What are Scranton City Public Records?
Scranton City residents gain access to its public records under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law, which says that anyone can request a public record without providing a statement of purpose. The Law also claims that a record is in the public domain, regardless of its form, if a government official creates or uses it to document public affairs. Some records, although government-generated, are exempt under the Pennsylvania Right To Know Law. Examples include (but are not limited to):
- Records whose release might result in a loss of public funds;
- Papers whose release might result in a tangible and verifiable risk of physical harm to persons listed therein;
- Documents connected to the military, homeland security, national defense, law enforcement, or other public safety activity, whose release would threaten public safety.
- Records whose release might endanger the safety or the physical security of a building, public utility, resource, infrastructure, facility, or information storage system;
- Medical records, psychiatric or psychological history records, or disability status records;
- Academic records;
- Donation records;
- Unpublished lecture notes, unpublished manuscripts, unpublished articles, etc.
Scranton City Crime Statistics
Local law enforcement in Scranton City and other parts of Pennsylvania submit crime and arrest data to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s Office. The AG’s office compiles these statistics and makes them available through the annual Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System. In 2019, there were 1,206 violent crimes and 1,347 property crimes among Scranton City’s residents. Among the violent crimes were 46 rapes, 66 robberies, and 1,094 instances of aggravated assault. Scranton City’s violent crime rate was 15.73 per 1000 people, while the Pennsylvania average rate was 3.06 per thousand people.
Among Scranton City’s property crimes in 2019 were 239 burglaries, 1,026 cases of larceny-theft, and 82 vehicular theft incidents. The property crime rate in Scranton City was 17.57 per thousand people, while the state average rate was 14.03 per 1000 people.
Are Scranton City Criminal Records Public?
According to Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law, interested public members may view and copy Scranton City criminal records. The Pennsylvania State Police Department is responsible for storing criminal records from Cranston City and statewide. It conducts background checks on request.
Interested public members may access Scranton City criminal records online through the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History - PATCH. Users can register on the site and pay a monthly search fee or remain unregistered and pay individual search fees. All background searches (regardless of the requester’s membership status) cost $22.
Researchers must provide sufficient information on the subject to secure a thorough search. All search results are unofficial. The only way to obtain certified or notarized copies is by mail. Applicants must complete a Criminal History Request Form, attach a payment of $22 plus an additional $5 for notarized documents, and send the application to:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
How to Obtain Scranton City Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Scranton City PD’s Records Unit creates and disseminates incident and accident police reports. Interested persons may file or request a Scranton City police report through the Online Reporting platform. Copies of incident police reports cost $25, while copies of accident police reports cost $15.
Interested persons may also get copies of Scranton City police reports by querying the Police Department in person during regular working hours.
Scranton Police Department
100 S. Washington Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 348-4134
Fax: (570) 207-0415
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Scranton City
According to Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, all Scranton City sex offenders must register their details with the Scranton Police Department. The City’s police department forwards sex offender information to the Pennsylvania State Police Department. The PSPD makes statewide sex offender information publicly available on the Pennsylvania State Megan’s Law Website. Interested public members may search the website for Scranton sex offender information using the offender’s name, location, mile radius, sexual violence level, and compliance status. Concerned persons may also sign up to get email alerts from the Pennsylvania State Police Department when specific offenders change their locations or move within a designated radius.
How to Find Scranton City Inmate Records
The Lackawanna County Prison is in Scranton City and houses all individuals arrested and convicted within the city. The prison’s staff maintains inmate records but does not make them available online. Individuals that wish to obtain Scranton City inmate records must visit the County Prison.
Lackawanna County Prison
1371 North Washington Avenue,
Scranton, PA 18503
Interested persons may also find Scranton City inmate information using the statewide Inmate/Parolee Locator, which the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains. Users may search for inmates by name, date of birth, inmate number, gender, or race.
How Do I Visit an inmate in Scranton City Jail?
The Lackawanna County Prison is in Scranton City and houses all individuals arrested and convicted within the city.
Lackawanna County Prison
1371 North Washington Avenue,
Scranton, PA 18503
The prison’s staff allows inmates to receive secure (regular) visits and personal (contact) visits. Inmates receiving secure visits are separated from their visitors by a large window, while inmates receiving contact visitors are not. Inmates may receive up to four visitors at a time, including minors. The prison regularly updates its visitation schedule, and intending visitors must look through it before scheduling visits.
