Adams County Police Records Search
Adams County sits in south-central Pennsylvania, home to Gettysburg and a growing population of about 103,000 residents. Police records here cover arrest logs, incident reports, criminal case files, and public safety data maintained across multiple county offices. The Adams County Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, and Prothonotary each hold different types of records. State Police at the Gettysburg barracks also serve parts of the county. This guide explains how to find Adams County police records using local offices, the state PATCH system, and online tools available to the public.
Adams County Quick Facts
Adams County Sheriff Police Records
The Adams County Sheriff's Office is located at 45 Baltimore Street in Gettysburg, PA 17325. You can reach them by phone at 717-334-7671. Sheriff James R. Muller oversees the office, which handles civil process, warrant service, and maintains public records related to sheriff's operations. The office has an online records request portal that makes it easier to submit requests without visiting in person.
The Adams County Sheriff's public records page outlines what types of records are available and how to request them. You can also use the online records request form to submit a formal written request. Records available through the Sheriff's office include warrant information and civil case service records.
The sheriff's office also provides inmate information and a warrant search tool. These are public-facing tools that help residents check on active warrants or confirm custody status. Not every record is freely available. Some require a formal Right-to-Know request under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office website at adamssheriffco.gov is a good starting point. It lists office hours, contact details, and links to the records section. Hours are generally Monday through Friday during normal business hours.
The Adams County Prothonotary's office, led by Susan M. Culp, is located at 111-117 Baltimore Street, Room 106, and can be reached at 717-334-6781. The Prothonotary maintains civil court filings and docket records, which are separate from criminal police records but relevant to civil judgments and related case information.
The image below is from the Adams County Prothonotary's official page, showing the county's civil records office.
The Prothonotary's office maintains records going back many years and can assist with civil case lookups that intersect with law enforcement activity.
Adams County Clerk of Courts Criminal Records
For criminal court records in Adams County, contact the Clerk of Courts. Kelly A. Lawver serves as Clerk and is located at 111-117 Baltimore Street, Room 107, Gettysburg. The phone number is 717-334-6781. The Clerk of Courts maintains adult criminal case files, including charges, dispositions, sentencing records, and related court documents.
Criminal history records maintained by the Clerk of Courts are governed under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183, known as the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA). This law controls who can access certain types of criminal record data and under what conditions. The Clerk's office can provide certified copies of criminal case records for a fee.
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal also provides online access to Adams County court dockets. This free tool lets you search by name or docket number and review publicly available case information without going to the courthouse. It covers criminal, civil, and traffic cases handled in the Adams County Court of Common Pleas.
Note: Expunged records are not available through the UJS Portal or the Clerk of Courts per state law.
Adams County Right-to-Know Requests
Adams County has a designated Right-to-Know officer who handles formal public records requests under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104. Carissa Stone serves as the RTK officer and is located in Room 202 of the county government building. Her phone is 717-334-6781 ext. 2201, and her email is cstone@adamscountypa.gov. The Adams County Open Records page provides forms and guidance for submitting a request.
Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, agencies must respond within five business days. They may grant access, deny access with a written explanation, or request a 30-day extension. Copy fees are set at $0.25 per page for standard paper copies. You can appeal a denial to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Not all police records are subject to release under the RTKL. Active criminal investigation files, certain juvenile records, and information protected by other statutes may be withheld. The RTK officer will explain which exemptions apply in writing if a request is denied or partially denied.
Pennsylvania State Police Adams County Coverage
The Pennsylvania State Police serve areas of Adams County through the Gettysburg Barracks, located at 3033 Old Harrisburg Road, Gettysburg. The phone number is 717-334-8111. PSP patrols cover rural townships and areas not served by local municipal police departments. This includes much of the county's farmland and smaller communities.
PSP incident reports from the Gettysburg Barracks are state agency records. Requests for these reports go through the PSP Records Request portal. You can also submit a Right-to-Know request to the Pennsylvania State Police directly via the PSP RTK request page. Vehicle crash reports cost $22 and can be ordered through the crash report request page.
Adams County includes the Gettysburg National Military Park area and surrounding townships. PSP coverage in these rural zones means that many Adams County police records originate with the state barracks rather than a local department. Keep this in mind when searching for specific incident reports.
The Adams County Sheriff's Office records section is shown in the image below, sourced from the Adams County Sheriff's official website.
The Sheriff's office is open during regular business hours and welcomes in-person records requests in addition to online submissions.
Note: PSP does not release records for active investigations. Contact the barracks directly for questions about specific case status.
PATCH System for Adams County Criminal History
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system lets you request a statewide criminal history check through the Pennsylvania State Police. The fee is $22 per search. PATCH searches cover all counties, including Adams, and return conviction data maintained under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183.
You can submit a PATCH request online through the PATCH overview page. Results typically come back quickly for online requests. The system searches by name and date of birth and returns any Pennsylvania convictions on record. This is a common method used by individuals who need to verify their own criminal history or provide proof of a clean record.
Keep in mind that PATCH only shows conviction records, not arrests that did not lead to conviction. It also does not include federal records or records from other states. For a broader criminal history check, additional requests to federal agencies or other state systems may be needed.
Adams County Arrest Records and Incident Reports
Arrest records in Adams County may come from several sources: the Adams County Sheriff, local municipal police departments (such as the Gettysburg Borough Police), or the Pennsylvania State Police. Each agency maintains its own incident reports and arrest logs.
Municipal police departments in Adams County handle calls within their borough or township limits. Gettysburg Borough, for example, has its own police department that generates incident reports and arrest records separate from the Sheriff or PSP. To obtain records from a specific municipal department, contact that department directly. Many departments will require a written records request.
The image below comes from the Adams County Sheriff's public records and fee schedules page, which lists the types of records maintained and the associated request procedures.
Fee schedules and record types vary between agencies. Always confirm current fees before submitting payment. Some agencies only accept money orders or checks for records fees.
Megan's Law Sex Offender Registry in Adams County
Pennsylvania's Megan's Law registry is maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police and is publicly searchable online. You can search for registered sex offenders in Adams County, Gettysburg, or any specific address through the Pennsylvania Megan's Law website. The registry lists offender names, addresses, photographs, and offense details where available.
Adams County offenders who are required to register with local police do so through the nearest PSP barracks. The Gettysburg Barracks serves this function for Adams County. Registration requirements vary based on offense type and tier classification under state law.
Nearby Counties
Adams County borders several counties in Pennsylvania and Maryland. If the records you need involve activity near county lines, check these neighboring counties as well.