Perry County Background Check Records Online
Perry County background check records are kept by the Court of Common Pleas in New Bloomfield, Pennsylvania. Founded in 1820, Perry County sits in south-central Pennsylvania directly across the Susquehanna River from Harrisburg and Dauphin County. The county has a population of about 46,000. Criminal records, court dockets, and warrant information are all available through the county courthouse or through statewide online tools. This page covers how to find and access Perry County background check records.
Perry County Quick Facts
Perry County Criminal Court Records
The Perry County Court of Common Pleas in New Bloomfield handles all felony and major misdemeanor criminal cases filed within the county. Each criminal case generates a docket sheet that becomes a public record. These sheets document the case number, defendant information, charges and offense grades, bail status, court hearings, and final dispositions. The Clerk of Courts office at 2 East Main Street is the primary custodian of these records.
The Perry County government website provides information for all county departments, including the courthouse offices that maintain public records.
Perry County is a mostly rural county with a strong historical identity. Its location directly west of Harrisburg gives it close ties to state government functions and resources. The county's small population means court staff are often accessible for direct questions about record searches. Background check records in Perry County are part of the statewide Pennsylvania court system and are searchable through both local and online channels.
Note: Perry County criminal dockets follow the statewide format used by all Pennsylvania Court of Common Pleas courts and are integrated into the UJS Portal alongside all other county records.
How to Search Perry County Background Check Records
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the easiest place to start a Perry County background check search. Use it to look up criminal dockets by name, case number, or offense tracking number. The portal is free and requires no account. Results include charges, bail information, hearing dates, and case status. Dockets from Perry County are fully integrated into this statewide system alongside all other Pennsylvania counties.
For certified records, contact the Perry County Clerk of Courts directly at (717) 582-2131 or visit 2 East Main Street, New Bloomfield, PA 17068. Staff can search by name or case number and tell you the cost for certified copies or a criminal record search. Mail requests are also accepted. Include the subject's full name, any known case number, the record type needed, and your return address. Enclose payment in the form of a check or money order made payable to Perry County.
The following types of criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Courts in Perry County:
- Felony case files and docket sheets
- Misdemeanor case records and appeals
- Summary conviction appeals
- Bail bond records
- Expungement filings
Perry County Clerk of Courts and Court Offices
The Perry County Clerk of Courts is the main office for criminal court records in the county. It accepts case filings, stores court documents, issues certified copies, and processes expungement petitions. This is the first place to contact for any background check request tied to criminal court proceedings in Perry County.
The Perry County Clerk of Courts handles all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas.
The Perry County Prothonotary handles civil records at the same courthouse. This includes civil judgments, name changes, custody filings, and protection from abuse orders. Civil records can be relevant to background checks in some contexts. The Prothonotary is also located at 2 East Main Street in New Bloomfield and can be reached for civil record inquiries.
The Perry County Prothonotary maintains civil court filings that may be relevant to a comprehensive background check in this county.
Civil records often complement criminal records in a thorough background check. Protection from abuse orders, civil judgments, and related filings are maintained separately from criminal dockets but remain public under Pennsylvania law.
| Clerk of Courts |
Perry County Courthouse 2 East Main Street New Bloomfield, PA 17068 Phone: (717) 582-2131 perryco.org/clerk-of-courts |
|---|---|
| Prothonotary | perryco.org/prothonotary |
| Sheriff | perryco.org/sheriff |
| County Website | perryco.org |
PATCH System and UJS Portal for Perry County
The Pennsylvania PATCH system is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and provides certified statewide criminal history reports. PATCH pulls records from all 67 counties, making it the most comprehensive tool for a background check that spans beyond Perry County alone. Visit pa.gov/agencies/psp to submit a PATCH request online. Name-based and fingerprint-based searches are both available. Fees apply. PATCH reports are widely accepted as official documentation of a person's Pennsylvania criminal history.
The UJS Portal is the free public complement to PATCH. Use it at ujsportal.pacourts.us to search Perry County dockets without cost. It returns results from all county courts including Perry and shows charge details, dispositions, and case history. Neither the UJS Portal nor PATCH replaces an in-person review of the full case file, but together they give a strong foundation for any Perry County background check.
Note: Under 18 Pa.C.S. §9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act sets out how criminal records must be handled, maintained, and shared by agencies in Pennsylvania including Perry County.
Perry County Public Records and Sheriff
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law allows any person to request public records from Perry County government offices. The county must acknowledge a request within five business days. If the request is denied, you may appeal to the state Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Court records, including criminal dockets and civil filings, are generally public documents in Perry County and do not require a formal records request to access.
The Perry County Sheriff's Office plays a central role in warrant enforcement and background check support at the local level. The Sheriff handles active warrant service, civil process, and court transport. Visit perryco.org/sheriff for contact details and office information.
The Perry County Sheriff manages warrant enforcement and service of process for the county.
The Sheriff's office can confirm whether an active warrant exists in Perry County for a specific individual. This is useful for background check purposes when you want to know if someone has an outstanding warrant in addition to their court record history. Both the courthouse and sheriff's office are located in New Bloomfield, the Perry County seat.
Perry County Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry
Pennsylvania's Megan's Law registry includes every registered sex offender in the state, including those in Perry County. Search the database at pameganslaw.state.pa.us for free. No login or account is needed. Search by name, address, or zip code to find registrants in New Bloomfield, Duncannon, Newport, or other Perry County communities. Results show the registrant's photo, current address, and offense history.
Registration tiers in Pennsylvania are based on the seriousness of the offense. Tier I offenders must register for 15 years. Tier II requires 25 years. Tier III offenders must register for life. The Perry County Sheriff's Office works with the Pennsylvania State Police to monitor compliance in this county. Report any suspected registration violations to the Sheriff or to the State Police directly.
Clean Slate and Expungement in Perry County
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law creates automatic record sealing for many qualifying criminal records. Under Clean Slate 3.0, enacted in 2023, misdemeanor convictions are sealed after seven years with no new offense, summary offenses are sealed after five years, and certain non-violent drug felonies also qualify. These sealings happen without any action by the individual. Once sealed, records are removed from public view and will not appear in standard background check searches for Perry County or any other Pennsylvania county. Visit iprospectcheck.com/pennsylvania-background-checks for a detailed overview of what qualifies.
For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, a formal expungement petition may be filed with the Perry County Clerk of Courts. The governing statute is 18 Pa.C.S. §9122.2. Contact the office at (717) 582-2131 to ask about eligibility, fees, and filing procedures. An expungement order permanently clears the record from public databases and PATCH reports throughout Pennsylvania.
DHS clearances under Act 153 of 2014 are required for individuals who work or volunteer with children in Perry County, as in all Pennsylvania counties. Submit these clearances through the state portal at compass.state.pa.us. The process covers both criminal history and child abuse registry checks and is managed at the state level regardless of county.
Nearby Counties
Perry County borders several south-central Pennsylvania counties. Harrisburg and the state capitol are just across the Susquehanna River in Dauphin County. If records you need are not in Perry County, one of these neighbors may hold them.