Forest County Criminal and Felony Records in Pennsylvania
Forest County is one of Pennsylvania's smallest counties by population. It sits in the north-central part of the state, with Tionesta as the county seat. Felony records and other criminal case files are held at the Forest County Courthouse on Elm Street. The county shares its judicial district with neighboring Warren County. Whether you need court records, background history, or sex offender data, this guide explains where to look and how to get what you need.
Forest County Quick Facts
Forest County Court of Common Pleas
Forest County belongs to the 37th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. This district is shared with Warren County, which means both counties fall under the same judicial administration. The primary court website for this district is warrenforestcourt.org, where you can find judge information, court schedules, and general guidance on filing or accessing records.
The courthouse is located at 526 Elm Street, Suite 2, Tionesta, PA 16353. All criminal, civil, and family cases are processed here. The county uses a dual-office model in which the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts roles are handled together. Mariah L. Tkach currently serves in this combined capacity, making her office the main point of contact for felony records and criminal case files.
You can also review county-level information through the Pennsylvania Courts page for Forest County. The state court system maintains general information on each county's Common Pleas Court, including contact details and filing procedures. For broader county government matters, the official county site at co.forest.pa.us provides additional resources.
Forest County is small, but its court handles the full range of serious criminal cases. Cases involving felony charges are docketed and maintained for public access under Pennsylvania law.
The image below comes from the Forest County official website at co.forest.pa.us, showing the county's online presence and resources.
The county site links to departments including the Sheriff and Clerk of Courts, making it a useful starting point for any records request.
Note: The Warren/Forest Law Library is located on the 2nd floor of the courthouse in Tionesta and offers legal research resources for those pursuing court records or case information.
How to Access Forest County Felony Records
The Clerk of Courts office is open from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. In-person visits are the most direct way to access felony records. You will need a valid photo ID when you arrive. Staff can assist with locating docket numbers and case histories tied to specific individuals or case types.
Written requests are required for all records inquiries. Fax and email are both accepted for submitting a request, though official records are only sent back by mail. The office does not provide digital delivery of official certified documents. You can send written requests to the courthouse at 526 Elm Street, Suite 2, Tionesta, PA 16353, or contact the office at (814) 755-3526 or dmillin@co.forest.pa.us.
Mail requests should be clear about the subject of the search. Include the full name of the individual, an approximate date range if known, and your return mailing address. Requests without enough detail may be returned or delayed. Response times vary based on the complexity of the search and current office workload.
For those who cannot visit in person, the combination of fax and mail options makes remote access workable. Keep in mind that processing times for mailed responses can run several business days depending on volume.
The image below is drawn from the Warren/Forest Court website at warrenforestcourt.org, illustrating the shared judicial structure for this district.
The shared court site provides filing information, judge listings, and court news relevant to both Forest and Warren County cases.
Forest County Criminal Records and Charges
Forest County criminal records cover a wide range of felony-level offenses. Cases that have been docketed with the Court of Common Pleas include murders, rapes, burglaries, arson, motor vehicle theft, assaults, and sexual crimes. Each case generates a court record that becomes part of the public docket once charges are filed.
Sex offenders convicted in Pennsylvania are required to register under the state's registration law. Forest County maintains and makes available the sex offender register for the public. You can access this information through the Pennsylvania State Police website at psp.pa.gov, which provides a statewide searchable registry. Local records may also be available through the Sheriff's office at (814) 755-3541.
Forest County uses the INFOCON system to manage and track its court records. This system is shared across multiple Pennsylvania counties and supports consistent record-keeping for criminal, civil, and family case dockets. INFOCON records can sometimes be accessed remotely, depending on the type of record and its current status in the system.
Criminal records in Forest County reflect charges filed, plea entries, trial outcomes, sentencing, and any subsequent modifications. A complete case record may include arrest information, charging documents, disposition, and sentencing orders. Not all portions of a record are open to the public. Juvenile records and certain sealed documents are excluded from general access.
Note: Arrest records held by the Forest County Sheriff at 526 Elm Street may provide additional detail beyond what the court docket shows, particularly for recent cases.
