Bethlehem Criminal History Records
Bethlehem is a city that straddles two Pennsylvania counties: Northampton and Lehigh. Most of the city, including the historic downtown and SteelStacks area, falls within Northampton County. Criminal history records for the Northampton County portion of Bethlehem are filed at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Cases from the Lehigh County portion go to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas. This page focuses on accessing Bethlehem criminal history records through Northampton County, where the majority of city activity is centered, along with the PA State Police PATCH system for statewide certified checks.
Bethlehem Quick Facts
Where Bethlehem Criminal History Records Are Filed
Bethlehem is split between two counties. The court where a criminal case is filed depends on where the offense occurred within the city. Cases in the Northampton County portion go to the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas in Easton, PA. Cases in the Lehigh County portion go to the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas in Allentown, PA.
The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas serves the 3rd Judicial District. The Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas serves the 31st Judicial District. Both courts maintain their own Clerk of Courts offices with separate docket systems that are indexed together in the statewide UJS portal.
Bethlehem has local Magisterial District Courts that handle preliminary hearings and summary offenses. The specific MDJ court that handles a case depends on the address of the incident. These lower court records are also searchable through the UJS portal.
Note: Juvenile records, mental health records, sealed cases, and expunged files cannot be accessed through public court search tools in Pennsylvania.
Searching Bethlehem Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania UJS Case Search portal is the best free tool for searching Bethlehem criminal records. Because Bethlehem spans two counties, you may find relevant cases in both Northampton County and Lehigh County dockets. Searching by participant name without filtering by county will return results from all Pennsylvania courts.
Results from the UJS portal include docket entries, charge details, hearing schedules, and case status. No account is needed for basic access. Full documents are not available for download and must be requested through the respective county Clerk of Courts.
The City of Bethlehem's official website provides information on city government, the Bethlehem Police Department, and how to access municipal services and public records.
When searching for Bethlehem criminal records, try checking both Northampton and Lehigh County dockets if you are unsure which part of the city the case originated in. Both will appear through the UJS portal in a unified name search.
Bethlehem Criminal History Through PATCH
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, PATCH, provides certified background checks that cover all of Pennsylvania, including both portions of Bethlehem regardless of county. PATCH is administered by the Pennsylvania State Police.
Each PATCH check costs $22 and is submitted online at epatch.pa.gov. Provide the subject's full legal name and date of birth. Standard requests are returned quickly in most cases.
PATCH is ideal for Bethlehem cases precisely because it draws on statewide data. You do not need to know which county handled a particular case. The PSP aggregates records from all 67 Pennsylvania counties into a single certified result under CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91.
Bethlehem Police Department and Local Records
The Bethlehem Police Department provides law enforcement throughout the city. Arrest records, incident reports, and police blotter information originate at the department level for incidents within city limits.
Public records requests for Bethlehem Police Department documents can be submitted through the city administration. The Bethlehem Police Department handles these requests in accordance with Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law.
The Bethlehem Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports for crimes within the city. These records are separate from the court files maintained at the Northampton and Lehigh County Courthouses.
Note: Police arrest records do not reflect case outcomes. Search the UJS portal by docket number or name to find how a case was resolved in court after an arrest.
Northampton County Court and Bethlehem Criminal Cases
The Northampton County Court of Common Pleas in Easton handles the majority of Bethlehem criminal cases. The Clerk of Courts office maintains official case files and handles certified copy requests. In-person visits require a valid photo ID, and fees apply for certified documents.
The Northampton County government is accessible online. While some third-party sites cover Northampton records, the most accurate source for court records is always the UJS portal or a direct visit to the courthouse in Easton.
For Bethlehem cases in Lehigh County, the Lehigh County website provides courthouse contact information and office hours.
Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law and Bethlehem Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public access to many types of government records. City of Bethlehem records fall under this law. Court records from the Unified Judicial System follow the UJS Public Access Policy, a separate framework from the Right-to-Know Law.
Criminal investigative records held by the Bethlehem Police Department may be exempt from public access under Section 708(b)(16) of the Right-to-Know Law. This exemption covers ongoing investigation materials that could compromise law enforcement actions.
The Pennsylvania Office of Open Records handles appeals when agencies deny records requests. Appeals must be filed within 15 business days. The agency bears the burden of proving the record is exempt from disclosure.
Bethlehem Court Contact Information
| Primary Court | Northampton County Court of Common Pleas |
|---|---|
| Address (Northampton) | 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 |
| Also Served By | Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas, Allentown |
| City Website | bethlehem-pa.gov |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH System | epatch.pa.gov ($22 per check) |
Northampton County Criminal Records
The majority of Bethlehem criminal cases are filed at the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. The county records page provides additional contact details and resources for Northampton County criminal history information.
Other Pennsylvania Cities
Criminal history records for other Pennsylvania cities are filed at their respective county Courts of Common Pleas. Explore resources for other cities across the state below.