Union County Criminal Arrest Records
Union County arrest records are part of the Pennsylvania statewide criminal history system and are accessible through several county and state sources. The county seat is Lewisburg, home of Bucknell University, in central Pennsylvania. The Union County Government Center at 155 North 15th Street, Lewisburg handles Right-to-Know requests and public record access. This page explains how to search Union County arrest records and where to find the information you need.
Union County Quick Facts
Union County Government Center and Records
The Union County Government Center is at 155 North 15th Street, Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837. This is where Right-to-Know requests are handled for Union County. The county's Open Records Officer contact information is posted at the Government Center and on the county website at unioncountypa.org. The county posts its Right-to-Know policies, request forms, and fee schedules both on site and online.
The Union County government website at unioncountypa.org provides the Right-to-Know request form, Open Records Officer contact information, and county policies for accessing public records including arrest-related documents.
Union County follows the standard Pennsylvania five-business-day response requirement for Right-to-Know requests. If you are denied access to a record, you may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov. Requests may be submitted in person at the Government Center, by mail, or through the county's online process. The fee schedule follows state guidelines, so copy costs are set by state rules.
| Government Center |
155 North 15th Street Lewisburg, Pennsylvania 17837 |
|---|---|
| County Website | unioncountypa.org |
| Right-to-Know | Five business day response; appeals to OOR |
| President Judge | Lori R. Hackenberg |
Union County Court Records and Dockets
Union County is part of the 17th Judicial District, which it shares with Snyder County. The Court of Common Pleas handles felony cases and major civil matters. Magisterial District Courts handle initial hearings, bail, traffic matters, and misdemeanor cases. President Judge Lori R. Hackenberg oversees the 17th Judicial District. Criminal case records in Union County are maintained by the Clerk of Courts.
Electronic filing in criminal dockets follows Rule 576.1 in Union County. Filing fees are paid electronically to the Clerk of Courts. People with in forma pauperis status are exempt from filing fees. All filings must comply with the Case Records Public Access Policy. Required parties to be served include Court Administration, Probation, the Sheriff, and the Court Reporter. A distribution ledger listing all names and addresses must accompany service.
The Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives you free access to Union County court dockets. Search by name, case number, or filing date. Select Union County as your judicial district to filter results. Criminal and civil dockets are both available. Court calendars for upcoming hearings are also published through the portal. For certified document copies, contact the Clerk of Courts at the Union County Courthouse.
Note: Because Union County shares the 17th Judicial District with Snyder County, some court administration resources are shared, but each county keeps its own separate dockets and arrest records.
Union County PATCH Criminal History Records
The Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History system, PATCH, is the main statewide tool for checking criminal records in Union County and across Pennsylvania. It is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. To search, go to epatch.state.pa.us. The cost is $22. You may also submit Form SP 4-164 by mail to request a check.
Law enforcement in Union County includes the Lewisburg Police Department and the Pennsylvania State Police. Bucknell University Police handles incidents on the Bucknell campus in Lewisburg. All agencies report arrests to the statewide system. This means PATCH results for Union County cover arrests by municipal police, State Police, and campus police at Bucknell. The report will show all Pennsylvania arrests on record for the person searched, not just those in Union County.
The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency at pccd.pa.gov funds programs related to criminal justice in Pennsylvania including efforts that affect how arrest records are collected and used in counties like Union.
Access Laws for Union County Arrest Records
Two main laws control how Union County arrest records can be accessed. The Criminal History Record Information Act, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, governs criminal record access across all Pennsylvania counties. Under CHRIA, records tied to convictions are generally public. Records for charges that were dismissed or resulted in acquittal may be restricted or eligible for removal through the expungement process.
The Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, gives you the right to request records from Union County offices without having to state a reason. Union County must respond within five business days. Denied requests can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records. The OOR handles appeals from all 67 Pennsylvania counties.
Expungement of Union County arrest records requires filing Form SP 4-170 with the Pennsylvania State Police. The $170 filing fee applies. You must serve the petition on the attorney for the Commonwealth and wait 60 days for a response before the Union County Court of Common Pleas can rule on your petition. Once granted, the record is removed from the PATCH database.
Inmate Search for Union County
People arrested in Union County may be held at the county facility or sent to a state correctional institution. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov lets you search for people in state custody. You can look up by name or DOC number. Results show the person's current facility, housing status, and minimum and maximum release dates.
Union County sits in central Pennsylvania. It borders Snyder County to the east, Northumberland County to the northeast, Montour County to the north, Lycoming County to the northwest, Centre County to the west, and Mifflin County to the south. If you are unsure which county processed a case, use the UJS portal to run a statewide name search across all counties at once.
Nearby Counties
Union County is in the center of Pennsylvania and is surrounded by several counties. Each has its own arrest records, courts, and record access procedures. If a case crosses county lines, check each county's system separately.