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  1. Lackawanna County Court
  2. Lackawanna County Arrest Records

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

All arrests made by local police departments are officially documented in Lackawanna County arrest records. Police departments have an obligation to create and maintain these records. When making critical decisions, employers, judges, licensing authorities, and requestors use this information to reach informed decisions. These records are important in ensuring public safety. Arrest records are available to the public upon request under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). The county and city police agencies are responsible for keeping these records. The two biggest police agencies in the county are Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office and the Scranton Police Department.

A separate law, the Criminal History Record Information Act, governs the collection, retention, and sharing of criminal record information.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Lackawanna, Pennsylvania?

Yes.  Lackawanna County arrest records are public information. Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law requires police to share arrest records with requestors, following certain rules and exceptions. The Criminal History Record Information (CHRIA) controls how criminal history details are shared. Common conditions for requesting records include the following:

  • A written request by the requestor, submitted to the relevant agency.
  • Valid government-issued identification.
  • Residency in Lackawanna County is not a requirement.
  • Applicable fees may apply for copies or processing.

The following categories of arrest records are exempt from public disclosure under CHRIA and the Right-to-Know Law:

  • Records of arrests that did not result in conviction, where the individual was acquitted, or charges were withdrawn
  • Records of juvenile arrests.
  • Records already sealed or expunged by court order.
  • Ongoing criminal investigation records.
  • Confidential informant information.
  • Information victims.

What Do Public County Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records that are made available to the public in Lackawanna County typically contain the following information:

  • Full name and known aliases of the arrested person
  • Date of arrest, location of arrest and time of arrest.
  • Name of arresting law enforcement agency.
  • Charges that were filed at the time of arrest.
  • Physical descriptors such as height, age, weight, and photograph (mugshot).
  • Case number or docket number assigned by the court.
  • Bail or bond information.

An arrest record may contain some restricted information. In a situation where disclosure would violate privacy laws, interfere with ongoing investigations, or conflict with court orders, state law mandates that the police and courts keep some information confidential. The following details are usually restricted:

  • Personal identifiers such as financial account details and Social Security numbers.
  • Medical and mental health information of the arrestee.
  • The identity of minors involved in or affected by the arrest.
  • Contact information and personal identifying details of victims.
  • Investigative materials that are protected under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9101 et seq.
  • Records that are sealed or expunged by court order.

Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania Arrest Search

Interested persons can locate arrest information in Lackawanna County through several state and federal routes. Each resource serves a unique purpose and provides a different category of information:

  • The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) maintains the Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system. PATCH is the authorized state portal for criminal history record checks and operates under the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA, 18 Pa. C.S. § 9101 et seq.). PATCH is the only source for a state-certified criminal history clearance.
  • The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Portal provides public access to court and arrest records across all levels of the judiciary. Interested persons may search records specific to Lackawanna County by filtering results to the 45th Judicial District.
  • At the federal level, biometrically linked arrest records from local, state, and federal agencies across the country are compiled into Identity History Summaries by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). For anyone detained by the federal government, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) manages a public inmate locator. Federal court case and arrest records, including those filed in the U.S. District Court for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, which has jurisdiction over Lackawanna County, are accessible through the Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) system.

Lackawanna County Inmate Locator

Persons held at the county level in Lackawanna County are housed at the Lackawanna County Prison, which operates under the oversight of the County Prison Board. The prison does not maintain a public inmate search engine on its official website. A third-party provider handles that function on the prison's behalf.

Interested persons can locate an inmate by contacting the prison office directly at 570-963-6639, Ext. 4522. Inquiries may also be directed to the County Sheriff's Office at 570-963-6719.

Lackawanna County Prison

1371 North Washington Avenue

Scranton, PA 18509

Phone: 570-963-6639, Ext. 4522

Lackawanna County Sheriff’s Office

200 North Washington Avenue, 1st Floor

Scranton, PA 18503

Phone: 570-963-6719

Active Warrant Search in Lackawanna County

An arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that allows law enforcement to arrest a specific individual. When there is enough evidence to suspect someone of committing a crime or disobeying a court order, a warrant is issued. An arrest warrant will typically contain the following information:

  • Full name and description of the subject
  • The offense or violation cited
  • The date of issuance
  • Conditions of arrest where applicable
  • The issuing court and the judge's signature

The Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office manages countywide warrant information. The Sheriff's Office maintains a dedicated Warrant Section on its official website, where interested persons may view the following active warrant categories:

