Lawrence County Pennsylvania Criminal Records

Lawrence County criminal court records are kept by the Clerk of Courts in New Castle, the county seat. The county is part of the 47th Judicial District and has a population of approximately 86,000. Located in western Pennsylvania near the Ohio border, Lawrence County sits between Beaver, Mercer, and Butler Counties. The Court of Common Pleas handles all criminal matters filed within the county. Court records are stored at the courthouse on Court Street in New Castle. This page covers how to find and request criminal court records from Lawrence County, Pennsylvania.

Lawrence County Clerk of Courts Criminal Case Files

The Clerk of Courts in New Castle maintains all criminal case records for the Court of Common Pleas in Lawrence County. The office is open Monday through Friday during normal business hours. You can reach staff by phone at (724) 656-1910 to ask about specific cases or to confirm what you need to bring for an in-person visit.

Criminal cases in Lawrence County begin at the magisterial district court level. Each municipality and township in the county is served by one or more magisterial district judges who handle arraignments, preliminary hearings, and summary offenses. When a case is bound over to the Court of Common Pleas, the Clerk of Courts takes over. From that point, every filing, motion, and court order is tracked by this office. The courthouse at 430 Court Street is where criminal case files are stored. If you need a certified copy of a sentencing order, a guilty plea transcript, or any other document from a Lawrence County criminal case, contact or visit the Clerk of Courts office. Fees may apply for printed and certified documents.

Search Lawrence County Criminal Dockets Through UJS Portal

Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to Lawrence County criminal court dockets. No account is required. You can search at any hour of the day.

To find Lawrence County cases, select "Court Dockets" from the main menu. Choose "Court of Common Pleas" for felony and misdemeanor cases. Enter the defendant's name or a case number. You can also filter results to Lawrence County to narrow down your search. Each case result links to a full docket sheet. The docket lists every document filed, every court date, bail information, charge descriptions, attorney names, and the outcome of the case. For summary offenses and preliminary hearing records from magisterial district courts in Lawrence County, select "Magisterial District Courts" from the portal and filter accordingly.

Note: If a case was filed many years ago, it may not appear in the online system. Older records are available only by visiting the courthouse in person or requesting them by mail.

Lawrence County Criminal Records Access and Content

Criminal court records in Lawrence County are public documents. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.101 and the Public Access Policy at 204 Pa. Code § 213.81 both support open access. These laws allow any person to request and view court records without needing to state a reason.

Pa. Rule of Judicial Administration 509 confirms that you may inspect court records at the courthouse at no charge. Fees are charged only when you request copies or certified documents. Typical per-page copy fees apply, and certified documents cost more than plain copies. The courthouse in New Castle is open during regular business hours for in-person record review.

Some documents are protected from public access. Records sealed by court order, materials involving juvenile defendants, and certain confidential filings are not available to the general public. For adult criminal cases in Lawrence County, records are generally open. Common documents found in a Lawrence County criminal case include:

• Criminal complaint and police affidavit of probable cause
• Bail order and release conditions
• Formal criminal information
• Pretrial motions and rulings
• Plea or trial records
• Sentencing order

The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183 governs criminal history records maintained by courts and law enforcement throughout Pennsylvania, including Lawrence County.

Pennsylvania Criminal History Resources for Lawrence County

For a broader statewide criminal history, the PATCH system provides an official report compiled by the Pennsylvania State Police. This goes beyond Lawrence County and covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties. Submit a request at epatch.pa.gov. Standard reports cost $22. Individual self-checks cost $20. For assistance, call 1-888-783-7972. More details are at psp.pa.gov.

Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.1 and § 9122.2 provides for automatic sealing of qualifying criminal records after a waiting period. Once sealed, records no longer appear in public searches but remain accessible to courts and law enforcement. For records that do not qualify for automatic sealing, individuals can file a petition for expungement with the Lawrence County Clerk of Courts. The court reviews each petition and rules based on the specific circumstances of the case.

Nearby Counties

Lawrence County borders three other Pennsylvania counties. If you need criminal court records from a neighboring county, use the links below.

View All 67 Counties