Bedford County Police Records Search
Bedford County is a rural county in south-central Pennsylvania with a population of about 49,000 and its seat in the borough of Bedford. Police records here are held by the County Sheriff, Clerk of Courts, Prothonotary, and the Pennsylvania State Police, which covers most of the county's rural townships. Municipal police departments operate in a few boroughs but the majority of police work in Bedford County falls to PSP. This guide explains how to locate Bedford County police records, arrest records, and criminal case history using official county and state resources.
Bedford County Quick Facts
Bedford County Sheriff Police and Warrant Records
Sheriff Charwin Mowry leads the Bedford County Sheriff's Office at 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford, PA 15522. The phone is 814-623-5156. The Sheriff is responsible for warrant enforcement, civil process, court security, and issuing concealed carry permits. Permits cost $20 and are processed Monday through Friday during regular office hours.
The Bedford County Sheriff's page at bedfordcountypa.org/sheriff provides current information about services and contact details. Sheriff's records related to civil process and warrant activity may be requested through a written inquiry. Some records require a formal Right-to-Know submission under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
Because Bedford County is largely rural, the Sheriff's office and PSP handle most law enforcement activity. There is limited municipal police coverage compared to more urban counties. This means a larger share of arrest records and incident reports in Bedford County originate from Pennsylvania State Police patrols.
Note: Concealed carry permit records are not public records under Pennsylvania law and are not subject to routine disclosure.
Bedford County Clerk of Courts Criminal Case Files
Theresa M. Ebersole is the Bedford County Clerk of Courts at 200 South Juliana Street, Bedford. Her office phone is 814-623-4812. The Clerk maintains the official criminal case records for the Bedford County Court of Common Pleas. Files include charging papers, case dockets, guilty pleas, verdicts, sentencing orders, and probation records linked to court filings.
Criminal records kept by the Clerk fall under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183 (CHRIA). The Act governs how criminal history information is stored, accessed, and shared by courts and law enforcement agencies. Certified copies of case records cost a per-document fee. Call the Clerk's office to confirm current fees before visiting.
The UJS Portal offers free online access to Bedford County criminal and civil dockets. You can search by name or docket number and view case status, charges, and hearing schedules without visiting the courthouse. This is a convenient tool for preliminary research before submitting a formal records request.
Cathy R. Cale serves as Bedford County Prothonotary at the same 200 South Juliana Street address. The Prothonotary's number is 814-623-4814. The Prothonotary handles civil court filings and maintains civil docket records, which are separate from criminal records but relevant to civil judgments and related case history.
Bedford County Right-to-Know and Open Records
Carol L. Lohr serves as the Bedford County Right-to-Know officer. Her office is at 200 South Juliana Street, and her phone is 814-623-5147. The Bedford County Open Records page provides forms, guidance, and information about submitting a records request under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
Requests can be submitted in person, by mail, or by email. The county must respond within five business days with either access to the records, a denial with written explanation, or a request for a 30-day extension. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certification fees are charged separately for documents requiring a certified official copy.
Denied requests can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. The OOR handles appeals quickly and issues binding orders. If you believe records were improperly withheld, an appeal is worth filing. Many common denial reasons, such as claiming a general exemption without specifics, are not upheld on appeal.
Municipal police records in Bedford County require requests to the individual borough or township. The county RTK officer only handles records from county agencies. If you are looking for records from a local borough police department, contact that department's records office or local government office directly.
Pennsylvania State Police Bedford County Coverage
The Pennsylvania State Police provide law enforcement throughout most of Bedford County. The relevant PSP barracks serves rural townships and areas without local police. PSP incident reports are requested through the PSP Records Request portal.
Vehicle crash reports involving PSP investigations in Bedford County cost $22 and are ordered through the state crash report page. Right-to-Know requests directed specifically at PSP go through the PSP RTK submission page. Standard state response times apply, with a five-business-day response window.
The image below is from the PATCH criminal history overview page, illustrating the PSP system used for criminal background checks statewide, including Bedford County.
The PATCH system covers all Pennsylvania counties and is the fastest way to obtain a statewide criminal history check for a Bedford County resident.
Note: PSP also serves as the sex offender registration agency for Bedford County residents required to register under Megan's Law. Contact the relevant PSP barracks for registration information.
PATCH and Criminal History Records in Bedford County
PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) charges $22 per search and returns conviction records from across the state, including Bedford County. Requests are submitted online through the PATCH overview page. Results reflect convictions only under 18 Pa.C.S. §§ 9101-9183. Arrests that did not result in conviction and expunged records do not appear.
Individuals can submit a PATCH self-check at any time. The results are returned electronically for online requests. For paper submissions, processing takes longer. PATCH is a reliable first step when looking for Bedford County criminal history, though it does not replace a full court record search through the UJS Portal or the Clerk of Courts.
Bedford County Arrest Records and Incident Reports
Arrest records in Bedford County come from the arresting agency. PSP arrests generate reports at the relevant barracks. Borough police arrests generate records at the department level. The Sheriff's office handles certain warrant arrests. Each agency is the direct source for its own reports.
Incident reports are public records in most cases after an investigation is closed. Active investigation files are typically exempt from release. Once resolved, reports can be obtained through a written records request to the arresting agency or through the RTK process if the agency is a government body covered by 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104.
- PSP incident reports: Request through the PSP Records portal
- Borough police reports: Contact the borough directly
- Sheriff civil records: Request through the Sheriff's office
- Criminal court records: Clerk of Courts or UJS Portal
- Statewide conviction history: PATCH system, $22 fee
Megan's Law Registry for Bedford County
Sex offenders registered in Bedford County appear in the statewide Megan's Law database. The Megan's Law website lets you search by name, city, ZIP code, or county. Results show the offender's address, photograph, offense details, and tier classification. The registry is updated by the Pennsylvania State Police and reflects current registration data.
Bedford County offenders register with the PSP barracks that serves their address. The PSP manages all registration requirements in areas without local municipal police. Tier classifications determine the registration duration, ranging from 15 years for Tier I to lifetime for Tier III and sexually violent predators.
Nearby Counties
Bedford County is surrounded by counties in central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Records near county lines may require contact with a neighboring agency.