Scranton Arrest Booking Reports
Scranton is the largest city in northeast Pennsylvania and the county seat of Lackawanna County. All Scranton booking reports go through the Lackawanna County Prison. The Scranton Police Department makes arrests within city limits and transfers people to the county jail for booking. Scranton booking reports are public records under Pennsylvania law. This page covers how to find them, what they contain, and where to look online or in person.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Police Department Records
The Scranton Police Department is the main law enforcement agency in the city. Officers patrol the city, respond to calls, and make arrests. After an arrest, the person is taken to the Lackawanna County Prison for booking. The police department keeps its own arrest reports, but the booking report is created at the jail.
| Department | Scranton Police Department |
|---|---|
| Address | 100 South Washington Avenue Scranton, PA 18503 |
| Phone | 570-348-4134 |
| Website | scrantonpa.gov |
You can contact the Scranton Police for arrest report copies. These show the details of what led to the arrest. The booking report from the jail shows a different set of facts. It includes personal details, charges, bail amount, and booking time. Both records are part of the criminal history under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101. To get the full story of a Scranton arrest, you may want both the police report and the jail booking report.
How to Find Scranton Booking Reports
The Scranton Police Department website offers general information about city law enforcement and public safety in the region.
You can use this site to reach department contact information and links to other public safety resources in Scranton.
For court records tied to Scranton arrests, the UJS Portal is the best free tool. Search by name or case number to find charges, hearing dates, and outcomes. The portal covers all Lackawanna County cases. It does not show jail booking details like mugshots or bail amounts, but it links every Scranton arrest to its court case.
To check if someone is still in custody at Lackawanna County Prison, use VINELink. This free service lets you search by name. It shows custody status and the facility where the person is held. You can also register to get alerts when someone's status changes. This is useful for victims or family members who need updates on a Scranton booking.
Scranton Booking Reports and the County Jail
Every person arrested in Scranton goes to the Lackawanna County Prison for processing. This is where the booking report is created. The jail staff records the person's name, date of birth, charges, and other identifying details. A photograph is taken. Fingerprints are collected. The booking report becomes part of the county jail's records system.
Scranton is the county seat, so the jail, courthouse, and police are all in close proximity. Most Scranton arrests move quickly from the police station to the county jail. Booking usually takes a few hours. After booking, a person may be released on bail or held for a hearing. The booking report stays on file under 65 P.S. § 67.301 regardless of what happens next in the case.
Note: Bail amounts in Scranton are set by a magisterial district judge, not by the jail.
Public Access to Scranton Arrest Records
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public access to many government records. Booking reports fall under this law in most cases. You can submit a written request to the Lackawanna County Prison or the Scranton Police Department for copies of records. The agency has five business days to respond. They may charge a small fee for copies.
Some parts of a booking report may be withheld. Medical information, Social Security numbers, and other private data are not public. Under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, certain records may also be sealed if the person's case was expunged. But the basic facts of a Scranton booking report, including the name, charges, and date, are generally available to anyone who asks.
Requesting Scranton Booking Report Copies
You can request copies of Scranton booking reports through a Right-to-Know filing. Send a written request to the Lackawanna County Prison for jail booking records. For arrest reports, write to the Scranton Police Department. Include the person's full name, the approximate date of arrest, and a description of the records you want. Each agency must respond within five business days. A copy fee may apply. Be as specific as you can to avoid delays in getting your Scranton booking report.
Clearing Scranton Booking Reports
A person with a Scranton booking report may be able to have it sealed or expunged. Expungement removes the record from public databases. Pennsylvania expanded its clean slate law through Act 5 of 2019. This allows automatic sealing of certain older records. For other cases, you must file a petition with the Lackawanna County Court under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122.
Charges that were dropped or ended in acquittal are eligible for expungement. Some summary offenses can be expunged after ten years with no new arrests. Juvenile records from Scranton are already sealed under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308 and are not part of the public booking report system. If you believe your Scranton booking report qualifies, contact the Lackawanna County Clerk of Courts or a local attorney for guidance.
Note: Clean slate sealing happens automatically for eligible records, but you can also petition the court directly if your case qualifies.
Scranton Public Safety and Arrest Patterns
Scranton is the cultural and economic hub of northeast Pennsylvania. The city covers about 25 square miles and has neighborhoods ranging from busy commercial districts to quiet residential streets. The downtown area along Lackawanna Avenue and Wyoming Avenue sees the most foot traffic and police activity. Arrests in Scranton cover a wide range from minor offenses to serious felonies.
As the county seat, Scranton hosts the Lackawanna County courthouse, the district attorney's office, and the county prison all within a few miles of each other. This makes the path from arrest to booking to court appearance shorter and faster than in many other cities. Scranton booking reports move through the system quickly. Most people arrested in the city are booked at the county prison within hours of the arrest.
Lackawanna County Booking Reports
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County. All booking reports from the city flow through the county system. For more details on county-wide records, the jail, court system, and other Lackawanna County resources, visit the full county page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
These cities are near Scranton and have their own arrest records and booking systems. Select a city to learn about booking reports in that area.