Centre County PA Warrant Search

Thank you for visiting this page. We will strive to help you with your Centre County PA Warrant Search and provide the key details you need.

If you want to start a Centre County PA Warrant Search right now, you can visit https://pennsylvaniawarrantrecords.com/centre-county-warrant-search/ to access available online search tools. This resource may offer a quick way to begin your search for warrant information within Centre County. Exploring official channels, which we detail below, will provide more in-depth and direct information from the source. These official avenues are vital for comprehensive checks.

Understanding Warrant Types in Centre County

Warrants are of a few kinds. Each has a set use in law. It is good to know the type of warrant you seek. This helps your search.

Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court rule. A judge gives it out. It lets police take a per son in. This is for a crime charge. The warrant has the name of the per son. It lists the crime too. Law keepers, like the Sheriff, use these. They must show they have good cause. This means there is a real rea son to think the per son did the crime. These are a big step in the law path. They are not made with no thought.

Arrest warrants come from a judge. This is after a plea by police. The police must show facts. These facts must point to the named per son. And to the crime done. The Sheriff's Office plays a part here. They may ask for warrants. They also serve them. This means they find the per son. Then they take them in based on the warrant. It is a key task for them. They work to keep the peace. And to see that court rules are met.

Bench Warrants

A bench warrant is not like an arrest warrant. A judge gives this type out too. But it is often for not doing what the court said. For one, if you miss a court date. Or if you do not pay a fine. The judge can then rule for a bench warrant. This lets police take you in. The goal is to make you show up in court. Or to make you do what the court asked. It is a tool for the court. To make sure its rules are met.

Bench warrants often come from not going to court. A judge issues these to bring a person to court. This is not always for a new crime. It is for not following court orders. If a person fails to show for a hearing, a judge can issue one. If they do not pay a court-ordered fine, this may also lead to a bench warrant. The warrant tells law enforcement to arrest the person. Then, they must bring them before the court. This ensures the court process can go on. It is a serious matter.

Other Related Legal Orders

There are other court rules too. Some are like warrants but for civil law. For instance, an eviction order is a court rule. It tells a person they must leave a place. While this guide is on crime warrants, it is good to know these exist. The Prothonotary's office deals with civil case files. Some of these may lead to court rules. But for a "Centre County PA Warrant Search" for crime, the focus is on arrest and bench warrants.

Official Channels for Centre County PA Warrant Search

To find out if a warrant is out for some one in Centre Coun ty, PA, you have a few paths. There is not one main web site for all Centre Coun ty war rants. You may need to check more than one place. Each place has its own role in the law.

Centre County Sheriff's Office

The Sher iff's Of fice in Cen tre Coun ty is key for war rants. They serve many war rants. They also help keep the courts safe. If you have a ques tion on a war rant, they may help. They work hard to find folk with live war rants. This is part of their job.

The Centre County Sheriff's Office is a primary agency for handling warrants. They are responsible for the service of arrest warrants. They also execute bench warrants issued by the courts. Deputies work to apprehend individuals who have active warrants. You can ask them if a warrant exists. They may guide you on how to find this information. Or they might tell you if they can share that fact. It is best to call or go there in person.

You can reach the Centre County Sheriff's Office at:

• Physical Address: Centre County Courthouse, 213 E High Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823

• Phone: (814) 355-6803

• Fax: (814) 548-1111

• Hours: Office hours are usually Mon day to Fri day, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. Call to check.

The Sheriff, Bryan Sampsel, leads the office. While their website does not show a live list of warrants to search, they do have an Inmate Listing. This list can show if a person is in jail. This might be due to a warrant. For direct warrant questions, call them.

Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) Portal

The state of Pennsylvania has a web site for court files. It is the UJS Por tal. You can look up court case sheets here. This can give clues if a war rant might be out. It is a good tool for your search.

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal provides public access to court information. This includes docket sheets for various courts in Pennsylvania. You can search these dockets for cases in Centre County. You can search by a person's name. You can also search by case number. The docket sheet will show the case steps. It might show if a warrant was issued. It will not just say "active warrant list". But it gives lots of facts on cases. The state also has a free app. It is called PAeDocket. You can search court cases there too. This site is a key place for a "Centre County PA Warrant Search".

