Centre County Arrest Records Pennsylvania
Centre County arrest records are public documents maintained by the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts in Bellefonte, Pennsylvania. The county is home to Penn State University and covers a wide area of central Pennsylvania, with multiple law enforcement agencies contributing to the public record. You can search Centre County criminal records online through the state court portal, submit a records request to the county offices, or use the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system for a full history. This page walks you through each option.
Centre County Quick Facts
Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts
The Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts is the permanent records office for the Court of Common Pleas in Bellefonte. This office files, dockets, and maintains all civil and criminal court transactions, judgments, and other case records for Centre County. It also handles bail money, processing collection and return to the surety when cases conclude.
The Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts page covers the office's functions and how to contact them. The office is at 102 South Allegheny Street, Room 102, in Bellefonte. The phone number is (814) 355-6796. Public access hours run from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM Monday through Friday, excluding holidays. The office also processes passport applications and naturalization ceremonies, making it a central civic hub for Centre County.
You can submit records requests by email to prothonotaryandclerkofcourtsrecords@centrecountypa.gov. The office also accepts mail requests at 102 South Allegheny Street Room 102, Bellefonte, PA 16823. A records request form is required for case records. Do not send .ZIP files, as those are automatically blocked by the office's email system.
| Office |
Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts 102 South Allegheny Street, Room 102 Bellefonte, PA 16823 Phone: (814) 355-6796 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM (excluding holidays) |
| Website | centrecountypa.gov |
Centre County Open Records Requests
Centre County provides an online case search portal with historical and current data. A tutorial guide is available to help users navigate the portal. You can also file orders and requests via email to Prothonotary/ClerkofCourts-orders@centrecountypa.gov. All Right-to-Know Law requests for Centre County Government and the District Attorney's office go through the online portal at centrecountypa.nextrequest.com, and all responses are sent through that same portal.
The Centre County Open Records Request page explains the process and links to the request portal. This is the starting point for any public records request not covered by a direct visit to the Clerk's office. Responses are tracked online, and you can check the status of your request through the portal. The $0.25 per page copying fee applies to paper copies.
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives the public the right to request most government records. Centre County must respond within five business days. If a request is denied, you have 15 business days from the response date or deemed denial to file an appeal with the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Note: The Centre County online portal requires requests for records to be submitted with the standard form. Incomplete requests or .ZIP file attachments will not be processed.
District Attorney and Sheriff Records in Centre County
The Centre County District Attorney's Office handles Right-to-Know requests for criminal investigative records. The Open Records Officer is Hunter Fedora, a Centre County Assistant District Attorney. The office is on the 3rd Floor of the Courthouse Annex at 106 East High Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823. Copying fees are $0.25 per page.
The Centre County Right-to-Know Law Requests page lists the correct contacts for different types of records. For Court-related requests, the Court Administrator is Kendra Miknis. For Sheriff records, the contact is Sheriff Bryan Sampsel. Using the right contact for your type of request helps ensure you get a response faster.
Appeals from any Centre County Right-to-Know denial must be submitted to the Office of Open Records within 15 business days. The appeal must include a copy of the original request, a copy of the agency's response, a written statement explaining why you believe the records should be released, and a statement addressing the specific grounds the agency cited for the denial.
The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 controls how criminal history data is shared. Investigative records, juvenile records, and some sensitive case details may not be released under a standard Right-to-Know request.
Search Centre County Criminal Records Online
Free online access to Centre County court dockets is available through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Choose Public Web Docket Sheets, select Criminal, then pick Centre County. You can search by participant name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, hearings, and case dispositions.
Multiple Magisterial District Courts serve Centre County, including courts in Bellefonte, Centre Hall, Philipsburg, and State College. MDJ dockets are also on the UJS Portal. Penn State University Police maintain separate records for incidents on campus, and those may not appear in county dockets unless they were referred to the county court system. State Police cover rural townships throughout Centre County and submit records to the statewide system.
For a full Pennsylvania criminal history check, use the PATCH system at epatch.state.pa.us. The fee is $22 per check. Local agencies feeding the PATCH database for Centre County include State College Police, Bellefonte Police, Philipsburg Police, Penn State University Police, and the Pennsylvania State Police. Results cover all counties, not just Centre. Mail requests use Form SP 4-164, and notarized copies are available for an added fee.
For state prison inmates, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov is the right tool. This free search covers all state correctional facilities for those convicted after a Centre County or other arrest.
Nearby Counties
Centre County borders seven other counties in central Pennsylvania. Use these links to locate arrest records in nearby areas.