AGENCY: District Court (Fifth District : Beaver County)

SERIES: 24338
TITLE: Criminal case files
DATES: 1896-
ARRANGEMENT: Numerical by case number.

DESCRIPTION: Case files are made up of the various documents filed with the Fifth District Court in Beaver County pertaining to each specific case. The records usually contain information such as the case number, and the names of the defendants, counsel, jurors, and witnesses. The case file may include complaints, indictments, subpoenas, verdicts, warrants of arrest, execution or confinement, warrant returns, affidavits, orders, judgments, appeal notices. Files rarely include transcripts of testimony.

First, second, and third degree felony cases are the predominant case file type within this series (a major crime for which the maximum imprisonment is more than one year in a state correctional institution). This would include first degree offenses such as murder, rape, aggravated kidnapping, aggravated burglary and robbery, arson, and possession with intent to distribute drugs. Second degree offenses include: manslaughter, robbery, residential burglary, kidnapping, perjury, forgery, theft of property valued over $1,000.00, forcible sexual abuse, and intentional child abuse. Third degree felonies include: burglary of non-dwellings, theft, aggravated assault, forgery, unlawful sexual intercourse, joyriding, possession with intent to distribute marijuana or cocaine, and false or forged prescriptions.

RETENTION

Permanent. Retain for 50 year(s)

DISPOSITION

Transfer to Archives.

RETENTION AND DISPOSITION AUTHORIZATION

These records are in Archives' permanent custody.

APPROVED:. 10/2001

FORMAT MANAGEMENT

Paper: Retain in Office for 50 years and then transfer to State Archives with authority to weed.

Microfilm master: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.

Microfilm duplicate: Retain in State Archives permanently with authority to weed.

Microfilm duplicate: Retain in Regional Repository permanently.

APPRAISAL

Historical

These are historically significant permanent records of the court.

PRIMARY DESIGNATION

Public