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Bethlehem Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania?

Arrest records are public documents in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This statute establishes the presumption that government records, including arrest records, shall be accessible to the public for inspection and duplication. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law serves to promote governmental transparency and accountability by ensuring citizens have access to information regarding law enforcement activities within their communities.

The City of Bethlehem maintains arrest records through the Bethlehem Police Department, which is required by law to document all arrests conducted within its jurisdiction. These records typically contain information pertaining to the identity of arrested individuals, the nature of charges filed, and subsequent case dispositions. Members of the public seeking access to such records must follow established protocols for record requests as outlined in municipal regulations and state law.

It should be noted that while arrest records are generally public, certain information may be redacted or restricted in accordance with privacy laws, ongoing investigations, or court orders. Juvenile records, in particular, are subject to additional confidentiality protections under Pennsylvania law.

How to Look Up Bethlehem Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple methods exist for obtaining arrest records in Bethlehem as of 2025. The City of Bethlehem has established specific procedures for public access to these documents in compliance with state transparency requirements. Interested parties may utilize the following official channels to request arrest information:

Submit a written request to the Bethlehem Police Department Records Division using the standard Right to Know request form available on the municipal website or in person.
Visit the Records Division at the Bethlehem Police Department headquarters to submit requests in person during regular business hours.
Access the city's online records portal, where certain non-confidential arrest data may be available for immediate retrieval.
Contact the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas for arrest records that have proceeded to court proceedings.
Submit requests to the Pennsylvania State Police for statewide criminal history information that may include Bethlehem arrests.

Bethlehem Police Department Records Division
10 East Church Street
Bethlehem, PA 18018
(610) 865-7187
Police Forms and Reports

Requestors should be prepared to provide specific information to facilitate record searches, including the full name of the subject, approximate date of arrest, and any case numbers if available. Pursuant to municipal ordinance regulations, fees apply for record retrieval and duplication services. As of 2025, standard fees include $15.00 for criminal history background checks and $15.00 for incident reports.

Contents of a Bethlehem Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Bethlehem Police Department contain standardized information as required by Pennsylvania law enforcement protocols. These official documents serve as the formal record of an individual's interaction with law enforcement resulting in arrest. Standard Bethlehem arrest records include the following elements:

Biographical information of the arrested individual, including full legal name, known aliases, date of birth, address, and physical descriptors
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Enumeration of all criminal charges filed, with reference to applicable Pennsylvania statutes or municipal ordinances
Factual narrative describing the circumstances leading to arrest
Identity of arresting officers and their badge numbers
Booking information, including photographs and fingerprints
Detention facility information where the individual was processed
Bail determination and conditions of release, if applicable
Preliminary hearing scheduling information
Case disposition information, when available

The comprehensiveness of arrest records serves multiple governmental functions, including facilitating proper case processing through the criminal justice system, maintaining accurate criminal histories, and providing statistical data for law enforcement analysis. Pursuant to § 9121 of the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act, these records must be maintained with accuracy and completeness.

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Bethlehem is governed by a multi-tiered legal framework that balances public transparency with privacy considerations. The Pennsylvania Right to Know Law establishes the foundational presumption of openness for government records, while subsequent statutes and case law provide specific guidance for criminal justice information.

The Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.) specifically addresses the dissemination of arrest information and establishes protocols for record maintenance. Under this statute, arrest records are classified as "public records" when they contain:

Information regarding current arrests or proceedings
Information regarding convictions, deferred adjudications, or arrests for which the principal has been released without conviction
Information regarding arrests with pending proceedings

The City of Bethlehem has implemented these state requirements through local procedures that standardize the request process. The Bethlehem Police Department serves as the primary custodian of arrest records within city limits and processes public requests in accordance with established protocols.

Requestors should be aware that certain information within arrest records may be subject to redaction, including:

Social Security numbers
Driver's license numbers
Financial account information
Information that would compromise an ongoing investigation
Information that would reveal the identity of confidential sources
Juvenile information protected under state law

Expungement of Arrest Records in Bethlehem

Pennsylvania law provides mechanisms for the expungement of certain arrest records maintained by the Bethlehem Police Department and other law enforcement agencies. Expungement is the legal process by which arrest records are removed from public access and, in some cases, physically destroyed. The availability of expungement depends on specific statutory criteria and judicial approval.

Pursuant to 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, expungement may be available under the following circumstances:

The individual was not convicted of the offense for which they were arrested
The charges were dismissed or withdrawn
The individual completed an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program
The individual was convicted of certain summary offenses and has remained free from arrest for five years
The individual received a pardon from the Governor of Pennsylvania
The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free from arrest for ten years
The individual is deceased and has been so for three years

The expungement process requires filing a petition with the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing where the petitioner must demonstrate eligibility under the applicable statutory provisions. If granted, the court will issue an expungement order directing all relevant agencies, including the Bethlehem Police Department, to remove the specified records from public access.

Northampton County Court of Common Pleas
669 Washington Street
Easton, PA 18042
(610) 829-6500
Northampton County Courts

Individuals seeking expungement are advised that the process involves legal complexities and may benefit from legal representation. The Pennsylvania Bar Association maintains referral services for individuals seeking legal assistance with expungement matters.

Limitations on Use of Arrest Record Information

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania imposes significant restrictions on how arrest record information may be utilized, particularly in employment contexts. These limitations are codified in the Criminal History Record Information Act and further reinforced through civil rights legislation.

Employers, licensing agencies, and other entities operating within Bethlehem must adhere to the following restrictions when utilizing arrest record information:

Employers may not consider arrests that did not result in conviction when making hiring decisions, except in limited circumstances involving certain sensitive positions
Licensing boards may only consider convictions that directly relate to the occupation or profession for which licensure is sought
Housing providers face restrictions on utilizing arrest information in tenant selection processes
Educational institutions have limited authority to consider arrest records in admissions decisions

Violations of these provisions may result in civil liability under Pennsylvania law. Individuals who believe their arrest records have been improperly utilized may file complaints with the Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission or pursue private legal action.

The City of Bethlehem, through its human relations ordinances, has established additional protections against discrimination based on criminal history information. These local provisions complement state law and provide enhanced remedies for affected individuals.