Allentown Criminal Felony Records
Allentown felony records are held by the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. Allentown is the third largest city in Pennsylvania with roughly 125,000 residents and serves as the county seat of Lehigh County. Felony cases filed in Allentown go through the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records, Criminal Division. The public can access case information online through the UJS Portal or in person at the Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 W. Hamilton Street in Allentown.
Allentown Quick Facts
Allentown Felony Records at the Lehigh County Courthouse
The Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 W. Hamilton Street is where all Allentown felony case files are stored and managed. The Clerk of Judicial Records, Criminal Division handles case maintenance and public access. This office operates under Lehigh County's Home Rule Charter. Staff can pull case files by name or docket number. You can visit the courthouse in person during business hours to review case records and request copies. The Criminal Division accepts written requests for file copies as well.
The Lehigh County Criminal Division maintains dockets for all felony cases that originated in Allentown and throughout Lehigh County. The office keeps records of charges, pleas, verdicts, sentences, and related filings. Each docket is a structured public document that reflects the history of the case from arraignment through final disposition. Many dockets go back decades. If you need a certified copy of an Allentown felony record, you make that request directly with the Criminal Division in person or by mail.
The Criminal Division page on the Lehigh County website lists current office hours, contact phone numbers, and instructions for requesting copies of criminal records in Allentown.
Note: The Clerk of Judicial Records office does not provide legal advice and cannot interpret case outcomes for members of the public.
How to Search Allentown Felony Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the main online tool for searching Allentown felony records. The portal is free to use. You can search by person name, date of birth, or case docket number. Results show party names, charge descriptions, filing dates, and current case status. The UJS Portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Lehigh County. It is the fastest way to confirm whether a felony case was filed against a specific individual in Allentown or anywhere else in Pennsylvania.
Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us to search Allentown felony records online. The search results show docket sheets that list every filing made in the case. You can view the docket sheet for free. Actual document images may require a courthouse visit or a formal copy request. The docket sheet alone is often enough to confirm charges, court dates, and case outcomes for Allentown felony records.
Tips for a productive UJS Portal search:
- Search by last name only first, then narrow by first name
- Use date of birth to distinguish people with common names
- Check the county filter and select Lehigh for Allentown cases
- Note the docket number for any case you want to follow up on
- Download the docket sheet as a PDF for your records
Note: The UJS Portal shows case information as entered by court staff and may not reflect real-time updates on the same day a hearing occurs.
Allentown Felony Records and the PATCH Background Check System
The Pennsylvania State Police operates the PATCH system, which stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. PATCH provides official criminal history reports compiled from statewide arrest and conviction data. You can order a PATCH report for yourself or for another person with their written consent. A PATCH search is one of the most reliable ways to see all Pennsylvania felony records tied to an individual, including convictions from Allentown and elsewhere in the state.
The PATCH system is available online at epatch.state.pa.us. You submit the subject's name and date of birth. The report covers convictions and arrests statewide. It does not include records that have been sealed or expunged. PATCH reports are commonly used for a wide range of personal, legal, and civil purposes. The Pennsylvania State Police manages the system and keeps the underlying data current based on court reporting from all counties including Lehigh County.
The Allentown city website provides links to city departments and general public records resources for residents.
Note: PATCH reports reflect records held by the Pennsylvania State Police and may differ from what appears in the UJS Portal in terms of scope and update timing.
What Allentown Felony Records Contain
A felony case record in Allentown includes a range of documents and data points. The docket sheet lists every action taken in the case from the date charges were filed. It shows the defendant's name, the charges, the judge assigned, and all hearing dates. It also records the outcome: guilty plea, verdict after trial, or dismissal. Sentencing information appears on the docket once the judge imposes a sentence. The record is a running log of everything that happened in the case.
Beyond the docket sheet, the case file may contain:
- Criminal complaints and affidavits of probable cause
- Bail orders and modification requests
- Pretrial motions and court responses
- Plea agreements if the case resolved by guilty plea
- Sentencing orders including prison terms, probation, and fines
- Any post-conviction filings such as appeals or PCRA petitions
Most of these documents are public under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Some items may be sealed by court order. The Clerk of Judicial Records can tell you which portions of a specific case file are available for public review when you visit the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown. Certified copies of court orders carry an official court seal and signature.
Note: Juvenile felony records are not public and are handled under separate rules that restrict access to authorized parties only.
Clean Slate Sealing and Allentown Felony Records
Pennsylvania's Clean Slate law allows certain felony convictions to be sealed from public view after a required waiting period. As of February 12, 2024, low-level felony convictions may qualify for automatic sealing after 10 years if the person has completed the sentence and stayed crime-free during that period. This means some older Allentown felony records may no longer appear in public searches even though the conviction occurred. The record still exists in the court system but is hidden from routine public access.
Clean Slate sealing applies to specific felony grades. Not every felony qualifies. Serious violent offenses and sexual offenses are generally excluded from automatic sealing. The Pennsylvania court system processes eligible cases automatically without any action required from the individual. If you believe your Allentown felony record qualifies for sealing and it has not been sealed, you can contact the Lehigh County court or consult with a criminal defense attorney who practices in Allentown to review your options.
For offenses that do not qualify under Clean Slate, individuals may petition the Board of Pardons for a pardon. The Board of Pardons can be reached at (717) 787-2596. A pardon does not erase the record but affects how it is treated going forward. Pardons require a formal application process and a hearing in Harrisburg. Allentown residents with older felony convictions sometimes pursue this route when Clean Slate sealing does not apply to their case.
Note: A sealed record is not the same as expungement; law enforcement and certain government agencies may still access sealed Allentown felony records.
Requesting Copies of Allentown Felony Records
To get a certified copy of an Allentown felony court record, you contact the Lehigh County Clerk of Judicial Records, Criminal Division. You can visit in person at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101. Bring a valid photo ID and the case docket number if you have it. Staff will pull the file and prepare copies. Certified copies carry the court seal. Plain copies cost less. Copy fees vary by document type and page count. Call the Criminal Division before visiting to confirm current copy costs and office hours.
Mail requests are accepted for Allentown felony records. Send a written request that includes the defendant's full name, date of birth, approximate filing year, and docket number if known. Include payment with your request. The office will process the request and mail copies back to you. Processing time for mail requests is typically longer than in-person visits. The Lehigh County Criminal Division website has current mailing instructions and payment methods.
For inmate location information, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains the PA DOC Inmate Locator at cor.pa.gov. This tool lets you search for individuals currently incarcerated in a Pennsylvania state correctional facility. It is a free public resource separate from court records. If an Allentown felony conviction resulted in a state prison sentence, the person may appear in the DOC locator during their incarceration.
Note: Copy fees for certified felony records at the Lehigh County Courthouse are set by court administration and may change without advance public notice.
Lehigh County Felony Records and Allentown
Allentown felony records are maintained by the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. As the county seat, Allentown is where the courthouse is located and where all felony cases from throughout Lehigh County are filed and heard. Whether a case originated in Allentown or another municipality within Lehigh County, the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Lehigh County Courthouse handles the filing, maintenance, and public access for all felony records in the county. For a broader view of all criminal records filed in Lehigh County, explore the full county listing.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities can access felony records through their own county courthouse. Select a city below to learn about felony records in that area of Pennsylvania.