Cumberland County Criminal Records and Court Case Search
Cumberland County felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Cumberland County Courthouse in Carlisle, Pennsylvania. The county sits in the 9th Judicial District and has kept court records dating back to 1750. You can search criminal case dockets online through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal or visit the courthouse in person. This guide covers where to look, what records exist, and how state resources like the PATCH system connect to what the local court maintains.
Cumberland County Quick Facts
Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas
The Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas operates out of the Cumberland County Courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square in Carlisle, PA 17013. This court handles all felony criminal cases filed in the county. The 9th Judicial District encompasses Cumberland County on its own, giving it a dedicated bench and a full set of court support offices.
Two separate offices manage court records here. The Clerk of Courts, currently Dennis Lebo, handles criminal case files, docket sheets, and official court orders. The Prothonotary, currently Montana Hartman, handles civil filings from the same building. Both can be reached at (717) 240-6100. If you need felony records specifically, the Clerk of Courts is the right office to contact.
Cumberland County was incorporated on January 27, 1750, carved out of Lancaster County. Court records here go back to that founding year, making the county one of the older record-keeping jurisdictions in Pennsylvania. Land records and probate records also trace back to 1750, while birth and death records are available for a limited window between 1894 and 1906.
| Office | Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Officer | Dennis Lebo |
| Address | 1 Courthouse Square, Carlisle, PA 17013 |
| Phone | (717) 240-6100 |
| Website | www.ccpa.net |
| Judicial District | 9th |
| PA Courts Page | pacourts.us |
The county courthouse holds marriage records from 1885, divorce records from 1751, and general court records going back to 1750. These are among the most complete historical records in the state for any single county.
The image below comes from the Cumberland County official website at ccpa.net, showing the sheriff's office and courthouse complex in Carlisle.
The courthouse at 1 Courthouse Square is where all in-person record requests for felony cases must be directed.
Note: The Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary are elected offices in Pennsylvania and serve four-year terms.
Searching Cumberland County Felony Records
The fastest way to find Cumberland County felony records online is through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. This free tool lets you search by name, date of birth, or docket number. Results include criminal docket sheets for cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas, including felony charges, case status, and scheduled hearing dates.
The UJS portal pulls from active and historical case data maintained by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts. Most felony case records in Cumberland County going back several decades are available here. The system is updated regularly, though there can be short delays between court actions and when they appear online.
For records not found online, you can visit the Clerk of Courts office directly at 1 Courthouse Square. In-person searches allow access to physical case files, exhibits, and older dockets that may not be fully digitized. The county's own website at ccpa.net provides office hours, directions, and links to additional county services.
Written requests are also accepted by mail. Include the full name of the subject, any known docket numbers, and a brief description of what you are looking for. The Clerk of Courts office will confirm what is available before processing your request.
Note: Not all historical case files from before 1980 have been digitized, so older records may require an in-person visit.
Cumberland County Criminal Court Records
The Clerk of Courts in Cumberland County maintains the official record of all criminal cases filed in the Court of Common Pleas. This includes felony cases at every stage, from the initial filing through sentencing and any post-conviction proceedings. Each case has a docket sheet that lists every action taken by the court.
Criminal docket sheets for felony cases typically include the name of the defendant, date of birth, charges filed, the grade of each offense, plea entered, hearing dates, presiding judge, verdicts, and sentences imposed. Probation and parole terms may also appear on the docket. These documents are public records under Pennsylvania law.
The Clerk also maintains records of bench warrants, capias orders, and contempt actions tied to criminal cases. If a person failed to appear for a scheduled court date, that information will appear in the docket history. These entries remain part of the case record regardless of whether the matter was later resolved.
Physical court files held by the Clerk can include charging documents, criminal informations, affidavits of probable cause, pre-sentence investigation reports, and sentencing orders. Some of these documents may be restricted under court order, but the basic docket information is generally open to the public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
The image below is sourced from the Pennsylvania Courts website and shows the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas listing.
The PA Courts site provides contact details, judge listings, and links to court-specific resources for Cumberland County.
Pennsylvania State Police PATCH in Cumberland County
The Pennsylvania State Police operates the PATCH system, which stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. This is the official state-level background check service. It draws from the criminal history repository maintained by PSP under the authority of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, which governs the collection and use of criminal history record information in Pennsylvania.
A PATCH result differs from a UJS court search in an important way. The PATCH system reflects convictions and dispositions that have been formally reported to the state repository. Court dockets from Cumberland County may show more detail, including dismissed charges and non-conviction outcomes. PATCH results focus on what was reported as a final disposition.
Individuals can request their own PATCH record through the Pennsylvania State Police website. Third-party requests require authorization. Employers and licensing agencies often use PATCH for official background checks, while attorneys and individuals often prefer the full court docket for more complete case history.
For Cumberland County cases, both PATCH and the UJS portal can be useful depending on what you need. PATCH gives a summary tied to state records. The court docket gives the full procedural history of each case filed locally.
Note: 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 governs who may access criminal history records and under what conditions.
Expungement and Record Sealing in Cumberland County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate 3.0, signed into law on February 12, 2024, expanded automatic sealing to include certain felony convictions after a ten-year clean period. Under this law, qualifying felony offenses can be sealed from public view without the individual needing to file a petition. The sealing happens through the court system automatically when the criteria are met.
Not all felonies qualify for automatic sealing. More serious offenses, including those involving violence or sexual conduct, are excluded. For offenses that do not qualify automatically, individuals can file a petition for expungement or sealing with the Clerk of Courts in Cumberland County at 1 Courthouse Square. The petition process involves a review by the District Attorney's office and a hearing before a judge.
The Pennsylvania Board of Pardons offers another path. A pardon does not erase the record but does allow for a subsequent expungement petition if the Governor signs the pardon. The Board of Pardons reviews applications in Harrisburg. Cumberland County residents can apply through the standard statewide process.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, courts may grant expungements in cases where charges were dismissed, where the defendant was acquitted, or where an ARD program was successfully completed. These non-conviction expungements are separate from the Clean Slate sealing process and do not require the ten-year waiting period.
Note: Sealed records may still be visible to law enforcement and certain licensing boards even after the sealing takes effect.
Public Records Access in Cumberland County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public the right to request access to government records. Criminal court records that are part of the public docket in Cumberland County fall under this framework unless they are specifically exempted by court order or statute.
Requests for records under the RTKL can be submitted to the county's Open Records Officer. The county website at ccpa.net provides guidance on how to submit a formal request. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records oversees the RTKL process statewide and handles appeals when agencies deny access.
Most felony docket information is publicly accessible without a formal RTKL request, since court records are presumed open under Pennsylvania court rules. The RTKL process is more commonly used for non-court records, such as law enforcement incident reports or county agency documents. For court records specifically, the UJS portal or a direct request to the Clerk of Courts is typically the more direct route.
Some records are restricted. Juvenile court records, records sealed under Clean Slate, and certain victim-related documents are not open to the general public. If a record request is denied, the requester has the right to appeal to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days of the denial.
Cities in Cumberland County
Cumberland County includes several communities in the greater Carlisle area. Carlisle is the county seat and home to the courthouse. Mechanicsburg, Camp Hill, Shippensburg, and Newville are among the other populated areas in the county. The county also includes portions of the Appalachian Trail corridor to the west and borders the Susquehanna River to the east near the Dauphin County line.
Nearby Counties
Cumberland County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. Each has its own Clerk of Courts and maintains separate felony records through the same statewide UJS system.