Lancaster County Arrest Records

Lancaster County arrest records are official records collated by different law enforcement departments within the county. Such records offer structured documentation of an individual’s arrest by an arresting agency. They provide details on circumstances surrounding an individual’s arrest, the crime the individual was arrested for, the location of the arrest, the date on which the arrest occurred, and the individual’s details, such as their name, description, and date of birth.

While the arresting agency is responsible for creating and filing arrest records, related arrest information may be accessible in other documents such as inmate or jail records, criminal records, and warrant details in Lancaster County court records.

Arrest records go beyond documentation. They have important implications in various legal circumstances, including criminal investigations, trials, and personal injury investigations.

Arrest records may also influence the subject of the record. Due to their arrest history, former arrestees may have difficulty obtaining employment, loans, or visas. Fortunately, some arrestees may have their records expunged.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lancaster County?

Yes, Lancaster County arrest records are generally deemed public records. This accessibility stems from an approach of transparency, ensuring the public has access to any information in their interest. The Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law grants members of the public the right to access government records, which includes arrest records.

However, the public's right to access Pennsylvania arrest records is not absolute. This access does not extend to information statutorily restricted from public access, including:

• Juvenile Records: Information of juvenile offenders is generally kept confidential following the Juvenile Act. The Act restricts access to juvenile arrest and court records to specific parties, such as court staff, parole boards, the Administrative Office of the Courts, and parties directly involved in the case.
• Ongoing Investigations: Investigative details are redacted to protect the integrity of ongoing criminal investigations. This policy aims to prevent infringing upon the rights of individuals to fair judgment, especially victims, informants, and witnesses.
• Expunged Records: Arrest records that have been expunged or sealed are not accessible to the public.
• Records Restricted By Law: Records restricted by federal or state law are considered closed to the public. Court rules also specify information and documents that the public cannot access.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Generally, arrest records in Lancaster County contain information such as:

• An Arrestee's Details, including their full name
• Date of birth
• Physical description (race, height, weight, eye, and hair colors, and identifying marks)
• Arrest date and location
• Arresting agency and officer's name
• Reason for the arrest, including specific charges
• The case number associated with the arrest
• Photograph taken at the time of arrest
• Set of fingerprints
• Detailed list of charges, including any statutory references
• Charge classification (misdemeanor, felony, etc.)
• The amount set for bail or bond, if applicable

Lancaster County Crime Rate

According to a 2017 report, crime data from the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System shows that Lancaster County recorded 1,126 violent crimes and 7,232 property crimes in 2017. Compared to crime numbers from 2013, the five-year trend in the county reveals a 24.6% rise in violent crimes and a 26.9% dip in property crimes.

The county's violent crime data for 2017 included 15 murders, 198 rapes, 241 robberies, and 672 aggravated assaults. Property crimes included 959 burglaries, 5,923 larceny thefts, 314 car thefts, and 36 arsons. The most recent five-year crime trend in Lancaster County reveals that rates of murder (50%), rape (32.8%), aggravated assault (58.9%), motor vehicle theft (7.9%), and arson (26.5%) are increasing. Between 2013 and 2017, there were fewer incidents of robbery (29.1%), burglary (44.9%), and larceny-theft (24.3%).

Lancaster County Arrest Statistics

In 2020, Lancaster County's incarceration rate was 184 per 100,000 residents. 1,108 were incarcerated, approximately 2.5% of the total state prison population. This rate ranks Lancaster County in the middle range of all the counties in Pennsylvania, with 35 of the counties having a higher rate. The average population in the county prison was 764 prisoners in 2023, up from 756 in 2022 and 699 in 2021.

Find Lancaster County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies provide online resources where individuals may view arrest information. Most of these are inmate search databases that do not provide official or in-depth arrest records. Individuals may be restricted to viewing basic arrest details, such as the arrestee's name and description, charges, and incarceration status.

Requesters seeking arrest information on persons who were not charged or convicted may visit the police department that made the arrest. Such details could have been expunged or may not be available online.

The following are some online resources available to interested parties seeking arrest records within Lancaster County:

• Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History (PATCH): Eligible individuals may submit requests through ePATCH, an online application provided by the Pennsylvania State Police. The resource offers criminal records, including arrest records of mostly convicted individuals.
• County Website: The county website allows users to search for inmates within the county’s correction facilities. Searchers may obtain information such as an inmate's incarceration status, personal information, and charges.
• The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania's Internet Portal: The Pennsylvania judiciary offers a Case Search tool for members of the public to search, view, and print criminal court case dockets. The database shows arrest details of individuals, such as the arresting agency, arrest date, charges, case disposition, and sentencing information (if found guilty). Individuals may search for cases using different search queries, including the arrestee's name (defendant's name), attorney details, citation number, date filed, docket number, incident number, and calendar event.
• Third-Party Resources: Some third-party sites, which are not connected to public bodies in Pennsylvania, offer online arrest record search resources for a fee.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lancaster County

Interested parties may search arrest details on county web portals or the Pennsylvania judiciary's case search database for free. However, if they require copies of arrest records, this attracts a fee. Individuals who engage third-party vendors will also pay the applicable fee to obtain arrest records. Certain organizations may supply minimal free information, while those needing more details must pay to access it. The most convenient free arrest record options are the arrest logs and rosters created and released by local law enforcement agencies.

Get Lancaster County Criminal Records

Criminal records offer detailed information about suspects and their interactions with the criminal justice system. Law enforcement agencies in Lancaster County create criminal records while on official duty. In Lancaster County, criminal records in the possession of law enforcement include:

• Lancaster County arrest records
• Jail and Incarceration Records
• Traffic Violation Records
• Investigative Reports
• Incident Log/Blotters
• Arrest and Search Warrants
• Criminal History Reports
• Booking Records
• Incident/Police Reports.

