What are Somerset County Public Records?
Pennsylvania State law defines public records as information that documents a transaction or activity of an agency. Public records are maintained, created, or received in connection with government agency transactions, businesses, or activities. Somerset County Public Records are available to every person who is a legal resident of the United States of America. While most records are available to every requester, some are exempt from general inspection. Some exemptions include:
- Investigative Records
- Birth and Death Records
- Accident Reports
On a statewide level, the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles public records in Pennsylvania.
Third-party websites may also have access to public county records. Record seekers may use these non-governmental platforms to search for a single record or numerous county records. However, users must offer sufficient information to aid with the search, such as;
- The requestor's address.
- If available, a case or file number.
- The location of the document or the individual concerned.
- The name of the subject in the record (not a minor).
- The registrant's most recent known or present address.
Government entities do not fund third-party websites. As a result, record availability and results may differ and prove unreliable to use.
Somerset County Crime Statistics
According to the 2018 report of the Office of the Attorney General of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, Somerset County recorded 525 instances of violent crime in that year as compared to property crimes which were recorded 658 times. Specifics include three murders, 22 reported incidents of rape, and five robberies, either with a firearm or otherwise. There were also 65 cases of different forms of assault, 25 arsons, 103 burglaries, 330 larcenies, and 22 recorded vehicle thefts.
The data marked an increase in violent crimes when compared to the 467 violent crimes committed in 2017, although there is a decrease when compared to the 764 property crimes committed in 2017 according to the report. Four murder cases were recorded as well 15 reported cases of rape. There were also 10 robberies, 73 forms of assault, eight arsons, 389 larcenies, and 18 recorded vehicle thefts.
Are Somerset County Criminal Records Public?
Under the Pennsylvania Right To Know Law, all records in the possession of agencies subject to the law are presumed to be public and must be provided unless the record may be withheld under state or federal law, or disclosure is barred by judicial order or one of the further exceptions listed under the law such as where it endangers personal security and public safety, contains DNA records, Social Services Information and so on.
Although all members of the public can request to inspect or access Somerset county criminal records, the Somerset County Sheriff's Department has the right to prevent access if they deem it fit to do so. Further inquiries on accessing criminal records in Somerset County should be made to:
Somerset County Sheriff's Office
111 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1502
Fax: (814) 444-5851
Criminal Records reflect the criminal history of any person. Records may contain an individual's arrests, warrants, criminal charges filed, trial information as well as prior and current convictions for criminal acts.
How to Obtain Somerset County Police Reports and Arrest Records?
The Department of the Somerset County Sheriff provides interested members of the public with the arrest records for the county. Persons interested in obtaining Somerset County arrest records should submit such a query to the Somerset County Sheriff Department's office, providing a government-issued picture ID for such queries to be approved. Somerset County arrest records may be received via mail or in-person at the office of the Sheriff Department in Somerset County located at:
Somerset County Sheriff's Office
111 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1502
Fax: (814) 444-5851
The Pennsylvania State Police also maintains a public access portal known as the Pennsylvania Access to the Criminal History (PATCH) System for interested persons to perform a criminal record search.
Requesters desiring a notarized copy of a Criminal History Record Check must send their request via a mailed SP4-164 Form along with a $27.00 money order payable to the Commonwealth of PA, $22.00 for the Criminal History Record Check and $5.00 for the Notary Fee. Requestors should attach a written request indicating that notarization is needed. The requester must then enclose the documents in a self-addressed stamped envelope and mail them to:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – 164
1800 Elmerton Avenue Harrisburg
PA 17110-9758
Phone: (888) 783-7972
Free public criminal records check in Pennsylvania is possible. One way to do this is to request a fee waiver directly from the record custodian. The Pennsylvania State Police may grant the waiver request if releasing the document serves the public's interest.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Somerset County
Citizens may request information on Somerset county sex offenders at the Somerset County Sheriff's department:
111 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1502
Fax: (814) 444-5851
The State of Pennsylvania holds an online sex offenders registry comprising of people convicted of crimes deemed to be of a sexual nature, covering every single county, including Somerset. The Pennsylvania State Police also releases annual editions of Megan's Law Section report, which provides statistics and information concerning the registration of sexual offenders in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania.
In addition, the Pennsylvania State Police offers an Electronic Notification System that enables users who sign up to receive alerts as regards sexual offenders in Pennsylvania who have changed their Pennsylvania residence, employment, or school information located within the designated radius of the address(s) that was selected by the recipient as well as track a specific sex offender's location.
How to Find Somerset County Inmate Records
The Somerset County Sheriff Department maintains records of inmates housed in the Somerset County jail. Members of the public interested in obtaining Somerset County inmate records may query the Sheriff Department at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1502
Fax: (814) 444-5851
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also keeps a central record of all inmates housed in jails across the state. These records are available for inspection through an inmate locator service on the department's website.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Somerset County Jail?
To schedule a visit with an inmate at the Somerset County Jail, the visitor must give at least 24 hours' notice. Visits can be scheduled through a phone call to (814) 445-1500, or by visiting the jailhouse at:
127 E Fairview St,
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1500
All visitors must be 18 and above and must present a government-issued picture ID to gain entry into the jailhouse building. Visitors below 18 should be accompanied by a parent or a guardian. Visitors must dress decently and are forbidden to carry in prohibited items such as alcohol, illegal drugs or weapons of any kind. Visitation hours are Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Court Records
Somerset court records are official documents detailing all legal proceedings that happen in Somerset County. Most court records are available to the public for inspection. However, cases concerning sensitive matters are not publicly accessible. Examples of such restricted records are cases involving minors.
