Delaware County Felony Records and Criminal Dockets
Delaware County felony records are maintained by the Office of Judicial Support (OJS) at the Government Center in Media, Pennsylvania. The OJS serves as the combined clerk of courts and prothonotary under the county's Home Rule Charter, making it the central hub for all criminal case files. Records include court dockets, charge histories, hearing dates, and defendant information. The county seat is Media. The OJS serves the 32nd Judicial District and oversees more than 30 Magisterial District Courts throughout the county.
Delaware County Quick Facts
Delaware County Office of Judicial Support
Delaware County operates under a Home Rule Charter, which sets it apart from most Pennsylvania counties. Under that structure, the traditional Clerk of Courts and Prothonotary functions were merged into a single agency known as the Office of Judicial Support. Delaware County is one of only five Pennsylvania counties with this type of charter, along with Erie, Lackawanna, Lehigh, and Northampton. Mary J. Walk, Esquire, serves as OJS Director. The office is located in Room 127 of the Government Center at 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. The main phone number is 610-891-4370.
The Criminal Division of the OJS maintains all criminal case records for the county. This includes cases from the Court of Common Pleas as well as records passed up from the 30 Magisterial District Courts that handle lower-level proceedings throughout Delaware County. Each magisterial district court handles preliminary hearings, bail matters, and summary offenses before eligible cases move to the Court of Common Pleas for trial. The volume of records that flow through the OJS is significant, given that Delaware County borders Philadelphia to the west.
The office was established following Delaware County's founding on September 26, 1789. The OJS website at http://delcopa.gov/ojs/ provides guidance on office divisions, filing procedures, and contact details. For e-filing questions, the county accepts inquiries at delcoefile@co.delaware.pa.us. File room requests can be sent to OJSfileroom@co.delaware.pa.us.
The screenshot below is taken from the OJS homepage, which outlines office divisions and provides links to criminal dockets and civil records.
Delaware County Office of Judicial Support website
The OJS homepage confirms the office structure and provides direct links to criminal docket search tools and civil division resources.
Note: The OJS Criminal Division file room accepts document requests by email at OJSfileroom@co.delaware.pa.us during regular business hours.
Criminal Dockets in Delaware County
The criminal dockets page maintained by the OJS provides access to case-level detail for felony and misdemeanor proceedings in the 32nd Judicial District. Each docket entry in the system contains a range of fields that describe the full arc of a case from initial arrest through final disposition. Researchers, attorneys, and members of the public use this resource regularly to track case status or review past proceedings.
A standard criminal docket record in Delaware County includes the following types of information:
- Defendant name, date of birth, and physical description
- Charges filed, including grade and description of each offense
- Arrest date and arresting agency
- Attorney of record and judge assigned to the case
- Full hearing timeline from preliminary arraignment through sentencing
- Bail status and any bail modification orders
- Disposition and sentencing details
The criminal dockets page is available at http://delcopa.gov/ojs/criminal-dockets. Researchers familiar with the UJS Portal may find it more efficient to use that statewide tool, but the county-level page offers context about how Delaware County specifically organizes its records.
The image below comes from the OJS criminal dockets page and shows the layout of case search options available through the county's own interface.
Delaware County Criminal Dockets page
This page confirms the range of search fields available at the county level and supplements the statewide UJS portal search options.
How to Search Delaware County Felony Records
There are three main ways to search for felony records in Delaware County. Each method serves different needs depending on how much detail a person requires and whether they need certified copies.
The first option is the Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal. This statewide tool is free to use and covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Searches can be done by name, date of birth, or docket number. Results include case status, charges, and hearing history. This is the fastest way to confirm whether a felony case exists in Delaware County without visiting the courthouse.
The second option is the OJS website at http://delcopa.gov/ojs/. The county-level site links to its own criminal docket interface and provides information about how to request copies or access specific case files. This is particularly useful when looking for older records or cases that may not yet be fully reflected in the statewide portal.
The third option is an in-person visit to the Government Center at 201 W. Front Street, Media, PA 19063. Room 127 houses the OJS main office. Staff can assist with locating files, answering questions about record availability, and processing copy requests. Bail-related inquiries should be directed to the separate Bail and Refunds line at 610-891-5693. Bail payments can also be made online through the UJS Bail Payment portal.
Note: In-person visits to the file room should be arranged in advance where possible, as some older records may require retrieval time.
Copy Fees and Record Access
Delaware County charges set fees for copies of court records obtained through the OJS. Standard one-sided copies cost $1.00 per page. Certified copies of records carry a higher rate: $6.00 for the first page and $1.00 for each page after that. These rates apply to criminal docket copies, case file documents, and other court materials available through the OJS.
