Pennsylvania reports approximately 400,000 arrests each year, with more than 3,000 taking place in Lawrence County. Following the Pennsylvania Public Records Law, arrest records maintained by local agencies are generally open to public access. Requests for copies may incur a standard fee of up to $0.25 per page, depending on the agency's policy.
However, certain records are not available to the public, including those involving juveniles, domestic violence cases, ongoing investigations, or restrictions by state or federal law or by court order. These records are regarded as confidential and are only available to authorized parties, such as the individuals named in the records, their legal representatives, law enforcement personnel, and the Lawrence County District Attorney's Office.
Lawrence County arrest records are accessible through various agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, the state's Department of Criminal Justice Information Services, and the Clerk of Courts.
The Lawrence County Sheriff's Office is one of the law enforcement agencies that maintains arrest records. Anyone may obtain copies of these records from this office by calling (724) 652-5121 or visiting the location below:
Lawrence County Sheriff's Office
430 Court Street
New Castle, PA 16101
There are local police departments in Lawrence County that provide access to arrest records. To obtain these records, interested persons may visit the police department in the jurisdiction where the arrest occurred. Some departments also maintain official websites where limited arrest information or request forms may be available for online access. Examples of local police departments in the county include:
The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) is the primary law enforcement agency that handles the criminal history information of offenders in the state, including arrest records. Individuals seeking arrest records from Lawrence County may submit a formal request through the PSP or the Office of Open Records (OOR).
Requests are required to be made using the designated form and can be submitted by fax, email, or mail or can arrive in person. Completed forms should be directed to:
By mail:
PSP Bureau of Records & Identification
ATTN: Agency Open Records Officer, Mr. William Rozier
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
In person:
PSP Department Headquarters
Agency Open Records Officer, Mr. William Rozier
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110
Fax: (717) 525-5795
A copy fee of $0.25 per page applies to all record requests.
Records of arrests leading to formal charges also form part of the court records in Lawrence County. These records are maintained by the Clerk of the Court of Common Pleas and the various magisterial district courts in the county. Interested persons may search for court records online through the State Judiciary Web Portal or visit the courthouse that handled the case. Additionally, record seekers may access Lawrence County arrest records through third-party platforms like InfoTracer. These websites usually provide faster access to arrest records and broader search options.
Lawrence County records a 20.97 arrest rate per 1,000 residents. The following contains additional information on different crime types in the county:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Murder and Non-negligent Manslaughter | 4 |
| Negligent Manslaughter | 0 |
| Robbery | 1 |
| Rape | 1 |
| Aggravated Assault | 22 |
| Arson | 3 |
| Burglary/Breaking & Entering | 26 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 15 |
| Larcerny | 130 |
| Total Crimes Against Persons (Violent Crimes) | 204 |
| Total Crimes Against Property | 1,353 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,845 |
Source: Pennsylvania Office of Attorney General
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| New Beaver Police Department | Wampum Rd & New Galilee Rd | (724)535-3220 |
| New Castle Police Department | 303 E North St. | 724-656-3570 |
| New Wilmington Police Department | 134 High St | 724-946-8111 |