Lancaster County Public Records / Lancaster County Arrest Records

Lancaster County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Lancaster County

Arrest records in Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, are generally accessible to members of the public under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (RTKL), codified at 65 P.S. § 67.101 et seq. This statute establishes a presumption of openness for records held by Commonwealth agencies, local agencies, and law enforcement bodies, including those maintained by Lancaster County law enforcement offices. Under current law, criminal justice agencies are required to provide access to arrest records unless a specific exemption applies, such as records pertaining to ongoing investigations or juvenile proceedings.

It is important to distinguish between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not constitute evidence of guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. Pennsylvania law recognizes this distinction, and individuals who are arrested but not convicted may be eligible to have their arrest records expunged under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122. The Pennsylvania State Police maintains statewide criminal history information and publishes public information release reports for incidents occurring across the Commonwealth, including Lancaster County.

What's in Lancaster County Arrest Records

Lancaster County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and updated as a case progresses through the criminal justice system.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Home address at time of arrest
Social Security Number (restricted in public-facing records)

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and badge number of arresting officer
Incident or case report number

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including statute citations
Grading of offenses (felony, misdemeanor, summary)
Offense tracking number (OTN) assigned by the court system

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date warrant was issued and basis for issuance

Booking Information:

Date and time of booking at Lancaster County Prison
Booking number assigned by the facility
Fingerprint and photograph (mugshot) notation

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the magisterial district judge
Type of bail (unsecured, monetary, ROR)
Bail bondsman information if applicable

Court Information:

Assigned magisterial district court and judge
Preliminary hearing date and outcome
Docket number in the Court of Common Pleas if charges are held for court

Custody Status:

Current custody status (in custody, released, transferred)
Release date and conditions of release if applicable

Additional Information May Include:

Prior criminal history references
Co-defendant information
Victim information (may be redacted pursuant to privacy protections)
Narrative summary of the incident

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Lancaster County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Lancaster County arrest records through several official channels. The process varies depending on the type of record sought and the agency that maintains it.

Submit a Right-to-Know Request: Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, any person may submit a written Right-to-Know request to the relevant agency's Open Records Officer. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or electronically using the agency's designated form.
Contact the Lancaster County District Attorney's Office: The District Attorney maintains prosecutorial records associated with arrests that resulted in charges. Requests for case-related documents should be directed to that office in writing.
Visit the Lancaster County Clerk of Courts: Court dockets, criminal complaints, and related filings are maintained by the Clerk of Courts and are available for public inspection during regular business hours.
Access the Unified Judicial System Portal: The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System provides an online case search portal that allows members of the public to search for docket information by name, OTN, complaint number, or incident number.
Request Records from the Arresting Agency: The specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest — whether the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, or a municipal department — maintains the original arrest report and may be contacted directly.

Lancaster County Clerk of Courts 50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8282 Lancaster County Courts — Court Related Offices

Lancaster County District Attorney's Office 50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8100 Lancaster County DA

How To Find Lancaster County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to Lancaster County arrest and court records without requiring an in-person visit.

UJS Web Portal: The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's case search tool allows users to search active and historical court dockets by participant name, docket number, OTN, or complaint number. Results include charge information, court dates, and case dispositions.
Lancaster County Courts Website: The court-related offices directory maintained by Lancaster County Courts provides links to the Records Management Division, the Clerk of Courts, and other offices that maintain criminal justice records.
Pennsylvania State Police Public Information Reports: The Pennsylvania State Police publishes public information release reports for incidents handled by PSP Troop J, which covers portions of Lancaster County. These reports are available as downloadable PDF documents.
Lancaster City Bureau of Police: The Lancaster City Bureau of Police provides information about police services and may publish incident-level data or press releases related to arrests within city limits.
Lancaster County Sheriff's Office — Wanted Persons: The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office maintains a publicly accessible wanted persons list through the county's official website, which includes information on fugitives sought by the Fugitive Apprehension Unit.

How To Search Lancaster County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access a substantial volume of Lancaster County arrest record information at no cost through official government platforms.

UJS Case Search (Free): The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System's online case search is available to the public at no charge and provides docket-level information for criminal cases filed in Lancaster County.
In-Person Inspection at the Clerk of Courts: Under the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records in person at no cost. Fees may apply only for printed copies or certified documents.
Pennsylvania State Police Reports: Public information release reports published by the Pennsylvania State Police are available as free PDF downloads on the Commonwealth's official website.
Lancaster County Sheriff's Wanted Persons Page: The wanted persons directory maintained by the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office is freely accessible online and requires no registration or fee.
Lancaster City Police Department: The Lancaster City Bureau of Police website provides publicly available information about law enforcement activity within the city at no cost.

Fees for certified copies, extensive document reproduction, or records requiring significant staff research time may be assessed in accordance with the fee schedule established under 65 P.S. § 67.1307.

How To Delete Arrest Records in Lancaster County

Pennsylvania law provides two primary mechanisms for removing or restricting access to arrest records: expungement and limited access (sealing). These remedies are distinct in their legal effect and eligibility requirements.

