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Northumberland County, Pennsylvania Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania?

Arrest records are public in Northumberland County, Pennsylvania, pursuant to the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq.). This legislation establishes the presumption that government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law, court order, or privilege. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania maintains this policy to ensure transparency in governmental operations and to uphold the public's right to information regarding law enforcement activities.

Members of the public may access these records through various county and state agencies. However, certain information within arrest records may be redacted or restricted in accordance with Pennsylvania law. Such restrictions typically apply to records that, if disclosed, would:

  • Compromise an ongoing investigation
  • Reveal the identity of confidential informants
  • Endanger the safety of law enforcement personnel
  • Violate the privacy rights of victims, particularly in cases involving minors or sexual offenses
  • Contain information protected under federal law, such as medical information covered by HIPAA

The Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas maintains jurisdiction over criminal cases and associated records within the county, operating under the guidelines established by the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania.

Can Arrest Records be Found Online in Northumberland County?

Northumberland County arrest records are available through several online platforms maintained by state and county agencies. The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal provides public access to court docket sheets, which include information about criminal cases following an arrest. This system allows searches by name, case number, or other identifiers.

The online availability of arrest records is subject to the following conditions:

  • Records may not be immediately available online following an arrest
  • Complete arrest information may require supplemental searches through multiple databases
  • Certain case types may be excluded from online access pursuant to § 67.708 of the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law
  • Historical records may have limited online availability, particularly those predating digital record-keeping systems

Users of online record systems should note that, according to the Pennsylvania Administrative Office of the Courts, docket sheet information should not be used in place of an official criminal history background check, which can only be provided by the Pennsylvania State Police.

For comprehensive arrest record searches, the Northumberland County Public Records portal provides guidance on accessing various types of county records, including those related to criminal justice proceedings.

How to Look Up Northumberland County Arrest Records in 2025

Individuals seeking Northumberland County arrest records in 2025 may utilize multiple methods to obtain this information. The Pennsylvania public records framework provides several official channels through which these records can be accessed:

  • In-person requests can be submitted at the Northumberland County Sheriff's Office:

    Northumberland County Sheriff's Office
    201 Market Street
    Sunbury, PA 17801
    (570) 988-4155
    Official Website
    Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Court records related to arrests can be accessed through the Northumberland County Clerk of Courts:

    Northumberland County Clerk of Courts
    201 Market Street
    Sunbury, PA 17801
    (570) 988-4170
    Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM

  • Online searches can be conducted through the Unified Judicial System Web Portal, which provides access to criminal docket information

  • Pennsylvania State Police maintain criminal history records that can be requested through their Central Repository:

    Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository
    1800 Elmerton Avenue
    Harrisburg, PA 17110
    (717) 783-9973

  • Northumberland County Prison records may be accessed for information on current inmates:

    Northumberland County Prison
    670 Northumberland County Drive
    Coal Township, PA 17866
    (570) 509-2701
    Official Website

Pursuant to Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act (18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 et seq.), requestors may need to complete standardized forms and pay applicable fees when seeking arrest records. Fees are established by statute and agency policy, with potential fee waivers available for certain governmental or research purposes.

Contents of a Northumberland County Arrest Record

Northumberland County arrest records typically contain comprehensive information about the arrest event and the individual taken into custody. These records are maintained in accordance with Pennsylvania Criminal Procedure Rule 502, which establishes standards for complaint procedures in criminal cases. Standard arrest records include:

  • Biographical information of the arrested individual:

    • Full legal name and any known aliases
    • Date of birth and age at time of arrest
    • Physical description including height, weight, and identifying marks
    • Home address and contact information
    • Social security number (partially redacted in public records)
  • Arrest details:

    • Date, time, and location of the arrest
    • Arresting agency and officer identification
    • Statutory citations for alleged offenses
    • Incident report number and related case identifiers
  • Procedural information:

    • Booking date and processing location
    • Preliminary arraignment details
    • Bail determination and conditions
    • Court docket number
    • Scheduled court appearances
  • Evidentiary documentation:

    • Fingerprint records
    • Booking photographs (mugshots)
    • Property inventory from time of arrest

The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System maintains guidelines regarding public access to case records, which may limit the disclosure of certain information contained within arrest records. These limitations are designed to balance the public's right to information with privacy protections established under state and federal law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Northumberland County

The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania provides legal mechanisms for the expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances as outlined in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122. Expungement petitions in Northumberland County must be filed with the Court of Common Pleas, which has jurisdiction over criminal matters within the county.

Eligibility criteria for expungement in Northumberland County include:

  • Cases resulting in acquittal (not guilty verdict)
  • Arrests that did not lead to formal charges
  • Cases dismissed by the court or withdrawn by the prosecution
  • Summary offenses after five years of arrest-free behavior
  • Certain non-violent misdemeanor convictions after ten years without subsequent arrests
  • Successful completion of Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) programs
  • Individuals over 70 years of age with no arrests for ten years
  • Deceased individuals (petitioned by legal representatives)

The expungement process requires:

  1. Filing a petition with the Northumberland County Court of Common Pleas
  2. Payment of filing fees (approximately $100-$250)
  3. Notification to the District Attorney's Office
  4. Attendance at a scheduled hearing if the petition is contested
  5. Judicial review and determination

If granted, an expungement order directs all criminal justice agencies to remove the specified records from public access. However, certain law enforcement agencies may retain limited information for internal use. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains a central repository of criminal history information and processes expungement orders for state-level records.

Individuals seeking expungement should note that federal arrests and convictions are not subject to state expungement procedures and require separate federal applications.

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