cases filed in the county. The 56th Judicial District covers Carbon County alone, meaning every felony case goes through a single courthouse. Court records from this district are public documents and can be viewed in person or online.
When a felony case is filed in Carbon County, it moves from the magisterial district court to the Court of Common Pleas. At that point, the Clerk of Courts takes custody of all case documents. These documents include the criminal information or indictment, bail orders, motion filings, trial records, and the final disposition. Every step of the case becomes part of the permanent court file.
Carbon County's court system handles a broad range of felony types. Drug crimes, theft, assault, and weapons offenses all appear on the docket. Each case is assigned a docket number that becomes the primary key for locating records in any database.
Note: Records from cases decided before electronic filing was introduced may exist only in paper form at the courthouse and may not appear in online searches.
Clerk of Courts for Carbon County Records
The Clerk of Courts for Carbon County is Tyra Boni. Her office is the central repository for all criminal court filings in the county. The office can be reached by phone at 570-325-3637 or by email at tboni@carboncourts.com. When you contact this office, staff can confirm whether a case exists, provide docket numbers, and explain the process for requesting copies of documents.
In-person visits to the Clerk of Courts office are an efficient way to review case files. The courthouse is located in Jim Thorpe, and staff can pull physical files for inspection during business hours. Bring as much identifying information as possible, including the defendant's full name, date of birth, and any case numbers you already have. Copy fees may apply for printed documents.
The Clerk of Courts office is separate from the Prothonotary in Carbon County. The Prothonotary handles civil matters, not criminal records. The Prothonotary is Kayla Semmel, and her office is at 2-4 Broadway, P.O. Box 130, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. The Prothonotary's phone number is 570-325-2481. If you call the wrong office, staff will direct you to the correct one.
This image comes from the Carbon County official website.
The county website at carboncountypa.gov lists all offices, their addresses, phone numbers, and hours in one place.
Online Felony Records Search in Carbon County
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal is the primary online tool for searching Carbon County felony records. The UJS Case Search portal is free to use and requires no account. You can search by the defendant's name, date of birth, or docket number. Each result links to a full docket sheet showing charges, case history, court dates, and final disposition. The portal draws from the same database used by the courts themselves.
The UJS portal covers all Court of Common Pleas cases in Pennsylvania, including all 56th Judicial District filings from Carbon County. Searches return results quickly. The docket sheets include enough detail to understand the full arc of a case from filing through sentencing. If the case is recent, you may also see upcoming hearing dates and the assigned judge.
The Carbon County contact directory at carboncountypa.gov lists every county office with contact details. This is a useful reference when you need to reach a specific department.
Note: The UJS portal does not include records from magisterial district courts, where preliminary hearings and summary offense cases are handled.
Statewide Background Check Resources
When a court docket search is not enough, Pennsylvania offers additional tools for a fuller criminal history picture. The PATCH system provides certified criminal background check reports through the Pennsylvania State Police. These reports draw from the state's central criminal history repository, which compiles arrest and conviction data from all 67 counties. A PATCH report covers more ground than a single-county UJS search and is often required for licensing and official purposes.
For individuals currently incarcerated in a state correctional facility, the Pennsylvania DOC Inmate Locator provides search access by name or inmate number. This tool shows current placement and does not include court records, but it confirms whether someone is actively serving a sentence. It is a useful tool alongside a docket search when you want a complete picture of a person's current status.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons manages the pardon and commutation process for individuals seeking relief from a conviction. A pardon does not erase the criminal record, but it can restore certain civil rights. The board's website explains the process, eligibility, and how to apply. Pardons are rare and require a recommendation from the board before the Governor acts.
PA Courts and Carbon County Dockets
The Pennsylvania Courts website maintains a dedicated page for each county's Court of Common Pleas. This page includes current judge assignments, contact information, and links to the court's local resources. It is a reliable starting point when you need official contact details or want to understand which judge oversees a particular case type in Carbon County.
The image below is sourced from the PA Courts Carbon County page.
The PA Courts page for Carbon County reflects current judicial assignments and provides links to court rules and local filing procedures.