Expungement results in the physical destruction or removal of arrest record data from agency files and databases. Under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122, expungement is available in the following circumstances:

The individual was arrested but not convicted, and the charges were withdrawn, dismissed, or nolle prossed
The individual was acquitted at trial
The individual has reached 70 years of age and has been free of arrest or prosecution for ten years following final release from confinement or supervision
The individual has been deceased for three years
A summary offense conviction, provided five years have elapsed since the conviction and the individual has been free of arrest or prosecution during that period

Limited Access (Sealing) restricts public access to certain criminal records without destroying them. Under Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law, codified at 18 Pa. C.S. § 9122.1 and § 9122.2, courts may seal records for certain misdemeanor convictions after a specified crime-free period. Automated sealing of eligible records is currently implemented through the Clean Slate program administered by the Pennsylvania court system.

Steps to Petition for Expungement:

Obtain a copy of the criminal docket from the Clerk of Courts to confirm case disposition
Complete a Petition for Expungement (available through the Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas)
File the petition with the Court of Common Pleas, Criminal Division, and pay the applicable filing fee
Serve the petition on the District Attorney's Office, which has the right to object
Attend any scheduled hearing before the assigned judge
If granted, the court issues an Order of Expungement directing all relevant agencies to destroy or return the records

Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas — Criminal Division 50 N. Duke St., Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-8282 Lancaster County Courts

What Happens After Arrest in Lancaster County?

The criminal justice process in Lancaster County follows a structured sequence of proceedings from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Lancaster County Prison or a municipal holding facility for booking. Booking involves recording identifying information, photographing, and fingerprinting the arrestee.
Arraignment Before a Magisterial District Judge (MDJ): Within a short period of arrest, the individual appears before an MDJ for a preliminary arraignment. The MDJ advises the defendant of the charges, sets bail, and schedules a preliminary hearing.
Preliminary Hearing: At the preliminary hearing, the MDJ determines whether sufficient evidence exists to hold the case for the Court of Common Pleas. Charges may be dismissed, reduced, or held for court at this stage.
Formal Arraignment: If charges are held for court, the defendant is formally arraigned before the Court of Common Pleas and enters a plea.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: The case proceeds through discovery, pre-trial motions, and any plea negotiations between the defense and the District Attorney's Office.
Trial or Guilty Plea: The defendant either proceeds to trial or enters a guilty plea. If convicted at trial or upon a plea, the case advances to sentencing.
Sentencing: The Court of Common Pleas imposes a sentence in accordance with Pennsylvania's sentencing guidelines and the specific facts of the case.
Post-Conviction Relief: Following sentencing, defendants may pursue appeals or post-conviction relief through the Pennsylvania Superior Court or other appellate bodies.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Lancaster County?

Arrest records in Lancaster County are subject to retention schedules established under Pennsylvania law and applicable local agency policies. Under the Pennsylvania Municipal Records Manual and the Commonwealth's records management regulations, law enforcement agencies are required to maintain arrest records for defined minimum periods.

Arrest records resulting in conviction are generally retained permanently or for extended periods, as they form part of an individual's criminal history maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police under 18 Pa. C.S. § 9111.
Arrest records not resulting in conviction are retained until expunged by court order or until the applicable retention period expires, which varies by agency and record type.
Incident reports and related investigative files maintained by municipal police departments are typically retained for a minimum of seven years under standard Pennsylvania municipal records schedules.
Court dockets and criminal case files maintained by the Clerk of Courts are subject to the Pennsylvania Judicial Records Retention Schedule, which mandates permanent retention for felony case files and extended retention for misdemeanor matters.
Different agencies — including the Lancaster City Bureau of Police, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, and the Court of Common Pleas — each maintain their own records pursuant to applicable retention schedules, meaning a single arrest event may generate records held by multiple agencies with differing retention periods.
Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Lancaster County

What Mugshots Are Mugshots are photographic images taken of an individual at the time of booking into a correctional or detention facility. They are part of the official booking record and are maintained by the agency responsible for the booking process.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained In Lancaster County, booking photographs are maintained primarily by the Lancaster County Prison, the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office, and the arresting law enforcement agency. The Pennsylvania State Police also retains photographs associated with arrests processed through the state criminal history system.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking a specific booking photograph may submit a Right-to-Know request to the Lancaster County Prison or the relevant law enforcement agency. Requests should identify the individual by full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate record retrieval.

Can They Be Found Online At present, Lancaster County does not maintain a publicly accessible online mugshot database. The wanted persons page maintained by the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office includes photographs of individuals actively sought by law enforcement, but this resource is limited to fugitives and does not constitute a general booking photo database.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially Official booking photographs may be obtained by submitting a written Right-to-Know request to the Open Records Officer of the relevant agency. Requests are processed in accordance with 65 P.S. § 67.901, which establishes a five-business-day response period for standard requests.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Certain booking photographs may be withheld from public disclosure where release would jeopardize an ongoing investigation, compromise the safety of an undercover officer, or where the subject is a juvenile. Third-party commercial websites that republish mugshots operate independently of government agencies and are not subject to official oversight.

Lancaster County Sheriff's Office 150 N. Queen St., Suite 210, Lancaster, PA 17603 (717) 299-8219 Lancaster County Sheriff's Office

Lancaster County Prison 625 E. King St., Lancaster, PA 17602 (717) 299-7900 Lancaster County Prison