Scranton Arrest Records
Scranton arrest records are kept by the Scranton Police Department Records Unit in northeastern Pennsylvania. Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County and the largest city in that part of the state. Known as the Electric City, Scranton has a long civic history. Records from Scranton arrests can be accessed through the Police Records Unit, Lackawanna County offices, and statewide Pennsylvania databases. This page walks you through each option so you can find the records you need.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Police Records Unit
The Scranton Police Department operates a dedicated Records Unit that handles public requests for arrest records and police reports. The unit compiles UCR reports for the state police, enters case dispositions for all arrests, and manages day-to-day filing of police documents. It also generates queries on officer activity, calls per area, calls per shift, and crime statistics for Scranton.
The Scranton Police Records Unit at scrantonpa.gov handles all formal records requests for the city. Incident police reports cost $25.00. Accident reports are $15.00. If you were a victim of a crime, there is no charge for the incident report. A county record of police dispatches to a residence or business costs $25.00.
The Scranton Police Department also maintains a warrant database searchable by name and date of birth. The Records Bureau coordinates with the District Attorney's Office, Pennsylvania State Police, and the Coroner's Office. This coordination means Scranton arrest records flow through multiple agencies and appear in several databases.
Note: Crime victims in Scranton can request copies of incident reports at no cost by identifying themselves at the time of the request.
Scranton Police Records Access
The Scranton Police Department provides a dedicated Records Unit page where residents and others can learn how to request documents and what records are available for public access in Scranton. Visit scrantonpa.gov to review current procedures for submitting a records request.
The Records Unit page outlines fees, available report types, and how the unit supports broader law enforcement operations in Scranton. It is the best first stop for residents looking to obtain a local arrest record or police report.
Lackawanna County Arrest Records
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County. All criminal court cases from Scranton arrests move through the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. The county maintains public records that connect to Scranton arrests, including case filings, hearing dates, and dispositions.
Lackawanna County offers a Citizen Request Center and online public records search tools. You can submit a Right-to-Know request through the county as well. For recent arrests and prisoner records, call 570-963-6639. The county has searchable deeds through Eagle Recorder and an online county assessment database. For arrest and court records specifically, the court system portal is more useful.
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records maintains court filings for all cases originating in Scranton and the rest of the county. Visit lackawannacounty.org to access county-level information on court records linked to Scranton arrests.
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts office is the official custodian of criminal case records for all matters processed in Lackawanna County, which includes every arrest made in Scranton that resulted in formal charges.
Pennsylvania Statewide Tools for Scranton Records
Pennsylvania maintains several statewide systems that include Scranton arrest records. These tools are helpful when you need a complete view of someone's record history or when you are not sure which agency handled a particular arrest.
PATCH is the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system run by the Pennsylvania State Police. You access it at epatch.state.pa.us. The fee for a standard criminal history check is $22. Results include Scranton Police, Pennsylvania State Police, and all other statewide agencies. Scranton arrest records are part of this statewide database. For mail requests, use Form SP 4-164 and send it to the Pennsylvania State Police.
The Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us covers court records for Lackawanna County and all other Pennsylvania courts. You can search by name or case number at no cost. This system shows charges filed after a Scranton arrest, hearing dates, and case outcomes. It does not show arrest records directly but gives a full picture of how each case was resolved.
The Department of Corrections inmate search at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov lets you find current and past state inmates from Scranton cases. If a Scranton arrest led to a state prison sentence, this tool can locate that person in the system.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov handles appeals and guidance on the Right-to-Know Law. If Scranton Police or Lackawanna County denies a records request, you can appeal to this office for a review.
Right-to-Know Requests in Scranton
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 gives the public the right to request records from Scranton Police and Lackawanna County. Agencies must respond within five business days. They can extend the deadline by 30 days for complex requests, but they must notify you in writing.
Not every arrest record is fully open. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 limits access to some records. Conviction records are generally public. Arrest records that did not lead to conviction carry more restrictions. Juvenile records in Scranton are sealed in almost all cases.
To submit a Right-to-Know request to Scranton Police, contact the department directly or use the contact information on the Scranton Police Records Unit page. Be specific about the record you want. Vague requests may be returned without action. Include the date of the incident, names involved, and the type of record you are seeking.
Note: If a Scranton agency denies your request, you have 15 business days to appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Lackawanna County Arrest Records
Scranton is the seat of Lackawanna County, and all Scranton criminal cases are heard in Lackawanna County Court. The county maintains detailed records for every arrest processed through the court system. For county-level search tools, office contact information, and broader records access, visit the Lackawanna County arrest records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Looking for arrest records in cities near Scranton? Select a city below for local resources and search options.