The 56th Judicial District is a single-county district. All felony cases originating in Carbon County go through this one court. There is no shared district arrangement with other counties, so Carbon County records are straightforward to locate once you know which office to contact. The court's jurisdiction covers the entire county, from the Lehigh Gorge region to the Pocono foothills.
Carbon County's Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court is Jean Papay. Her office is at P.O. Box 286, Jim Thorpe, PA 18229. The phone number is 570-325-2261 and the fax is 570-325-5098. This office handles estate and guardianship matters and is not involved in criminal records. Knowing this distinction saves time when you are looking for a specific type of record in Jim Thorpe.
Criminal Record Laws in Pennsylvania
Pennsylvania law governs how criminal records are created, maintained, and shared. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, criminal history record information is defined broadly to include arrest data, charges, dispositions, and sentencing details. This section sets out the framework for the entire state system of criminal records management. Understanding the definition helps explain what you will and will not see in a public records search.
Section 9121 limits who can receive criminal history record information and for what purposes. Law enforcement agencies have broader access. Members of the public accessing records through the UJS portal or PATCH see a version of the record filtered through these access rules. Some data fields visible to agencies may not appear in public searches, even when the case itself is public.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, individuals can petition for expungement of criminal records in specific circumstances, such as when charges were dismissed or when certain conditions have been met. Expunged records are removed from public access. A search that returns no results for a person does not prove they have no criminal history; it may simply mean records have been expunged or sealed.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate 3.0 law, effective February 12, 2024, expanded automatic record sealing for eligible non-violent felony convictions. Under this law, the courts automatically seal qualifying records after a set clean period without court action required from the individual. This law continues to roll out, and more records are being sealed over time as eligibility periods are met.
The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives the public access to most government records but applies primarily to executive branch agencies, not the courts. For criminal court documents, the Clerk of Courts is the correct point of contact rather than a formal Right-to-Know request. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records can assist if a non-court public records request is denied.
Note: A Right-to-Know request sent to the Clerk of Courts will likely be redirected, as court records are governed by judicial branch rules rather than the executive branch open records law.
Carbon County Felony Records in Practice
Searching for felony records in Carbon County is a manageable process once you know where to look. Start with the UJS portal for a fast, free search. If you find a case, the docket sheet will give you everything you need to understand the case history. For a certified report suitable for official use, request a PATCH report from the state police. For older or archived records, contact the Clerk of Courts directly.
Tyra Boni's office at 570-325-3637 is the best first call for questions specific to Carbon County criminal cases. Staff can confirm case details, explain the document request process, and let you know if a particular record is restricted. The email address tboni@carboncourts.com also works for written inquiries.
The county website and the PA Courts page together cover most of what you need to understand the court structure. Both are updated regularly and reflect current contact information. Using these official sources rather than third-party databases gives you the most accurate information available to the public.
The main channels for Carbon County felony record access are:
- Clerk of Courts Tyra Boni: 570-325-3637, tboni@carboncourts.com
- UJS Case Search (free online portal): ujsportal.pacourts.us
- PATCH background reports: epatch.state.pa.us
- DOC Inmate Locator: cor.pa.gov
- Board of Pardons: bop.pa.gov
- Office of Open Records (non-court records): openrecords.pa.gov
Cities in Carbon County
Carbon County includes several boroughs and townships that send felony cases to the Jim Thorpe courthouse. Lansford, Palmerton, Lehighton, and Nesquehoning are among the more populated communities. Jim Thorpe itself, despite being the county seat, is a small borough. All criminal cases from across the county are routed to the Court of Common Pleas at 2-4 Broadway in Jim Thorpe, and docket records are held by the Clerk of Courts office there.
Nearby Counties with Felony Records
Carbon County shares borders with several other Pennsylvania counties. Schuylkill County lies to the west, Berks County to the southwest, and Northampton County to the south. If you are conducting a thorough background search or tracking a case that may involve multiple jurisdictions, checking the records in neighboring counties is a logical next step. Each county has its own Clerk of Courts and separate court records system.