To obtain Somerset court records, requesters must first locate the court where the case was decided and contact the record custodian. In Somerset County, the Prothonotary is the record custodian for all civil cases and may be contacted at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 165
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1428
Fax: (814) 444-9270
For criminal cases, the clerk of courts is the record custodian and may be contacted at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 110
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1435
Fax: (814) 445-4139
The address and phone contact of courthouses in Somerset County are:
Somerset County Court of Common Pleas - Clerk of Courts (Criminal)
Somerset County Courthouse
111 E Union St, Suite 110,
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1435
Somerset County Court of Common Pleas - Prothonotary (Civil)
Somerset County Courthouse
111 E Union St, Suite 165,
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1428
Fax: (814) 445-9270
Somerset County Orphans' Court
Somerset County Courthouse
111 E Union St, Suite 145,
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1458
Fax: (814) 445-1542
Somerset County Magisterial District Court 16-3-01
200 Main St, P.O. Box 55, Boswell,
PA 15531
Phone: (814) 629-9775
Fax: (814) 629-6632
Somerset County Magisterial District Court 16-3-02
509 15th St,
Suite 2, Windber,
PA 15963
Phone: (814) 467-5113
Fax: (814) 467-4748
Somerset County Magisterial District Court 16-3-03
218 N Kimberly Ave, Suite 200,
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1535
Fax: (814) 445-1559
Somerset County Magisterial District Court 16-3-05
2924 New Centerville Rd,
Rockwook, PA 15557
Phone: (814) 445-7442
Fax: (814) 352-3101
Somerset County Magisterial District Court 16-3-06
315 Grant St, P.O. Box 203,
Meyersdale, PA 15552
Phone: (814) 634-0614
Fax: (814) 634-8960
Are Somerset County Court Records Public?
Most court records in Somersky County are open to the public, as stipulated by Pennsylvania law. Some records, however, are not available to the general public.
How to Obtain Somerset County Civil Court Case Records
Somerset County civil court case records are maintained and distributed by the office of the prothonotary. Although most civil court case records are available to the public, the prothonotary might decide to redact some information that they deem to be non-public. To obtain copies of civil court case records, contact the Somerset County Prothonotary at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 165
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1428
Fax: (814) 444-9270
The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) also maintains records of all civil court cases in the State of Pennsylvania, and these can be accessed via an online web portal on the UJS website. Searchers can pull up cases with the participant's name, docket number, Attorney, or the date the case was filed.
How to Obtain Somerset County Criminal Court Records
Somerset County Criminal Court records are kept under the purview of the Somerset County Clerk of Courts, who maintains and produces them to interested persons when requested. Persons interested in obtaining criminal court records in Somerset County may query the Clerk of Courts via mail or use the walk-in service at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 110
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1435
Fax: (814) 445-4139
Criminal court records may also be obtained through The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) which provides access to court records by conducting searches on an online web portal hosted on the UJS website. Cases may be accessed by searching for the participant or their attorney's name, or the case docket number.
What are Somerset County Vital Records?
Somerset County vital records are official records of important life events such as Birth and death certificates, marriage licenses and divorce decrees, wills, and other documents in Somerset County. The Pennsylvania Department of Health is the statewide repository of vital records including those of Somerset County.
Where and How to Obtain Somerset County Divorce Records
Somerset County divorce records are kept and produced upon request by the county prothonotary. Divorce records typically contain sensitive information such as financial records and, in some cases, records of domestic abuse. This means that any person requesting divorce records must provide certain requirements, including:
- A full given name and a photocopy of valid photo identification.
- The spouse's name involved in the divorce.
- The name of the county, city, or municipality where the divorce was finalized.
- The year and month that the divorce was issued.
- The reason for accessing these records and relation to the parties involved.
For further information on obtaining Somerset County divorce records, contact the Somerset County Prothonotary at:
111 East Union Street
Suite 165
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1428
Fax: (814) 444-9270
Where and How to Get Somerset County Marriage Records
Somerset County marriage records are kept by the Court of Common Pleas through the office of the Prothonotary. A requester must provide the couple's names, the wedding date, the wedding venue, and a valid government-issued ID to obtain a Somerset County marriage record. Marriage records can be obtained via mail request or walk-in services at:
Somerset Prothonotary
111 East Union Street
Suite 165
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1428
Fax: (814) 444-9270
Where and How to Find Somerset County Birth Records
To obtain birth records in Somerset County, the requester must be one of the following:
- The person named on the certificate,
- Their family, both nuclear and extended, including step-parents and step-siblings.
- Legal representatives or government officials
- Insurance companies
Eligible parties may request Somerset Birth Records via mail or in person at the Somerset County Recorder's Office at:
121 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1543
If the requested birth records are not available at the county recorder's office, inquirers may try The Pennsylvania Department of Health as they maintain birth records from 1906. Each copy of a certified birth certificate costs $20 with a processing fee of $10 when ordering online. Members of the United States Army are eligible for a fee waiver. Birth certificates may be ordered online, via mail, with an Application for Birth Certificate, or through the walk-in service at:
Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Where and How to Find Somerset County Death Records
Somerset County death records are available to family members or representatives of the deceased, such as insurance companies, attorneys, or executors of their estate. Interested and eligible applicants may request death records from the Somerset County Recorder at:
121 East Union Street
Suite 100
Somerset, PA 15501
Phone: (814) 445-1543
The Pennsylvania Department of Public Health also maintains statewide death records dating from 1906, including those from Somerset County. Each copy of a death certificate costs $20, with a $10 service fee for requesters ordering online. A waiver fee is available for members of the United States Army. Death certificates can be requested online, via mail, by submitting a death certificate application, or in person at:
Division of Vital Records
Death Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
