Find Criminal Records in Lackawanna County

Lackawanna County criminal records are maintained by the Clerk of Judicial Records at the county courthouse in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The county is served by the 45th Judicial District and has a population of approximately 215,000. Lackawanna County was established in 1878 and uses the combined title "Clerk of Judicial Records" for the office that handles both civil and criminal court records. This guide explains how to search for criminal records in Lackawanna County, what to expect from online and in-person requests, and how Pennsylvania background check laws apply.

Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records

The Clerk of Judicial Records in Lackawanna County is the elected official responsible for maintaining all court records for the 45th Judicial District. The current officeholder is Mauri B. Kelly. The office is located at the Lackawanna County Courthouse, 200 North Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503. This combined office handles both civil and criminal court functions, which is unique to Lackawanna County compared to counties that maintain separate offices for each function.

The Clerk of Judicial Records office stores all criminal case files for Lackawanna County, including felonies, misdemeanors, and summary appeals. Records are available for inspection during business hours. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost between $10 and $25 depending on the document. Payment can be made by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Public access terminals are available in the courthouse for self-service searching.

You can reach the office by phone at 570-963-6775 or by email at judicialrecords@lackawannacounty.org. Mail requests are accepted with specific case information, a self-addressed stamped envelope, and payment. Visit the Lackawanna County website at lackawannacounty.org for additional office details.

The Lackawanna County website provides access to county department information, including the Clerk of Judicial Records office that manages criminal case files in Lackawanna County.

Search Lackawanna County Criminal Records Online

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal provides free public access to criminal court dockets for all Pennsylvania counties, including Lackawanna. You can search the portal at any time without creating an account. Search options include participant name, docket number, OTN (Offense Tracking Number), citation number, and complaint number. For Lackawanna County cases in the Court of Common Pleas, docket numbers follow the format CP-35-CR-XXXXXX-YYYY.

The UJS Portal shows charges, case status, court dates, dispositions, and sentencing details. Financial records showing outstanding fines and costs are available through the UJS financial records section. The portal covers Magisterial District Courts, Courts of Common Pleas, and appellate courts. It does not include juvenile records, Protection from Abuse filings, or records that have been expunged or sealed under the Clean Slate Act. Active cases show upcoming hearing dates. Closed cases show the full history from arraignment to final disposition.

Go to ujsportal.pacourts.us to search Lackawanna County criminal records at no cost. The same search capability is also available through the PAeDocket mobile app.

Note: Records from Scranton City Police are separate from county court records. Contact the Scranton Police Department directly for city-specific law enforcement records.

PATCH Background Checks for Lackawanna County

Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) is the official state background check system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. It covers all counties in Pennsylvania, including Lackawanna, and provides results drawn from the state's central criminal history repository. PATCH is the correct tool when you need a formal background check for licensing, legal proceedings, or volunteer purposes in Lackawanna County.

The standard PATCH fee is $22.00 per check. Notarized copies cost $27.00. Volunteer checks are free using Form SP 4-164A. Individuals who want to review their own record pay $20.00 and must submit Form SP 4-170 by mail with fingerprint verification. When you submit an online PATCH request, "No Record" results return almost immediately via email. Requests that require manual review by State Police technicians take two to four weeks. PATCH helpline: 1-888-QUERY-PA (1-888-783-7972). PATCH operations are governed by 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91.

Access PATCH online at epatch.pa.gov. Mail requests go to: Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository-164, 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.

What Lackawanna County Criminal Records Include

Lackawanna County criminal records cover a full range of case types and proceedings. The Clerk of Judicial Records maintains files for all criminal cases heard at the Court of Common Pleas. Records have been maintained continuously since the county was established in 1878. Older records may be in paper format and require additional time to retrieve. Most records from the past few decades are in the electronic system and accessible through the UJS Portal.

Key documents and information found in Lackawanna County criminal records include:

• Criminal informations and complaints showing charges filed
• Arraignment records and bail bond documents
• Preliminary hearing transcripts and orders
• Motions, responses, and court orders during the case
• Guilty plea records or trial verdicts
• Sentencing orders and terms of probation or parole
• Fine and restitution records

Lackawanna County criminal records are public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101. Juvenile records are maintained separately with restricted access under the Juvenile Act. Some documents may be sealed by court order.

Sealing and Expunging Lackawanna County Criminal Records

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Act, Act 56 of 2018, created an automatic sealing system for eligible criminal convictions. Lackawanna County residents with old misdemeanor 2 or 3 convictions may qualify for automatic sealing after a 10-year clean period. Summary offense convictions may be sealed after five years with no new offenses. The process is handled automatically by the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts and does not require a petition or appearance in court. Sealed records no longer appear in the UJS Portal or PATCH standard background checks.

Expungement is a separate process under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 that physically removes records. In Lackawanna County, expungement petitions are filed with the Court of Common Pleas. Eligibility includes arrests without conviction, withdrawn charges, dismissed cases, nolle prosequi dispositions, and some completed ARD program cases. The court reviews the petition and may grant full removal of the record from the State Police repository and local court files. A Scranton-area attorney familiar with the 45th Judicial District can advise on whether a specific Lackawanna County record qualifies for expungement.

Note: Even sealed or expunged records may remain accessible to law enforcement, courts, and certain licensing boards under Pennsylvania law.

Scranton Police and Local Law Enforcement Records

Lackawanna County is home to the City of Scranton and several other municipalities, each with their own police departments. Scranton City Police Department records are separate from the Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records office. For incident reports, arrest records, or police reports generated by Scranton Police, contact the department directly. Other local police departments in Lackawanna County also maintain their own records at the agency level.

All arrest data reported by Scranton Police and other Lackawanna County law enforcement agencies flows into the Pennsylvania State Police central repository. Courts in Lackawanna County report dispositions to the same system. This is the data that PATCH background checks draw from when you search for a Lackawanna County criminal record. If a record shows an arrest from Lackawanna County but no disposition, it may be because the case is still pending or the disposition was not properly reported to the State Police.

For Right-to-Know requests involving Lackawanna County government agencies, use the formal process outlined under 65 P.S. § 67.101. Each agency has a designated Open Records Officer. Denied requests can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.

Reviewing and Challenging a Lackawanna County Criminal Record

Individuals have the right to review their own Pennsylvania criminal history record. To request your own record, submit Form SP 4-170 with fingerprint verification and a $20 fee to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. This process is governed by 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 and lets you confirm what information is on file and verify that dispositions from Lackawanna County cases are accurately recorded.

If you find inaccurate information in your PATCH record, you can challenge it by submitting supporting documentation such as court orders or corrected disposition records to the Pennsylvania State Police. The PATCH helpline at 1-888-783-7972 can provide guidance on the challenge and review process. Additional information on Pennsylvania courts and records is available at pacourts.us.

Nearby Counties

Lackawanna County is located in northeastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties in the region. Each has its own court system and criminal records accessible through the UJS Portal.

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