Bethlehem Pennsylvania Criminal Records
Bethlehem criminal records are maintained by Northampton County courts and the Bethlehem Police Department. Bethlehem is the second largest city in the Lehigh Valley with about 75,000 residents. Most of the city lies in Northampton County, though a portion extends into Lehigh County. Criminal court cases for Bethlehem are primarily handled at the Northampton County Courthouse and are searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. The Bethlehem Police Department processes local police report requests. This page covers how to access Bethlehem criminal records, contact police for reports, conduct background checks, and learn about expungement options.
Bethlehem Quick Facts
Bethlehem Police Department Records
The Bethlehem Police Department Records Division processes requests for incident reports, accident reports, and police records for the City of Bethlehem. The department is located at 10 East Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018, and can be reached at 610-837-9300. Records requests can be made in person or by mail during regular business hours.
Standard police report fees range from $15 to $20 per report. Mail requests should include the incident date, location, names of involved parties, a copy of your photo ID, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. Processing typically takes five to ten business days. Reports involving active investigations may be withheld until the case is resolved. Accident report requests may also be handled through third-party online services.
Act 22 of 2017 body camera and dashboard camera footage requests are processed through a separate form at the Records Division. The fee schedule for Act 22 requests is posted online and is based on processing time and the complexity of redaction required. Formal Right-to-Know Law requests for Bethlehem city records follow the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101) and are submitted to the City of Bethlehem Open Records Officer. Denied requests may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
City of Bethlehem Website and Public Resources
The City of Bethlehem website at bethlehem-pa.gov provides access to city department contacts, the police department, and public records information. The site includes guidance on submitting Right-to-Know Law requests and finding local government services. Bethlehem city government offices are located in the historic downtown area near the police department.
Bethlehem is one of the larger cities in the Lehigh Valley and has a Police Department that actively publishes crime data and public safety statistics. This aggregate information is available through the city website and gives residents a picture of local crime trends without revealing individual case details. Bethlehem also spans into Lehigh County in parts of the city, so residents near the border should check which county their address falls within when looking for court records.
Bethlehem Court Records and Criminal Dockets
Criminal cases from Bethlehem are primarily filed at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Northampton County handles all felony and serious misdemeanor charges for the portion of Bethlehem in that county. Cases originating in the Lehigh County portion of Bethlehem are filed at the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Magisterial District Judges in the Bethlehem area handle preliminary hearings, bail, and summary offenses at the local level.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal provides free public access to Bethlehem criminal dockets. You can search by name or docket number. Northampton County cases use code 48 in the format CP-48-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY. Lehigh County cases use code 39. The portal shows charges, court dates, hearing outcomes, dispositions, and sentencing details for each case. This is the fastest way to find Bethlehem criminal records without a courthouse visit.
For certified copies of court documents, contact the Northampton County Clerk of Courts or the Lehigh County Clerk of Courts depending on where the case was filed. In-person visits to either courthouse allow review of full case files. Public access terminals are available for free searching. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page.
Note: Juvenile records, Protection from Abuse filings, and records sealed under Clean Slate are not available through public UJS Portal searches.
Background Checks for Bethlehem Residents
Bethlehem residents who need a Pennsylvania criminal background check use PATCH at epatch.pa.gov. The Pennsylvania State Police runs PATCH as the statewide criminal history repository. A standard check costs $22. Notarized copies are $27. Volunteer checks using Form SP 4-164A are free. PATCH covers all Pennsylvania law enforcement records including those from Bethlehem and both Northampton and Lehigh County courts.
PATCH does not include federal records or records from other states. No-record results come back immediately online in most cases. When a record is found, the response is mailed after manual review, which takes two to four weeks. PATCH is governed by 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91, which sets the rules for who may access criminal history records and for what lawful purposes.
Expungement in Bethlehem
Bethlehem residents with prior criminal records may qualify for expungement or sealing under Pennsylvania law. Petitions for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 cover dismissed cases, withdrawn charges, and cases where the person completed ARD and met the waiting period. You file the petition at the appropriate county court based on where the case was originally filed: Northampton County Court or Lehigh County Court.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law automatically seals eligible records without requiring a petition. Non-conviction records and qualifying misdemeanor convictions are sealed after a ten-year conviction-free period when all fines and costs are paid. After sealing, the record does not appear on PATCH checks or in public court portal searches. Both Northampton and Lehigh County process Clean Slate sealing quarterly.
For details on eligibility and the petition process, see the Pennsylvania expungement information page. Legal aid organizations in the Lehigh Valley serve Bethlehem residents and can assist with petitions at little or no cost for qualifying individuals.
What Bethlehem Criminal Records Include
A Bethlehem criminal court docket contains a complete record of the case from the initial charge through the final outcome. The docket lists the defendant's name and date of birth, all charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, the grade of each offense, the arrest date, and bail conditions set by the Magisterial District Judge. Every court appearance is logged with the judge's name and the hearing outcome.
If a conviction resulted, the docket details the full sentence. Incarceration terms show minimum and maximum dates. Probation terms list the length and any special conditions ordered by the court. Fines, costs, and restitution are itemized. Payment history shows amounts paid and any outstanding balance. The Offense Tracking Number links the case across the Bethlehem Police Department, county courts, and the Pennsylvania corrections system.
- All charges with Crimes Code statutory citations
- Arrest date and bail conditions
- All court hearings and their outcomes
- Final disposition and sentencing details
- Fines, costs, and restitution owed
- Defense attorney and prosecuting attorney
Northampton County Criminal Records
The majority of Bethlehem criminal cases are filed at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. The county court handles criminal proceedings for Bethlehem and all other municipalities in the county. For more on the county court system, records access, fees, and related resources, visit the Northampton County criminal records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities access criminal records through their own county courts and police departments. Select a city below for criminal records information in that area.