Bethlehem Criminal Court Records
Bethlehem sits across two Pennsylvania counties, which shapes how criminal court records are organized and accessed. Cases from the south side fall under Northampton County, while cases from the north side go through Lehigh County. If you are searching criminal records tied to Bethlehem, the county where the incident took place determines which court holds the file. Both county clerk offices allow public access to criminal dockets, and the UJS Portal covers records from both counties online.
Bethlehem Quick Facts
Bethlehem Criminal Court Jurisdiction Across Two Counties
Bethlehem is one of the few Pennsylvania cities split between two counties. The Lehigh River historically divided the city, and the county boundary follows that split today. The south side of Bethlehem, including the older downtown area, falls within Northampton County. The north side, which includes large residential areas and some industrial zones, falls within Lehigh County. This boundary matters for criminal court records because the county where an incident occurs controls which court processes the case.
For Northampton County cases, the Clerk of Courts Criminal Division in Easton holds all court records. For Lehigh County cases, the Clerk of Judicial Records in Allentown handles filings. Neither office can provide records from the other county. If you are not sure which side of the city an address falls in, checking a county boundary map before you request records can save you time. The UJS Portal can also help narrow down which county has a case on file.
Note: The county where the offense occurred controls jurisdiction, not where a person lives or where they were arrested.
Northampton County Criminal Records for Bethlehem South Side
Criminal cases from the south side of Bethlehem go through the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas, 3rd Judicial District. The Clerk of Courts Criminal Division in Easton is where all case filings, dockets, and related documents are maintained. You can request copies in person or call to ask about mail or online options.
| Court | Northampton County Clerk of Courts - Criminal Division |
|---|---|
| Address | 669 Washington Street Easton, PA 18042 |
| Phone | (610) 829-6600 |
| Judicial District | 3rd Judicial District |
| Online Records | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
The Northampton County side of Bethlehem also has three active Magisterial District Judge courts. These courts handle the initial stages of criminal cases, including preliminary arraignments and hearings. MDJ 03-2-01 at 1404 Walter Street handles cases from parts of south Bethlehem. MDJ 03-2-03 at 4330 Hecktown Road and MDJ 03-2-11 at 1201 Butztown Road cover other portions of the Northampton County side. MDJ dockets appear in the UJS Portal and are free to search online.
Lehigh County Criminal Records for Bethlehem North Side
North-side Bethlehem cases fall under the 31st Judicial District, which covers Lehigh County. The Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records in Allentown maintains all criminal court filings for this portion of the city. You can reach their office by phone or visit in person to request dockets, case files, or certified copies of criminal records tied to the Lehigh County portion of Bethlehem.
| Court | Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records |
|---|---|
| Address | 455 W. Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 18101 |
| Phone | (610) 782-3000 |
| Judicial District | 31st Judicial District |
| Online Records | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
Lehigh County MDJ courts serve the north side of Bethlehem. These courts process preliminary hearings and arraignments before cases move to the Court of Common Pleas. Dockets from Lehigh County MDJ courts are publicly available through the UJS Portal. For certified copies of any Lehigh County criminal record, contact the Clerk of Judicial Records in Allentown directly.
Note: Lehigh County and Northampton County both participate in the UJS Portal, so you can search dockets from both counties in one place without knowing in advance which county handled a case.
Searching Bethlehem Criminal Dockets Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal gives free public access to criminal dockets from both Northampton and Lehigh Counties. This is the fastest way to look up Bethlehem criminal court records when you are not sure which county handled a case. You can search by name, date of birth, or docket number. Results show the charges filed, case status, hearing dates, and the names of attorneys and judges involved.
The UJS Portal provides docket information only. It does not serve as a certified background check. Employers, courts, and licensing boards that require certified criminal records must obtain those through the Clerk of Courts office or through the PATCH system. PATCH is run by the Pennsylvania State Police and is available at epatch.pa.gov for a $22 fee. PATCH results reflect criminal history statewide, not just in Bethlehem or in one county.
To search Bethlehem criminal records through the UJS Portal, visit ujsportal.pacourts.us. Select the docket search option and enter a name or case number. You can filter results by county to narrow searches to Northampton or Lehigh specifically.
The screenshot below shows the UJS Portal search interface used to look up Bethlehem criminal court dockets.
The portal returns results from both counties that serve Bethlehem, making it easier to confirm which court system processed a given case.
Pennsylvania Courts Website and Bethlehem Case Records
The Pennsylvania courts website at pacourts.us provides information about the court system, rules, and how to navigate the appeals process. It also links to court forms and contact information for each judicial district. For Bethlehem residents dealing with criminal cases in either Northampton or Lehigh County, the PA Courts site has resources on court procedures and rights during criminal proceedings.
The screenshot below is from the PA Courts portal, which covers statewide court information including resources relevant to Bethlehem criminal court records.
Court forms, judicial district contacts, and procedural guides are available through the PA Courts site for both the 3rd and 31st Judicial Districts that serve Bethlehem.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 through 9183, known as the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA), Pennsylvania law governs how criminal records are collected, maintained, and shared. Access to court records follows the Public Access Policy under 204 Pa. Code § 213.81, which defines what information in criminal dockets is available to the public.
Note: Certain records may be sealed or restricted under court order. Not every case that went through arraignment will have full docket details visible in the public portal.
Bethlehem Police Department Records
The Bethlehem Police Department handles law enforcement for the city and can be contacted for police incident reports, arrest records, and related documents. Police records are separate from court records. A police report documents the initial response to an incident. Court records reflect what happens after a case is filed with the court system.
| Department | Bethlehem Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 E. Church Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 |
| Phone | (610) 997-5851 |
To request police records in Bethlehem, you can submit a Right-to-Know request under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. § 67.101. The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov has templates and instructions for making Right-to-Know requests. Some records related to active criminal investigations may be withheld. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the Office of Open Records.
Certified Bethlehem Criminal History Records
The UJS Portal gives free public access to dockets, but it does not produce certified criminal history reports. For official certified records covering all of Pennsylvania, use the PATCH system operated by the Pennsylvania State Police. PATCH searches criminal history statewide, including records from Northampton and Lehigh Counties that cover Bethlehem cases. The fee is $22 per search. You can access PATCH at epatch.pa.gov or call 1-888-783-7972 for help.
The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information page at pa.gov explains the process for requesting a background check. Individuals may also request their own records directly through the Pennsylvania State Police at psp.pa.gov.
Clean Slate provisions under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 and § 9122.2 allow certain older criminal records to be sealed automatically. If a case was sealed under Clean Slate, it may not appear in a standard public search. The sealing applies to non-conviction records and to some minor offenses after a waiting period without reoffense.
Northampton and Lehigh County Criminal Court Records
Because Bethlehem spans two counties, criminal court records may exist in either system. Visit the county pages below for full details on each court's procedures, contact information, and records access options.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Criminal court records in nearby cities are handled by their respective county courts. Select a city below to learn more about accessing records in that area.