Lancaster County criminal records are public and accessible to interested parties. To access Lancaster arrest records and other documents in the possession of law enforcement agencies, requesters should follow these steps:

• Visit the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office website.
• Click the Who's in Jail link to access the Public Inmate Search Portal.
• Use name, birth date, and Personal Identification Number to search for criminal records through inmate records.
• Log in to the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History Page
• Click the New Volunteer Records Check or Submit a New Records Check link
• Scroll down and accept the terms and conditions for the search
• On the new page, indicate the type of request search (Individual or Company Request)
• Complete the online form to access the search portal
• Provide the relevant information to get access to Lancaster County's criminal records.

Only owners, legal representatives, and volunteers may access Lancaster County criminal records via the PATCH interface. Additionally, fees are associated with utilizing the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History service to look for Lancaster County criminal records.

Requesters may visit the Lancaster County Sheriff's Office at:

50 N Duke Street
P.O. Box 83480
Lancaster,
PA 17608
(717) 299-8200

Lancaster County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

While arrest and criminal records are different types of law enforcement records, some of the information contained in them tends to overlap. A criminal record, also called a conviction record, contains information about arrests, convictions, jail terms, warrants, and other information that connects individuals to the criminal justice system. However, the criminal record is more comprehensive and includes an individual’s criminal history.

An arrest record could be considered part of a criminal record. It contains information about an individual’s arrest, including the reason for the arrest and bail information. Nonetheless, it doesn’t state whether the individual was convicted of the offenses they were arrested for. It simply shows that an individual was detained by law enforcement for a while.

Arrest records that do not result in charges or convictions are typically kept by the arresting agency that generated the record. In contrast, a central agency collects and stores criminal records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Lancaster County arrest records generally remain on a person’s file for the rest of their life. In some cases, they persist for some years after their death. However, arrest records for offenses that did not result in charges or go to trial may be automatically restricted from public view. Unlike most felonies for which the records are sealed four years later, major violent or sex-related offenses have a seven-year restriction period. Upon restriction, only law enforcement agencies have access to these arrest records for criminal justice purposes. The general public does not. Expungement is the only way to remove an arrest record from all law enforcement databases.

Expunge Lancaster County Arrest Records

The Criminal History Record Information Act governs the expungement process in Lancaster County. It allows for the expungement of records under specific conditions, such as acquittal, completion of a diversion program, or after a certain period for minor offenses.

The following individuals may expunge their records:

• Pardoned offenders: Upon receiving a notice from the Board of Pardons, the records of the pardon recipients in the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts will be deleted automatically.
• Individuals aged 70 and above Once an individual reaches the age of 70, they may apply to have their records expunged as long as they have not been arrested or prosecuted for ten years since they completed their last sentence.
• Deceased individuals: The Commonwealth may posthumously expunge the records of persons dead for over three years.
• Individuals with summary offenses: People convicted of summary offenses may have their records expunged after five arrests and crime-free years. Summary offenses include public drunkenness, underage drinking, disorderly conduct, and possession of a fake ID.
• Individuals with non-convictions: An arrest record may be expunged if an individual's charges were dismissed or withdrawn or a prosecutor entered a "nolle prosequi" (a decision not to prosecute).
• Clean Slate Law: The Clean Slate bill, passed in 2018, allows the state to automatically seal non-violent, minor cases after a specific period so long as there is no misdemeanor or felony conviction on the individual's record.
• Individuals who have completed the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) or are eligible for Probation Without Verdict (PWV) under the Controlled Substances Act may apply to expunge their records. In some cases, records may be expunged automatically after completing the program.

Lancaster County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document that authorizes a law enforcement agent to arrest, retain, and question a suspect for a crime. The warrant compels the accused to show up in court to stand trial or answer the charges against them. Deliberate failure to comply with an arrest warrant may be considered contempt of court.

To get an arrest warrant, a police officer shows evidence of probable cause to a prosecutor. The prosecutor carefully examines the evidence to ensure it is legally sufficient. If the prosecutor finds probable cause, they draft an affidavit outlining the evidence and submit it to the court for approval.

The Judge then examines the evidence presented in the affidavit. An arrest warrant is issued only when the judge is satisfied that the evidence meets the probable cause threshold. This judicial oversight checks law enforcement and prosecution to ensure arrests follow the rule of law. Once the judge issues the arrest warrant, it is entered into law enforcement databases.

An arrest warrant typically includes the following information:

• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The name of the defendant.
• Their physical description, including height, weight, hair color, eye color, and other unique features may help identify them.
• The criminal offense charged against the individual.
• The official issuing date of the warrant
• The signature of the judge issuing the warrant.
• The bail amount

Lancaster County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested individuals may find recent arrests in Pennsylvania by contacting the appropriate arresting agency. To expedite the search process, requesters must know the arresting agency and the location of the arrest and track down the correct department. For example, if a person has been recently arrested, their loved ones or interested persons may head to the closest precinct within the jurisdiction where the individual was apprehended.

Do Lancaster County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Lancaster County arrest warrants are valid indefinitely. They remain active until they are resolved– the suspect is arrested, runs themselves in, the judge withdraws the warrants, the case is withdrawn, or the person passes on.

The warrant is recorded in the national database of warrants. If police officers cannot apprehend a particular person at that moment, they may apprehend them based on the data in the database. Whenever the said individual interacts with the police, they will probably be arrested based on the warrant.