To use the UJS Portal:

1. Go to https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/.

2. Look for "Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania: Docket Sheets".

3. You can choose to search Magisterial District Court dockets or Common Pleas Court dockets.

4. Enter the search details like name or docket number.

This tool is free to search. You may have to pay for some copies of papers. The site gives a lot of data. It helps you see what is in court files.

Magisterial District Courts in Centre County

The Magisterial District Courts are the first courts most folk see. They deal with small claims. And things like bad checks or traffic tickets. They also hold first hear ings for big crimes. These courts can give out some war rants. So, they are a part of your search.

Magisterial District Judges (MDJs) handle many types of cases. They preside over preliminary arraignments and preliminary hearings in criminal cases. They can issue arrest warrants and search warrants. They also handle summary offenses and civil claims up to $12,000. Information regarding warrants issued by an MDJ may be found in the case docket. You can search these dockets on the UJS Portal. Or you can call the MDJ office for that area. Centre County has an online Magisterial District Court Finder to help you find the right court. This tool uses an address to find the correct MDJ office.

Here are the Magisterial District Judge offices in Centre County. Their hours are usually Mon day to Fri day, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Call to check.

• Magisterial District Judge Donald M. Hahn (District 49-1-01)
  
  

  • Serves: State College Borough (parts of)

  • Address: 131 South Fraser Street, State College, PA 16801

  • Phone: (814) 231-1420

  • Fax: (814) 231-1428

• Magisterial District Judge Casey M. McClain (District 49-2-01)
  
  

  • Serves: College Township (parts of), Ferguson Township, Halfmoon Township, Patton Township

  • Address: 1524 West College Avenue, Box 11, State College, PA 16801

  • Phone: (814) 237-4981

  • Fax: (814) 231-1429

• Magisterial District Judge Kelley Gillette-Walker (District 49-3-02)
  
  

  • Serves: Bellefonte Borough, Howard Borough, Milesburg Borough, Unionville Borough; Benner Township, Boggs Township, Curtin Township, Howard Township, Liberty Township, Marion Township, Spring Township (parts of), Union Township, Walker Township  

  • Address: 3555 Benner Pike, Suite C, Bellefonte, PA 16823

  • Phone: (814) 355-6739

  • Fax: (814) 355-8644

• Magisterial District Judge Allen Sinclair (District 49-3-03)
  
  

  • Serves: Philipsburg Borough, Port Matilda Borough, Snow Shoe Borough; Burnside Township, Huston Township, Rush Township, Snow Shoe Township, South Philipsburg Borough, Taylor Township, Worth Township

  • Address: 118 Enterprise Drive, Philipsburg, PA 16866

  • Phone: (814) 342-4557

  • Fax: (814) 342-0292

• Magisterial District Judge Gregory M. Koehle (District 49-3-04)
  
  

  • Serves: Centre Hall Borough, Millheim Borough; College Township (parts of), Gregg Township, Haines Township, Harris Township, Miles Township, Penn Township, Potter Township, Spring Township (parts of)

  • Address: 2795 Earlystown Road, Centre Hall, PA 16828

  • Phone: (814) 364-1492

  • Fax: (814) 364-5110

• Magisterial District Judge Steven Lachman (District 49-3-05)
  
  

  • Serves: State College Borough (parts of)

  • Address: 121 South Pugh Street, State College, PA 16801

  • Phone: (814) 861-7406

  • Fax: (814) 861-7453

You can call the right court for the area you need. Ask them how to find out if a war rant is on file.

Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts

The Pro thon o ta ry and Clerk of Courts keeps files for the Court of Com mon Pleas. These are for both crime and civ il cases. While they may not have a list of "live warrants," the case files here are key. A case file will show if a war rant was made in that case.

The office of the Centre County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts maintains records for the Court of Common Pleas. This includes criminal case files. These files contain detailed information about cases. This can include whether a warrant was issued. You can search some case information online. You can also request records in person or by mail. This office is a good place to check for detailed court case data as part of your "Centre County PA Warrant Search." They have a specific form for record requests.

• Contact Information:

  • Jeremy S. Breon, Prothonotary & Clerk of Courts

  • Address: Centre County Courthouse, 102 S Allegheny Street, Room 102, Bellefonte, PA 16823

  • Phone: (814) 355-6796

  • Hours: Mon day to Fri day, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. (Passport hours are by appointment only).

