Westmoreland County Background Check Records and Court Access
Westmoreland County is located in southwestern Pennsylvania, with Greensburg as its county seat. The county has a population of approximately 351,000 residents and covers a large area stretching from the Pittsburgh metropolitan fringe to the Laurel Highlands. Background check records for Westmoreland County are maintained through several local offices and statewide systems. The Court of Common Pleas at the Westmoreland County Courthouse in Greensburg handles felony and appellate criminal cases. The Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Sheriff's Office all maintain records relevant to a Westmoreland County background check. This page covers each office, online search options, and the state laws that govern criminal history records in Pennsylvania.
Westmoreland County Quick Facts
Westmoreland County Government and Background Check Resources
The Westmoreland County government website connects residents and researchers to county offices, forms, and contact information across all major departments. This portal serves as the primary access point for locating records offices relevant to a Westmoreland County background check. The county government operates under a commissioner structure with several elected row officers, including the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Sheriff, each maintaining separate record systems at the Westmoreland County Courthouse.
The Westmoreland County government portal at co.westmoreland.pa.us lists each department's hours, phone numbers, and contact forms. For background check research, the most relevant departments are the Clerk of Courts, the Prothonotary, and the Sheriff's Office, all located at 2 North Main Street in Greensburg.
Westmoreland County is part of the 10th Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The Court of Common Pleas for the 10th Judicial District handles all felony prosecutions and misdemeanor appeals filed in the county. Cases are assigned the county identifier 65 within the statewide unified judicial system. Criminal dockets from Westmoreland County carry the prefix CP-65-CR in the Court of Common Pleas and MJ-65 in Magisterial District Courts. These prefixes allow researchers to filter Westmoreland County records precisely when using the UJS Portal. The courthouse at 2 North Main Street in Greensburg is the central location for in-person record access.
Westmoreland County is a significant county by population and court activity in western Pennsylvania. Its proximity to Allegheny County and the Pittsburgh region means it sees a broad range of criminal case types, including drug offenses, financial crimes, violent offenses, and traffic-related matters. All dispositions from Westmoreland County courts are reported to the Pennsylvania State Police and incorporated into the statewide criminal history repository, making them accessible through a PATCH background check.
Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
The Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts is the official custodian of criminal court records for the county. The office maintains felony case files, misdemeanor appeal records, and summary appeal records processed through the Court of Common Pleas. These records form the core of any in-person Westmoreland County background check search conducted at the courthouse. The Clerk's office is located at Suite 301 of the Westmoreland County Courthouse.
The Westmoreland County Clerk of Courts office is located at 2 North Main Street, Suite 301, Greensburg, PA 15601. The phone number is (724) 830-3380. The office maintains all official criminal court filings for the county, including charging documents, plea records, hearing transcripts, verdicts, and sentencing orders. Certified copies of court records carry a per-document fee and must be requested in person or by mail.
| Location | 2 North Main Street, Suite 301, Greensburg, PA 15601 |
|---|---|
| Phone | (724) 830-3380 |
| Website | co.westmoreland.pa.us |
To obtain records in person, bring a government-issued photo ID and have the case number or subject's full legal name available. Staff can assist with name searches. Mail requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, the type of record needed, and a self-addressed stamped envelope with appropriate payment. Plain copies are typically available for a per-page fee. Certified copies carry a higher fee and are necessary when the record must be presented as official documentation in a legal or administrative proceeding.
Note: Criminal records for Westmoreland County cases that originated as summary offenses and were not appealed remain with the individual Magisterial District Courts, not with the Clerk of Courts at the courthouse.Westmoreland County Prothonotary Civil Records
The Westmoreland County Prothonotary maintains civil court records for the county. This office handles filings for civil cases including personal injury suits, contract disputes, and domestic relations matters. While civil records are not part of a standard criminal background check, civil judgments and liens may appear in comprehensive public records searches. Researchers who need a full picture of a person's legal history in Westmoreland County should be aware that civil filings are held separately from criminal records.
The Westmoreland County Prothonotary is located at 2 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. The phone number is (724) 830-3388. Civil dockets searchable through the UJS Portal carry the prefix CP-65-CV for Court of Common Pleas civil cases. The Prothonotary also handles filings related to name changes, adoption decrees, and real estate judgments.
