Northumberland County Criminal Records
What Is Northumberland County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Northumberland County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state and serve as the authoritative source of information for background checks, legal proceedings, and public safety purposes.
Key distinctions exist among the various types of criminal records:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Under Pennsylvania law, an arrest without a subsequent conviction does not constitute a criminal record for most public disclosure purposes.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Pennsylvania classifies criminal offenses into felonies (Grades F1, F2, F3) and misdemeanors (Grades M1, M2, M3), with felonies carrying more severe penalties. Both categories are documented in criminal history records.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public. Juvenile adjudication records are confidential under Pennsylvania law and are typically sealed to protect the minor's privacy.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current outstanding orders for arrest, while historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions.
Records maintained in Northumberland County include charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies responsible for maintaining these records include:
- Northumberland County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records and jail booking information
- Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas — maintains case filings, dockets, and court dispositions
- Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
- Local municipal police departments — maintain incident and arrest reports at the municipal level
Pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 9102, criminal history record information is defined as information collected by criminal justice agencies concerning individuals, including identifiable descriptions, notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, and the outcomes of those proceedings.
Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 988-4100 Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas
Are Criminal Records Public In Northumberland County
Criminal records in Northumberland County are generally accessible to the public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.) establishes a presumption that government records are public unless a specific exemption applies. Under this framework, adult conviction records, court dockets, and most criminal proceedings are available for public inspection.
The following categories of records are considered public:
- Adult conviction records and sentencing information
- Court dockets and case filings in the Court of Common Pleas
- Arrest logs maintained by law enforcement agencies
- Sex offender registration information through the Pennsylvania Megan's Law database
The following categories are restricted or exempt from public disclosure:
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed pursuant to 42 Pa. C.S. § 6307
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations
- Expunged or limited access records granted by court order
- Confidential informant information and certain victim data
- Mental health and medical records associated with criminal proceedings
Members of the public may inspect court records at the Northumberland County Courthouse during regular business hours. Certain restricted records require a court order or demonstrated legal interest before access is granted.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Northumberland County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Northumberland County may access them through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.
Step 1 — Identify the appropriate agency. Court case records are held by the Clerk of Courts. Arrest and booking records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office. Statewide criminal history is available through the Pennsylvania State Police.
Step 2 — Submit a request to the Clerk of Courts. Requestors may appear in person at the Northumberland County Courthouse, 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801, during public counter hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.). Requests may also be submitted in writing by mail.
Step 3 — Access the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal. The UJS Web Portal allows members of the public to search court dockets statewide, including Northumberland County, at no charge.
Step 4 — Request a statewide criminal history check through PSP. The Pennsylvania State Police administers the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system, which provides official criminal history background checks for individuals and authorized entities.
Step 5 — Pay applicable fees. Fees for certified copies and official background checks vary by agency. The PATCH system currently charges a fee per request for non-law-enforcement users.
Northumberland County Clerk of Courts 201 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 988-4200 Northumberland County Clerk of Courts
Northumberland County Sheriff's Office 399 Market Street, Sunbury, PA 17801 (570) 988-4280 Northumberland County Sheriff's Office
How To Find Criminal Records in Northumberland County Online?
Several online portals currently provide access to Northumberland County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal The UJS Web Portal is the primary online resource for court docket searches in Pennsylvania. Users may search by defendant name, date of birth, or docket number. The portal contains:
- Court of Common Pleas dockets
- Magisterial District Court dockets
- Case status, charges, and dispositions
- Scheduled hearing dates
No registration is required to perform a basic docket search. Certified copies of docket entries must be obtained through the Clerk of Courts.
Pennsylvania State Police PATCH System The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system provides official statewide criminal history background checks online. Users must create an account and pay the applicable fee. PATCH results reflect records maintained in the PSP central repository and are accepted for employment, licensing, and volunteer screening purposes.
Northumberland County Magisterial District Courts Magisterial District Court records for summary offenses and preliminary hearings are also searchable through the UJS portal. These records include traffic violations, summary criminal charges, and preliminary arraignment information.
Pennsylvania Megan's Law Website The Pennsylvania Megan's Law database allows members of the public to search for registered sex offenders by name, zip code, or county. This resource is maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Records involving expunged cases, juvenile matters, and sealed proceedings are not available through any public online portal.
Can You Search Northumberland County Criminal Records for Free?
Pennsylvania law permits members of the public to inspect public records at no charge. Under 65 P.S. § 67.702, agencies may not charge a fee for the inspection of public records; fees apply only to duplication, certification, or postage.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- UJS Web Portal — Free docket searches for all Pennsylvania courts, including Northumberland County, are available at the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal
- In-person inspection at the Clerk of Courts — Members of the public may review court files at the Northumberland County Courthouse without charge during public counter hours
- Pennsylvania Megan's Law database — Free public search of registered sex offenders statewide
- Northumberland County online resources — Basic case information accessible through the county's official web presence
Fees are assessed for the following services:
- Certified copies of court documents
- Official PATCH criminal history background check reports
- Copies of arrest reports or booking photographs
- Postage and handling for mailed requests
Members of the public seeking to request a criminal history background check through the Pennsylvania State Police should be aware that a processing fee applies to each individual search submitted through the PATCH system.
What's Included in a Northumberland County Criminal Record?
A complete criminal record in Northumberland County may contain several categories of information, depending on the maintaining agency and the nature of the individual's criminal history.
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth and place of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph (mugshot)
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI Number (if applicable)
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Booking number and facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail or bond amount and conditions
- Jail facility and housing status
Court Case Information
- Case number and court jurisdiction
- Filing date and assigned judge
- Charges and applicable statutes (felony or misdemeanor classification)
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere)
- Attorney of record and representation status
Disposition Information
- Verdict (guilty, not guilty, nolle prosequi, dismissed)
- Conviction date and offense of conviction
- Sentencing details (incarceration length, fines, restitution, community service)
- Conditions of probation or parole
- Appeals filed and outcomes
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective orders and restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status
- DUI/DWI convictions and related license actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in Magisterial District Court
- Pending charges and open cases
How Long Does Northumberland County Keep Criminal Records?
Northumberland County and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintain criminal records according to established retention schedules mandated by state law and the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission.
Current retention periods for principal record categories are as follows:
- Felony conviction records — Retained permanently by the Pennsylvania State Police and the Court of Common Pleas
- Misdemeanor conviction records — Retained permanently in the statewide criminal history repository
- Arrest records without conviction — Subject to expungement petition under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122; otherwise retained until expunged by court order
- Court dockets and case files — Retained permanently for felony matters; misdemeanor and summary offense records retained for a minimum of 10 years following case closure
- Juvenile records — Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and may be expunged upon petition; retained for a minimum period as specified under 42 Pa. C.S. § 6341
- Booking and jail records — Retained by the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office for a minimum of seven years
- Probation and parole records — Retained for a minimum of five years following discharge from supervision
The Pennsylvania State Records Committee and the Pennsylvania State Archives publish official records retention schedules applicable to county criminal justice agencies. Agencies are required to comply with these schedules and may not destroy records prior to the expiration of the applicable retention period without authorization.
Pennsylvania State Police — Central Repository 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 783-5592 Pennsylvania State Police