• Online Case Search: Centre County offers an online portal for case searches, often linked from the Prothonotary's page on the Centre County Government website. This is a good place to start.

• Record Requests: You can request records in person. You can also mail or email a Record Request Form (check their site for the latest form). Fees for copies and searches may apply. For example, copies might be $0.25 per page. A certified copy could be more. A search fee of $7 for a 7-year search range may be charged.

This office is vital for formal record checks. The staff can help you find public case information.

Understanding Your Rights and Legal Processes

When you look for war rant data, know your rights. Pennsylvania law gives you the right to see public files. It is al so good to know what can happen if a warrant is real.

Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law

Pennsylvania has a "Right to Know Law." This law says that most government files are public. This means you can ask to see them. This helps keep things open and fair. War rant data can be part of these public files. But some rules may mean some facts are kept sealed.

The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (RTKL) ensures citizens can access government records. This includes records from law enforcement and courts. Many court records are presumed public under this law. And also under the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. You can make a request for records. You can do this online, by mail, or in person. Centre County has an Open Records Request page on its official website. This page explains how to submit a request. It also tells you who the Open Records Officer is for the county. This law is a strong tool for your search. It supports your need for a full "Centre County PA Warrant Search."

What Happens if a Warrant is Active?

If there is a live war rant, the per son can be taken in. This means they can be arrested. This can happen at any time. It is a grave thing. If you find out there is a war rant for you, it is best to get help from a lawyer. They can tell you what to do. They can help you deal with the court. Do not try to run from it. That can make things worse. Get good advice.

An active warrant authorizes law enforcement to arrest the named individual. This arrest can occur during a traffic stop. It can happen at home or at work. Once arrested, the person will be processed. This includes booking and identification. Bail may be set depending on the charges and the warrant. It's very important to address an active warrant. Ignoring it can lead to more legal problems. Speaking with an attorney is a wise step. A lawyer can explain the charges. They can advise on how to respond to the warrant. They can represent the person in court.

Additional Resources and Information

Some other tools and places may help in your search. They may not give a "yes" or "no" on a warrant. But they give facts that can be useful. These are good to know for a full search.

Pennsylvania State Police Access to Criminal History (PATCH)

The Pennsylvania State Po lice have a tool called PATCH. It lets you get a criminal history re port. This is not a direct war rant search. But it shows arrests and court results. This can be part of a big back ground check.

The Pennsylvania State Police Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system provides criminal history record checks. It does not offer a direct "Centre County PA Warrant Search" list. However, a criminal history report will show arrests. It will also show convictions. This information could relate to a warrant. There are different ways to use PATCH:

• Online Request: Most requests can be done online. There is a fee of $22 per report.

• Paper Application: You can submit Form SP4-164 for general purposes. Form SP4-170 is for an individual to access their own full history. Fees apply for these too. PATCH is a state resource. It covers records from all of Pennsylvania, not just Centre County. This can be useful for a broader search.

Centre County Records Management

The Centre County Office of Records Management keeps many county files. They help all county offices with their records. They do not give re cords right to the public. But they can tell you which office has the records you need.

The Centre County Office of Records Management is at:

• Physical Address: Willowbank Office Building, 408 Holmes Street, Bellefonte, PA 16823

• Phone: (814) 355-6705

• Hours: Mon day - Fri day, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM. This office does not directly provide warrant information to the public. Their role is to manage records for all county government offices. If you are unsure which specific county office holds a record (like an old court case), they might be able to direct you. However, for active warrant searches, the Sheriff's Office or court system portals are more direct routes. The Records Management office states that if you are looking for a particular type of record, you should contact the office that maintains that record directly.

Inmate Locators

An inmate look up tool can tell you if some one is in jail. If a person was taken in on a warrant, they would be on such a list. This is not a direct warrant search. But it can show the result of a warrant.

Centre County provides an Inmate Listing link on its website. This link often directs to a statewide victim notification network like VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday). These systems allow you to search for individuals incarcerated in county jails or state prisons. If a person was recently arrested on a warrant in Centre County, they might appear in this system. Searching an inmate locator is an indirect way to see if a warrant may have been served. Remember, this only shows if someone is currently in custody, not if an unserved warrant exists.