What Are Columbia County Arrest Records?
Columbia County arrest records (or reports) are documents containing details of a resident's arrest history. The information available on arrest documents includes the name of the apprehended individual, date and location of arrest, and alleged crime committed. Details of property confiscations, if any, are also available on arrest records.
The Columbia County Sheriff is the principal law enforcement agency in Columbia County. The office keeps documentation of all arrests that occurred in the county. Arrest records are public records and are available on request.
Crime Statistics
Columbia County, Pennsylvania, is one of the safest places in the United States. The region has a much lower violent crime rate than most other parts of the state and the nation, reporting only 13.8 violent crimes for every 100,000 inhabitants.
Property crime rates followed a comparable pattern. Columbia County recorded 187 property crimes for every 100,000 people, while the state average was 1,489.9, and the national average is 2,199.5 property crimes per 100,000 residents.
This information from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Criminal Justice Information Services Division shows that residents are at least 13 times less likely to have their property stolen or damaged by criminals than in most other parts of the state and country. Columbia County residents are at least 25 times less prone to becoming victims of a violent crime than in most other parts of the country.
What Are Columbia County Criminal Records?
Criminal charges against any Columbia County residents, over a period, collated in a file, end up in criminal records. Many of these documents are available online. They contain a list of felonies or misdemeanor crimes committed by an individual in the county area or both. However, when anyone expunges a criminal offense, it will be erased from criminal records.
In Pennsylvania, state and county law enforcement agencies maintain criminal records and most files are available to the public. Requesters may access criminal records without stating the purpose of requesting them.
How Do I Get Columbia County Criminal Records?
The County Sheriff collates criminal records, and interested persons can access them on request via mail or in person at:
County Sheriff's Office
35, West Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Interested persons can also contact the Sheriff’s office over the phone or by email at:
Voice: (570) 389-5622
Voice 2: (570) 784-6300 (Active only at night, weekends, and during holidays)
Fax: (570) 389-5625
Email: tchamberlain@columbiapa.org
Statewide, criminal records are obtainable on request by contacting the Pennsylvania State Police Bureau of Criminal Investigation. Anyone who wishes to contact the police department should do so between 7 a.m. to 4:30 p.m at:
1800, Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Phone: (717) 783-5599
How to Find Columbia County Sex Offender Information
In Pennsylvania, people can search for sex offenders by county, zip code, or municipality by accessing Pennsylvania State Police Megan's law website. Both past and present sex offender information are available to the public. Details about sex offenders incarcerated in jail are not available.
Pennsylvanians can register for updates and email alerts from the Pennsylvania State Police via an Electronic Notification System (ENS), informing residents of newly registered sex offenders in their locality. Residents can also use ENS to track sex offenders in and around their current location.
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Columbia County Jail?
The jail facility offers both on-site and video visitation options to anyone who wishes to visit inmates in the Columbia County Jail. Inmates, upon arrival at the County Jail, will register family and friends for visits. Only registered visitors will receive permission to visit inmates. Visitors must fix appointments online at least 24 hours and up to two weeks prior.
All adult visitors must have an online account for video visits, and the facility allows only two people per visit.
The facility address is:
Columbia County Prison
721 Iron Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Voice : (570) 784-4815
Where and How to Find Columbia County Inmate Information
The County Sheriff collects and manages inmates' information in Columbia County. Inmate information such as name, crime committed, date of arrival into the jail facility, and bail bonds are accessible online. People who wish to find inmates' information should contact the County Sheriff's Office via mail or in person.
What Are Columbia County Court Records?
Columbia County court records contain essential information on court proceedings and legal jurisdictions. Most court records are open to the public under Pennsylvania's public records law. Individuals can tender a request to the Office of the Clerk of Courts to obtain copies of court records. Sending requests via mail or by visiting the office in person is acceptable. Each application requires that requesters indicate necessary information that will ease the records search. Applications can be sent to the Clerk of Courts at:
35, West Main Street
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Voice: (570) 389-5614
The office hours are from 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays.
Location of All Courts in Columbia County
Columbia County Court of Common Pleas
35, W Main St,
P.O. Box 380
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Voice: (570) 389-5614
Fax: (570) 389-5620
Magisterial District Courts in Columbia County
700, Sawmill Rd
102
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Voice: (570) 784-1868
Fax: (570) 784-9061
Magisterial District Court 2
100, W 3rd St
P.O. Box 180
Millville, PA 17846
Voice: (570) 458-5501
Fax: (570) 458-0252
Magisterial District Court 3
339, W Front St
Berwick, PA 18603
Voice: (570) 759-0359
Fax: (570) 759-9230
Magisterial District Court 4
400, Fisher Ave
Catawissa, PA 17820
Voice: (570) 356-2309
Fax: (570) 356-2019
What Are Columbia County Vital Records?
In Pennsylvania, birth records, marriage records, divorce records, and death records are vital records. Vital records are not public records because they contain certain information that the state considers confidential. They are, therefore, unavailable to the public. Eligible requesters can purchase vital records at the state level by tendering a request to the Office of Vital Records, Pennsylvania Department of Health.
Columbia County residents can also apply for copies of divorce records by contacting the Prothonotary Office at the Columbia County Courthouse in Bloomsburg. Both agencies will request a fee before issuing certified copies of vital records.
Where and How to Get Columbia County Divorce Records
The Prothonotary Clerk of Courts keeps records of every divorce granted by a court in Columbia County. Each certified copy costs $4. Eligible requesters can retrieve certified copies of divorce records on request via mail or in person at :
Columbia County Prothonotary Clerk of Courts
P.O. Box 380
Bloomsburg, PA 17815
Voice: (570) 389-5614
The County Prothonotary's Office operates between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. daily. The office will not attend to divorce records requests after the allotted office time.
Where and How to Get Columbia County Marriage Records
The Marriage License Clerk collects and issues certified copies of marriage records in Columbia County, Pennsylvania. A valid means of identification and proof of relationship are essential requirements to access marriage records. The issuing agency may deny requests if record information does not match with the details on the applicant’s identification unless they can establish that they have lawful authorization to obtain the records. Eligible requesters can contact the office via mail or in person.
Copies of a marriage license are also available at the Clerk of Orphans Courts, a part of the Office of the Columbia County Prothonotary. Each copy of marriage records (licenses) costs $4.
Where and How to Get Columbia County Birth and Death Records
Birth and Death records are available in the Office of Vital Records under the Pennsylvania Department of Health. The division has kept and maintained birth and death records since January 1906. Requesters must obtain an application form and state their request on the form. Persons requesting certified copies of records must attach a valid ID and indicate a signature on the application form. Each copy of the records cost $20.
Requesters can obtain forms and forward requests online or in person at:
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
Newcastle, PA 16103-1528
Voice: (724) 656-3100
In addition to government agencies, county public records may also be obtained from third-party websites. These non-government platforms come with intuitive tools that allow for expansive searches. Record seekers may either opt to use these tools to search for a specific record or multiple records. Users are able to search third-party websites remotely for multiple records at a time with just the name of the record subject and their last known location, including the city, county, or state. Third-party sites are not sponsored by government agencies. Because of this, record availability and results may vary.
