Criminal records in Lawrence County, Pennsylvania, are available through several channels. LawrencePACourt.us allows quick access to public information about criminal cases in the county. Additionally, you can use the state's official court portals, law enforcement resources, and the Clerk of Courts office at the Court of Common Pleas. Below are step-by-step instructions on how to search, understand, and obtain certified copies of county criminal records.
How to Search Criminal Records in Lawrence
There are several ways to find criminal records. Start with what you know: the person's full name, date of birth, case number, or OTN (Offender Tracking Number).
Online Search
- LawrencePACourt.us — enter a name or case number to view publicly available information about criminal cases in the county.
- UJS Portal (Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania) — a statewide portal for searching Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts cases. Select Lawrence County in the "County" field or the 53rd Judicial District and search by participant's last name, case number, or OTN.
- PATCH (Pennsylvania Access To Criminal History) — the Pennsylvania State Police system for checking criminal history. Results are often instant. You need to enter the full name and date of birth.
- Inmate Locator of the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections — if the person is in a state correctional facility. For searching inmates at the Lawrence County Corrections Center, contact the facility directly.
In-Person Visit
The Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal cases at the Court of Common Pleas level. Visit the Lawrence County Government Center at:
Public terminals for viewing case information are usually available in the courthouse. For cases handled at the Magisterial District Courts level, contact the respective district judge's office.
Written Request
A criminal history request through the State Police can be submitted online via the criminal history background check request page or by mail to the Pennsylvania State Police, Central Repository. To obtain court documents at the county level, send a written request to the Clerk of Courts, including the person's full name, date of birth, and case number (if known).
Search Lawrence Criminal Cases by Case Number
The case number in Pennsylvania has a specific format that depends on the court level.
For the Court of Common Pleas, the format is:
- CP-37-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY, where:
- CP — Court of Common Pleas
- 37 — Lawrence County code in the Pennsylvania court system
- CR — case type (CR means Criminal)
- XXXXXXX — sequential case number
- YYYY — filing year
For Magisterial District Courts, the format is different:
- MJ-37XXX-CR-XXXXXXX-YYYY, where MJ denotes Magisterial Judge, and 37XXX is the specific district judge's office.
Enter the full case number in the appropriate field on the UJS portal or on LawrencePACourt.us to obtain information about charges, status, participants, and scheduled hearings. If the case number is unknown, searching by last name is the simplest alternative.
Charges, Case Status, Hearings, and Court Results in Lawrence
Each criminal case contains several key elements. Here's what they mean in practice.
Charges
| Element | Explanation |
|---|---|
| Statute Code | Reference to a section of the Pennsylvania Crimes Code (Title 18) or another law, e.g., 18 Pa.C.S. § 3921 — theft |
| Severity Degree | Felony (serious crime, degrees 1–3), Misdemeanor (lesser crime, degrees 1–3), Summary Offense (minor offense) |
| Amended Charges | The prosecutor may amend the initial charges — add new ones, drop some, or reclassify the severity |
Case Status
- Active / Pending — the case is still under court consideration
- Disposed — the court has made a decision (sentence, closure, dismissal)
- Closed — all court actions are completed, including sentence execution
Hearings
A typical criminal case goes through the following stages:
- Arraignment — the first appearance of the accused before a judge, charges are announced
- Preliminary Hearing — a district judge determines if there is enough evidence to transfer the case to the Court of Common Pleas
- Pre-Trial Conference — parties discuss the possibility of a plea deal or trial preparation
- Trial — court hearing (jury or non-jury)
- Sentencing — sentencing after a guilty verdict
- Review Hearing — checking compliance with probation or other punishment conditions
Court Results
| Result | Meaning |
|---|---|
| Guilty | Found guilty — by court verdict or plea agreement |
| Not Guilty | Acquitted by court or jury decision |
| Dismissed | Case closed — prosecutor dropped charges or court dismissed them |
| Nolle Prosequi | Prosecutor declined further prosecution |
| ARD | Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition — program for first-time offenders; charges are dropped after successful completion |
How to Request Certified Criminal Records in Lawrence
Certified copies are needed for official purposes — employment, licensing, immigration procedures. A regular printout from the internet does not replace a document with a court seal.
Clerk of Courts Office
Clerk of Courts maintains all criminal records at the Court of Common Pleas level. Contact in person or by mail:
To request, you need:
- The person's full name
- Case number (if known)
- Valid photo ID (for in-person visits)
Criminal History Check through State Police
To obtain an official criminal history certificate (statewide criminal history), submit a request through the PATCH system. Results are often available within minutes. The Lawrence County online services page contains a direct link to PATCH.
Request under the Right-to-Know Law
Some records can be requested through the Right-to-Know procedure of Lawrence County. Requests requiring legal review or redaction may take longer to process. You can also use the Office of Open Records state form.
Fees, Copy Costs, and Processing Times for Criminal Records in Lawrence
The cost depends on the type of document and the method of obtaining it.
| Service | Cost | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Criminal history check through PATCH | $22.00 | Online payment; results usually instant or within a few days |
| Copy of court document (Clerk of Courts) | $0.25–$0.50 per page | Exact price may vary; check with the office |
| Document certification | Additional fee per certified copy | Contact the Clerk of Courts for current amount |
Processing Times
- PATCH (online) — results usually arrive immediately. If manual review is needed, it may take up to 10 business days.
- Clerk of Courts (in-person) — copies are often issued the same day.
- Mail request — depends on office workload; usually 5–10 business days after receiving the request.
- Right-to-Know request — the county must respond within 5 business days but may extend up to 30 days in complex cases.
Sheriff's fees apply to the delivery of court documents and other procedural actions, but not to criminal record searches. For current rates, always check directly with the Clerk of Courts office at (724) 658-2541.