Scranton Pennsylvania Felony Records
Scranton felony records are maintained by the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas. Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County in northeastern Pennsylvania with a population of roughly 77,000. Felony cases involving Scranton residents are filed and heard at the Lackawanna County Courthouse at 200 N. Washington Avenue in Scranton. The public can search Scranton felony records online through the UJS Portal or in person at the courthouse. The Scranton Police Department handles local police record requests separately through its records unit.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Felony Records at Lackawanna County Courthouse
The Lackawanna County Courthouse at 200 N. Washington Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503 is where all Scranton felony case records are filed and maintained. Because Scranton is the county seat, the courthouse sits within the city itself. The Clerk of Judicial Records office at the courthouse handles criminal docket maintenance and public access. Staff can retrieve case records by name or docket number. Visiting in person during business hours is the most direct way to review a Scranton felony case file.
Each Scranton felony case record at the courthouse contains a detailed docket sheet that tracks the case from initial filing through final disposition. The docket lists the defendant's name, the specific charges, all hearing dates, the assigned judge, and the outcome of the case. Sentencing details appear on the docket once a judge imposes a sentence. The courthouse holds records going back decades. Older records may require additional processing time to locate. Staff can advise on the best approach for older files when you visit in person.
For certified copies of Scranton felony court records, you request them through the Clerk of Judicial Records at the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Certified copies carry the court's official seal and are recognized for legal purposes. Plain copies cost less and are adequate for general informational needs. The clerk's office can explain the current copy request process and accepted forms of payment when you contact them before your visit.
Note: The Lackawanna County Courthouse in Scranton is both the county seat courthouse and the court most central to Scranton felony filings, since Scranton serves as the geographic and administrative hub of the county.
Scranton Police Records Unit
The Scranton Police Department operates a dedicated Records Unit that handles requests for police department records. These records include arrest reports, incident reports, and other documentation generated during Scranton Police investigations. Police department records are different from court records. Police records document the law enforcement phase of a case before charges are filed in court. Both types of records can be useful when researching a Scranton felony matter from the beginning of an incident through its court resolution.
The Scranton Police Records Unit page on the city website provides contact information and instructions for submitting record requests to the department. The Records Unit processes requests for reports that are available under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law. Some documents may be exempt depending on the nature of the request and whether an investigation is active. Contacting the Records Unit directly before submitting a request allows you to confirm what is available and what the process involves.
The Scranton Police Records Unit page provides contact details and submission instructions for requesting police department records.
Note: The Scranton Police Records Unit handles requests for police department records only and cannot provide copies of court records, which must be obtained from the Lackawanna County Courthouse separately.
Scranton Right-to-Know Felony Record Requests
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public the right to request records from government agencies, including municipal police departments. Scranton has a formal Right-to-Know request process that applies to records held by city government departments. If you are seeking Scranton Police records related to a felony case, submitting a Right-to-Know request is the standard formal channel. The process involves submitting a written request to the city's open records officer and awaiting a formal response.
The Scranton Right-to-Know request page on the city website explains the submission process and provides access to the request form. The page identifies the open records officer and the office where requests should be sent. Under Pennsylvania law, agencies have a set number of business days to respond to a Right-to-Know request. They may grant the request in full, grant it in part, or deny it with a written explanation of the legal basis for denial.
The Scranton RTK request portal is the official channel for submitting formal public records requests to Scranton city government departments.
Note: A denial of a Right-to-Know request in Scranton can be appealed to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records, which serves as the statewide oversight body for RTK disputes.
How to Search Scranton Felony Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal is the primary free online tool for searching Scranton felony records. The portal covers all 67 Pennsylvania counties including Lackawanna County. You can search by person name, date of birth, or case docket number without any registration or account. Filtering results by Lackawanna County will surface cases associated with Scranton residents and incidents prosecuted in that jurisdiction. The portal returns individual docket sheets that show the full case history.
Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us to search Scranton felony records. Each result links to a downloadable docket sheet showing charges, court dates, the assigned judge, and the final disposition of the case. You can save the docket as a PDF at no cost. Actual case documents beyond the docket require a formal request through the Lackawanna County Courthouse. The docket sheet alone is frequently sufficient to confirm the existence of a Scranton felony record and its key details.
