Lancaster City Released Inmate Lookup
Lancaster city released inmate records are managed through the Lancaster City Bureau of Police and Lancaster County Prison. Lancaster is the county seat of Lancaster County with about 60,000 residents. People arrested in the city are processed through the Bureau of Police Records Department at 39 West Chestnut Street. Pretrial detention and county sentences are served at Lancaster County Prison at 625 East King Street. This guide explains how to search Lancaster released inmate records using city, county, and state tools.
Lancaster Quick Facts
Lancaster Inmate Records and Custody Information
The Lancaster City Bureau of Police Records Department is on the third floor of the police station at 39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. Sign in at the front desk when visiting. The main records phone number is 717-735-6670. Requests must be made in person, by mail, or through the city's online RTK portal. Valid ID is required for all in-person requests.
The Lancaster Police Records Department has a detailed fee schedule. Accident reports cost $15. Verification letters cost $15. A good conduct letter costs $22. A local background check costs $22. Payment is accepted in cash for in-person requests. Mail requests require a check or money order payable to the City of Lancaster. The RTK portal for Lancaster city records is at city-of-lancaster-pa.nextrequest.com/faqs.
| Records Department | Lancaster City Bureau of Police |
|---|---|
| Address | 39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603 |
| Phone | 717-735-6670 |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–4:00 PM |
| RTK Portal | nextrequest.com |
| Lancaster County Prison | 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 |
| Prison Phone | 717-299-7800 |
Booking records from Lancaster city arrests include the individual's name, date of birth, arrest date, charges with Pennsylvania Crime Code citations, and officer details. As cases move through Lancaster County courts, additional data is added including bail determinations, court dates, and case dispositions. Pennsylvania's CHRIA statute, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 et seq., governs what portions of these records the public may access.
Note: Visitors to the Lancaster Police Records Department must sign in at the front desk. Bring a valid government-issued photo ID for all in-person records requests.
How to Search Released Inmate Records in Lancaster
Lancaster County Prison's inmate roster is available at co.lancaster.pa.us/129/Inmate-Roster. This shows individuals currently in Lancaster County custody. Search by name to check custody status. Released individuals are removed from the active roster once they leave the facility. The county also has a "Who's In Jail" lookup at co.lancaster.pa.us/756/Whos-In-Jail for quick name searches.
The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides access to all Lancaster County court records. A name search shows all criminal dockets in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Docket sheets include charges, dispositions, and sentencing information. This is the best free tool for tracing released Lancaster inmates through the court system.
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov covers Lancaster residents transferred to state prison after sentencing. It is free and updated daily. For state conviction history, PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us provides results for $22.
PA SAVIN at pavictimhelp.org offers free, automatic custody change notifications. Call 1-866-972-7284. The service covers Lancaster County and state facilities around the clock. Victims and families can register to receive alerts when a Lancaster inmate is released or transferred.
Lancaster County Prison and Lancaster City Residents
Lancaster County Prison at 625 East King Street, Lancaster, PA 17602 is the primary detention facility for Lancaster city and all of Lancaster County. Contact the prison at 717-299-7800. The county operates an inmate roster online at co.lancaster.pa.us/129/Inmate-Roster and the dedicated "Who's In Jail" page at co.lancaster.pa.us/756/Whos-In-Jail.
Lancaster County participates in PA SAVIN, connecting its prison records to the statewide victim notification system. Registered users receive alerts when a Lancaster County inmate is released, transferred, or has another custody change. Registration is free at pavictimhelp.org or by calling 1-866-972-7284.
When a Lancaster city resident is convicted of a serious felony and sentenced to state prison, they are transferred from Lancaster County Prison to a PADOC facility. At that point, the county roster no longer shows them. Search the PADOC Inmate Locator to find them in state custody. The transition happens within a few weeks of sentencing in Lancaster County Court of Common Pleas.
Right-to-Know Requests in Lancaster
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, applies to Lancaster city. RTK requests for Lancaster police records go through the online portal at city-of-lancaster-pa.nextrequest.com/faqs or directly to the Records Department at 717-735-6670. In-person visits require a sign-in at the front desk and a valid ID. Mail requests should be sent to 39 West Chestnut Street, Lancaster, PA 17603.
Fees at the Lancaster Police Records Department are set by the department. Accident reports cost $15. Verification and good conduct letters range from $15 to $22. Local background checks cost $22. For records not subject to flat fees, the standard RTKL copy rate is $0.25 per page. Cash is accepted in person; checks or money orders payable to the City of Lancaster are required for mail requests.
Under the RTKL, Lancaster city agencies have 5 business days to respond to requests, with possible extensions up to 30 days. Denials must cite a specific exemption. Appeals from denials go to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days. File online at openrecords.pa.gov or call 717-346-9903.
Note: The Lancaster city RTK portal at nextrequest.com is a separate system from the Lancaster County RTK process. Use the correct portal based on whether you need city or county records.
State Resources for Lancaster City Residents
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov is the right tool for finding Lancaster city residents in state prison. It is free and updated daily. The PA DOC website at cor.pa.gov has facility information, visitation rules, and reentry resources for state-sentenced individuals.
PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us gives statewide criminal background check results for $22 per search. Call 1-888-783-7972. Results include Lancaster County convictions. Records eligible under the Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018) may be sealed automatically. Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 can remove qualifying Lancaster city records from public systems.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at pbpp.pa.gov supervises state parolees from Lancaster city cases. The PA State Police at psp.pa.gov handles cross-agency records questions. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provides free access to all Lancaster County court records.
Lancaster County Released Inmates
Lancaster city is the county seat of Lancaster County, and most Lancaster city inmate records flow through Lancaster County Prison. For the full county inmate roster, prison contact details, and additional resources, visit the Lancaster County released inmates page.