Luzerne County Arrest Records

In Luzerne County, Pennsylvania, arrest records are generated when law enforcement officers arrest individuals. For an arrest to happen, law enforcement must have probable cause to believe an individual has committed a crime. The arrest process is a critical step in the criminal justice system, usually following the issuance of an arrest warrant or the identification of suspicious behavior that warrants immediate action.

Arrests are often made by the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office, the Local police departments, or the Pennsylvania state police. Once arrested, individuals are typically held in one of the local detention facilities, such as the Luzerne County Correctional Facility, until they are either released on bail or presented before a judge for a hearing.

The Luzerne County Correctional Facility is located at:

Luzerne County Correctional Facility
99 Water at Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Phone: (570) 825-1596

The agency responsible for generating arrest records in Luzerne County is the local law enforcement agency that made the arrest, such as the Luzerne County Sheriff's or the police department of the respective municipality. These records include the arrest date, charges, and information about the arrested person. Arrest records are often linked to Luzerne County Court Records, which maintains detailed information on both criminal and civil cases within the county courts. Arrest records are part of criminal records and detail background information such as sentences and convictions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Luzerne County?

Under Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law (65 Pa. C.S.A § 67.101 et seq), arrest records are generally considered public. This means the public may request access to most arrest records through the relevant law enforcement agencies or court systems. However, some information may be exempt from disclosure, such as ongoing investigations, sensitive victims' information, and data that could jeopardize law enforcement efforts.

Typically, records such as juvenile arrests, expunged records, or those sealed by court order are also exempt from public disclosure. Access to arrest records may require fulfilling eligibility requirements, such as submitting a formal request or paying a fee for the search and processing of records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Luzerne County contain the following information:

• Personal details: The name, date of birth, gender, and physical characteristics of the individual arrested
• Date and time of arrest
• Charges: Details of the alleged crime(s) that led to the arrest, including whether the arrest was based on a warrant or a probable cause event.
• Booking information: which includes mugshots, fingerprints, and bail details
• Arresting agency’s details
• Information on where the individual was held after the arrest.

Luzerne County Arrest Statistics

Luzerne County law enforcement agencies report arrest statistics as part of Pennsylvania's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCT) system, which is managed by the FBI. In recent years, Luzerne County has seen fluctuations in its arrest statistics. In 2022, the FBI UCR reported over 2000 arrests in Luzerne County, with drug-related arrests constituting a significant portion of the total.

The incarceration statistics of Luzerne County show that the County's Correctional Facility manages hundreds of inmates annually, with the majority of them facing charges related to property crimes and drug offenses.

Find Luzerne County Arrest Records

In Luzerne County, you may search for arrest records through state and federal databases. Pennsylvania offers the Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania Web Portal for accessing criminal and arrest court records. The portal allows users to search by docket number, case participant name, or county.

The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) system is another resource for conducting criminal background checks, including arrest records. Additionally, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator and VINE(Victim Information and Notification Every Day) may be used to find information on incarcerated individuals in Luzerne County.

Free Arrest Record Search in Luzerne County

Several online resources offer free access to arrest records in Luzerne County. The Luzerne County Sheriff's Office and local police departments may provide arrest records upon request, though there may be administrative fees for processing.

Some third-party websites also offer free access to aggregated arrest records. However, searches on these websites are based on their terms and conditions and may not be reliable and updated.

Luzerne County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

A Luzerne County arrest record is created when law enforcement takes an individual into custody based on suspicion of a crime. However, an arrest does not necessarily mean that the person was convicted or even charged with a crime. Arrest records primarily contain information about the arrest event, such as the time, location, and alleged offense.

In comparison, a Luzerne County Criminal record includes comprehensive information about a person's criminal history, such as charges, court proceedings, convictions, sentences, and any probationary measures. Criminal records are more detailed than arrest records and include both state and federal offenses.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Pennsylvania, including Luzerne County, arrest records may remain on a person's record indefinitely unless expunged or sealed. However, 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 9122 outlines the process for expungement of certain arrest records. If an individual is not convicted or acquitted or if the charges are dismissed, they may be eligible to have the arrest records expunged. For convicted individuals, arrest records typically remain unless expungement is granted based on specific eligibility criteria.

Expunge Luzerne County Arrest Records

Expunging arrest records in Luzerne County is governed by 18 Pa. C.S.A. § 9122 which outlines the conditions under which a person may be eligible to have their arrest expunged. Expungement involves erasing the details of the arrest from public disclosure such that it does not reflect on background checks. However, expunged records may still be accessible to relevant law enforcement agencies on certain conditions.

To be eligible for expungement, one must meet one of the following criteria:

• The charges were dismissed, or the individual was acquitted.
• The individual completed an ARD (Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition) program.
• The individual was convinced of a summary offense, and five years have passed without additional criminal offenses.
• The individual is over 70 years old and has had no Criminal charges for ten years.
• The offense was a non-conviction.

The process of expungement includes:

• Filing a petition with the Luzerne County Court of Common Pleas located at;

Luzerne County Courthouse
200 N River St, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18711
Phone: (570) 825-1500

• The court will then review the case and determine whether the expungement is justified based on the individual's circumstances and the law.

Once expunged, the arrest record is removed from public access, ensuring that it no longer appears in criminal background checks but is only accessible to authorized law enforcement agencies.

Luzerne County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Luzerne County is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to arrest an individual. Arrest warrants are typically issued when there is probable cause that a person has committed a crime. The warrant includes essential details such as the person's name, the Crime they are suspected of, and the jurisdiction in which the warrant was issued.

According to Rule 513 of the Pennsylvania Rules of Criminal Procedure, arrest warrants are issued when law enforcement officers present evidence of probable cause to a judge or Magistrate. Once issued, the individual named in the warrant may be arrested anywhere within the county or state.

Do Luzerne County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Luzerne County, like elsewhere in Pennsylvania, do not expire. They remain active until the person named in the warrant is arrested or the warrant is recalled by the issuing court. In some cases, if a significant amount of time has passed, the warrant may be reviewed, but it generally remains enforceable until it is resolved.