Lycoming County Arrest Records

In Lycoming County, arrest records provide official documentation of arrests conducted within the county. Law enforcement officers can legally arrest persons suspected of violating the laws. There are also instances where officers make arrests to protect individuals from potential crimes. Officers may briefly detain arrested persons in the Lycoming County Jail.

The Lycoming County Sheriff’s Office is primarily responsible for generating arrest records. Thus, record seekers must contact the county sheriff to access the records.

Note: Arrest records are also available in other related public documents. For instance, Lycoming County court records on criminal cases contain arrest data, like the arrestee’s name and arrest charges. Criminal records and inmate information are also resources for finding Lycoming County arrest records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lycoming County?

Under Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, most arrest records are public documents. This means the general public has the right to request, inspect, and obtain arrest records in Lycoming County.

Public members can obtain such records from local or state agencies designated as record custodians. For example, the Lycoming County sheriff is the local record custodian for arrest events documented in the county.

However, certain arrest documents are not open to the public. Under Section 708, the following Lycoming County arrest records are exempt from public view:

• Arrest documents that contain information concerning potential criminal conduct
• Documents concerning the identities of confidential sources
• Records made confidential by court order or state law
• Arrest data on crime victims’ identities or information that may violate their safety
• Documents that, if disclosed, will reveal the progress or outcome of a criminal investigation
• Records that may deprive an individual of the right to a fair trial or adjudication.
• Arrest data that may endanger a person’s life or physical safety
• Documents that, if disclosed, will hinder law enforcement agencies from locating a defendant or codefendant.

Note: Requesters must fulfill the set requirements for obtaining arrest records in Lycoming County. For instance, you must pay the required fees for getting physical copies of the requested documents.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Lycoming County may include the following data:

• The arrestee’s name and physical features like height, age, gender, and eye color.
• Booking number
• Commitment date
• Mugshots
• The correctional facility where the arrestee is being held.

Lycoming County Crime Rate

Under Pennsylvania’s Uniform Crime Reporting System, Lycoming County recorded 2,395 crime incidents in 2023. The report covers both property and violent-type crimes, such as larceny thefts, burglaries, homicides, arson, and assaults. Of these offense types, larceny thefts and simple assaults were the most reported, at 1,168 and 862, respectively.

Lycoming County Arrest Statistics

Lycoming County’s law enforcement agency made 1,304 arrests in 2023, a 21% increase compared to the preceding year. Larceny thefts and simple arrests were the most reported causes of arrests, according to the state’s UCR report. As of June 2024, the state correctional facility at Muncy, Lycoming County, housed 1,034 inmates.

Find Lycoming County Arrest Records

In Lycoming County, inquirers can find arrest information in inmate records. Such records typically contain the arrestee’s name, charges, booking number, and date.

Inmate records are public documents and are accessible through local, state, or federal agencies. At the local level, the county sheriff maintains an online database of detained offenders in the county jail. To access records on the database, users must input the offender’s name into the allocated search box.

Pennsylvania’s Department of Corrections maintains an online portal for all incarcerated or paroled offenders in the state. Users may access arrest records by inputting the offender’s name, inmate number, or other required data.

In contrast, arrest records can be found through the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator. The searchable portal provides information on all incarcerated persons in correctional facilities nationwide. To find Lycoming County arrest records, interested users may search using the inmate’s name or prison ID number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Lycoming County

Record seekers can search arrest records for free by using the following government-owned search sites:

• Lycoming County sheriff’s Inmate Search portal
• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections inmate/parole locator
• Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

Third-party search sites also provide free access to Lycoming County arrest records. Such sites are generally easy to navigate and do not restrict users based on geographical location. Despite the perks, third-party search sites are mostly unregulated and may not feature complete or updated arrest data.

Get Lycoming County Criminal Records

Lycoming County criminal records are official files about criminal conviction histories. Such records typically provide information on an individual’s criminal convictions, arrest charges, and arrest warrants.

Note that criminal records are under the purview of the Pennsylvania State Police. The agency allows online or offline access to criminal records. Inquirers using the online route must make a request on the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) portal. To access records on the portal, inquirers must fill out the required data and pay a $22 non-refundable fee.

