Access Scranton Criminal Records
Scranton criminal records are maintained by Lackawanna County courts and the Scranton Police Department. Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the sixth largest city in Pennsylvania with about 77,000 residents. Criminal court cases from Scranton are filed at the Lackawanna County Courthouse and are searchable through the Pennsylvania UJS Portal. The Scranton Police Department's Records Unit handles requests for local police reports and incident records. This page covers how to search Scranton criminal records, request police reports, conduct background checks, and learn about expungement in Lackawanna County.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Police Department Records
The Scranton Police Department Records Unit processes all requests for police reports, incident records, and accident reports for the City of Scranton. The department is located at 100 South Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. The Records Unit main line is 570-348-4134. In-person and mail requests are accepted during regular business hours.
Standard police report fees run from $15 to $25 depending on the type of report and its length. Mail requests should include the incident date, location, names of involved parties, a copy of valid photo ID, and payment by check or money order. A self-addressed stamped envelope should also be included. Processing typically takes five to ten business days. Reports involving open investigations may be withheld pending case resolution. Scranton also participates in Uniform Crime Reporting, and UCR data is published through the department's website.
Act 22 of 2017 body camera and dashboard camera footage requests are handled through a separate form at the Records Unit. The department provides a fee estimate before processing video requests. Formal Right-to-Know Law requests for Scranton city records are processed by the City of Scranton Open Records Officer under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101). Denied requests may be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
City of Scranton Website and Public Records
The City of Scranton website at scrantonpa.gov provides information on city departments, public records access, and local government services. The site connects residents to the police department and the Open Records Officer. Scranton city hall and the police department are located in downtown Scranton near the Lackawanna County Courthouse complex.
Scranton publishes crime data and public safety information through the city website and department reports. This aggregate data helps residents understand local crime trends without revealing individual case details. Scranton, as a major urban center in northeastern Pennsylvania, has an active police department with a high caseload. The Records Unit handles a significant volume of requests and processes them in order of receipt.
Scranton Court Records and Criminal Dockets
Criminal cases from Scranton are filed at the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. The county court handles all felony charges and serious misdemeanor cases from Scranton and the surrounding municipalities. Magisterial District Judges in Scranton handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, and bail at the local level before cases proceed to the county court.
The Pennsylvania UJS Portal provides free public access to Scranton criminal dockets. Searches by party name or docket number are available at no charge around the clock. Scranton cases use the Lackawanna County code of 35 in the format CP-35-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY. The portal shows charges, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing details for each case. The PAeDocket mobile app provides the same search capability on smartphones and tablets.
For certified copies of court documents, contact the Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts at the courthouse in downtown Scranton. In-person visits allow review of full case files. Public access terminals at the courthouse are available for free searching. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more and are required for official legal and licensing purposes.
Note: Juvenile records, Protection from Abuse filings, and records sealed under Clean Slate are not accessible through public UJS Portal searches.
Background Checks for Scranton Residents
Scranton residents who need a Pennsylvania criminal history 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. Free volunteer checks are available using Form SP 4-164A but cannot be notarized.
PATCH covers all Pennsylvania law enforcement records, including those from Scranton and Lackawanna County courts. Records from other states and the federal system are not included. No-record results come back immediately online in most cases. When a record is found, the report is mailed after manual review, which takes two to four weeks. Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 (CHRIA), individuals have the right to review their own criminal history records and challenge any inaccurate information.
Scranton residents who want to see their own complete criminal history can submit Form SP 4-170 by mail to the Pennsylvania State Police along with a fingerprint card for identity verification. The PATCH helpline at 1-888-QUERY-PA is available during business hours to help with pending requests and troubleshooting.
Expungement in Scranton and Lackawanna County
Scranton residents with prior criminal records may qualify to have those records expunged or sealed under Pennsylvania law. Petitions for expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 are filed at the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Qualifying situations include dismissed cases, withdrawn charges, nolle prosequi dispositions, and cases where the person completed an ARD diversion program and met the waiting period.
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law automatically seals eligible records without requiring a petition. Non-conviction records and certain misdemeanor convictions qualify for sealing after ten years with no new convictions, provided all fines and costs are paid. After sealing, records do not appear on PATCH or in public court portal searches. Lackawanna County processes Clean Slate sealing on a quarterly schedule along with all other Pennsylvania counties.
The Pennsylvania expungement information page outlines eligibility and provides forms. Lackawanna County legal aid programs can assist Scranton residents who qualify based on income with the petition process at little or no cost.
What Scranton Criminal Records Contain
A Scranton criminal court docket records the complete history of a case from first filing through final resolution. The record includes the defendant's name and date of birth, all charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations, the offense grade, the arrest date, and bail conditions. Each court appearance is logged with the presiding judge and the outcome of any hearings, motions, or proceedings.
When a case ends in conviction, the docket details the full sentence. Incarceration terms list minimum and maximum dates. Probation entries show the length and any special conditions. Fines, court costs, and restitution are itemized with a payment history. The Offense Tracking Number connects the case record across the Scranton Police Department, Lackawanna County courts, and the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections.
- All charges with Pennsylvania Crimes Code citations
- Arrest date and arresting officer
- Bail set at preliminary arraignment
- All court dates and hearing outcomes
- Final disposition and sentencing
- Financial obligations and payment history
Lackawanna County Criminal Records
Scranton criminal cases are filed at the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. The county court handles all criminal proceedings for Scranton and every other municipality in Lackawanna County. For more on the county court system, Clerk of Courts contact information, copy fees, and related resources, visit the Lackawanna 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.