Lancaster County Criminal Records
What Is Lancaster County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Lancaster County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.
Key distinctions among record types include:
- Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law.
- Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses carrying potential sentences of more than one year of incarceration; misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines or shorter jail terms.
- Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under applicable law. Juvenile records are routinely sealed pursuant to state statute and are not available for public inspection except under limited circumstances.
- Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest; historical records document past charges, proceedings, and dispositions.
Criminal records in Lancaster County may include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions. The principal agencies maintaining these records are:
Lancaster County Sheriff's Office 150 N. Queen Street, Suite 320, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 299-8100 Lancaster County Sheriff's Office
Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8282 Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas
Pennsylvania State Police — Central Repository 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110 (717) 783-5592 Pennsylvania State Police
Under 42 Pa. C.S. § 9151, the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania defines criminal history record information to encompass information collected by criminal justice agencies on individuals consisting of identifiable descriptions and notations of arrests, detentions, indictments, informations, or other formal criminal charges, as well as any disposition arising therefrom.
Are Criminal Records Public In Lancaster County
Criminal records in Lancaster County are presumptively public under Pennsylvania law, subject to specific statutory exemptions. The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), codified at 18 Pa. C.S. § 9101 et seq., governs the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and use of criminal history record information throughout the Commonwealth.
Under current law, the following categories of records are available to the public:
- Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences
- Court dockets and case filings in the Court of Common Pleas
- Arrest logs and booking information maintained by the Sheriff's Office
- Sex offender registration information pursuant to Megan's Law
The following categories are restricted from public disclosure:
- Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations
- Juvenile adjudication records, which are sealed by operation of law
- Expunged or pardoned records
- Mental health and medical information contained within criminal files
- Confidential informant identities and certain law enforcement intelligence records
Members of the public may inspect publicly available court records at the Lancaster County Prothonotary and Clerk of Courts offices during regular business hours. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101, further establishes the public's right to access government records, including those maintained by county criminal justice agencies.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Lancaster County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Lancaster County may access them through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for obtaining records through in-person and formal written request methods:
- Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the records sought relate to arrests and bookings (Sheriff's Office), court proceedings and dispositions (Clerk of Courts), or statewide criminal history (Pennsylvania State Police).
- Prepare identifying information. Requestors should have the subject's full legal name, date of birth, and, if available, a case number or docket number.
- Submit a request to the Clerk of Courts. Court dockets and case records may be requested in person at the Clerk of Courts office. Requestors complete a records request form available at the public counter.
- Request a Pennsylvania criminal history check. Statewide criminal history reports are available through the Pennsylvania State Police's PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) online system. A fee of $22.00 is currently assessed per request.
- Contact the Sheriff's Office for arrest and booking records. Requests for jail booking records and arrest logs may be submitted directly to the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office in writing or in person.
- Allow processing time. In-person requests at the Clerk of Courts are typically fulfilled same-day for available records. Written requests may require additional processing time pursuant to the Right-to-Know Law's statutory response deadlines.
Lancaster County Clerk of Courts 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8282 Public Counter Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. Lancaster County Clerk of Courts
How To Find Criminal Records in Lancaster County Online?
Several official online portals currently provide access to Lancaster County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.
Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal The UJS Web Portal maintained by the Pennsylvania courts system allows members of the public to search court dockets statewide, including Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Court records. Users may search by name, date of birth, or docket number. The portal contains case filing dates, charges, dispositions, and sentencing information. No registration is required for basic docket searches.
PATCH — Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History The PATCH system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police provides official statewide criminal history reports. Users must create an account and pay the applicable fee. PATCH reports reflect convictions and other dispositions reported to the central repository.
Lancaster County Jail Inmate Lookup The Lancaster County Prison maintains a current inmate roster accessible through the Lancaster County Prison inmate search. This tool reflects individuals currently in custody and does not constitute a comprehensive criminal history.
Magisterial District Court Records Records from Magisterial District Courts, which handle preliminary hearings and summary offenses, are searchable through the UJS Web Portal. These records include preliminary arraignments, bail determinations, and summary offense dispositions.
Online records reflect information as reported and may not include sealed, expunged, or pending matters not yet entered into the system.
Can You Search Lancaster County Criminal Records for Free?
Pennsylvania law permits free public inspection of court records at the courthouse. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, a Commonwealth agency shall not charge a requester for the mere inspection of public records. Fees may be assessed for duplication, certification, or postage.
The following resources are currently available at no cost:
- UJS Web Portal docket searches: Court dockets for Lancaster County cases are searchable at no charge through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal.
- Lancaster County Prison inmate roster: The current inmate lookup tool on the county website is free to access.
- In-person record inspection: Members of the public may inspect court records at the Clerk of Courts public counter without charge during regular business hours.
Fees are assessed in the following circumstances:
- Copies of court documents: fees vary by page count and document type
- Certified copies of court records: additional certification fee applies
- PATCH criminal history reports: $22.00 per report
- Postage and handling for mailed records
What's Included in a Lancaster County Criminal Record?
A comprehensive criminal record in Lancaster County may contain the following categories of information:
Identifying Information
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Mugshot photograph
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number
Arrest Information
- Date, time, and location of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Booking number and jail facility
- Charges filed at time of arrest
- Bail amount and conditions
Court Case Information
- Case number and docket number
- Court of jurisdiction (Court of Common Pleas or Magisterial District Court)
- Filing date and case status
- Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
- Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, nolo contendere)
- Attorney of record information
Disposition Information
- Verdict or adjudication
- Conviction date
- Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision
- Appeals filed and outcomes
- Probation or parole terms
Additional Record Elements
- Active or recalled warrants
- Protective or restraining orders
- Sex offender registration status under Megan's Law
- DUI/DWI convictions and related administrative actions
- Traffic violations adjudicated in Magisterial District Court
- Pending charges not yet adjudicated
How Long Does Lancaster County Keep Criminal Records?
Criminal records in Lancaster County are retained in accordance with Pennsylvania's statutory retention schedules and applicable court rules. Retention periods vary by record type and maintaining agency.
Current retention periods for principal record categories include:
- Court of Common Pleas criminal case files: Retained permanently for felony convictions; misdemeanor case files are generally retained for a minimum of 20 years following final disposition.
- Arrest and booking records (Sheriff's Office/Prison): Retained for a minimum of 7 years following release or final disposition.
- Magisterial District Court records: Summary offense records are retained for a minimum of 5 years; misdemeanor and felony preliminary hearing records are forwarded to the Court of Common Pleas upon bound-over status.
- Pennsylvania State Police central repository: Criminal history records are retained indefinitely unless expunged by court order pursuant to 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122, which governs expungement of criminal history record information.
- Juvenile records: Sealed upon the subject reaching adulthood and may be expunged upon petition to the court.
The Pennsylvania Historical and Museum Commission, in coordination with the Pennsylvania State Archives, publishes official records retention schedules applicable to county government agencies. Agencies are required to adhere to these schedules under state mandate.
Pennsylvania State Archives 350 North Street, Harrisburg, PA 17120 (717) 783-3281 Pennsylvania State Archives