Susquehanna County Felony Records and Court Data
Susquehanna County felony records are filed and maintained through the 34th Judicial District Court of Common Pleas, located in Montrose, Pennsylvania. The county sits in the northeastern corner of the state along the New York border, with a population of approximately 42,000 residents. Criminal case filings for felony charges are handled at the Susquehanna County Courthouse on Maple Street, and records are accessible online through the statewide UJS portal or by contacting the Clerk of Courts in Montrose directly. This guide explains how the system works and where to find what you need.
Susquehanna County Quick Facts
Susquehanna County Court Structure and Felony Filings
The 34th Judicial District serves Susquehanna County as its sole Court of Common Pleas. This court is the trial court of general jurisdiction for all felony cases originating in the county. Once a felony charge advances past the magisterial district court level, it moves to Common Pleas in Montrose for trial or plea proceedings, sentencing, and any subsequent motions. The courthouse address is 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801.
Susquehanna County's court handles a range of felony matters, including drug offenses, assault cases, theft charges, and other serious criminal matters. The Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal case records once a case reaches Common Pleas. This office maintains the docket entries that form the public record of each case, from initial filing through final disposition. These are the records you can access when searching Susquehanna County felony case history.
The Prothonotary's office handles civil filings and is a separate office from the Clerk of Courts, though both operate from the same courthouse. For criminal felony record requests, always specify that you need criminal court records to be directed to the correct office. Mixing up the two can slow down your request, particularly in smaller county courthouses where staff may serve multiple roles.
Note: Magisterial district court records for preliminary hearings in Susquehanna County are also searchable through the UJS portal but are separate from the Common Pleas docket entries that reflect final felony case outcomes.
Online Access to Susquehanna County Felony Records
The UJS Case Search portal is the primary online resource for locating Susquehanna County felony records. This statewide system covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties, including the 34th Judicial District. Searches can be run by defendant name, docket number, or filing date range. Each result shows the charges filed, current case status, court dates, and the final disposition if the case has closed. The portal is publicly accessible at no cost and does not require registration.
The Susquehanna County page on the PA Courts website provides official contact information for court leadership, the Clerk of Courts, and other key offices in Montrose. This resource is maintained by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and is updated when court staff or contact details change. It is a useful reference when you need a verified phone number or address before submitting a records request.
The Pennsylvania State Police's PATCH background check system offers a different type of criminal record access. While the UJS portal shows case-level docket data, PATCH returns a compiled criminal history report drawn from the statewide repository. This report covers convictions from Susquehanna County and all other Pennsylvania counties. PATCH is available online through the PSP website and is often used when a formal, documented background check is needed rather than a raw case search.
Susquehanna County Courthouse and Records Office Contacts
The Susquehanna County Courthouse is located at 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801. The courthouse is the central hub for county government and court operations. The Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, District Attorney, and related offices all operate from this address. Montrose is a small borough town, and the courthouse is one of the main landmarks in the county seat.
The page below is from the Pennsylvania Courts website and shows the official court directory listing for Susquehanna County within the 34th Judicial District. It includes contact information for court staff and leadership.
The PA Courts directory is the most reliable online source for current courthouse contact details. Phone numbers, fax lines, and email addresses for court staff in Montrose are listed here and updated by state administrators when changes occur. This makes it a better reference than unofficial directories for Susquehanna County court contacts.
The District Attorney's office in Susquehanna County handles the prosecution of all felony cases that reach the Court of Common Pleas. The DA's office reviews cases forwarded from magisterial district courts and makes charging decisions for serious offenses. While the DA's office does not maintain public criminal records itself, it works closely with the Clerk of Courts on case management, and DA case numbers may cross-reference records held by the clerk.
Pennsylvania Criminal Record Laws and Susquehanna County Cases
Susquehanna County court records are governed by Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. CHRIA sets the statewide rules for how criminal history data is collected, maintained, and released. Courts and agencies in Susquehanna County must follow CHRIA requirements when responding to requests for felony records. The law defines which categories of records are public, which require a formal process to access, and which are restricted.