- Filter by Lackawanna County to narrow results to Scranton-area cases
- Search by last name first, then add first name to narrow the results
- Use date of birth when searching common names
- Write down the docket number before leaving the search results page
- Download the docket PDF for your records before ending the session
Note: The UJS Portal reflects information as entered by court staff, and updates for court events that occurred earlier in the same business day may not yet be reflected in the system.
Scranton Police Online Services and Record Access
The Scranton Police Department offers online services that allow residents to access certain police records and submit requests through the department's web portal. Online access tools are a convenient starting point before committing to an in-person visit or a formal written request. The department has expanded digital access over time to make routine record retrieval easier for residents and attorneys who need Scranton felony-related documentation.
The Scranton Police online services page on the city website lists the tools and resources available through the department's digital interface. Depending on what you are looking for, the online portal may allow you to access certain incident report summaries or submit requests for specific records without visiting the Records Unit in person. The page provides guidance on which services are available online and which still require an in-person or written request.
The Scranton Police online services page provides a current list of digital tools and access options offered by the Scranton Police Department.
Note: Online police services are supplemental to formal Right-to-Know and records unit processes and may not cover all types of Scranton felony-related police records.
Scranton Felony Records and the PATCH Background Check System
The Pennsylvania State Police administers the PATCH system, which stands for Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History. PATCH compiles statewide conviction and arrest data from all 67 counties and produces criminal history reports upon request. A PATCH report for a Scranton resident captures any Pennsylvania felony convictions on record, including those processed through the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and any other county where a conviction exists.
Access PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us. You submit the subject's name and date of birth to generate a report. The resulting criminal history reflects statewide conviction and arrest data managed by the Pennsylvania State Police. PATCH does not show records that have been sealed or expunged. The report is a useful companion to a UJS Portal search because it provides a compiled history view rather than individual case-by-case docket results. PATCH is widely used for personal record review and legal matters.
Note: PATCH reports are produced by the Pennsylvania State Police and may not match the UJS Portal exactly in terms of timing or scope, since the two systems draw from different data sources and update on different schedules.
Clean Slate Sealing and Scranton Felony Records
Pennsylvania expanded the Clean Slate law effective February 12, 2024, to cover certain low-level felony convictions. Qualifying Scranton felony records may be automatically sealed after 10 years from the completion of sentence, provided the person has no new convictions during that period. The court system processes eligible cases without requiring the individual to file any paperwork. Once sealed, the record no longer appears in public searches through the UJS Portal or PATCH.
Clean Slate does not apply to all felony grades. Serious violent offenses, sexual offenses subject to registration, and higher-grade felonies are generally not eligible for automatic sealing. When a Scranton felony record is sealed, the underlying court record is preserved. Law enforcement agencies, the courts, and some licensing bodies can still access the sealed record even though it is hidden from the general public. If you have a Scranton felony conviction and believe you qualify but the record has not been sealed, consulting a criminal defense attorney in the Lackawanna County area is a practical next step.
For Scranton felony records that do not qualify under Clean Slate, the Pennsylvania Board of Pardons provides an alternative. You can reach the Board at (717) 787-2596. A pardon requires a formal application, a review process, and a hearing before the Board in Harrisburg. If the Board recommends a pardon and the Governor grants it, the pardon does not erase the record but carries significant legal recognition. Scranton residents with long-standing felony convictions sometimes pursue pardons when they no longer qualify for other relief.
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections operates the PA DOC Inmate Locator at cor.pa.gov. If a Scranton felony conviction resulted in a state prison sentence, the inmate locator can confirm whether the individual is currently held in a Pennsylvania state correctional facility. The tool is free and public. It shows the facility name and basic status information for currently incarcerated individuals.
Note: The PA DOC Inmate Locator covers only those currently incarcerated in state facilities and does not reflect county jail inmates or individuals who have been released from custody.
Lackawanna County Felony Records and Scranton
Scranton felony records are filed at the Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas, the same courthouse that serves the entire county. As the county seat, Scranton houses the courthouse where all felony cases from throughout Lackawanna County are heard and maintained. The Clerk of Judicial Records office at the Scranton courthouse is the central repository for Lackawanna County felony filings. For a broader view of court resources and county structure, the Pennsylvania counties listing provides information on all 67 counties.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of cities near Scranton access felony records through the courthouse in their own county. Select a nearby city to find felony record information for that area of Pennsylvania.