Criminal records in Lehigh County, Pennsylvania, are available through several channels. LehighCourt.us allows quick access to public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, records can be obtained through the state's Unified Judicial System portal, the Clerk of Judicial Records office, law enforcement agencies, and the Pennsylvania State Police PATCH system.
How to Search Criminal Records in Lehigh
Start your search with LehighCourt.us — enter the person's name or case number to view publicly available information about criminal proceedings in the county.
Online Search via Official Portals
- UJS Web Portal — the case search portal of the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System allows searches by name, case number, or date. Docket sheets, which list all procedural actions in a case, are displayed here.
- Docket Sheets — on the Courts of Common Pleas page, you can view case cards. Note: this data does not replace an official criminal history check through the state police.
- PATCH — the Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History system provides an official certificate of a person's criminal history. Anyone can submit a request.
- Inmate Locator — the inmate locator of the PA Department of Corrections shows individuals who are in Lehigh County Jail, Lehigh County Prison, and other state facilities.
In-Person Visit
The Clerk of Judicial Records in Lehigh County serves requests directly at the courthouse. There are public access terminals where you can view case cards. Bring identification with you.
Mail Request
A written request can be sent to the Clerk of Judicial Records or the Pennsylvania State Police (for an official criminal history check). Include the person's full name, date of birth, and, if known, the case number. Include payment in the form of a money order.
What you need to start the search:
- Full name (First Name, Last Name)
- Date of birth (preferably)
- Case number (docket number), if available
Search Lehigh Criminal Cases by Case Number
In Pennsylvania, each criminal case is assigned a unique docket number — for example, CP-39-CR-0001234-2024. Here's what each part means:
- CP — Court of Common Pleas
- 39 — Lehigh County code
- CR — case type: Criminal
- 0001234 — case serial number
- 2024 — year of registration
For magistrate court cases, the prefix will be MJ instead of CP, and the type may be indicated as CR or TR (traffic). If you have the full number, searching on the UJS portal takes a few seconds — the system will return the full case card with all records.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Lehigh
Charges
| Item | Description |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to the PA Crimes Code section (e.g., 18 Pa.C.S. § 3502 — Burglary) |
| Severity Degree | Felony, Misdemeanor, Summary Offense |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may amend or drop specific counts during proceedings |
Case Status
- Active / Pending — the case is under consideration, no decision yet
- Disposed — the case is completed (verdict, closure, dismissal)
- Closed — all obligations fulfilled, case archived
Court Hearings
Typical stages of a criminal case in Lehigh:
- Arraignment — first presentation of charges before a judge
- Preliminary Hearing — a magistrate judge determines if there is enough evidence to forward the case to the Court of Common Pleas
- Pre-Trial Conference — parties discuss the possibility of a plea or trial preparation
- Trial — substantive consideration
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
Court Results
- Guilty — found guilty
- Not Guilty — acquitted
- Dismissed — case closed by prosecutor or judge
- Nolle Prosequi — prosecutor declined to prosecute
- Guilty Plea / Nolo Contendere — admission of guilt or no contest
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Lehigh
Certified copies of criminal records are issued by the Clerk of Judicial Records of Lehigh County. These are official documents with the court's seal, accepted by employers, attorneys, and government agencies.
Ways to Submit a Request
- In Person — visit the Clerk of Judicial Records office at the Lehigh County Courthouse. Bring valid photo identification.
- By Mail — send a written request with the full name, date of birth, case number (if known), and payment in the form of a money order.
- Through PATCH — for an official state-level criminal history certificate, submit a request online through Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History.
Required Documents
- Photo identification (for in-person visit)
- Full name of the person being queried
- Date of birth
- Case number (if available)
Clerk of Judicial Records also processes document requests through the Bureau of Collections.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Lehigh
| Service | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| PATCH Check (online) | $22.00 | Pay by credit card at epatch.pa.gov |
| PATCH Check (by mail) | $22.00 | Money order payable to PA State Police |
| Certified copy of docket sheet | Depends on the number of pages | Check with Clerk of Judicial Records |
| Regular document copy | $0.25 per page (approximate) | May vary; check current rates at the court |
Processing Times
- PATCH Online — results usually arrive within minutes if the record is in the database. Sometimes the response is delayed up to 2–3 business days.
- Clerk of Judicial Records (in person) — copies are generally issued on the day of the request.
- Mail Requests — processing may take from 5 to 15 business days depending on office workload.
Check the current fee amount directly with the Clerk of Judicial Records office at (610) 782-3148, as amounts may change according to court decisions or legislative updates.