Bethlehem Booking Reports Lookup
Bethlehem booking reports come from two counties. The city sits in both Northampton County and Lehigh County. Where a person gets booked depends on which side of the city the arrest took place. Bethlehem Police handle all calls within city limits. After an arrest, the person goes to either the Northampton County Prison or the Lehigh County Correctional Facility. This split makes Bethlehem booking reports a bit different from most other cities in Pennsylvania. You may need to check both counties to find the record you want.
Bethlehem Quick Facts
How Bethlehem Booking Reports Work Across Two Counties
Bethlehem is one of the few cities in Pennsylvania that spans two counties. The city straddles the border of Northampton County and Lehigh County. Most residents live on the Northampton side. But a large section of south Bethlehem falls in Lehigh County. This matters for booking reports because each county runs its own jail and court system.
When Bethlehem Police arrest someone on the Northampton County side, that person is taken to the Northampton County Prison in Easton. The booking report is filed there. If the arrest happens on the Lehigh County side, the person goes to the Lehigh County Correctional Facility in Allentown instead. The booking report then belongs to Lehigh County. You should check both counties if you are not sure where the arrest took place. Under 65 P.S. § 67.301, booking reports from both counties are subject to public records law once filed.
Note: The county line runs roughly along the Lehigh River through the center of Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Police Arrest Records
The Bethlehem Police Department handles law enforcement for the entire city. All arrests within city limits start with Bethlehem Police, no matter which county side the arrest occurs on. The department is based at 10 E Church Street in Bethlehem.
| Department | Bethlehem Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 10 E Church Street Bethlehem, PA 18018 |
| Phone | 610-997-4757 |
| Website | bethlehem-pa.gov |
Bethlehem Police create the initial arrest report. This is not the same as the booking report. The arrest report stays with the police department. The booking report is created at the county jail after processing. Both records are tied to the same case but held by different agencies. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101, criminal history information includes all records from arrest through final court action. To get the full picture, you may need records from Bethlehem Police and the relevant county jail.
Searching Bethlehem Booking Reports Online
Several online tools can help you find Bethlehem booking reports. The best place to start is the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. This free site covers all counties in the state.
The Bethlehem Police Department website provides general information about the department and city services.
From there, you can also reach the city's public safety division for more details on recent arrests in Bethlehem.
The UJS Portal lets you search court records by name or case number. It covers both Northampton and Lehigh County courts. You can see charges, court dates, and case outcomes. The portal does not show jail booking details, but it links to the court side of any Bethlehem arrest. For jail-specific booking reports, use VINELink to check inmate status in either county.
Note: VINELink also lets you sign up for alerts when an inmate's custody status changes.
Bethlehem Record Expungement
Some Bethlehem booking reports can be removed from public view. Pennsylvania law allows expungement in certain cases. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, a person can petition to have arrest records expunged if charges were dismissed, the person was found not guilty, or enough time has passed for certain minor offenses. Act 5 of 2019 also created a process called clean slate that seals some older records automatically.
To file for expungement of a Bethlehem booking report, you petition the court in the county where the case was filed. That means Northampton County Court or Lehigh County Court depending on where the booking took place. The court reviews the petition and decides whether to grant it. If approved, the booking report and related court records are sealed or destroyed.
Requesting Bethlehem Booking Report Copies
You can get copies of Bethlehem booking reports through a Right-to-Know request. Because the city spans two counties, you may need to send requests to both the Northampton County Prison and the Lehigh County Correctional Facility. For arrest reports from the police, send your request to the Bethlehem Police Department. Include the full name of the person, the date or approximate date of arrest, and what records you need. Each agency has five business days to respond. A small fee may apply for copies. Be specific in your request to speed up the process.
Juvenile Booking Reports in Bethlehem
Juvenile records in Bethlehem are handled differently than adult booking reports. Under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308, juvenile records are not open to the public. A juvenile arrested in Bethlehem will not have a public booking report. These records are sealed by law to protect minors.
Bethlehem Police still process juvenile arrests. But the records go through the juvenile court system in either Northampton or Lehigh County. Only certain parties can access these files. Parents, guardians, and the juvenile can request their own records. Courts and law enforcement can view them for official purposes. The general public cannot search for juvenile booking reports in Bethlehem or anywhere in Pennsylvania.
Bethlehem Public Safety Overview
Bethlehem is the seventh-largest city in Pennsylvania. It sits along the Lehigh River in the Lehigh Valley region. The city has a mix of residential areas, college campuses, and commercial districts. The south side of the city has a different character than the north, and both generate their own share of arrests and booking reports.
The Bethlehem Police Department is a full-service agency with patrol, detective, and special units. Officers handle everything from traffic enforcement to major crime investigations. The department works with both Northampton and Lehigh County agencies on cases that cross jurisdictional lines. Because booking reports go to two different county jails, Bethlehem creates a unique situation for anyone trying to track arrest records in the Lehigh Valley.
Northampton and Lehigh County Booking Reports
Bethlehem booking reports are held by two different counties. For a full look at records from each county, including other cities and townships, visit the county pages below. Each county page covers the full jail system, court records, and public access options for that area.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Other cities near Bethlehem have their own booking report systems. Pick a city below to find arrest records and booking details for that area.