Lehigh County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records
Are Arrest Records Public in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania?
Arrest records are public in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes that government records, including arrest records, are presumptively public and accessible to citizens unless specifically exempted by statute, regulation, judicial order, or decree. The law serves to promote transparency in governmental operations and accountability of public officials.
Arrest records maintained by the Lehigh County Criminal Records Office contain information regarding individuals who have been taken into custody by law enforcement agencies within the county jurisdiction. These records typically document the name of the arrestee, date of arrest, charges filed, and other pertinent information related to the arrest event.
The Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) further regulates the collection, maintenance, dissemination, and use of criminal history record information. Under this act, certain arrest information may be withheld if:
- The record pertains to a juvenile offender
- The record has been sealed or expunged by court order
- The release would compromise an ongoing investigation
- The record contains information protected by other privacy laws
Members of the public seeking access to arrest records must submit requests in compliance with established procedures, which may include completing standardized forms and paying applicable fees for record retrieval and duplication services.
Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Lehigh County?
Arrest records can be accessed online through various official portals maintained by Lehigh County and Commonwealth of Pennsylvania agencies. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania provides electronic access to court docket information, which includes records of criminal proceedings resulting from arrests.
The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law has facilitated the digital transformation of public records access, enabling government agencies to fulfill their statutory obligations through electronic means. Online availability of arrest records serves multiple public interests:
- Enhances accessibility for citizens without requiring physical visits to government offices
- Reduces administrative burden on county personnel
- Provides timely access to information for legitimate purposes such as background checks
- Supports journalistic reporting on law enforcement activities
The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas maintains electronic records accessible through the Pennsylvania Court Case Records portal. This system allows users to search for criminal cases by name, case number, or other identifiers. However, certain limitations apply to online access:
- Records may not be immediately available following an arrest
- Some sensitive information may be redacted from online versions
- Older records may not be fully digitized
- Complete criminal history information requires submission of formal requests through designated channels
How to Look Up Lehigh County Arrest Records in 2025
Multiple official channels exist for obtaining arrest records in Lehigh County. Individuals seeking such information may pursue the following methods:
Lehigh County Clerk of Courts Office
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 West Hamilton Street
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 782-3550
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
The Clerk of Courts maintains official criminal case records, including documentation of arrests. Requestors may visit in person to submit record requests using standardized forms. Staff will conduct searches based on provided information and produce available records for inspection or copying upon payment of established fees.
Lehigh County Sheriff's Office
Lehigh County Courthouse
455 West Hamilton Street, Room 124
Allentown, PA 18101
(610) 782-3175
Official Website
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:30 PM
The Sheriff's Office maintains records of warrants and arrests executed by their deputies. Inquiries regarding specific arrests may be directed to this office, particularly for recent enforcement actions.
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
1-888-783-7972
PATCH System
The Pennsylvania State Police maintain the central repository for criminal history record information throughout the Commonwealth. Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, individuals may request criminal history information through the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH) system. This online portal allows for name-based searches of criminal history records, including arrests, for a statutory fee of $22 per request.
Online Court Docket Sheets
Criminal case information, including records of arrests that resulted in formal charges, may be accessed through the Unified Judicial System Web Portal. This resource provides docket sheets containing case progression information, including initial arrest data.
Contents of a Lehigh County Arrest Record
Lehigh County arrest records contain standardized information documenting the circumstances and details of an individual's arrest. These records serve as official documentation of law enforcement actions and typically include:
- Biographical information of the arrestee (full legal name, date of birth, address, physical description)
- Date, time, and location of the arrest
- Arresting agency and officer identification
- Criminal charges filed, with reference to specific Pennsylvania statutes violated
- Preliminary arraignment information, including bail determination
- Case/docket number assigned for tracking within the judicial system
- Fingerprint classification data
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Property inventory of items in possession at time of arrest
- Rights advisement documentation
- Preliminary hearing scheduling information
Pursuant to the Criminal History Record Information Act, certain information may be redacted from publicly accessible versions of arrest records, including:
- Social Security numbers
- Driver's license numbers
- Financial account information
- Information regarding victims of certain offenses
- Medical or psychological information
- Information that would compromise the safety of law enforcement personnel
The level of detail contained in publicly accessible arrest records may vary depending on the stage of criminal proceedings and applicable confidentiality provisions under Pennsylvania law.
Expungement of Arrest Records in Lehigh County
Pennsylvania law provides mechanisms for the expungement or sealing of arrest records under specific circumstances. The Criminal Records Expungement Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122) establishes criteria and procedures for removing arrest information from public access.
Individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records in Lehigh County when:
- The arrest did not lead to a conviction (charges were dismissed, withdrawn, or resulted in acquittal)
- The conviction was for a summary offense, and the individual has remained free from arrest for five years
- The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free from arrest for ten years
- The individual received a pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania
- The record pertains to a juvenile adjudication, subject to specific statutory provisions
The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. This legal procedure involves:
- Preparation of a formal petition citing statutory authority for expungement
- Payment of filing fees (approximately $167 as of 2025)
- Service of the petition on the District Attorney's Office
- Judicial review and determination
- Issuance of an expungement order to relevant agencies if granted
The Clean Slate Act of 2018 (Act 56) established an additional mechanism for sealing certain criminal records automatically after specified time periods have elapsed. Under this legislation, non-violent misdemeanor convictions may be sealed after ten years without subsequent offenses, while non-conviction records may be sealed automatically after 60 days.
Expunged or sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement agencies and certain employers required by law to consider criminal history, but are removed from public access.
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