Butler County was established in 1800 in Pennsylvania. The county has two popular state parks: Moraine State Park and Succop Nature Park. As of 2020, Butler County is home to about 193,000 residents. The City of Butler is the official county seat.

Courts in Butler County

The Court of Common Pleas in Butler County has general jurisdiction over all criminal and civil lawsuits beyond other lesser courts. Criminal cases heard at the Common Pleas Court are typically felony trials. The court also presides over domestic relations, juvenile matters, and all civil cases without financial restrictions. At Butler County Court of Common Pleas, residents can appeal decisions from other lower courts or administrative agencies. Butler County has an Orphans' Court responsible for resolving all probate matters. County residents can take distribution of estate matters, parental rights termination, appeals involving inheritance tax, and adoption cases to the Orphans’ Court.

The 7 Magistrate District Courts in Butler County have limited jurisdiction over some criminal and civil cases. Butler’s District Court judges typically handle misdemeanors, ordinance violations, and DUI offenses. They also preside over preliminary hearings of felony-related crimes. Residents settle landlord-tenant disputes and other civil lawsuits involving below $12,000 financial disagreements.

Where to Find Public Court Records in Butler County

Residents can visit the Clerk of Courts to obtain criminal court records in Butler County. They can obtain civil records at the County Prothonotary office. Both officials allow individuals to request public court records by mail, email, phone, or in person. However, the County Prothonotary offers online case search access to persons seeking civil records. Court records obtainable in Butler County include the following information:

• Court Transcripts
• Dockets
• Complaints and Petitions
• Answers and Briefs
• Evidence
• Depositions
• Plea Bargain
• Indictments
• Sentencing information

Interested persons can find both civil and criminal court records using the statewide repository known as the Pennsylvania Judiciary Web Portal. To find records via the online portal, requesters must provide case numbers or names of involved persons.

Types of Public Court Records in Butler County

Official court record custodians in Butler County offer the following types of public court records:

• Criminal records
• Civil records
• Family records
• Traffic records
• Probate records
• Small Claims records
• Land and Property records
• Juvenile case documents (with some restrictions)
• Appeal records

Confidential Court Records in Butler County

In Butler County, residents are restricted from obtaining or viewing confidential court records. These records are available to only individuals whose names are on the record and their legal representatives. Examples of the records include the following:

• Financial records such as bank details and credit card numbers
• Medical/psychological history files
• Personal identifying details such as state ID numbers, Social Security numbers, and driver's license numbers
• Juvenile records
• Abuse victims’ information
• Adoption records
• Confidential informant records
• Grand jury proceedings
• Attorney-client details
• Child custody and protection records
• Records of ongoing investigations
• Sealed records.

Juvenile Delinquency in Butler, PA

Unfortunately, in many areas of the Butler County, juvenile delinquency issues are on the rise. There are many reasons for the rise in youth offenders. The juvenile sentence in Pennsylvania often depends on the severity of the crime, the number of crimes, and other family matters.

In 2017, a total of 315 juvenile cases were reported for every 100,000 people age 10 to adulthood in the jurisdiction of Butler County. Of that total, 68% of those proceedings were delinquencies which equaled 213 court cases. Another 32% were dependency cases that accounted for 102 of the juvenile cases.

A lot of counties, including, Butler County, are focusing on family therapy and relationships rather than punishment for juvenile crimes. Future Butler County juvenile delinquency numbers will show whether or not this approach is working.

Government of Butler County, PA

https://www.pa.gov/

County Seat:	Butler
Government Type:	County
Authority:	Dillon's Rule
Year Organized:	1800
Total Square Miles:	795
2019 Population:	187,108
Persons/Square Mile:	0.00

Butler County, PA Courts