All visitors are subject to a search and must provide a valid government-issued ID before entering the facility. Adults must accompany all minors and ensure that they do not disrupt other visitors. Visitors may not enter the facility wearing any of the following:
- Cutoffs, short shorts, or skirts/skorts above the mid-thigh;
- Tube tops, tank tops, spaghetti straps, low cut/revealing shirts or blouses;
- See-through/transparent clothing, spandex, hooded garments (excluding religious coverings);
- Coats/jackets;
- Clothing displaying offensive materials or depicting references to drugs or alcohol;
- Clothing that appears gang-related or is ragged or torn.
Visitors must leave their personal belongings in the car and may not bring them into the facility. The prison may refuse to allow a visitor in for any of the following reasons:
- The inmate refused to see the visitor or is unavailable;
- Wrong visitation day or time;
- Invalid visitor ID;
- The visitor is unable to clear the metal detector;
- The visitor dresses inappropriately;
- The visitor does not comply with staff requests;
- The visitor appears intoxicated/under the influence;
- The visitor’s child(ren) are disruptive/not adequately supervised;
- The visitor provides false information;
- The visitor is a former LCP inmate within the past three months;
- The visitor’s privileges are under suspension/revocation.
Scranton City Court Records
The Lackawanna County Court system covers Scranton City and handles all its legal matters. The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas deals with civil and criminal cases in Scranton City. Simultaneously, the Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records is responsible for keeping and disseminating the County Court of Common Pleas’ records.
The Clerk of Judicial Records provides online access to Scranton City court records through its Public Access Inquiries Site. Interested persons may also get copies of civil or criminal court records by querying the division concerned in person or by mail.
Statewide, individuals that wish to find court records may do so on the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System’s Public Records page.
The location of Scranton City courts is below:
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas - Civil Division
Brooks Building
436 Spruce St,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6723
Fax: (570) 963-6387
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas - Criminal Division
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 N Washington Ave,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6759
Fax: (570) 963-6459
Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas - Family Court Division
Lackawanna County Administration Building
200 Adams Avenue,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-5695
Fax: (570) 963-5650
Lackawanna County Orphans' Court
The Scranton Electric Building
507 Linden St, #400,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6702
Fax: (570) 963-6377
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-0-00
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 N Washington Ave,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6436
Fax: (570) 963-6376
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-1-02
130 N Washington Ave,
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6518
Fax: (570) 963-6898
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-1-03
1629 Pittston Ave,
Scranton, PA 18505
Phone: (570) 963-6516
Fax: (570) 963-6175
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-1-05
1600 Farr St,
Scranton, PA 18504
Phone: (570) 963-6504
Fax: (570) 963-6505
Are Scranton City Court Records Public?
Per Pennsylvania’s Right-to-Know Law, interested public members may obtain Scranton City court records. The RTKL states that Scranton City residents have a fundamental right to access court records, promoting openness and accountability. However, individual court records such as juvenile court records or information on victimized persons may be unavailable due to court orders or statutes.
How to Obtain Scranton City Civil Court Case Records
The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas deals with Scranton City civil court cases, and the Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records keeps and disseminates its records. The Clerk of Judicial Records provides online access to Scranton City civil court case records through its Public Access Inquiries Site. Researchers may search for documents using the litigant’s names or the case number (if available). Search results will provide a list of matching records that the researcher can click-through for specific details like the case number, case details, judgments, etc.
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System also allows the public to access Scranton City civil court case records through its UJS web portal. Researchers must note that court records obtained online are unofficial.
Interested persons may get plain or certified copies of Scranton City civil court case records by querying the Clerk of Judicial Records’ Civil Division in person or by mail. The Clerk’s office charges fifty cents per page for plain copies and adds a $5.50 charge for certification.
Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records
Civil Division
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, First Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6723
How to Obtain Scranton City Criminal Court Records
The Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas tries all Scranton City criminal court cases, and the Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records keeps and disseminates its records.
Pennsylvania's Unified Judicial System also allows the public to access Scranton City criminal court records through its UJS web portal. Users can search for records using the defendant’s name, birth date, or case number. Researchers must note that court records obtained online are unofficial.
Interested persons may get plain or certified copies of Scranton City criminal court records by querying the Clerk of Judicial Records’ Criminal Division in person or by mail. The Clerk’s office charges fifty cents per page for plain copies and adds a $9.50 charge for certification.
Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records
Criminal Division
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 N. Washington Ave.
Scranton, PA 18503
Phone: (570) 963-6759
What are Scranton City Vital Records?