Payments for bail can be submitted through the online UJS Bail Payment portal or by calling the Bail and Refunds line at 610-891-5693. The OJS also supports e-filing, and filers with questions about electronic submissions can contact the office at delcoefile@co.delaware.pa.us.
The Civil Division of the OJS, accessible at http://delcopa.gov/ojs/civil-division, handles a separate category of court records. While civil records are not the same as felony records, the same copy fee schedule applies when requesting documents from the civil side of the office.
The following screenshot comes from the OJS Civil Division page and illustrates how the office separates its civil and criminal record services under one administrative structure.
Delaware County OJS Civil Division page
The civil division page confirms that the OJS administers both civil and criminal records under the same fee schedule and request process.
Pennsylvania PATCH vs Delaware County Records
The Pennsylvania State Police maintain a separate background check system called PATCH, which stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. PATCH is available at https://epatch.state.pa.us/ and allows individuals and organizations to request a statewide criminal history report. These reports are compiled by the Pennsylvania State Police under the authority of the Criminal History Record Information Act, commonly known as CHRIA, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 and related provisions.
PATCH reports differ from county court records in important ways. A PATCH report is an official state-level summary of a person's criminal history across all Pennsylvania jurisdictions. A county docket search through the OJS or UJS portal, on the other hand, returns the raw case file data including detailed hearing logs, charge descriptions, and court orders. PATCH is often required for official purposes such as volunteer background checks or licensing applications, while court docket searches are used for legal research, journalistic purposes, or individual record review.
The Pennsylvania State Police website at https://www.psp.pa.gov/ provides more information about what PATCH covers and when an official check may be required. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, individuals have the right to review their own criminal history record on file with the state.
Note: A PATCH report reflects state-level compiled data, while OJS records may include case detail not yet pushed to the statewide system.
Expungement and Sealing in Delaware County
Residents of Delaware County seeking to expunge or seal a felony or criminal record must work through the OJS Criminal Division. The process begins with understanding whether a record qualifies under Pennsylvania law. The Clean Slate Act, updated as Clean Slate 3.0 effective February 12, 2024, expanded automatic sealing eligibility for certain lower-level offenses. However, felony convictions generally require a petition-based process rather than automatic sealing.
A petition for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 is filed with the OJS Criminal Division. The petition must include the relevant case number, a description of the charge, and supporting documentation. After filing, the District Attorney's office receives notice and may object. A judge then rules on the petition based on the facts of the case and applicable law.
For felony convictions that are not eligible for expungement or Clean Slate sealing, a pardon from the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons is the primary path to relief. The Board of Pardons information is available at https://www.bop.pa.gov/. A pardon does not erase a record but may allow a subsequent expungement application in some cases. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/ also provides guidance on what court records remain publicly accessible after sealing or expungement.
The Pennsylvania Courts page for Delaware County at https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/individual-county-courts/delaware-county lists judicial officers and court resources for the 32nd Judicial District, which can be helpful when preparing a petition.
The screenshot below is from the Pennsylvania Courts page for Delaware County, showing judicial district information relevant to expungement petitions.
Pennsylvania Courts - Delaware County page
The PA Courts page for Delaware County provides judicial contact details and district-level information useful for anyone navigating the expungement petition process.
Open Records in Delaware County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public the right to request access to government records. Delaware County's Open Records Officer is Leah Lewis, who can be reached at OpenRecords@co.delaware.pa.us. The Open Records office is located at 201 West Front Street, Room 205, Media, PA 19063. The fax number for written requests is (610) 891-4816. In-person hand delivery of requests is accepted between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. on business days.
Court records maintained by the OJS are generally considered public records under Pennsylvania law. However, certain categories of criminal records are excluded from open access. Juvenile records, records subject to an active expungement order, and records sealed under Clean Slate 3.0 are not available to the public. Similarly, records related to ongoing investigations or cases under protective order may be withheld.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/ provides additional guidance on how to submit RTKL requests, appeal denials, and understand what types of records are and are not subject to disclosure. Delaware County residents with questions about a specific request should contact Leah Lewis directly before submitting a formal RTKL appeal.
Note: Requests submitted by email to OpenRecords@co.delaware.pa.us must clearly identify the records sought to avoid delays in processing.
Cities in Delaware County
Upper Darby is one of the most populous communities in Delaware County. Use the link below to search felony records tied to that area.
Nearby Counties
Felony records from neighboring counties are maintained by their respective clerk of courts offices. Links below lead to county-level record pages for jurisdictions that border Delaware County.