Find Arrest Records in Lawrence County
Lawrence County arrest records are public documents maintained by the Clerk of Courts at the Lawrence County Government Center in New Castle, Pennsylvania. The county borders both Ohio and several western Pennsylvania counties, giving it a distinct location in the state. You can search criminal case dockets online through the Pennsylvania UJS portal or request records in person at the courthouse on Court Street. This page walks you through the offices, search tools, and processes for finding Lawrence County criminal records.
Lawrence County Quick Facts
Lawrence County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Lawrence County holds criminal court records from the Court of Common Pleas. Jodi Esoldo serves as the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts for Lawrence County. The office is at the Lawrence County Government Center, 430 Court Street, New Castle, PA 16101. Phone is 724-656-2143. Office hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. You can also fax requests to 724-656-1988 or email jesoldo@co.lawrence.pa.us.
Criminal records at the Clerk of Courts office are public under Pennsylvania law. The office maintains case files for the Court of Common Pleas, including both the Civil and Criminal divisions. You can search cases online through the Unified Judicial System Web Portal, or you can submit a mail request with a written request, your contact information, payment, and a self-addressed stamped envelope. In-person visits are accepted during regular office hours.
The Lawrence County Government website at lawrencecountypa.gov has additional information about the Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts office, including how to contact staff and what records are available.
The Lawrence County criminal records page at lawrencecountypa.gov outlines how to access criminal history information and public court records for Lawrence County.
This image is sourced from the Lawrence County Government website, which provides contact details and instructions for accessing criminal court records in New Castle and throughout Lawrence County.
| Office |
Lawrence County Prothonotary / Clerk of Courts Lawrence County Government Center 430 Court Street New Castle, PA 16101 Phone: (724) 656-2143 Fax: (724) 656-1988 |
|---|---|
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM |
| Website | lawrencecountypa.gov |
Search Lawrence County Criminal Dockets Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives you free access to Lawrence County criminal dockets. You can search by participant name, case number, or filing date. Results include charges, hearing dates, and case dispositions. Dockets from the Court of Common Pleas and from the Magisterial District Courts that serve Lawrence County are both available. This is the fastest way to find a Lawrence County arrest record without a trip to New Castle.
The UJS portal shows criminal docket sheets for cases from the Court of Common Pleas in New Castle. Each docket includes the case type, assigned judge, party names, charges, and key dates. Traffic court records from the Magisterial District Courts appear in MDJ docket searches. Court calendars are also published online so you can check upcoming hearing dates for active Lawrence County cases.
For people held in state correctional facilities after a Lawrence County conviction, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov allows a free name search. This can help confirm custody status for people who were arrested in Lawrence County and later transferred to a state prison.
Note: The UJS portal provides case information for public view but does not provide copies of filed documents. Contact the Clerk of Courts in New Castle to obtain paper copies of Lawrence County court records.
Pennsylvania Criminal History Check for Lawrence County
The PATCH system at epatch.state.pa.us is the Pennsylvania State Police's statewide criminal history database. Lawrence County arrest records from local and state police agencies are included. An electronic PATCH check costs $22 and returns a "Record" or "No Record" result almost instantly. This covers all Pennsylvania arrests, including those made in Lawrence County by New Castle Police, Ellwood City Police, State Police, and other local departments.
For a full printed criminal history report, complete Form SP 4-164 and mail it to the PSP Central Repository with the $22 fee. Add $5 if you need a notarized copy. A personal review of your own history uses Form SP 4-170 at $20. Volunteers serving nonprofit organizations can use Form SP 4-164A at no charge. All forms and instructions are available from the Pennsylvania State Police at pa.gov/agencies/psp.
Criminal history information in Pennsylvania is governed by 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, the Criminal History Record Information Act. This law controls how arrest records are collected, stored, and released in Lawrence County and across the state.
Accessing Lawrence County Arrest Records
Lawrence County criminal records are public under Pennsylvania law. The primary ways to get them are in person at the Government Center on Court Street, by mail to the Clerk of Courts office, or online through the UJS portal. In-person visits work best when you need copies of filed documents. Bring a valid photo ID and be prepared to pay copy fees. Staff can search by name or case number and make copies while you wait.
The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law at openrecords.pa.gov gives the public the right to request records from government agencies, including the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts and local police departments. Standard copy fees are $0.25 per page. Agencies must respond within five business days. Requests that are denied can be appealed through the Office of Open Records.
Certain records are protected from public release. These include juvenile records, records sealed by a court order, and information about ongoing investigations. Most adult criminal case records in Lawrence County are publicly available once charges are filed.
Pennsylvania Courts and Statewide Records
Pennsylvania courts publish public records guidance at pacourts.us/public-records. This resource covers the rules for access to court records under the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania. The policy explains what records are open, what is restricted, and how to submit a request if you need documents from a Pennsylvania court, including the Lawrence County Court of Common Pleas in New Castle.
The Pennsylvania courts public records page at pacourts.us explains the statewide policy for accessing court records, which applies to all county courts including Lawrence County.
This image is from pacourts.us/public-records, the Pennsylvania courts resource for understanding public access to court records statewide, including Lawrence County criminal dockets.
The statewide public access policy governs all county courts in Pennsylvania. It sets the standard for how records are requested, what fees apply, and which categories of records are exempt. Lawrence County follows this same framework for all public records requests at the courthouse in New Castle.
Note: If you need marriage records from Lawrence County, the Clerk of Orphans Court is at the same address, 430 Court Street, New Castle, and can be reached at (724) 656-2440.
Nearby Counties
Lawrence County sits in the far western corner of Pennsylvania and borders Ohio to the west. If you need records for someone who may have been in a neighboring area, each county keeps its own criminal case files. Check the county where the arrest took place.