In contrast, you can obtain the records by sending a mail request to the state police department. To use the mail request option, applicants must follow these steps:

1. Download, fill out, and print one of these request forms:
   1. SP4-164 form for employment, adoption, citizenship, or other special circumstances.
   2. SP4-164A form for volunteer checks for criminal records. It enables requesters to waive the required search fees.
   3. SP4-170 form for individual access and review of their criminal record
2. Notarize the SP4-164 form using a notary public authorized by the state police department.
3. Enclose the required fee as a money order or check payable to “Commonwealth of Pennsylvania”.
4. Include a copy of a government-issued photo ID.
5. Also, include a letter of representation or affidavit (if requesting on behalf of the requester).
6. Mail the documents and fee to:

Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository–RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758

Lycoming County Arrest Records vs. Criminal Records

In Lycoming County, arrest records differ from criminal records in terms of content and creation process.

Arrest records typically contain arrest-related events like the arrestee’s name and arrest charges. Although criminal records also contain arrest records, they may include court convictions and arrest warrants.

The creation process is also a differentiating factor; law enforcement agencies are responsible for creating arrest records, whereas criminal records are a compilation of crime-related data.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under Pa. Code § 15.59, arrest records that are not included in criminal records have a five-year lifespan. However, arrest records included in criminal records will remain on your file until you seal or expunge them. Pennsylvania has a set guideline for expunging criminal records. Note that not all arrest records are eligible for expungement in Lycoming County.

Expunge Lycoming County Arrest Records

In Lycoming County, past offenders can petition the county courts to expunge arrest records. However, they must meet the legal requirements to be eligible to expunge or seal such records.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Lycoming County?

You are eligible to expunge arrest records under these legal conditions:

• The arrest charges were dismissed.
• You were not found guilty of the charges.
• You received a pardon.

In contrast, the county courts may automatically expunge criminal records if:

• The record subject is 70 years old and has not been convicted in the last ten years after the release or supervision date.
• The record subject has been deceased for three years.
• The record subject was convicted of an ordinance or municipal violation and has not been convicted for at least five years after the conviction date.

How can I expunge arrest records in Lycoming County?

Follow these steps to expunge arrest records in Lycoming County:

1. Request and obtain a copy of your criminal record from the Pennsylvania State Police. Petitioners can access the record by sending a mail request to the Pennsylvania State Police at:
   Pennsylvania State Police
   Central Repository – RCPU
   1800 Elmerton Avenue
   Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
2. The request must include these documents:
   1. A completed SP4-170 form
   2. A $20 check or money order made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania
   3. A copy of a government-issued photo ID
3. File your petition within 60 days of receiving a criminal record.
4. Fill out the appropriate petition form and attach the corresponding court order form:
   1. Petition 490 and Order 490 (for expunging non-misdemeanor or felony charges or convictions)
   2. Petition 790 and Order 790 (for expunging misdemeanors and felony arrest records or criminal convictions)
5. Send the above-listed documents to Lycoming County's Clerk of Courts and the attorney of the Commonwealth at:

Lycoming County Clerk of Court’s Office
48 West 3rd Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (570) 327-2200

Lycoming County Office of the District Attorney
48 West Third Street
Williamsport, PA 17701
Phone: (570) 327-2456

The clerk of courts will forward the request to the county courts. Upon receiving the request, the court will set a hearing date and make a decision after considering complaints from the district attorney’s office.

Lycoming County Arrest Warrants

In Lycoming County, the magisterial district court judge issues arrest warrants to authorize the arrest of suspected offenders. The court judge may issue warrants upon receiving an affidavit or complaint from a law enforcement officer. Before issuing the warrant, the court judge will verify the officer’s identity and orally administer an oath to the officer.

Arrest warrants generally include information on the following:

• The offender’s full name, age, and last known address
• Offense and offense classification
• Warrant issuance date
• Judge or magistrate’s signature
• Case number
• District attorney or agency case number

Lycoming County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested persons or entities can search Lycoming County arrest warrants using the county sheriff’s search database. To find arrest warrants on the portal, users may scroll down the list or input the offender’s name and date type into the allocated search box.

Do Lycoming County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Lycoming County do not expire. Instead, the warrant remains active until the record subject surrenders at a local law enforcement agency. Note that the statute of limitations does not affect the lifespan of arrest warrants in Lycoming County.