Franklin County Felony Records and Criminal Case Search
Franklin County is located in south-central Pennsylvania, with Chambersburg serving as the county seat. The 39th Judicial District handles all criminal cases filed in the county, including felony charges processed through the Court of Common Pleas. Felony records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts office at 14 N. Main Street. This page covers how to find and request criminal records in Franklin County, including court case lookup tools, background check options, and relief from old convictions.
Franklin County Quick Facts
Franklin County Court of Common Pleas
Franklin County's Court of Common Pleas is part of the 39th Judicial District. Unlike some smaller counties that combine court offices, Franklin County maintains separate offices for the Prothonotary and the Clerk of Courts. Todd Rock serves as Clerk of Courts, handling criminal case filings, dockets, and related court records. Timothy Sponseller serves as Prothonotary, managing civil case filings and other non-criminal court documents. Both offices are located at 14 N. Main Street, Chambersburg, PA 17201.
The Clerk of Courts office is the primary point of contact for anyone seeking felony records in Franklin County. Court staff can assist with locating case dockets, verifying case status, and providing certified copies of court documents. The main phone line for the Clerk of Courts is 717-261-3805.
The county's official website at franklincountypa.gov provides a broad range of government information. The site includes links to judicial offices, public records policies, and county department contacts. It is a useful starting point before making a direct call or visit to the courthouse. The Pennsylvania Courts system also maintains a page for Franklin County at pacourts.us, which includes basic court structure information and administrative contacts.
The image below is from the Franklin County government website at franklincountypa.gov, illustrating the county's digital public records presence.
The county site connects visitors to court offices, public records policies, and contact information for key departments including the Clerk of Courts.
Note: The Franklin County Jail is located at 1804 Opportunity Avenue, Chambersburg, PA 17201, and can be reached at (717) 264-9513 for questions about current custody status.
Franklin County Public Records Policies
Franklin County has published a dedicated public records policy page through the Clerk of Courts office. This page, accessible at franklincountypa.gov, outlines what types of records are available, how requests should be submitted, and what the office can and cannot provide. Having a published policy in place makes the process more predictable for members of the public seeking criminal records.
Felony records available through the Clerk of Courts office include criminal dockets, charging documents, plea records, sentencing orders, and case dispositions. These records are part of the public court file unless they have been sealed or expunged by court order. The Clerk's office can provide certified copies of documents for a set copying fee, though the policies page should be reviewed for current specifics.
Franklin County also uses the INFOCON civil records subscription service for certain record types. INFOCON is a court records management platform used by multiple Pennsylvania counties, enabling more structured access to docketed case information. For criminal felony records, direct contact with the Clerk of Courts remains the most reliable method of access.
Requests that cannot be fulfilled in person may be submitted in writing. The Clerk of Courts page at franklincountypa.gov provides contact details and guidance on how to submit a written request. Identifying the case by name, docket number, or approximate date range will help staff locate the correct records efficiently.
The image below comes from the Clerk of Courts page at franklincountypa.gov, showing the office's online presence and contact resources.
The Clerk of Courts page includes the office address, phone number, and links to related court resources for Franklin County criminal records.
Searching Franklin County Felony Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal, available at ujsportal.pacourts.us, is a free statewide tool for looking up court cases. It covers Franklin County and all other Common Pleas courts in Pennsylvania. You can search by name, docket number, date of birth, or a combination of those fields. Results show case type, filing date, charges, and current case status. This is often the fastest way to confirm whether a felony case exists in Franklin County.
The UJS Portal does not provide certified documents. It displays docket information only. For official copies suitable for legal purposes, you must contact the Clerk of Courts directly at 717-261-3805 or visit the office at 14 N. Main Street in Chambersburg.
The county website at franklincountypa.gov also connects to court-related resources. Navigating to the Clerk of Courts section from the main site gives you access to the public records policy and contact information. These resources together make Franklin County one of the more accessible counties for records research in Pennsylvania.
The following are the primary tools for searching Franklin County felony records:
- UJS Portal for free online case docket searches
- Clerk of Courts office for certified document copies
- Franklin County website for department contacts and policies
- PATCH system for official state criminal history reports
- Pennsylvania State Police for sex offender registry searches
The image below is taken from the Franklin County public records policies page at franklincountypa.gov, showing how the county communicates its records access rules.
The published policies page clarifies what documents are available, submission methods, and any restrictions that apply to records held by the Clerk of Courts.
