Northampton County Criminal Court Case Records

Northampton County criminal court records are managed by the Clerk of Courts at the Northampton County Courthouse in Easton. Home to roughly 312,000 residents, Northampton County sits in Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley region and is part of the 3rd Judicial District. The county operates separate court divisions for civil, criminal, and family matters, with the Criminal Division located at 669 Washington Street in Easton. This page covers online docket searches, in-person record requests, Magisterial District Court locations, and official criminal history options for Northampton County.

Northampton County Clerk of Courts Criminal Division

The Northampton County Clerk of Courts handles criminal case records for the 3rd Judicial District. The Criminal Division is located at the Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042. The phone number for the Criminal Division is (610) 829-6600. Office hours run Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Staff process new criminal filings, maintain case files, record court proceedings, and assist the public with record requests.

Northampton County's Court of Common Pleas operates several divisions. The Civil Division can be reached at (610) 829-6550. The Family Division handles family court matters at (610) 829-6500. The Orphans' Court Division and Register of Wills share a line at (610) 829-6190. For criminal records specifically, the Criminal Division at (610) 829-6600 is the right contact. Each division keeps its own records, so be sure you are contacting the right division for the type of record you need.

Electronic Filing in Northampton County Criminal Cases

Northampton County has implemented PACFile, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's electronic filing platform, for certain court filings. Electronic filing for criminal matters in Northampton County is permissive rather than mandatory. Attorneys may file documents electronically through PACFile, which is accessed through the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us. Paper filing remains an option for criminal matters. This implementation was established under an agreement between the Northampton County Clerk of Courts and the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts.

Members of the public do not file documents through PACFile. The public's access point remains the UJS Portal for searching dockets and viewing case information, and the Clerk of Courts office for requesting paper copies. Electronic filing affects how attorneys submit documents, but it does not change how the public accesses the resulting records.

Note: Even in counties where electronic filing is active, public access to criminal case information comes through the same UJS Portal docket search that is available statewide.

Northampton County Magisterial District Courts

Criminal cases in Northampton County begin at one of several Magisterial District Courts before moving to the Court of Common Pleas for more serious charges. The district courts handle preliminary arraignments, bail hearings, preliminary hearings, and summary offense cases. Seven district courts serve the county, with offices in Bethlehem, Bangor, Northampton Borough, and Easton.

The district courts and their contact information are listed below. Each court handles cases from the geographic area it serves. Records from these courts are also searchable through the UJS Portal alongside the Common Pleas records.

• MDJ 03-2-01: 1404 Walter Street, Bethlehem -- (610) 865-4253
• MDJ 03-2-03: 4330 Hecktown Road, Bethlehem -- (610) 814-0308
• MDJ 03-2-04: 6 S. Main Street, Bangor -- (610) 588-8390
• MDJ 03-2-05: 1214 Main Street, Northampton -- (610) 262-7857
• MDJ 03-2-06: 1710 Sullivan Trail, Easton -- (610) 252-5887
• MDJ 03-2-07: 400 Northampton Street, Easton -- (610) 258-4640
• MDJ 03-2-08: 2906 William Penn Highway, Easton -- (610) 253-3940

Note: District court dockets are part of the public record and appear in the UJS Portal. Cases resolved at the district level without being bound over to Common Pleas stay on the district court docket.

Northampton County Criminal Docket Search Online

The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the primary online resource for searching Northampton County criminal records. The portal searches across both the Court of Common Pleas and the Magisterial District Courts. Enter a name, docket number, or date of birth to retrieve matching records. Each result links to a docket sheet showing the charges, court dates, bail status, and case outcome.

Docket sheets from the portal are informational. They reflect the court's electronic records but are not certified documents. If you need a certified copy for a legal purpose, contact the Northampton County Clerk of Courts Criminal Division at (610) 829-6600. The clerk will prepare a certified copy with the court seal for a fee. Requests can be made in person at 669 Washington Street in Easton or submitted in writing by mail.

Criminal History Records for Northampton County

Official criminal history records for Northampton County and all of Pennsylvania are available through the State Police PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. The $22 fee covers a search of the statewide criminal history database maintained under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101-9183. The PATCH report includes arrests and dispositions submitted by reporting agencies across the state. Phone assistance is available at 1-888-783-7972.

PATCH and the UJS Portal serve different purposes. A PATCH report is a certified statewide record used for official purposes. The UJS Portal shows court docket information for a specific case or person. Using both provides the most complete view of criminal history in Northampton County. More information on the PATCH process is at psp.pa.gov.

Nearby Counties

Northampton County is located in eastern Pennsylvania's Lehigh Valley area. It borders several counties in the region. Criminal records from neighboring counties are maintained by those counties' own courts.

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