Crime Numbers
The Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) system enables every police department in the state to provide crime data for their jurisdiction. Crime data for Adams County for 2018 showed the county recorded 775 reports of index crimes during that year. Of this total, 134 reports were for violent crimes which consisted of 3 homicides, 31 rapes, 12 robberies, and 88 reports of aggravated assault. There were 641 reports for property crimes including 121 burglaries, 501 larceny-thefts, 14 motor vehicle thefts, and 5 arsons.
A quick comparison of the county’s 2018 and 2014 crime data indicated a 36.9% decrease in the total number of reported index crimes in the five-year period. The county’ five-year crime trend showed increases in reports of rape (+106%), robbery (+9%), aggravated assault (+10%), and arson (+25%), while burglary (-44%), larceny-theft (-42.3%), and motor vehicle theft (-60%) rates all declined. There is no crime data for homicides for 2014, but comparison with the 2017 figures showed a 200% increase in reported cases.
Criminal Records
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) retains criminal history information for all the counties in the state and any member of the public may request access to this information. To make criminal history information easy to access, the PSP lets the public submit requests online, by phone, and by mail.
The PSP provides these criminal justice records through Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH). PATCH enables members of the public to apply for criminal history checks for themselves or on other individuals online for a fee. Information submitted by the requester will be compared against the criminal history database maintained by the PSP. If there are no matches with information in the database, a “No Record” response will be returned to the requester. If there are matches, a “Request under Review” response will be returned. After a manual review of the record has been conducted, the response status will be updated to “No Record” or “Record”. Available information is printed from the requester’s computer as a certificate. Status updates can take up to 2 weeks and all applicable fees must be paid before requests are completed.
For phone requests, call the PSP toll-free line on (888) 783-7972. To initiate a mail request, submit a completed request form to the PSP Central Repository along with the proper fee. Mail requests are typically used for criminal records checks for employment, visa applications, adoptions, and other such purposes, or by individuals trying to review their personal criminal history. For a criminal history check for a third party, use the Request For Criminal Record Check form and use the Request For Individual Access And Review form to perform a personal history review. Information contained in this type of check is considered confidential and only available to the subject on the record or an authorized legal representative. The fee for a criminal record check is $22 and there is a $5 fee to have results notarized. The fee for individual access and review is $20 and the request must also be accompanied by copies of acceptable government-issued ID.
Send a mail request for a criminal history check along with a certified check or money order (payable to Commonwealth of Pennsylvania ) to:
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
Traffic crash reports can be obtained by submitting a request to the PSP Crash Reports Unit. Crash reports are available to persons involved in the recorded accidents, their insurers, and government agencies upon request. There is a $22 fee for each crash report and a request can be submitted online or by mail. Use the Police Crash Report application for mail requests and ensure 15 days have elapsed since the crash date before making a request.
The Pennsylvania Right-To-Know Law guarantees access to public records of governmental bodies at the state and local levels in Pennsylvania for the general public. The act allows for all public records to be accessible to a requestor for inspection and duplication unless otherwise provided by law or exemptions. Use the Right To Know Request form to submit requests for criminal justice records in Adams County to:
County of Adams
Open Records Office
111 Baltimore Street
Room 8
Gettysburg, PA 17325-2367
Phone: (717) 337-5911
Fax: (717) 334-9542
openrecords@adamscounty.us
adamscountycourtsrighttoknow@adamscounty.us
For copies of records, Adams County charges 25 cents per page plus the cost of postage.
The PSP maintains the sex offenders’ registry for the State of Pennsylvania. Public access to the registry is available online via the Pennsylvania Megan’s Law website. Information about sex offenders registered in Adams County can be found using the county search option. The PSP also releases an annual report which provides statistics and information on registered sex offenders in Pennsylvania.
The Adams County Adult Correctional Center (ACACC) is situated at 45 Major Bell Lane, Gettysburg, PA 17325. The contact numbers are (717) 334-7671 for calls and (717) 338-3418 for faxes.
Friends and family members can make deposits to an inmate’s commissary and telephone accounts using Offender Connect online services or by using kiosks located in the facility’s visitation area or at the Adams County Courthouse.
Court Records
The Pennsylvania trial court system consists of Courts of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Courts of Common Pleas have general jurisdiction over all civil and criminal matters. They handle felonies and lesser criminal offenses, general civil claims without financial limits, juvenile matters, appeals of some administrative decisions, and some arbitration reviews. They have an Orphan’s Court Division that handles matters about estates, wills, trusts, guardianships, adoptions, and termination of parental rights.
The state’s Magisterial District Courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civil and criminal matters. These include most summary offenses, preliminary hearings, 3rd-degree misdemeanors, ordinance violations, landlord/tenant cases, and general civil claims subject to financial limits.
