Lancaster County Arrest Records
Lancaster County arrest records are public documents held by the Clerk of Courts at the Lancaster County Courthouse on North Duke Street. The county is the third largest in Pennsylvania, with a busy Court of Common Pleas that processes roughly 8,000 new criminal cases each year. You can search Lancaster County criminal records online through the state UJS portal or visit the courthouse in person. This page explains where to look, what you will find, and how to get copies of arrest and court records in Lancaster County.
Lancaster County Quick Facts
Lancaster County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts is the chief filing office for the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas in criminal and juvenile matters. This office records, maintains, and processes criminal case files for the county. It also assesses court-imposed costs and fines. Nicky Woods serves as the current elected Clerk of Courts, a four-year term position. The office handles a high volume of new case filings each year, making Lancaster one of the busiest criminal courts in the state.
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts is located on the second floor of the Lancaster County Courthouse at 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17608. Staff can assist with locating case files, providing docket sheets, and processing copy requests. Records go back many years. Felony cases are kept for 75 years, misdemeanor cases for 25 years, and summary offenses for 7 years. That retention schedule means older arrest and court records are often still available.
The Lancaster County Clerk of Courts website offers information about their office at lancastercountypa.gov. This site is the primary official source for understanding the filing office and how records are stored for Lancaster County.
The office processes Right-to-Know requests for Lancaster County criminal records. Phone is (717) 299-8200. You can also reach the county for general records requests through the Open Records Officer at the Office of Court Administration, P.O. Box 83480, 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17608.
The Clerk of Courts information page linked above shows the Clerk of Courts office details and contact information maintained by Lancaster County for public access to criminal and juvenile court records.
This image is sourced from the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts page, which provides details about accessing criminal case filings and court records in Lancaster County.
| Office |
Lancaster County Clerk of Courts Lancaster County Courthouse, 2nd Floor 50 N. Duke Street, P.O. Box 83480 Lancaster, PA 17608 Phone: (717) 299-8200 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, standard courthouse hours |
| Website | lancastercountypa.gov |
Lancaster County Court Records Search
Lancaster County court records include criminal case files from the Court of Common Pleas and the 14 Magisterial District Courts spread across the county. A criminal court record in Lancaster County typically shows the defendant's name and physical description, the charges filed, hearing dates and outcomes, arrest dates, attorney and judge information, and in some cases mugshot images. These records cover traffic infractions, misdemeanors, and felonies.
The Lancaster County Court Records portal at lancastercountycourt.org provides details on how to request and search records from the Court of Common Pleas, which sits in Lancaster city. The court's Open Records Officer accepts requests for documents at the same P.O. Box 83480 address. Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard copies and $1.00 per page for certified copies. You can search by name, case number, or date filed.
The court records page at lancastercountycourt.org explains what Lancaster County criminal records contain and how to get them, including the different ways to search for case information.
This image comes from the Lancaster County court records page, which outlines how the public can access criminal case files and docket information from the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.
The Court of Common Pleas is organized into Criminal, Civil, Family, and Orphans' Court divisions. Lancaster County is in the 2nd Judicial District of Pennsylvania. The criminal division handles the most public traffic, with thousands of new cases opened each year across the county.
Note: Felony case records in Lancaster County are kept for 75 years, giving researchers access to a long history of criminal filings in the county.
Search Lancaster Arrest Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us lets you search Lancaster County criminal dockets at no cost. You can look up cases from the Court of Common Pleas and from each of the 14 Magisterial District Courts by name, case number, or filing date. Results show charges, hearing schedules, and case dispositions. This is the most direct way to find Lancaster County arrest records online without going to the courthouse.
The UJS portal is free to use. Results show the case type, docket number, court, and party names. For copies of actual filings, you still need to contact the Clerk of Courts directly. The portal is a good first step before making an in-person visit to Lancaster County.
For inmate information, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections runs an inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov. This tool lets you search for people currently held in state facilities, which can help if someone was arrested in Lancaster County and sent to a state prison.
Lancaster County Sheriff and Warrant Records
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office maintains warrant information and runs a public inmate search portal on its website. The Sheriff's site includes a "Who's in Jail" link for the public to check current inmate status. The office also handles civil process service, prisoner transport, and concealed carry permit processing. Right-to-Know requests are accepted by the Sheriff's Office as well.
The Sheriff's Office is located at 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17608. Phone is (717) 299-8200. You can reach the office to ask about current warrant status or to request records under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at openrecords.pa.gov. The Right-to-Know Law, found at 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives the public the right to request government records, including certain arrest-related documents maintained by the Sheriff.
The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office page at lancastercountypa.gov shows the public inmate search tool and contact information for the Sheriff's Office.
This image is from the Lancaster County official website, which hosts the Sheriff's Office information page including public inmate search tools and records request contacts.
Lancaster city has its own police department, and there are multiple municipal departments throughout the county. State Police cover highways and rural areas. All arrests by these agencies get reported to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository, where they become part of the statewide criminal history database.
Note: The Lancaster County Sheriff's public inmate search is updated regularly and can show current detention status for people held at the Lancaster County Prison.
Pennsylvania Criminal History Check for Lancaster County
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system includes all Lancaster County arrest records reported by local and state police. PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and is available at epatch.state.pa.us. An electronic check costs $22 and returns a result of "Record" or "No Record." This is the fastest way to get a Pennsylvania criminal history report that covers Lancaster County arrests.
For a more detailed report, use Form SP 4-164 and mail it to the PSP Central Repository. The same $22 fee applies. Add $5 if you need a notarized copy. A personal review of your own record uses Form SP 4-170 and costs $20. Volunteers can get free checks using Form SP 4-164A. All Lancaster County arrests recorded by law enforcement agencies in the county are included in PATCH results.
Local agencies in Lancaster County that report to the state system include Lancaster City Police and numerous municipal police departments across the county. The Pennsylvania State Police also patrol highways and rural parts of Lancaster County. Records from all of these agencies feed into the statewide criminal history database accessible through PATCH.
State law governing criminal history records is found under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA). This law sets the rules for how criminal history data in Pennsylvania is collected, maintained, and shared with the public.
Right-to-Know Requests in Lancaster County
Lancaster County arrest records and related documents can be requested under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law. Agencies that receive these requests include the Clerk of Courts, the Sheriff's Office, and individual municipal police departments across the county. Requests go to each agency's Open Records Officer.
Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page under the state Open Records fee schedule. Agencies have five business days to respond. You can submit requests online through the state Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. That site also lists appeal procedures if a request is denied. The Right-to-Know Law covers records held by most public agencies in Lancaster County.
Some records are exempt from disclosure. These include certain information about juveniles, ongoing investigations, and records sealed by court order. The Pennsylvania State Police also have a separate process for criminal history records through PATCH. For most general arrest records in Lancaster County, the Right-to-Know process or a direct request to the Clerk of Courts is the right path.
Cities in Lancaster County
Lancaster city is the county seat and the largest municipality in Lancaster County. All Court of Common Pleas criminal cases are filed in Lancaster. The city has its own police department and its own arrest and court record history separate from the smaller townships and boroughs in the county.
Lancaster city is located in the heart of Lancaster County, known widely as Amish country. For city-specific arrest records, visit the Lancaster city page or contact the Lancaster City Police Department directly.
Nearby Counties
Lancaster County shares borders with several other Pennsylvania counties. If you are trying to find records for someone who may have been arrested in a neighboring area, check the county where the arrest occurred. Each county keeps its own criminal court records.