Lancaster Arrest Records Search
Lancaster recent arrests are handled by the Lancaster City Bureau of Police and processed through Lancaster County courts. The city of Lancaster is the county seat and the center of law enforcement and court activity in the region. Arrest records from Lancaster are available through police records requests, the county courthouse, and the state court portal. This page covers how to search for recent arrests in Lancaster, fees for records, and where to submit your requests.
Lancaster Quick Facts
Lancaster Police Arrest Records
The Lancaster City Bureau of Police operates a dedicated records department. It is on the third floor of the police station at 39 W Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. The records division phone number is (717) 735-6670. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. When you arrive, sign in at the front desk and get a visitor badge before going up to records.
You need a valid, current ID for all records requests in Lancaster. The department accepts cash, check, or money order payable to the City of Lancaster. No credit cards are accepted for records fees. The Lancaster Police Records page has full details on what is available and how to submit requests. You can also download request forms in both English and Spanish from their site.
The Lancaster police records department provides several types of reports tied to recent arrests and other police activity. Fees are set and posted on their website. Reports go through multiple levels of review before release, so some may not be ready right away. If your report is not available during your visit, the staff can contact you when it is ready or send it by email if you pay the fee in advance.
Lancaster police records fees include:
- Accident report: $15.00 (must be named in report)
- Verification letter: $15.00 (must be named in incident)
- Good conduct letter: $22.00 (current or former Lancaster residents)
- Local background check: $22.00 (prior contact with Lancaster police)
A local background check from Lancaster police includes the dates of any incidents or arrests, related charges, and case disposition. For a statewide check, the department directs people to the PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov. This covers records beyond just the city of Lancaster.
Note: You can request records by mail by sending the completed form, a check or money order for $15.00, and a stamped self-addressed envelope to the Lancaster police records department.
Lancaster Recent Arrests in Court
Cases from Lancaster arrests move to the Lancaster County court system. The Clerk of Courts is at 50 N Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602. Call (717) 299-8100 for questions. Court Administration is at 40 E King Street and can be reached at (717) 299-8016. The courthouse holds criminal court records, docket sheets, case filings, and expungement records for all Lancaster arrests.
The Lancaster County website provides general information about county services, departments, and court offices. You can find contact details, hours, and directions for the courthouse there. For online case searches, use the UJS Portal to look up docket sheets for free. Search by name, docket number, or offense tracking number to find recent arrests in Lancaster.
Lancaster County also has resources for people looking to clear their records. An ARD Expungement Packet is available through the Clerk of Courts. ARD stands for Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition. If you completed an ARD program for a Lancaster arrest, you can apply to have the record expunged. The packet includes the Motion for Dismissal and Expungement, a notarized Affidavit Form, a Certification of Agency Form from Probation, and a Certificate of Service Form. Filing fees for expungement run approximately $100 to $200.
Lancaster Arrest Criminal History
Pennsylvania law shapes how arrest records from Lancaster are managed and shared. The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. 9101 makes criminal history public information with some limits. The Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. 67.101 gives you the right to request records from government agencies, including the Lancaster police. Agencies must respond within five business days.
The Clean Slate Law, Act 56 of 2018, may affect which Lancaster arrest records appear in searches. Non-violent misdemeanors and cases without conviction can be sealed automatically after the waiting period. Sealed records do not show up in standard background checks or court portal searches. But most adult arrest records from Lancaster involving serious charges remain public and accessible.
Under the County Records Act at 16 P.S. 13001, arrest reports are kept for 75 years minimum. Booking photos follow the same rule. Criminal investigation files are stored for 25 years after closure. Fingerprint cards are permanent. This means that records of recent arrests in Lancaster and older cases remain available to the public for many years.
Lancaster County Recent Arrests
Lancaster city is the county seat of Lancaster County. All criminal cases from the city go through the county court system at the courthouse on Duke Street. The county also processes cases from towns and boroughs outside the city. For a wider view of arrest records in the area, visit the Lancaster County page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Search for recent arrests in other Pennsylvania cities. Each city runs its own police department and records process.