Criminal Statistics
Lackawanna crime statistics are maintained by the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting System which compiles and maintains crime statistics submitted by various Pennsylvania county law enforcement agents. According to 2017 reports, Lackawanna County law enforcement agencies recorded a total of 3841 index crimes across its towns and cities. Property crime topped the ranks with over 3000 reported incidents, which includes 2501 incidents of larceny-theft, 614 reported incidents of burglary and 216 motor vehicle thefts. In comparison, violent crime proved the least popular subset of offenses with only 480 reported incidents of murder, negligent manslaughter, rape, robbery, and aggravated assault combined.
Criminal Records
The Lackawanna County Sheriff's Office is the main law enforcement agency of the county and the chief enforcer of the orders of the county court. However, the Pennsylvania State Police Department is the central repository of state-wide criminal records and conducts background checks on request. Eligible members of the public may request Lackawanna criminal history records from the Police Central Repository of the Department.
How to Get Criminal Records Through The Government
Interested members of the public may access criminal background checks on individuals from the Pennsylvania State Police Department using two methods.
The Department provides web-based access to criminal records using the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History - PATCH. Requesters may register on the site or remain unregistered and submit individual record requests. Registrants may be billed monthly. However, all requests require a non-refundable payment of $22. Requesting parties are required to have relevant information about the subject to facilitate the search, and the results are sent on the EPATCH website. However, notarized copies cannot be requested online.
On the other hand, interested persons may choose to send their requests via mail. In this case, the requestor would need to complete a Criminal History Request Form, and submit the completed application along with a payment of $22 plus an additional $5 for notarized copies to:
Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository - RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758
How to Find the Sex Offender Registry and Other Sex Offender
All information regarding sex offenders resident in Pennsylvania is housed on the Pennsylvania State Megans Law Website and can be accessed by interested members of the public. Offenders can be searched by location, mile radius, sexual violence, and compliance. Concerned persons may also register to receive email notifications from the Pennsylvania State Police Department. Registrants may receive information about specific offenders if indicated, and receive updates about sexual offenders who have changed location within the state or moved within a designated radius indicated by the recipient
How to Find Inmate and Jail Information
The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections maintains an Inmate Locator with which members of the public can access information about incarcerated persons under the jurisdiction of the State of Pennsylvania. Information about inmates committed by Lackawanna County can be obtained by searching the locator by the name of the inmate, their date of birth, inmate number, gender or race.
Court Records
Where and How to Get Court Records
The Lackawanna County Clerk of Judicial Records is tasked with record keeping of the County Court of Common Pleas. Various records are stored with the different divisions concerned. Thus, the Civil Division maintains records of civil cases while the Criminal and Family Court court-related records can only be obtained from their respective divisions. To obtain copies of court records, requesters may query the division concerned either in person or via mail.
Civil Division & Family Court Division
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, First Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
Criminal Division
Lackawanna County Courthouse
200 N. Washington Avenue, 1st Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
N.B: Search and copy fees may vary per division and request.
Location of all courts in the county
Listed below are the locations and contact information of the courts in Lackawanna County, Pennsylvania:
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 45-1-01
1 Maxson Dr, Old Forge, PA 18518
Phone: (570) 457-3320
Fax: (570) 457-3830
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
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-1-06
2012 W Pine St,
Dunmore, PA 18512
Phone: (570) 963-6521
Fax: (570) 963-6174
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-1-08
901 Enterprise St,
Dickson City, PA 18519
Phone: (570) 383-0421
Fax: (570) 383-6934
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-3-01
104 Shady Lane Rd,
P.O. Box 427,
Chinchilla, PA 18410
Phone: (570) 587-1909
Fax: (570) 587-8784
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-3-02
119 N Main St,
Moscow, PA 18444
Phone: (570) 842-2111
Fax: (570) 842-9117
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-3-03
38 N Main St, Carbondale, PA 18407
Phone: (570) 282-3181
Fax: (570) 282-9269
Lackawanna County Magisterial District Court 45-3-04
Archbald Borough Building
400 Church St,
Archbald, PA 18403
Phone: (570) 876-0570
Fax: (570) 876-6412
Where and How to Get Bankruptcy and Property Records
The office of the Lackawanna County Recorder of Deeds is primarily tasked with recording and indexing documents relating to property in the county. Property-related documents recorded by the office are public record and can be obtained by interested members of the public using the Recorder of Deeds Online Records Search Tool or by making in-person requests at:
Lackawanna County Recorder Of Deeds
123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 218
Scranton, PA 18503
Requestors are required to have sufficient information about the record of interest and may be required to pay a search and/or copy fee. Lackawanna Bankruptcy records are managed by the US Bankruptcy Court of the Middle District of Pennsylvania. Interested persons may retrieve copies of case records by visiting the court or sending a letter requesting the required document. Requestors are required to provide the debtor's name, case number, details of the document required, number of copies and a contact phone number.
In-person requests must be made during business hours and will cost $0.50 per page. Mail requests payment should be made via cheque or money order made payable to the Clerk, US Bankruptcy Court, and requests should be mailed along with a self-addressed envelope to:
US Bankruptcy Court,
Max Rosenn US Courthouse,
197 South Main Street,
Wilkes-Barre, PA 18701
Vital Records
Eligible Members of the public may request copies of Lackawanna County vital records, however, the process is primarily dependent on the record in question. Birth and death records are managed and disseminated by the Pennsylvania Department of Public Health as per state laws. On the other hand, marriage and divorce records are maintained by county-based departments. While the office of the Register of Wills processes requests for copies of marriage records, divorce records are the concern of the Clerk of Judicial Records.
Where and How to Get Divorce Records
Lackawanna County divorce records are maintained by the Family Court Division of the Clerk of Judicial Records. Interested persons may obtain copies by querying the division either by mail or in person. Requests typically require the name of divorcees, the date and place of the divorce as well as the case file number. Requests may be made to:
Family Court Division
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, First Floor
Scranton, PA 18503
Where and How to Get Marriage Records
Marriage records are generated and managed by the Marriage License Bureau of the office of the Lackawanna Register of Wills. To obtain certified copies of marriage records, requesting parties are required to complete an Application for Certified Copies of Marriage Record and send the completed form along with a self-addressed envelope and the fees indicated on the form to:
Marriage License Bureau
Clerk of Orphans Court
Lackawanna County Government Center
123 Wyoming Avenue, Suite 521
Scranton, PA 18503
Where and How to Get Birth and Death Records
Requests for birth and death records are processed by the Vital Records Department of the Pennsylvania Department of Health. Requests can be made via mail or in person. In either case, requestors will be required to complete an Application for a Birth Certificate or Application for a Death Certificate. Mail requests must be accompanied by all the requirements stated in the form including a copy of the requested ID and fees and sent to:
Department of Health,
Division of Vital Records
P.O. Box 1528
New Castle, PA 16103
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.
