A criminal record in Lancaster County begins with an arrest and ends with a docket entry that says how the case closed. The Clerk of Courts keeps the file, the magisterial district courts keep the early paperwork, and the state portal publishes a summary. This page covers the grades, the dispositions, the copies you can order, and the limits that keep some files out of public view.
Criminal Record Search
- Office: Lancaster County Courthouse
- Official website: https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/
- Before you file: confirm the current hours, fees, and identification requirements with the office.
Offense Details & Case Status
A criminal file names the offense, the section of law, and the grade. It shows the stage the case reached: filed, pending, tried, or closed. The stage decides which papers exist and who can release them. A pending case may have no disposition at all. Read the last entry first, then work backward through the docket to see how the case arrived there. Ask the clerk to point to the last entry.
Arrest Logs, Agency & Offense Types
An arrest log names the department, the officer, the date, and the charge at custody. The charge may differ from the one filed later in court. A summary offense, a misdemeanor, and a felony each carry a different grade and a different range of penalties. Ask the arresting agency for the incident report and the court for the complaint. Keep the report number beside the case number.
Misdemeanor & Felony Classifications
Pennsylvania grades misdemeanors from the third degree up to the first, and felonies from the third degree up to the first. The grade affects the maximum sentence and where the case is heard. A first-degree felony can carry a long prison term, and a third-degree misdemeanor may end in probation. The docket lists the grade for each count, so read every count, not just the lead charge.
Court Dispositions, Sentences & Fines
A disposition is the outcome: guilty plea, conviction after trial, acquittal, dismissal, or a program such as accelerated rehabilitative disposition. The sentencing order adds jail time, probation, fines, costs, and restitution. A case can end with several orders filed on different days. Ask for the sentencing order and any later change. A docket summary may leave out the fine and cost figures. Ask for the docket sheet with the order.
Active, Pending, Closed & Acquitted Cases
An active case has a next step on the calendar. A pending case waits for a hearing, a lab report, or a lawyer. A closed case has a final order, and an acquitted case ended with a not-guilty verdict. Each status carries a different meaning for a job application. A charge that was withdrawn is not a conviction, and a pardon is not the same as an expungement.
The table lists the papers a reader is most likely to request from a criminal file. Each one answers a different question, so name the paper you need instead of asking for the whole folder.
| Document in the file | What it records | Office to ask |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal complaint | The charge filed by police | Magisterial district court |
| Information | The formal charge filed in Common Pleas | Clerk of Courts |
| Bail order | Release terms set by a judge | Clerk of Courts |
| Guilty plea or verdict | How the case ended | Clerk of Courts |
| Sentencing order | The sentence, fine, and costs | Clerk of Courts |
| Post-sentence motion | A later challenge to the sentence | Clerk of Courts |
A clerk can copy a docket, yet some papers need a judge's approval before release. Ask which items are public and which require an order. If a document is missing from the file, ask whether it was filed in a district court or sealed. Keep the receipt with the copy.
Criminal Records: Public Availability & Official Copies
Court files in Pennsylvania are open by default, and the state portal carries a summary of most criminal dockets. The picture is not complete: a sealed case, a juvenile file, and a record expunged by order will not appear, and the criminal history page explains the state and federal check. A docket summary can hide exhibits and presentence reports. Ask the Clerk of Courts what the public file holds and what needs a written request. Bring identification to the counter.
Public Directory File Availability
The public terminal at the courthouse and the state portal do not show the same thing. The terminal may carry older entries and scanned papers that the portal leaves out. A portal search covers many counties at once. Neither source is a certified record. Use them to find the case number, then order a copy from the office that holds the file. Ask which system the clerk reads from.
Sealed, Expunged & Juvenile Exclusions
A sealed record is closed by statute or by a judge's order. An expunged record is removed from the public index after a petition is granted, while the criminal court records guide covers felony and misdemeanor filings. A juvenile file is handled in a separate court and is usually closed. None of these steps erases every trace at once. Ask the Clerk of Courts which order applies and whether a private database may still hold a copy.
Court & Law Enforcement Requests
Police, prosecutors, and probation officers can see files that the public cannot. A defense lawyer gets the same file through the pretrial exchange. A victim may ask about a case through the district attorney's office. A private citizen can request a public docket but not the investigative file. Ask the office that holds the paper which rule covers your request, and keep the written reply in your file.