Pennsylvania PATCH and Official Criminal History
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is the official state tool for requesting a criminal history record. PATCH is managed by the Pennsylvania State Police and is accessible online at epatch.state.pa.us. It draws from statewide data and provides a summary of an individual's criminal record as maintained by the PSP.
PATCH results differ from court records in important ways. A PATCH report reflects what has been reported to and retained by state law enforcement. Court records at the county level may contain more detail on specific cases, including docket entries, motions, and hearing notes. Using both sources together gives the most complete picture of a person's criminal history in Pennsylvania.
The Criminal History Record Information Act, found at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, governs how criminal history data is collected, maintained, and shared in Pennsylvania. This statute defines what information qualifies as a criminal history record and who can access it. Understanding this framework helps clarify why some records are available through PATCH while others must be obtained directly from the county court.
For inmates currently held in state facilities, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an inmate locator at cor.pa.gov. This tool allows the public to search for individuals serving time in state correctional institutions. It does not cover county jail populations, which in Forest County would be tracked locally.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is a free statewide case search tool that provides access to docket information across all Pennsylvania counties, including Forest County. It is a strong starting point for anyone looking up court cases without making a direct trip to Tionesta.
Record Sealing and Expungement in Forest County
Pennsylvania has made significant changes to its expungement and record sealing laws in recent years. Clean Slate 3.0, which took effect on February 12, 2024, expanded the types of offenses eligible for automatic sealing. Under this law, certain misdemeanor convictions and some non-violent felonies can be sealed from public view without requiring the individual to file a petition. The sealing happens through the court system automatically once eligibility criteria are met.
For cases not covered by automatic sealing, individuals can file a petition through the Clerk of Courts office at the Forest County Courthouse. The petition process involves submitting the appropriate forms, serving notice to the district attorney's office, and potentially attending a hearing. The specific steps depend on the nature of the offense and the relief being sought, whether expungement or limited access sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121.
The Board of Pardons offers another path for those seeking relief from a criminal record. Pardons do not erase a conviction but can restore civil rights and may support a subsequent expungement petition. The Board of Pardons is reachable through the state at bop.pa.gov. Applicants must go through a formal review process that includes a background investigation and a public hearing before the Board.
Note: Expungement petitions in Forest County are filed with the Clerk of Courts and must meet the standards set out under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 before the court will grant relief.
Right to Know and Open Records in Forest County
Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public the right to request records from government agencies, including county offices. This law was originally passed in 1957 and significantly amended in 2008 to broaden access and strengthen enforcement. Under the current version, agencies must respond to records requests within five business days and can only deny access based on specific exemptions listed in the statute.
The Open Records Officer for Forest County is Jean Ann Hitchcock, reachable at (814) 755-3537. Any Right to Know request directed to county government should be submitted to her office. The request does not need to explain why you want the records. It only needs to identify the documents being sought with enough specificity to allow the agency to locate them.
Court records are not governed by the Right to Know Law in the same way that other government records are. The courts operate under their own access rules set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court. That said, most criminal case dockets are available to the public by default. The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov provides guidance on the RTKL process and handles appeals when agencies deny a request.
There are limits to what the RTKL covers. Personal information about victims, active investigative records, and certain law enforcement files are among the categories that agencies can withhold. When in doubt, a records request is still worth submitting, as the agency must explain in writing why any portion of a request is being denied.
The image below comes from the Pennsylvania Courts page for Forest County at pacourts.us, showing official state information about the county court.
The state courts page confirms the 37th Judicial District structure and provides contact information consistent with what is available at the local courthouse.
Cities in Forest County
Forest County is largely rural. Tionesta is the county seat and the primary hub for government services. Other communities in the county include Tionesta Borough, Marienville, and various townships spread across the heavily forested landscape. The courthouse in Tionesta serves all residents of Forest County regardless of their specific township or borough of residence.
Nearby Counties with Felony Records
Forest County borders several other Pennsylvania counties. If the records you need involve a neighboring jurisdiction, the links below will take you to those county pages.