Lehigh County Criminal History Records
Lehigh County criminal history records are kept by the Clerk of Courts at the Lehigh County Courthouse in Allentown, Pennsylvania. The county is part of the 31st Judicial District and serves the heart of the Lehigh Valley in southeastern Pennsylvania. Residents, attorneys, and researchers can access criminal records through the county courthouse, the statewide UJS Portal, or the PATCH system run by the Pennsylvania State Police. This page covers each method in practical detail.
Lehigh County Quick Facts
Lehigh County Criminal History Records Overview
Criminal records in Lehigh County are public documents governed by Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law and the Public Access Policy of the Unified Judicial System. They cover proceedings in the 31st Judicial District Court of Common Pleas and the county's Magisterial District Courts. Standard entries include case filings, docket numbers, charges, arraignment dates, plea information, sentencing orders, and case outcomes.
Certain records are not available to the public. Sealed cases, expunged records, juvenile matters, domestic relations records, mental health proceedings, and adoption files are withheld from standard public searches. Court orders can restrict access to additional records on a case-specific basis. Always confirm critical findings with the Clerk of Courts rather than relying on online data alone.
Lehigh County is the most populous county in the Lehigh Valley region and one of the larger counties in the state. Allentown is the third-largest city in Pennsylvania and is the commercial and cultural center of the Lehigh Valley.
How to Search Lehigh County Criminal Records Online
The Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Web Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us is the main free tool for searching Lehigh County criminal history records. Searches can be run by participant name, docket number, offense tracking number, or police incident number. Results include docket sheets from the Court of Common Pleas and all Magisterial District Courts in Lehigh County.
Lehigh County also maintains an Odyssey Public Access system for civil and family court dockets. Attorneys who are members of the Pennsylvania Bar may register to access civil dockets for free. Other users can purchase a yearly subscription at $300 per year, which links to documents at no additional fee. Common Pleas court opinions from 2017 forward are also available online.
The Lehigh County government website at lehighcounty.org is the starting point for locating court offices, contact numbers, and online services for criminal record access in the county.
For in-person requests, visit the Lehigh County Courthouse at 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101. The Clerk of Courts office handles criminal division records. The Prothonotary, located at the same address, manages civil records. Call ahead to confirm hours and required forms before visiting.
Note: Online docket data may not reflect filings made within the past 24 hours or more. Court records should be confirmed with the Clerk of Courts for anything time-sensitive.
Lehigh County Clerk of Courts
The Clerk of Courts in Lehigh County is the official custodian of criminal court records for the Court of Common Pleas. The office files all incoming criminal documents, maintains docket entries, processes appeals, handles bail matters, and collects court costs. Subpoenas for criminal cases can be obtained from this office by attorneys and defendants.
Court filings in Lehigh County may be submitted through PACFile, the electronic filing application on the UJS Web Portal. PACFile is available to members of the Pennsylvania Bar and certain other authorized participants. For registration information, contact the Clerk of Courts office directly.
| Office | Lehigh County Clerk of Courts |
|---|---|
| Address | 455 W. Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 18101 |
| Website | lehighcounty.org |
| UJS Portal | ujsportal.pacourts.us |
| PATCH | epatch.pa.gov |
The Prothonotary handles civil court records at the same courthouse location. For Prothonotary registration information regarding the online docket subscription, call the office directly. Records from approximately the past five years are retained on-site; older requests may require additional processing time.
PATCH Criminal History Checks in Lehigh County
The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system is the official statewide method for obtaining certified criminal history records. PATCH is operated by the Pennsylvania State Police and is available to anyone at epatch.pa.gov. The cost is $22 per check, which is non-refundable. An additional $5 fee applies if notarization of the result is needed.
Online submissions are processed quickly. Visit the PATCH site, accept the terms, select "Individual Request," enter the required personal information, and pay by credit or debit card. Most results return within minutes. Mail requests using Form SP 4-164 are also accepted, sent to the PA State Police Central Repository at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.
PATCH results are not the same as court docket searches. The UJS Portal shows docket entries from court filings. PATCH provides a certified criminal history record from the statewide law enforcement database maintained by the State Police.
What Lehigh County Criminal Records Include
Docket sheets from Lehigh County show the case number, parties involved, presiding judge, and a full log of filings and court actions. PATCH results go further, covering arrest records, charge classifications, plea data, and sentencing details. Sentencing information may include incarceration length, probation terms, fines, restitution amounts, and community service requirements.
Records show whether a case ended in conviction, acquittal, or dismissal. Bench warrants, active warrants, and Protection from Abuse orders may appear in certain searches. Felony and misdemeanor convictions are included in PATCH results, as are summary offense dispositions from Magisterial District Courts. Expunged records do not appear in public searches.
The PATCH system at epatch.pa.gov is the official source for certified criminal background records covering Lehigh County residents and anyone with a Pennsylvania criminal history.
Lehigh County Right-to-Know Law
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, Act 3 of 2008, applies to Lehigh County government agencies and courts. Agencies must respond to written record requests within five business days. Failure to respond by the deadline is treated as a denial, and the requester may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records.
Under 18 Pa.C.S. Chapter 91 (CHRIA), access to criminal background data is subject to specific rules about who may obtain it and for what purposes. Section 708(b)(16) of the RTKL exempts active criminal investigation materials, informant identities, and other sensitive law enforcement records from public disclosure.
The district attorney of each county designates appeals officers to handle appeals related to criminal investigative records held by local agencies. RTK appeals for judicial records go to the Office of Open Records at openrecords.pa.gov.
Note: The burden of proving a record is exempt falls on the agency receiving the request, not on the person making it.
Expungement of Lehigh County Criminal Records
Pennsylvania law allows for expungement of certain criminal records through the Court of Common Pleas. When an expungement is granted, the record is removed from public access in court databases and from the State Police criminal history repository. The Lehigh County Clerk of Courts processes expungement orders and notifies the required state agencies.
Grounds for expungement include summary convictions where the person has been arrest-free for five years, charges that resulted in acquittal or were dropped, and some arrests not leading to conviction. Under CHRIA, the court must notify the State Police and any relevant criminal justice agencies after entering an expungement order so they can update their files accordingly.
Lehigh County Magisterial District Courts Criminal History
Lehigh County has multiple Magisterial District Courts that handle preliminary hearings, summary offenses, DUI cases, and minor civil matters. These courts are the first point of contact for most criminal cases in the county. Cases may be resolved at the magisterial district level or transferred to the Court of Common Pleas for trial.
Dockets from all Lehigh County Magisterial District Courts are searchable through the UJS Portal at no charge. Cases that move from a magisterial district court to the Common Pleas become part of the formal criminal record held by the Clerk of Courts.
Note: Magisterial District Court records are maintained by the individual districts, but the UJS Portal aggregates them into a single searchable database for public access.
Cities in Lehigh County
Allentown is the largest city in Lehigh County and the third-largest city in Pennsylvania. Criminal records for individuals with cases filed in Allentown are part of the Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas record system.
Nearby Counties
Lehigh County borders several counties in the Lehigh Valley and surrounding areas. Search criminal history records for neighboring counties below.