Find Recent Arrests in Cameron County
Cameron County is the smallest county by population in all of Pennsylvania. Despite its size, the county still processes arrests and maintains court records through its courthouse in Emporium. People looking for recent arrests in Cameron County can search online through state databases or contact the courthouse directly. The Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts, Mary Grace Olay, handles both civil and criminal filings. Searching for recent arrests here works the same way as in any other Pennsylvania county.
Cameron County Quick Facts
Cameron County Arrest Records
The Cameron County Courthouse at 20 East Fifth Street in Emporium is where all court records are kept. Mary Grace Olay serves as both the Prothonotary and the Clerk of Courts. You can reach the office by phone at 814-486-3355 or by fax at 814-486-0464. The email for the office is mgraceolay@yahoo.com. This is a small office, so one person handles both civil and criminal case files.
Cameron County operates without an on-site jail facility. This is a key fact that sets it apart from most other counties in the state. When someone is arrested in Cameron County, they are booked at the Sheriff's Office and then transferred to a nearby regional detention center. The Sheriff's Office handles all law enforcement and administrative functions tied to arrests. Despite the lack of a local jail, all arrest records still flow through the Cameron County court system.
The Court of Common Pleas in Emporium processes criminal cases that start from arrests in Cameron County. Magisterial district courts handle preliminary hearings. Because the county is so small, case volume is low compared to larger counties.
Note: Cameron County does not have its own jail, so inmates are held at a regional facility outside the county.
Search Cameron County Recent Arrests Online
The best way to search for recent arrests in Cameron County is through the UJS Portal. This free tool from the Pennsylvania courts lets you search by name, docket number, or offense tracking number. Select Cameron County from the list to narrow your results. The portal covers both magisterial district court cases and Court of Common Pleas filings.
Results on the UJS portal show the charges, the date the case was filed, and the current status. You can view docket sheets for free. Keep in mind that recent arrests may not show up right away. It can take a day or two for new cases to appear in the system. The portal also has a free mobile app called PAeDocket that works on both Apple and Android devices. This makes it easy to check Cameron County recent arrests from your phone.
For a formal criminal history check tied to Cameron County, use the PATCH system from the Pennsylvania State Police. Each check costs $22. Volunteer checks are free. Results come back right away about 85 percent of the time if there is no match in the database.
State Resources for Cameron County Arrests
The Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system is the official way to run a criminal history check that includes Cameron County records.
PATCH stands for Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History. It checks against the statewide criminal history database maintained by the State Police central repository. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, all arrests in Cameron County and every other county must be reported to this repository. Fingerprints are sent within 48 hours of an arrest.
The Office of Open Records also supports public access to arrest-related documents. You can file a Right-to-Know request under 65 P.S. Section 67.101 to get records from Cameron County agencies.
Agencies have five business days to respond. Copies cost up to 25 cents per page. If your request is denied, you can appeal within 15 business days.
Public Access to Arrests in Cameron County
All records in Pennsylvania are presumed public under the Right-to-Know Law. This includes most records tied to recent arrests in Cameron County. The law puts the burden on the government to prove why a record should be withheld. There are 30 exceptions in Section 708, but most basic arrest information does not fall under those exceptions.
To request records, write to the Cameron County open records officer. Your letter must include your name, address, and a clear description of the records you seek. State that the request is made under the Right-to-Know Law. You can also use the statewide request form from the Office of Open Records.
- Written request to the county open records officer
- Include your name and mailing address
- Specify the records you need
- Reference the Right-to-Know Law
- Allow five business days for a response
Cameron County Arrests and State Databases
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator tracks anyone sentenced to state prison from Cameron County. The database updates daily. It shows the inmate's name, photo, current facility, and sentence details. Because Cameron County has no local jail, anyone held for more than a short time ends up in a regional or state facility.
The Megan's Law registry lets you search for sex offenders in Cameron County by name or location. The Pennsylvania Parole Board manages parolees released from state prison. Both databases are free and open to the public. These tools give you a fuller picture beyond just recent arrests in Cameron County.
Note: The state DOC locator does not include people held in county jails or regional detention centers.
Nearby Counties
Cameron County is surrounded by several rural Pennsylvania counties. If you need arrest records from a neighboring area, check the county where the arrest took place.