Find Allentown Criminal Records
Allentown criminal records are held by Lehigh County courts and the Allentown Police Department. Allentown is the third largest city in Pennsylvania with about 125,000 residents. It is the county seat of Lehigh County and home to the Allentown Police Department, which maintains records of incidents, arrests, and police reports. Criminal court cases from Allentown are handled at the Lehigh County Courthouse and are searchable through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal. This page covers how to access Allentown criminal records, police reports, background checks, and expungement resources.
Allentown Quick Facts
Allentown Police Department Records
The Allentown Police Department Records Division handles requests for incident reports, accident reports, and other police records from the city. The department is located at 425 Hamilton Street in downtown Allentown. The Records Division phone number is 610-437-7723, and office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM.
Requests for Allentown police reports can be made in person or by mail. Standard police reports cost $15 to $25 depending on the type and length of the report. Mail requests must include the incident date, location, report number if known, involved party information, a copy of your photo ID, and payment. Cash, check, and money order are accepted. Some reports may also be available through third-party online vendors for accident reports specifically.
Body camera and dashboard camera footage requests follow Act 22 of 2017 procedures. A separate request form is required for Act 22 materials. The Records Division provides a fee estimate before processing video requests. Formal Right-to-Know Law requests for Allentown city records go through the City of Allentown Open Records Officer. If a request is denied, you may appeal within 15 business days. Processing for standard reports typically takes five to ten business days.
Note: Reports involving active investigations or records of juvenile suspects are generally not available to the public under Pennsylvania law.
Allentown Court Records and Dockets
Criminal cases originating in Allentown are filed at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Lehigh County is the judicial home for all felony and serious misdemeanor cases in the city. Magisterial District Judges in the Allentown area handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and minor criminal matters at the local level before cases are bound over to the county court.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal provides free access to Allentown criminal dockets. You can search by the defendant's name or by case number. Allentown court dockets use the format CP-39-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY, where 39 is the county code for Lehigh County. The portal shows charges, hearing history, dispositions, and sentencing details for each case. This is the fastest way to find Allentown criminal records without going to the courthouse.
In-person access to full case files is available at the Lehigh County Courthouse. The Clerk of Courts office maintains criminal records and provides certified copies of court documents. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies. Certified copies cost more and are required for official purposes such as licensing applications or legal proceedings. Public access terminals at the courthouse allow free record searching for residents who prefer to search in person.
Allentown City Website and Public Records
The City of Allentown website at allentownpa.gov connects residents to city departments including the police department, the Open Records Officer, and various city services. The site includes department contact information, forms, and guidance on submitting formal Right-to-Know requests under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101).
Allentown crime statistics and public safety data are available through the city website and Lehigh County statistical reports. This aggregate data does not identify individual defendants but gives residents a general picture of crime trends in the city. Allentown also offers Spanish language services through the police department and city offices, which is especially useful given the city's large Spanish-speaking population.
Criminal Background Checks for Allentown
Allentown residents who need a Pennsylvania criminal history check use the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. The Pennsylvania State Police runs PATCH as the official repository for criminal history records in the state. A standard background check costs $22. Notarized checks cost $27. Volunteer checks are free using Form SP 4-164A but cannot be notarized.
PATCH covers records from all Pennsylvania law enforcement agencies, including the Allentown Police Department and Lehigh County courts. It does not include records from other states or federal courts. Results with no criminal history are usually delivered within minutes online. When a record is found, the report is mailed after manual review, which can take two to four weeks.
Individuals who need to verify their own Allentown criminal history can submit Form SP 4-170 by mail with a fingerprint card to receive a full PATCH report. For court-certified records of specific Allentown cases, contact the Lehigh County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse on Hamilton Street. The Clerk of Courts can provide certified docket copies and official disposition records for licensing applications, legal proceedings, and personal record review.
Allentown Expungement and Clean Slate
Allentown residents with arrest records or prior convictions may qualify for expungement or record sealing under Pennsylvania law. An expungement petition under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 can clear records of cases that were dismissed, charges that were dropped, or cases where the person completed an ARD diversion program. You file the petition at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law provides automatic sealing without a court petition for eligible records. Non-conviction records and certain misdemeanor convictions qualify after a ten-year conviction-free period, provided all fines and costs have been paid. Once sealed, the record does not appear in PATCH or public court searches. Lehigh County processes Clean Slate sealing on a quarterly schedule.
More information on eligibility and forms is available at the Pennsylvania expungement page. Lehigh County legal aid organizations can help Allentown residents who qualify based on income navigate the petition process at little or no cost.
What Allentown Criminal Records Include
Criminal court records from Allentown cases contain detailed information about every step in the case. The docket lists the defendant's name and date of birth, all charges filed with Pennsylvania Crimes Code section numbers, the grade of each offense, and the date of arrest. Each court appearance is recorded along with the judge assigned and the outcome of any motions or hearings.
If the case ends in conviction, the docket shows the full sentencing details. Incarceration terms include minimum and maximum dates. Probation entries show length and any conditions ordered by the court. Fines, court costs, and restitution are itemized separately with a running balance and payment history. The Offense Tracking Number connects the record across police, court, and corrections systems throughout Pennsylvania.
- Charges with statutory citations from the Pennsylvania Crimes Code
- Arrest date and arresting agency
- All hearings and their outcomes
- Disposition including ARD, dismissal, or conviction
- Sentence details and probation conditions
- Fines, costs, and restitution owed
- Attorney of record and assigned judge
Lehigh County Criminal Records
All Allentown criminal cases are filed at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. The county court maintains all criminal dockets for Allentown and every other municipality in Lehigh County. For more information on the county court system, copy fees, record access procedures, and additional resources, visit the Lehigh County criminal records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities access criminal records through their own county courts and local police departments. Select a city below for criminal records information in that area.