Elk County Felony Records and Criminal Case History
Elk County felony records are kept by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office at the Elk County Courthouse in Ridgway, Pennsylvania. The office is a dual-function agency, handling both civil and criminal court records under one roof. Susanne Straub Schneider serves as the combined Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts. The county is part of the 59th Judicial District, which it shares with Cameron County. Records maintained here include criminal dockets, court orders, felony charge histories, and judgment entries.
Elk County Quick Facts
Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
The Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is a combined office located at Suite 114 of the Elk County Courthouse, 250 Main Street, P.O. Box 237, Ridgway, PA 15853. The office phone is (814) 776-5343, and the fax is (814) 776-5303. Susanne Straub Schneider can be reached directly at sschneider@countyofelkpa.gov. Office hours are 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday.
The dual structure of this office means that civil and criminal records are both managed under the same leadership. The 1st Deputy-Prothonotary handles civil matters and can be reached at (814) 776-5315. The 1st Deputy-Clerk of Courts handles criminal records and has a direct line at (814) 776-5384. A general office assistant is available at (814) 776-5344. Jeffrey S. DuBois, Esq. serves as county solicitor.
Elk County was incorporated on April 18, 1843, and was named for the elk that once populated the region. The 59th Judicial District covers both Elk and Cameron counties. Two Magisterial District Courts serve Elk County residents. Magisterial District Court 59-3-02 is located at 409 G Center Street, Johnsonburg, PA 15845, and can be reached at (814) 965-2663. Magisterial District Court 59-3-03 is at 808 S. Michael Street, St. Mary's, PA 15857, with a phone number of (814) 781-6995. These MDJ courts handle preliminary hearings and summary matters before cases move to the Court of Common Pleas.
The screenshot below is from the Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts website, which describes office services and contact information for both the civil and criminal divisions.
Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts website
The office website confirms the dual-function structure of the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts and provides links to contact information for each division.
Note: Elk County's courthouse also makes a facility dog named Praline available to visitors, which may be helpful for those attending sensitive court proceedings.
Elk County Felony Records Online and In Person
Elk County felony records can be accessed through the statewide Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal. This free tool covers all 67 counties and lets users search by defendant name, date of birth, or docket number. Results show charge descriptions, case status, hearing dates, and disposition data for cases filed in the 59th Judicial District. The UJS portal is updated regularly and is the most efficient way to confirm whether a felony record exists in Elk County without making a trip to Ridgway.
In-person requests can be submitted at the Elk County Courthouse, Suite 114, 250 Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853. Staff are available during business hours, 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. For criminal record requests specifically, contact the 1st Deputy-Clerk of Courts at (814) 776-5384 before visiting to confirm any preparation needed for your request. Mail requests should be addressed to P.O. Box 237, Ridgway, PA 15853.
The Pennsylvania Courts page for Elk County at https://www.pacourts.us/courts/courts-of-common-pleas/individual-county-courts/elk-county provides judicial district details, court calendars, and contact links that can be useful for record research. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at https://www.cor.pa.gov/Inmates/Pages/Inmate-Locator.aspx is a separate resource for verifying current incarceration status.
The image below is from the contact information page of the Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts website, showing direct lines for each division.
Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts contact page
The contact page lists direct phone lines for civil and criminal staff, which helps requesters route their inquiry to the right division quickly.
What Elk County Felony Records Include
Felony records maintained by the Elk County Clerk of Courts contain a broad range of case documentation. Criminal records cover the full life of a case from initial complaint through final disposition. Because the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is a combined office, both civil and criminal materials are stored and retrieved through the same administrative system, though they are organized separately by case type.
Criminal felony records in Elk County typically include the following categories of documents:
- Criminal complaints and charging documents
- Court orders and judicial rulings at each stage of proceedings
- Docket entries showing every court event in chronological order
- Judgments of sentence or acquittal
- Pleadings filed by defense counsel and the prosecution
- Calendars showing scheduled and completed hearings
Beyond felony criminal records, the Clerk of Courts office also stores records from probate, juvenile, and family law proceedings. Civil records are housed on the Prothonotary side of the same office. While these are distinct from felony records, the same copy fee schedule applies across all case types. Copies cost 50 cents per page. Naturalization record copies are also available at 50 cents each.