Note: Case information found on the UJS Portal reflects data submitted by the county court and may not always match the most current status at the clerk's office in real time.
Criminal Background Checks in Franklin County
Pennsylvania offers a state-level background check tool through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH. It is managed by the Pennsylvania State Police and is available online at epatch.state.pa.us. A PATCH report pulls from statewide criminal history data maintained by the PSP and reflects convictions and arrests that have been reported to the state system. It is a good tool for general background screening purposes.
PATCH and the UJS Portal serve different functions. PATCH produces a formal criminal history report based on PSP records. The UJS Portal shows raw court docket data for specific cases. A person's PATCH result might look clean while the UJS Portal still shows a pending felony case, because PATCH only reflects matters that have been fully processed and reported. Checking both sources together is the most thorough approach.
The Criminal History Record Information Act, set out at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, defines what counts as a criminal history record and who may access it. This statute governs the collection and use of PATCH data and establishes limits on how that information can be applied. Knowing this framework helps when reviewing or disputing a criminal history report.
For inmates currently in state correctional custody, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections provides an inmate locator at cor.pa.gov. This tool works for state prisons only. Individuals held at the Franklin County Jail at 1804 Opportunity Avenue would not appear in the DOC locator. For county jail information, contact the jail directly at (717) 264-9513.
Expungement and Record Sealing in Franklin County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate 3.0, which became effective on February 12, 2024, expanded automatic sealing to cover a broader range of convictions. Under this law, certain misdemeanor and some non-violent felony records are sealed from public view once a set period has passed and the individual meets eligibility requirements. The sealing is handled automatically by the court system without requiring the individual to take action.
For records not eligible for automatic sealing, individuals can file a petition with the Clerk of Courts in Franklin County. Todd Rock's office at 14 N. Main Street processes these petitions. The petition must identify the conviction or arrest record being challenged, and it must be served on the district attorney's office. The court may schedule a hearing before ruling on the request. Relief available includes expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 and limited access sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121.
The Open Records Officer for the 39th District, Mark Singer, may need to be served as part of certain petition processes involving court records held under the public access framework. This step is separate from notifying the district attorney and relates specifically to the court's records management obligations.
For those seeking a pardon rather than expungement, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons reviews applications at the state level. The Board is reachable through bop.pa.gov. A pardon does not erase a conviction from court records but can restore civil rights and may support a later expungement petition if the offense otherwise qualifies. The Board holds public hearings as part of its review process.
Note: Petitions for expungement or limited access in Franklin County should be filed with the Clerk of Courts office and must comply with the procedural requirements established under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.
Open Records and Right to Know in Franklin County
Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law is codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101. It entitles the public to request records from government agencies across the state. The law was substantially revised in 2008 and now places the burden on agencies to justify any denial. An agency that refuses a records request must provide a written explanation citing specific legal grounds for the denial. The requesting party then has the right to appeal to the Office of Open Records.
The Open Records Officer for the 39th Judicial District is Mark Singer. All Right to Know requests directed at Franklin County's court-related records should be routed through this office. The county's open records page is available at franklincountypa.gov, which provides submission instructions and contact details. Requests do not require you to state a reason; you only need to describe the records you are seeking.
Court records fall under their own access rules set by the Pennsylvania Supreme Court rather than the RTKL. Most criminal case dockets are publicly accessible by default. However, certain records can be restricted, including juvenile case files, documents involving ongoing investigations, victim information, and any file a court has ordered sealed. If access is denied, the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals for RTKL matters and can offer guidance on the process.
The image below is from the Pennsylvania Courts page for Franklin County at pacourts.us, confirming the 39th Judicial District structure and court administration details.
The state courts page for Franklin County provides administrative context that aligns with what is available directly from the Clerk of Courts office in Chambersburg.
Note: The Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals when a county agency denies a Right to Know request, and its guidance documents are useful for first-time requesters navigating the process.
Cities in Franklin County
Franklin County includes several notable communities. Chambersburg is the county seat and the largest city, home to the courthouse and most county government offices. Other communities include Waynesboro, Greencastle, Mercersburg, and Shippensburg, which straddles the border with Cumberland County. All residents within county boundaries are subject to the jurisdiction of the 39th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, and their criminal cases are docketed in Chambersburg.
Nearby Counties with Felony Records
Franklin County borders several counties in south-central Pennsylvania. If the records you need involve cases filed in a neighboring jurisdiction, the links below connect to those county pages.