Scranton City vital records are official documents that contain data on life milestones among the city’s residents. Some examples of vital records include marriage licenses, divorce records, birth certificates, and death certificates. While some records - such as divorce decrees - are available to the public, records like birth and death certificates are only available to eligible persons, including:
- The record’s subject;
- The subject’s immediate family members (spouse, mother, father, siblings, children, etc.);
- The subject’s legal representatives;
- Government employees on official business.
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records maintains and disseminates Scranton City divorce records, while the County’s Register of Wills provides copies of marriage certificates. Similarly, the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health manages and disseminates copies of Scranton City birth and death certificates.
Where and How to Obtain Scranton City Divorce Records
The Family Court Division of the Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records office is responsible for maintaining and disseminating Scranton City divorce records. The Clerk of Judicial Records provides online access to Scranton City divorce records through its Public Access Inquiries Site. Researchers may search for documents using the divorcees’ names or the case number (if available). Search results will provide a list of matching records that the researcher can click-through for specific details like the case number, case details, judgments, etc.
Interested persons may get copies of Scranton City divorce records by querying the Clerk of Judicial Records’ Family Court Division in person or by mail. The Clerk’s office charges $10 for copies of divorce decrees.
Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records
Family Court Division
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, First Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
Where and How to Get Public Scranton City Marriage Records
The Marriage License Bureau of the office of the Lackawanna Register of Wills generates and manages Scranton City marriage records. Per Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Laws, the public may obtain plain copies of Scranton City marriage upon request.
The Marriage License Bureau accepts in-person or written requests. Applicants must provide the following information to facilitate a search:
- The couple’s names;
- The date of marriage;
- The wedding location;
- The marriage license number;
- The approximate issuing date.
The Bureau is open to requesters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday. Applicants must pay $20 per copy by cash, card, cheque, or money order. Mail-in applicants must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to facilitate the record’s return.
Marriage License Bureau
Clerk of Orphans Court
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521
Scranton, PA 18503
Where and How to Get Confidential Scranton City Marriage Records
The Marriage License Bureau of the office of the Lackawanna Register of Wills generates and manages Scranton City marriage records. The Bureau provides certified copies of Scranton City marriage records to the following eligible persons:
- The married couple;
- The couple’s immediate family members (mother, father, children, siblings, etc.);
- The couple’s legal representatives;
- Government employees on official business;
- Anyone with a court order to obtain a marriage record.
The Marriage License Bureau accepts in-person or mail-in requests. Applicants must complete an Application for Certified Copies of Marriage Record and provide the following information:
- The couple’s names;
- The date of marriage;
- The wedding location;
- The marriage license number;
- The approximate issuing date;
- Relationship to the record’s subjects;
- Intended use of certified copy.
The Bureau is open to requesters from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. every weekday. Applicants must provide proof of eligibility and pay $20 per copy by cash, card, cheque, or money order. Mail-in applicants must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to facilitate the record’s return.
Marriage License Bureau
Clerk of Orphans Court
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521
Scranton, PA 18503
Where and How to Find Scranton City Birth Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health is responsible for Scranton City’s birth register and provides certified copies of birth certificates to the following eligible persons:
- The registrant (18 years or older);
- The parents or legal guardian of the registrant named on the record;
- The subject’s spouse and descendants;
- The registrant’s siblings and other immediate family members;
- People with court-approved power of attorney;
- A legal representative of the registrant;
- Persons who are authorized by a court to access the record.
Eligible requesters may download and complete a Birth Certificate Application, providing the following information:
- The requester’s details;
- The requester’s relationship with the registrant;
- The registrant’s full name;
- The registrant’s date of birth;
- Intended use of certified copy.
All applicants must provide proof of eligibility and pay $20 per copy by cash, card, cheque, or money order. Mail-in applicants must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to facilitate the record’s return.
Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
Where and How to Find Scranton City Death Records
The Pennsylvania Department of Health manages Scranton City’s death register and provides certified copies of death certificates to the following eligible persons:
- The deceased’s parents or legal guardians;
- The deceased’s spouse;
- An immediate family member (with proof of relationship and a direct, tangible interest)
- Legal representatives of any of the mentioned eligible persons
- Persons who can demonstrate a financial interest
- Persons legally authorized by a Pennsylvania court or a government office
Eligible requesters may download and complete a Death Certificate Application, providing the following information:
- The requester’s details;
- The requester’s relationship with the deceased;
- The deceased’s full name;
- The deceased’s date of death;
- Intended use of certified copy.
All applicants must provide proof of eligibility and pay $20 per copy by cash, card, cheque, or money order. Mail-in applicants must include a stamped, self-addressed envelope to facilitate the record’s return.
Division of Vital Records
Birth Certificate Processing Unit
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