Adams County has three Courts of Common Pleas and four Magisterial District Courts. They are located at:
Adams County Court of Common Pleas- Criminal
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street
Room 103
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Adams County Court of Common Pleas- Civil
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street
Room 104
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9834
Fax: (717) 334-0532
Adams County Orphan’s Court
Adams County Courthouse
117 Baltimore Street
Room 103
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-01
34 E. Middle Street
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-7913
Fax: (717) 334-1262
This court has jurisdiction over the borough of Gettysburg and the township of Straban.
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-02
45 W. Hanover Street
Room D
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 334-7810
Fax: (717) 334-3226
This court has jurisdiction over the boroughs of Bonneauville, Littlestown, and McSherrystown and the townships of Conewago, Germany, Mt. Joy, Mt. Pleasant, and Union.
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-03
40 Church Street
East Berlin, PA 17316
Phone: (717) 624-7138
Fax: (717) 624-1201
This court has jurisdiction over the boroughs of Abbottstown, East Berlin, New Oxford, and York Springs and the townships of Berwick, Hamilton, Latimore, Oxford, Tyrone, Reading, and Huntington.
Adams County Magisterial District Court 51-3-04
2267 Fairfield Road
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-3870
Fax: (717) 337-0934
This court has jurisdiction over the boroughs of Arendtsville, Fairfield, Carroll Valley, Biglerville, and Bendersville and the townships of Menallen, Butler, Liberty, Cumberland, Highland, Franklin, Hamiltonban, and Freedom.
The Pennsylvania Judiciary web portal provides access to the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) which enables the public to have free access to court records and information from 1986 to the present. Most public court records within this period can be located and viewed on this portal. In addition to the public information searches available to all users, specialized services are also provided for users with secure logins. Access the web portal and select Adams County to gain access to available court records for Adams County.
The Adams County Courthouse provides two public computers in its building for searching and viewing court records. Records available via the UJS, and thus available for online viewing, date back to 1986. Case files from 1910 - 1986 are available from docket books and microfiche records in the Clerk of Courts’ Office.
Records from 1800 - 1910 are available from the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. For county court records prior to 1800, contact the York Historical Society.
To request copies of court records, visit or send a mail request to the Adams County Clerk of Courts. Copies of records can be obtained by submitting the Request for Access form to:
County of Adams
Clerk of Courts
117 Baltimore Street
Room 103
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except on state holidays.
Copies of transcripts of court records can also be obtained from the Clerk of Courts. Complete the Request for Transcript form and return it to the Clerk’s Office, along with the required fee. There is a fee of $10 per name for record searches from 1986 to the present, a fee of $20 per hour per name for records from 1800 - 1985, and a copying fee of 25 cents per page.
Adams County property and land records are managed by the County Recorder of Deeds. For information about properties, deeds, and other land-related records contact:
County of Adams
Recorder of Deeds
117 Baltimore Street
Room 102
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9826
Fax: (717) 334-1758
Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except on state holidays.
Vital Records
Divorce records for Adams County are retained by the Adams County Prothonotary. The Prothonotary charges 25 cents per page for copies of records obtained from files and dockets and $1 per page for copies of records stored on microfilm. There is a $6.25 fee for certification of records. To request for copies of Adams County divorce records, contact the Prothonotary at:
County of Adams
Prothonotary
117 Baltimore Street
Room 104
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9834
Fax: (717) 334-0532
Office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Mondays to Fridays, except on state holidays.
Adams County marriage records are available from the Adams County Clerk of Courts. To obtain copies of an Adams County marriage certificate, complete the Certified Marriage Record Request form, include a check or money order for the $10 fee (per certificate) and a stamped self-addressed envelope and send the request to:
County of Adams
Clerk of Courts
117 Baltimore Street
Room 103
Gettysburg, PA 17325
Phone: (717) 337-9806
Fax: (717) 334-9333
Adams County birth and death records after 1905 are kept by the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Certified copies of birth and death records are only available to eligible persons. Eligible persons include the person named on a record and their family members, authorized legal representatives, persons, they give powers of attorney, and persons with verifiable personal or property rights.
An acceptable form of ID must accompany each request. There is a $20 for each copy of a birth or death record. Total copy fees must be paid at the time of application, as a check or money order made payable to Pennsylvania Vital Records. Cash is not accepted but credit and debit cards are accepted for online requests. Note that there are convenience charges for requesting vital records online and paying with credit/debit cards.
Adams County vital record requests can be submitted online, by mail, and in person.
To request a certified copy of birth or death record by mail, complete the request form and send it with a copy of a valid ID, and the fee to:
Pennsylvania Department of Health
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103-1528
Phone: (724) 656-3100
Make an in-person request at any of the Vital Records branch offices.
Birth and death records for Adams County prepared prior to 1906 are in the custody of the Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission. Submit written requests for these records to the Adams County Clerk of Courts along with the complete fees for record copies and a stamped self-addressed envelope. The requested information will be mailed back within 5 business days.