Note: Some records from juvenile proceedings are sealed by law and are not available to the general public through a standard records request.
Expungement in Elk County
Pennsylvania law provides a process for expunging certain criminal records, and Elk County residents must file their petitions through the Clerk of Courts office. The process has several distinct steps, and following them in the correct order matters for a successful outcome.
The first step is to request a PATCH criminal history report from the Pennsylvania State Police at https://epatch.state.pa.us/. This report confirms exactly what charges appear on the state record and helps determine which, if any, are eligible for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 and related provisions. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, certain arrests without conviction, summary offenses, and other specified records may qualify for expungement by petition.
Once eligibility is confirmed, the petitioner downloads the appropriate expungement petition forms. Completed petitions are submitted to the Clerk of Courts at P.O. Box 416, Ridgway, PA 15853. The District Attorney's office, located at 240 Main Street, Ridgway, PA 15853 and reachable at (814) 776-5324, must be served with a copy of the petition. The DA may object or consent, and the assigned judge will schedule a hearing if needed before ruling on the petition.
Clean Slate 3.0, which took effect on February 12, 2024, expanded the automatic sealing process in Pennsylvania. Certain non-conviction records and lower-level offenses may now be sealed without a petition under the updated law. Residents with felony convictions that do not qualify for expungement may seek relief through the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons at https://www.bop.pa.gov/. A pardon can open the door to subsequent expungement in some circumstances.
Note: Petitioners should confirm the current mailing address for the Clerk of Courts before submitting, as P.O. Box designations may differ from the physical courthouse suite address.
Criminal History Background Checks
Pennsylvania offers two primary tools for checking a person's criminal history. The first is the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police, available at https://epatch.state.pa.us/. PATCH provides a statewide summary of criminal history compiled under the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. A PATCH report is considered the official state-level check and is required for many licensing, volunteer, and employment verification purposes under Pennsylvania law.
The second tool is the UJS Case Search portal, which shows court-level docket information. Court searches are more detailed than PATCH reports in terms of case chronology, but they are not the same as an official background check. The UJS portal reflects what courts have entered into the system but may not always match the CHRIA-governed data in a PATCH report.
For Elk County specifically, a docket search via UJS or through the Clerk of Courts at the Ridgway courthouse will show the raw case records on file for the 59th Judicial District. Researchers, legal professionals, and individuals reviewing their own records use both tools in combination to get a full picture. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, a person has the right to review their own criminal history record held by the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Pennsylvania Courts page screenshot below shows the 59th Judicial District information for Elk County as it appears on the statewide court system website.
Pennsylvania Courts - Elk County page
The PA Courts page for Elk County confirms the district structure and provides links to judicial officers and county court contacts used for records and background check verification.
Open Records and Public Access in Elk County
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101, establishes the right of the public to access government records including most court filings. Elk County court records are generally open to the public. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office is the custodian of these records, and most documents can be viewed in person or obtained by request during regular business hours.
Copy fees for all records from the Elk County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts are 50 cents per page. This applies to criminal dockets, court orders, civil case documents, and naturalization records alike. Requests submitted in writing should be mailed to P.O. Box 237, Ridgway, PA 15853, or emailed to sschneider@countyofelkpa.gov with a clear description of the records sought.
Certain records are excluded from public disclosure under state law. Juvenile case records are confidential. Records sealed under Clean Slate 3.0 or by specific court order are not accessible to the public. Records subject to active protective orders or ongoing investigations may also be withheld. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at https://www.openrecords.pa.gov/ handles appeals for denied records requests statewide and provides plain-language guidance on what the RTKL covers and how to file a formal appeal if a request is denied.
Note: Requesters seeking certified copies should specify that need clearly in their request, as certification requires additional processing and carries the standard per-page copy fee.
Cities in Elk County
Elk County communities include Ridgway, St. Mary's, and Johnsonburg. Records for cases originating in these areas are held by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts at the Ridgway courthouse.
Nearby Counties with Felony Records
Elk County shares the 59th Judicial District with Cameron County. Forest County also borders Elk County to the south. Links below lead to record pages for neighboring jurisdictions.