Certified Copies, Fees & Processing Times
A certified copy carries a seal and a signature from the Clerk of Courts. Expect a per-page charge, and ask for the current fee before you order, since the source block does not list one. A mailed request may take longer than a counter visit. Bring the case number, the exact document name, and a self-addressed envelope. Ask for a receipt with the total.
Criminal Records: Record Accuracy & Resolution
Criminal files collect errors: a misspelled name, a charge filed under the wrong section, a disposition entered twice. A wrong entry can follow a person into a job or a lease. Ask the Clerk of Courts for a correction, and ask what paper the office needs. For a state repository entry, use the challenge form. Keep every reply in the same folder, and ask for each answer in writing.
Differentiating Similar Name Matches
Two people can share a name, a town, and even a birth year. Compare the full date of birth, the docket number, and the county before you accept a hit, and the court records page explains how to request a copy of the docket. A case filed in another county belongs to a different court file. Ask for the complaint, which names the address and the age at arrest. If the file has no birth date, treat the match as open.
Multi-Jurisdiction System Delays
Charges move from a district court to the Common Pleas docket, then to a state repository, and each handoff adds time. A disposition entered this week may take weeks to reach every system. A search that misses a recent case is common. Ask when the record was last updated, and compare that date to the sentencing order in the file. Write down the date of each system check.
Unlisted Criminal Record Resolution
A missing record can mean a wrong county, a sealed file, or a search that used the wrong name. Try the maiden name, the middle name, and any suffix. Then call the Clerk of Courts with the case number and the arrest date. The clerk can check the index and the microfilm. If the case was expunged, ask for the order that removed it. Ask for a copy of the index page you searched.
Location and Contact Information
Criminal case files for Lancaster County sit in the courthouse on North Duke Street in Lancaster City. The Clerk of Courts handles filings and copies, and court administration answers questions about scheduling. The state portal carries a summary of many dockets, yet the courthouse holds the official paper. Call before you visit, since filing hours can differ by division. Ask for the records window by name.
| Office | Address | Phone | Hours | Website |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Clerk of Courts | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (717) 299-8275 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (confirm division and filing hours) | https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ |
| Court Administration | 50 N. Duke Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 | (717) 299-8041 | Monday-Friday, 8:30 a.m.-5:00 p.m. (confirm division and filing hours) | https://ujsportal.pacourts.us/ |
The table uses only the details in the source block. Filing hours can differ from public counter hours, so ask which window handles your paper. Bring the case number, a photo ID, and payment for copies. The portal is a search tool, not a clerk, and it cannot certify a document. Confirm the fee and the pickup time before you make the trip.
Frequently Asked Questions
Readers ask a focused set of questions about criminal files in Lancaster County. The answers below cover public availability, the contents of a file, update timing, and the office that fixes an error. Each answer names the source that holds the record. Rules and fees can change, so confirm the current practice before you file or pay. A short call often saves a wasted trip to the counter.
Are criminal court records public in Lancaster County?
Most criminal dockets in the Court of Common Pleas are open to any reader, and many appear on the state judicial portal. A juvenile file, a sealed case, and an expunged record are not public. Some documents inside an open file, such as a presentence report, stay restricted. Ask the Clerk of Courts which parts of the file you may read and copy. Ask for the case number in writing.
What details are included in an official criminal file?
A file usually carries the complaint, the information, bail papers, plea documents, the verdict, and the sentencing order. It names the parties, the case number, the judge, the charges, and the outcome. Exhibits and investigation reports may sit outside the public folder. Ask the clerk for an index of the file before you order copies, then pick the papers you need. Ask whether the index lists each exhibit and each attachment.
How long after disposition do records update online?
A disposition can take days to reach the state portal and longer to reach a commercial database. The courthouse docket is usually the first to show the new entry. A sentencing order filed late in the day may appear the next morning. Ask for the date the docket was last changed, and compare it to the date on your copy. Keep the printout with the date it was made.
Who confirms missing or unlisted criminal court entries?
Call the Clerk of Courts with the case number and the names of the parties. The clerk can check the index, the microfilm, and the district court file. If the case was expunged, ask for the order and the date. If it was filed in another county, ask for the transfer record. Keep the name of each clerk and the date of each call. Write the dates down.