Civil judgment records from the Prothonotary's office in Westmoreland County are public records accessible to anyone. A civil judgment does not constitute a criminal record and will not appear in a PATCH criminal history result. However, judgment records are part of the public court docket and appear in UJS Portal searches. Researchers conducting due diligence on a Westmoreland County individual may find the Prothonotary records useful as a supplement to criminal background check findings from PATCH or the Clerk of Courts.
Westmoreland County Sheriff Warrants and Records
The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office is headquartered at the Westmoreland County Courthouse, 2 North Main Street, Greensburg, PA 15601. The phone number is (724) 830-3400. The Sheriff's Office is responsible for civil process service, warrant execution, court security, county jail operations, and prisoner transport. Active warrants issued by Westmoreland County courts are maintained by this office and tracked within the criminal justice system.
Warrant information connected to a Westmoreland County court case will appear in the case docket accessible through the UJS Portal. Bench warrants issued for failure to appear are attached to the open case record and visible publicly. Active arrest warrants tied to ongoing investigations may have limited public visibility until the subject is taken into custody. The Westmoreland County Sheriff's Office can be contacted directly at (724) 830-3400 to inquire about specific warrant matters.
The Westmoreland County jail is operated by the Sheriff's Office and holds individuals awaiting trial or serving sentences of under two years. Jail records and inmate information may be available through the Sheriff's Office upon request. For individuals sentenced to state prison, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains separate inmate records accessible through the statewide inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. The Sheriff's Office also maintains records of civil sheriff sales and levies, which are separate from criminal history records for Westmoreland County background check purposes.
PATCH and UJS Portal for Westmoreland County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, is the official source for statewide criminal background checks, including Westmoreland County records. PATCH is administered by the Pennsylvania State Police and draws from the central criminal history repository maintained under 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act. Results cover reportable offenses from all Pennsylvania counties where a person has a criminal history, including Westmoreland County. The PATCH system requires account creation and payment before submitting a request. Results typically return within 7 to 14 business days.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us offers free, public access to case dockets for all Pennsylvania courts, including those in Westmoreland County. You can search by name, filtering by county code 65 or by the county name to isolate Westmoreland County results. Docket sheets show charges, hearing dates, plea entries, verdicts, and sentences. The UJS Portal covers both the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts within Westmoreland County. Docket data is informational and should not replace an official PATCH background check when an authoritative result is required.
For child abuse history clearances required under Act 153 of 2014, the process runs through the Pennsylvania Department of Human Services Childline system, separate from PATCH. Individuals working in roles involving direct contact with minors in Westmoreland County may be required to obtain both a PATCH criminal history clearance and a separate child abuse clearance. The DHS clearance portal is available at compass.state.pa.us. Both clearances may be required simultaneously depending on the role and the organization.
Note: PATCH results reflect data reported by courts and law enforcement agencies; there may be a processing lag before a recent Westmoreland County disposition appears in the PATCH system.Westmoreland County Clean Slate and Expungement
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law, codified at 18 Pa.C.S. Section 9122.2, automatically seals qualifying misdemeanor convictions from public view after 10 years with no subsequent offenses. This automatic sealing applies to non-violent misdemeanor convictions that fall below specific offense thresholds. Once sealed under Clean Slate, a Westmoreland County record no longer appears in standard PATCH results or in public UJS Portal docket searches. No petition or legal action is required from the individual. The Pennsylvania State Police processes Clean Slate sealing on a rolling basis as cases become eligible.
Expungement offers more complete relief by permanently removing a criminal record from the state system. In Westmoreland County, expungement petitions must be filed with the Court of Common Pleas at the courthouse in Greensburg. Cases that were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or were resolved through an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program may be eligible for expungement. After the court issues an expungement order, the Pennsylvania State Police removes the record from PATCH and coordinates the removal of federal records with the FBI.
Individuals with Westmoreland County records who believe their case may qualify for Clean Slate sealing or expungement can contact the Clerk of Courts at (724) 830-3380 for guidance on how to check the status of their case. Legal aid organizations serving western Pennsylvania may also be able to assist with petitions. The Office of Open Records provides information on the Right-to-Know process for Westmoreland County records that fall outside the court system.
Nearby Counties
Westmoreland County borders seven Pennsylvania counties. Each maintains its own Clerk of Courts and participates in the statewide UJS Portal for criminal record searches.