  • Criminal Warrants
  • Fines and Costs Warrants
  • Domestic Relations Warrants

Interested individuals seeking information on active warrants may use any of the following options:

  • Visit the Warrant Section on the Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office official website to search active warrants.
  • Appear in person at the Sheriff's Office to make direct inquiries.
  • Contact the Warrant Unit by phone at 570-963-6719, Ext. 7109
  • Send inquiries by fax to 570-496-7756
  • Submit inquiries by email.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Lackawanna County

There are several free options for locating arrest records in Lackawanna County. Interested persons may access the following resources at no cost:

  • The Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal, which provides searchable court and arrest dockets filtered to the 45th Judicial District
  • The county-approved third-party inmate locator that provides real-time custody status for persons held at the county prison
  • The County Sheriff’s Office website, which maintains an active warrants section listing criminal, domestic relations, and fines-and-costs warrants.

When using free search tools, interested parties should be aware of the following restrictions:

  • Records older than 2000 are hardly accessible online.
  • Sufficient identifying information, such as the subject's full name, birthdate, and approximate occurrence date, is needed.
  • Juvenile arrest records are sealed by law and will not appear on any free public platform.
  • Records sealed under Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate legislation are invisible to public searchers.
  • Sensitive personal data, such as Social Security numbers, victim information, and financial details, is redacted from all publicly accessible documents.

Lackawanna County Arrest Report

An arrest report and an arrest record are different documents. A summary created by the court or jail system is called an arrest record. It does not include a complete account of what transpired, but it does include essential information such as the person's name, charges, booking details, and case status. The officer who made the arrest, however, wrote an arrest report. It contains statements from the persons involved, the officer's version of what happened, observations made at the scene, and the justifications for the arrest.

Under Pennsylvania law, including the Criminal History Record Information Act, arrest records are normally deemed investigative information. They are not easily accessible to the public. Still, a formal request for an official arrest report can be made to the relevant law enforcement department in Lackawanna County.

How To Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Lackawanna County 

Lackawanna County allows both record sealing and expungement of arrest records. Expungement means permanently deleting arrest and conviction information from all related agencies. Record sealing, also called Limited Access, usually hides the record from the public but lets law enforcement still see it. Both options are mainly controlled by the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA, 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 9122 and § 9122.1) and the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure (Rules 490 and 790).

Persons interested in expungement of arrest records in Lackawanna County may qualify under the following conditions:

  • Acquittal or a not guilty verdict after trial
  • Charges are withdrawn or dismissed by the District Attorney (nolle prosequi)
  • Charges are dismissed by a Magisterial District Judge or the Court of Common Pleas
  • Successful completion of the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program
  • Summary offense conviction with a five-year arrest-free period after conviction
  • Age 70 or older with a ten-year arrest-free period after release from custody
  • Subject is deceased for three or more years

The following circumstances will disqualify a record from expungement:

  • Either active or pending criminal charges against the petitioner
  • An unpaid court-ordered fines or restitution
  • Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) placement for offenses involving victims under 18 years of age, including rape and related sexual offenses
  • DNA records, except where the arrest was in error or the conviction was overturned

If expungement is not possible, two other available options may be explored. The first is an automatic sealing under Pennsylvania’s Clean Slate Law. Non-conviction records are sealed automatically 60 days after the case ends. Second and third-degree misdemeanors seal automatically after seven to ten years without further arrests. Some drug and theft felonies now qualify for sealing under recent changes to the law.

The second alternative is a petition-based sealing. It is available to those with first-degree misdemeanor convictions who have been trouble-free for 10 years. Petitions can be filed in the county courthouse where the conviction occurred.

How Do You Remove Lackawanna County Arrest Records From the Internet?

To remove Lackawanna County arrest records from the internet, interested persons would first obtain a court order directing the expungement or sealing of the relevant criminal proceeding. The process begins with filing a formal petition with the county court that handled the case. The District Attorney will review the petition, and a judge will issue the final order.

After the court approves the order, it is sent to two main agencies. The Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts (AOPC) updates the Unified Judicial System (UJS) website to remove or limit public access to arrest files. The Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository updates state criminal history records so background checks through the PATCH system show no record. For some minor offenses, the Clean Slate law can automatically hide records from public view online if all victim payments have been made, without the need to file a petition.

Private background check companies do not have to follow court orders as government agencies do. These companies are not official sources and may take longer to update records.