>Luzerne County Arrest Records Online

Luzerne County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania?

Arrest records are public in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes that government records, including those documenting arrests made by law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to the public. The law serves to enhance governmental transparency and accountability by permitting citizens to examine records pertaining to arrests conducted within the county jurisdiction. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law presumes that all records in possession of a Commonwealth agency, local agency, judicial agency, or legislative agency are public unless specifically exempted under Section 708 of the law, or protected by privilege, or exempt under other Federal or State law or regulation or judicial order.

Members of the public seeking arrest records in Luzerne County may submit requests to the appropriate law enforcement agency or the Luzerne County Clerk of Courts. Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.703, agencies must provide public records in the medium requested if the record exists in that medium; otherwise, the record shall be provided in the medium in which it exists.

Luzerne County Clerk of Courts
Luzerne County Courthouse
200 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(570) 825-1500
Luzerne County Courts

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Luzerne County?

Arrest records can be accessed online in Luzerne County through several official digital platforms. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal provides electronic access to court case information, including records related to arrests processed through the county court system. Additionally, the Pennsylvania State Police maintains the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system, which allows for online criminal history record checks as authorized under the Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.).

The online availability of these records is consistent with the Commonwealth's commitment to public access and governmental transparency. However, certain information may be redacted or restricted in accordance with privacy protections established under Pennsylvania law, including 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121, which governs the dissemination of criminal history record information.

Users of online systems should be aware that fees may apply for certain searches or document retrievals, as permitted under 65 P.S. § 67.1307, which authorizes agencies to establish reasonable fees for duplication and certification of public records.

How to Look Up Luzerne County Arrest Records in 2025

To obtain Luzerne County arrest records, several methods are available to members of the public. Each method provides access in accordance with the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law and related statutes governing public records. The following options are available for searching these records:

Visit the Luzerne County Courthouse in person to request access to arrest records from the Clerk of Courts office during regular business hours (Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM).
Submit a written request to the appropriate law enforcement agency that made the arrest, such as the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office or local police departments within the county.
Access the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal to search for court cases related to arrests.
Utilize the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police for criminal history record checks.
Check the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate Locator for information on individuals who have been incarcerated following arrest.
Review public information release reports issued by Pennsylvania State Police stations regarding significant incidents and investigations.

Requestors should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate the search, including the full name of the individual, date of birth (if known), and approximate date of the arrest. Pursuant to 65 P.S. § 67.703, agencies must respond to requests within five business days, though extensions may apply under certain circumstances as outlined in 65 P.S. § 67.902.

Luzerne County Sheriff's Office
200 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(570) 825-1600
Luzerne County Sheriff's Office

Pennsylvania State Police - Troop P (Wyoming)
475 Wyoming Avenue
Wyoming, PA 18644
(570) 697-2000
Pennsylvania State Police Troop P

Contents of a Luzerne County Arrest Record

A Luzerne County arrest record typically contains comprehensive information regarding the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. The content of these records is standardized in accordance with the Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) and includes the following elements:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any known aliases or alternative identities
Date, time, and specific location where the arrest occurred
Detailed description of the alleged offense(s), including applicable Pennsylvania criminal statutes
Name and identification of the arresting agency and officer(s)
Booking information, including processing location and time
Booking photograph (mugshot) of the arrested individual
Fingerprint records collected during processing
Physical descriptors including height, weight, eye and hair color, and identifying marks such as tattoos or scars
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Residential address at time of arrest
Preliminary arraignment information, including bail determination
Case docket number assigned by the court
Disposition information if available (pending, dismissed, convicted)

The Criminal History Record Information Act requires that arrest records be complete and accurate. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9111, law enforcement agencies must collect and report complete arrest data for all arrests for which fingerprints are required to be taken. Furthermore, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9114 mandates that criminal justice agencies shall maintain complete and accurate records of criminal proceedings.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Luzerne County

In Luzerne County, individuals may petition for expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances as provided by Pennsylvania law. Expungement procedures are governed by 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, which establishes the legal framework for removing criminal history record information from official repositories.

Expungement may be granted in the following situations:

When a person has been free of arrest or prosecution for five years following the conviction for a summary offense
When a person reaches 70 years of age and has been free of arrest or prosecution for ten years following final release from confinement or supervision
When a person has been dead for three years
When the arrest resulted in no conviction or disposition (e.g., cases resulting in acquittal, withdrawal, dismissal, or nolle prosequi)
When the individual has successfully completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for non-violent offenses
When the individual has received a pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas. Pursuant to Pennsylvania Rule of Criminal Procedure 790, the petition must include specific information about the case and the petitioner. Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing, and notice must be given to the district attorney, who has 30 days to file an objection.

If expungement is granted, the court will issue an order directing all criminal justice agencies to remove the specified records from their repositories. However, certain law enforcement and prosecutorial agencies may maintain a record of the arrest for limited official purposes, even after expungement has been granted, as permitted under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122(c).

Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas
Luzerne County Courthouse
200 North River Street
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
(570) 825-1500
Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas

Search Arrest Records in Luzerne County

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