Lehigh County Arrest Booking Reports
Lehigh County booking reports are public records maintained by the county corrections system in Allentown. The facility updates its inmate roster daily, with some records refreshed as often as every 15 minutes. New bookings typically appear within 2 to 24 hours of processing. You can search for Lehigh County booking reports through the official roster, by phone, or through online court tools. This page covers what the records contain, how to access them, and what rules apply.
Lehigh County Quick Facts
What Lehigh County Booking Reports Contain
A booking report from Lehigh County falls into several categories of data. Each report is built during the intake process at the corrections facility. The level of detail is high because staff follow a set procedure for every person brought into custody.
Lehigh County booking reports include basic ID information such as the person's full name, date of birth, height, weight, and other physical traits. A mugshot is taken from the front and side. The report also lists the booking number, date, and time of arrest. Charges are recorded with the arresting agency named. Bond or bail terms set by the court appear on the report. Court dates and sentencing details are added as the case moves forward. Release information is noted when the person leaves custody.
These records are updated as new information comes in. The Lehigh County system refreshes its roster at least once per day. Some updates happen every 15 minutes. New bookings show up within 2 to 24 hours after processing is complete.
Note: Booking reports reflect charges at the time of arrest and are not proof of guilt or a conviction.
Seven Ways to Find Lehigh County Inmates
Lehigh County offers several paths to find booking reports and inmate information. Each method works in different situations. Here are the main options:
- Check the official Lehigh County inmate roster online for current inmates
- Use VINELink at vinelink.com to search by name and get custody alerts
- Call the corrections facility at 610-782-3270, which is staffed 24 hours a day
- Contact local police, who may hold a person for up to 72 hours before transfer
- Check neighboring county jails if the arrest was near the border
- Write to or visit an inmate at the corrections facility
- Search the UJS Portal for court records tied to Lehigh County arrests
The phone line at 610-782-3270 is the fastest option at any hour. Staff can confirm if someone is in custody and share basic booking details. For court-related records, the UJS Portal is free and covers all Pennsylvania counties. It shows docket sheets, charges, and court dates for cases filed in Lehigh County.
Lehigh County Sheriff and Booking Records
The Lehigh County Sheriff's Office plays a role in the arrest and booking process. The sheriff handles warrant service, courthouse security, and prisoner transport. The office is at 455 West Hamilton Street in Allentown and can be reached at 610-782-3175.
The Lehigh County website provides access to various county services, including links to the sheriff's office and the corrections facility. Arrests made by the sheriff's office generate booking reports at the same corrections facility used by all agencies in Lehigh County.
Lehigh County Booking Reports and Public Access
Criminal records in Lehigh County are public under the Right-to-Know Law at 65 P.S. § 67.301. Available records include court dockets, hearing calendars, judgments, mugshots, and inmate information. Booking reports are part of this public dataset. Anyone can request them without giving a reason.
Some records are restricted. Active criminal investigations are shielded from disclosure under 65 P.S. § 67.708(b)(16). Juvenile records are private under 42 Pa.C.S. § 6308. Sealed and expunged records are also off limits. Everything else is fair game. The Lehigh County Right-to-Know Officer is located at 17 South Seventh Street in Allentown. You can call 610-782-3009 to start a request. The county has five business days to respond.
How Long Lehigh County Keeps Records
Lehigh County follows state guidelines for record retention. Felony records are kept permanently. Misdemeanor records are held for 20 years. Summary offense records stay on file for 3 years. Records from cases that were not prosecuted are also kept for 3 years. After those periods, records may be eligible for destruction unless other rules apply.
Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 can remove a record before the retention period ends. The Clean Slate law under Act 5 of 2019 allows automatic sealing for certain offenses after a set number of years. Sealed Lehigh County booking reports are hidden from public searches but remain accessible to law enforcement. The Criminal History Record Information Act at 18 Pa.C.S. § 9101 governs how these records are stored and shared across the state.
For records requests, the Lehigh County corrections records office can be reached at 610-782-3846. They handle requests for booking reports and other detention records from the facility at 38 North Fourth Street in Allentown.
Statewide Criminal Checks for Lehigh County
The PATCH system provides criminal history results for all Pennsylvania counties. A search returns convictions and pending cases tied to a person's name and date of birth. Results cover Lehigh County and every other county in the state. Sealed and expunged records do not appear.
PATCH gives a wider view than a single Lehigh County booking report. It shows whether a person has records in other counties as well. For jail-specific details like mugshots, booking numbers, and custody status, contact the Lehigh County corrections facility directly at 610-782-3270.
Note: PATCH searches are name-based and may return results for people with similar names, so verify the date of birth and other details before relying on the results.
Lehigh County Corrections Facility
The Lehigh County Department of Corrections operates the main detention facility at 38 North Fourth Street in Allentown. This is where all bookings take place. The facility is staffed around the clock, and the main phone line at 610-782-3270 accepts calls at any hour. The records department can be reached at 610-782-3846 during business hours.
The facility holds both pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. Each person booked receives a unique number that links to their booking report. Families can call the facility to check on an inmate's status. The corrections department also processes records requests for booking reports and other detention documents from Lehigh County.
Nearby Counties
Lehigh County is in eastern Pennsylvania and borders several other counties. An arrest near the county line could be processed in any of these neighboring jurisdictions. Check the county where the arrest took place to find the correct booking report.