The Right to Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 also applies to many county records in Susquehanna County. The RTKL gives citizens a formal right to request access to government records. When an agency denies or delays a request, the individual can file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. Court records that are part of the official docket are generally accessible without a formal RTKL request, but administrative records of county court offices may require one.
Clean Slate legislation, expanded in a bill signed February 12, 2024, extended automatic sealing to certain lower-level felony convictions after a ten-year period without reoffense. This applies to qualifying Susquehanna County felony convictions just as it does statewide. Sealing under Clean Slate removes the record from public view but does not destroy it. Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 remains available for dismissed charges and qualifying acquittals, offering a more complete removal from the public record.
Susquehanna County Felony Records and the Board of Pardons
Pennsylvania's Board of Pardons reviews pardon and commutation applications from individuals across the state, including those with Susquehanna County felony convictions. The Board can be reached at (717) 787-2596. A pardon does not expunge the underlying conviction but provides official recognition from the Commonwealth that the individual has been forgiven. For some people, a pardon is the only available relief because their conviction does not meet the criteria for sealing or expungement under current law.
Applying to the Board of Pardons requires a written petition that details the conviction, the time elapsed since sentence completion, and reasons supporting clemency. The Board reviews petitions, may hold a hearing, and then forwards a recommendation to the Governor. The process can take a significant amount of time. Those with older Susquehanna County felony convictions who are considering this route should gather certified copies of their court records from the Clerk of Courts before starting the application.
Limited access sealing under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 is another option for some Susquehanna County residents. This provision applies to certain misdemeanor convictions and some non-violent felony offenses. It restricts access to the record to law enforcement and licensing agencies rather than eliminating it entirely from the public docket. A petition must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas for the 34th Judicial District to initiate this process.
Note: Eligibility for pardons, expungements, and limited access petitions in Susquehanna County is determined case by case, and the specific charges, sentences, and post-sentence conduct all affect the outcome of any relief application.
Inmate Records for Susquehanna County Felony Cases
Individuals convicted of felonies in Susquehanna County and sentenced to two or more years in state prison are committed to the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections. The DOC Inmate Locator allows the public to search for state inmates by name or inmate number. Results include the current facility and projected release information. Susquehanna County cases that result in state sentences appear in this system once the inmate is transferred from local custody to a DOC facility.
Sentences under two years are typically served at the county level at the Susquehanna County Correctional Facility. County-level inmate information is not tracked through the DOC system. For questions about individuals held at the county facility, contact the Susquehanna County Sheriff's Office or the correctional facility directly.
Felony probation cases in Susquehanna County are supervised by the county adult probation office. Probation records themselves are not public, but the sentencing order that imposes probation is part of the public court docket and can be viewed through the UJS portal or by requesting a copy from the Clerk of Courts. The docket entry will show the length and conditions of supervision as ordered by the judge.
How to Request Susquehanna County Criminal Records
In-person requests for Susquehanna County felony records can be submitted at the Clerk of Courts office at 105 Maple Street, Montrose, PA 18801. Staff can search the criminal docket by name or docket number. Bring as much identifying information as you have, including the full legal name and approximate date of the case, to help staff locate the correct records quickly. Certified copies of docket entries and court orders are available for a per-page fee.
Mail requests should be addressed to the Clerk of Courts at the same courthouse address. Include a description of the records needed and a self-addressed stamped envelope for return of documents. For older cases that predate the electronic filing system, courthouse staff may need to pull physical docket books, which can lengthen processing time. Calling ahead is recommended to verify whether older records are available in digital form before sending a written request.
The UJS portal handles most current name-based searches without any courthouse interaction. Docket entries on the portal show charges and dispositions but do not include the full text of underlying documents like affidavits, transcripts, or exhibits. Those documents must be requested from the Clerk of Courts directly and are available for a fee. The portal search is free and available around the clock.
Cities in Susquehanna County
Susquehanna County has no incorporated cities. Montrose is the county seat and serves as the center of county government and court operations. All felony records for the county are managed through the courthouse in Montrose. There are no separate city-level records offices within Susquehanna County.
Nearby Counties
Susquehanna County is located in northeastern Pennsylvania along the New York state border. The counties below share boundaries with Susquehanna or are otherwise close by, each with its own court system and records office.