Lackawanna County Criminal Court Records

Lackawanna County criminal court records are maintained by the Clerk of Judicial Records in Scranton, the county seat. With a population of approximately 215,000, Lackawanna County is one of the larger counties in northeastern Pennsylvania. The county operates under the 45th Judicial District. All criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas are held at the main courthouse on North Washington Avenue. This guide explains how to search criminal records in Lackawanna County, what documents are available, and how to request copies in person or online.

Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records Criminal Division

The Clerk of Judicial Records maintains all criminal case files for the Court of Common Pleas in Lackawanna County. The Criminal Division office is located at the main courthouse on North Washington Avenue in Scranton. The office accepts requests by mail, by phone, and in person. Staff can search by case number or by the name of the defendant.

Criminal records from Lackawanna County cost approximately $10 to obtain. Additional fees apply for copies and for certified documents. Lackawanna County has a specific payment policy that is different from most other Pennsylvania counties. Personal checks are not accepted at this office. All payments must be made by business check or money order. Cash may also be accepted in person, but confirm this in advance by calling (570) 963-6759. Planning your visit with the correct payment form will save time at the window.

The Civil Division operates separately from the Brooks Building at 436 Spruce Street in Scranton, phone (570) 963-6723. Family Court is housed at the Lackawanna County Administration Building at 200 Adams Avenue, phone (570) 963-5695. If your records search involves civil or family matters, those offices are separate from the Criminal Division.

Note: Personal checks are not accepted for criminal record requests in Lackawanna County. Bring a business check or money order to avoid delays.

Lackawanna County Central Court and Preliminary Hearings

Lackawanna County's Central Court, designated as Magisterial District Court 45-0-00, handles all preliminary hearings in criminal cases for the entire county. This includes cases originating in Scranton and in all other municipalities within Lackawanna County. Central Court is located at the main courthouse, 200 N. Washington Avenue, and can be reached at (570) 963-6436.

At the preliminary hearing stage, a defendant appears before a magisterial district judge who determines whether there is sufficient evidence to send the case to the Court of Common Pleas for trial. Records from these hearings are part of the public docket and can be found on the UJS portal. Once a case is bound over, all further proceedings are tracked by the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Criminal Division. Additional Magisterial District Courts in Lackawanna County serve specific areas including various Scranton wards, Old Forge, Taylor, Moosic, Dunmore, Dickson City, Carbondale, and outlying townships. Those records are also searchable through the UJS portal.

Online Docket Search for Lackawanna County Criminal Cases

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal provides free public access to criminal court dockets from Lackawanna County. You can search by name, OTN, or case number at any time without an account.

Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us and select "Court Dockets." Choose "Court of Common Pleas" for felony and misdemeanor cases in Lackawanna County. For preliminary hearing records and summary offenses, select "Magisterial District Courts." Enter the defendant's last name in the search box and narrow results by county. Each docket sheet shows all filings, charges, bail status, attorney information, and the full case history. The Lackawanna County government website at lackawannacounty.org also provides general court information and may have links to additional local resources.

What Lackawanna County Criminal Records Contain

A Lackawanna County criminal court record is a complete account of a criminal case from filing to resolution. The docket sheet is the index that lists every document and event. The underlying case file holds the actual documents.

Pennsylvania law supports open access to criminal records. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 and the Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 both support this access. Under Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509, members of the public may inspect court records at the courthouse without paying an inspection fee. Fees apply only for printed copies and certified documents. Some materials may be restricted, including sealed filings, records involving juveniles, and documents ordered confidential by the court. For adult criminal cases in Lackawanna County, the core case information is publicly available.

Records commonly found in a Lackawanna County criminal case file include:

• Criminal complaint and probable cause affidavit
• Bail order and any modifications
• Criminal information with statute references
• Omnibus pretrial motions and court responses
• Guilty plea transcript or trial record
• Sentencing order and probation conditions

Criminal History and Background Check Resources

For a statewide criminal history report that goes beyond Lackawanna County dockets, the PATCH system is the official source. Submit requests online at epatch.pa.gov. Standard reports cost $22. Individual name checks for personal records cost $20. Volunteer organizations may qualify for free checks. Call 1-888-783-7972 for assistance.

The Pennsylvania State Police maintains statewide conviction data at psp.pa.gov. The governing statute is the Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183. This law defines how criminal records may be used, what information must be included, and what rights individuals have to challenge inaccurate data. Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 and § 9122.2 allows eligible records to be sealed automatically after a qualifying period. Sealed records no longer appear in public searches but remain accessible to courts and law enforcement agencies.

Note: If you are seeking a Lackawanna County record that appears to be missing from the UJS portal, contact the Criminal Division directly at (570) 963-6759 to confirm whether the record exists in paper form only.

Nearby Counties

Lackawanna County is located in northeastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. Criminal cases are filed in the county where the offense occurred. Use the links below to find records in nearby counties.

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