Scranton Custody Search and Released Inmates
Scranton released inmate records are managed by the Scranton Police Department and the Lackawanna County Prison. Scranton is northeastern Pennsylvania's largest city with about 77,000 residents and serves as the Lackawanna County seat. People arrested in Scranton are processed through the city police department's Records Unit and held at the Lackawanna County Prison for pretrial detention. This guide covers how to find Scranton released inmate records using police department, county, and state resources.
Scranton Quick Facts
Scranton Inmate Records and Custody Information
The Scranton Police Department Records Unit handles all requests for police records. The Records Unit phone is 570-348-4154 and the email for Right-to-Know matters is rtk@scrantonpa.gov. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Records Unit page at scrantonpa.gov explains the request process and lists current fees. All requests for Scranton police incident records start here.
Scranton Police records fees are specific. An incident police report costs $25 per copy, though crime victims receive their reports at no charge. Accident reports cost $15. County records of police dispatches cost $25. These fees apply to direct records requests from the Records Unit. Formal Right-to-Know requests under 65 P.S. §§ 67.101 et seq. use the standard RTKL copy fee of $0.25 per page for documents not covered by the flat-fee schedule.
| Records Unit | Scranton Police Department Records Unit |
|---|---|
| Records Phone | 570-348-4154 |
| RTK Email | rtk@scrantonpa.gov |
| Hours | Monday–Friday, 8:30 AM–4:30 PM |
| Records Unit URL | scrantonpa.gov |
| Lackawanna County Prison | lackawannacounty.org |
Booking records from Scranton arrests include the individual's full name, date of birth, arrest date and time, charges filed under the Pennsylvania Crime Code, and the arresting officer's identifying information. Pennsylvania CHRIA, 18 Pa.C.S. § 9121 et seq., governs what portions of these criminal history records are publicly available. Active investigations and juvenile records receive additional protection.
Note: Crime victims in Scranton receive their police incident reports free of charge. All other requestors pay the standard $25 per report fee directly to the Scranton Police Records Unit.
How to Search Released Inmate Records in Scranton
The Lackawanna County Prison inmate search at lackawannacounty.org/prison-inmate-search is the primary online tool for finding Scranton residents in current county custody. Search by name to see whether an individual is held at the county prison. The roster shows current inmates and basic booking details. Released individuals are removed once they leave Lackawanna County custody.
Court records in the UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us provide a complete view of Scranton criminal cases. A name search shows all dockets in Lackawanna County Court of Common Pleas and Magisterial District Courts. Docket sheets include charges, dispositions, and sentencing data. This is the best resource for released inmate information when someone is no longer in Scranton or Lackawanna County custody.
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov covers Scranton residents sentenced to state prison. It is free and updated daily. It only shows current state inmates. Use PATCH for historical state conviction records from Scranton cases.
PA SAVIN at pavictimhelp.org provides free, automated custody change notifications. Call 1-866-972-7284. The service is available around the clock and covers Lackawanna County and state facilities. Register to receive alerts when a Scranton inmate is released, transferred, or has a custody change at the county or state level.
Lackawanna County Prison and Scranton Residents
The Lackawanna County Prison is the primary detention facility for Scranton and all of Lackawanna County. After processing through Scranton Police, defendants are transferred to county custody. The Lackawanna County Prison inmate search at lackawannacounty.org shows current inmates. Lackawanna County participates in PA SAVIN, connecting prison records to the statewide victim notification network.
When a Scranton resident is sentenced to state prison after conviction in Lackawanna County Court, they are transferred from the county prison to a PADOC facility. After transfer, they must be located using the PADOC Inmate Locator. This transition typically happens within a few weeks of sentencing for felony cases. The Lackawanna County roster will no longer show them once the transfer is complete.
For appeals from Scranton or Lackawanna County RTK denials involving law enforcement records, you may also contact the Lackawanna County District Attorney's office at 135 Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, PA 18503, (570) 963-6717. This office handles certain appeals involving law enforcement records under Pennsylvania's RTKL provisions.
Note: The Lackawanna County Prison inmate search covers current detainees only. For individuals who have already been released, the UJS Portal is the most reliable free source of historical record information.
Right-to-Know Requests in Scranton
Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law, 65 P.S. §§ 67.101-67.3104, applies to all Scranton city agencies. The RTK process for Scranton Police records goes through the Records Unit at 570-348-4154 or via email at rtk@scrantonpa.gov. The RTK request portal for the city of Scranton is at scrantonpa.gov/services/right-to-know-request/. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Under the RTKL, agencies have 5 business days to respond to a request. Extensions up to 30 days are allowed with written notice. Denials must cite a specific exemption under 65 P.S. § 67.708. Scranton incident reports cost $25 directly, but documents subject to formal RTKL requests are charged at $0.25 per page. Crime victims receive incident reports at no charge from the Scranton Police Records Unit.
If a request is denied, you may appeal to the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records within 15 business days. The OOR is at 333 Market Street, 16th Floor, Harrisburg, PA 17101. File online at openrecords.pa.gov or call 717-346-9903. For law enforcement record appeals involving Scranton, you may also contact the Lackawanna County District Attorney at (570) 963-6717 as an alternative avenue.
State Resources for Scranton Residents
The PADOC Inmate Locator at inmatelocator.cor.pa.gov is the first stop for finding Scranton residents in state prison. It is free and updated daily. The PA DOC website at cor.pa.gov provides information about state facilities, visitation, and reentry programs for state inmates from Scranton.
PATCH at epatch.state.pa.us provides statewide criminal background check results for $22. Call 1-888-783-7972 for help. Results include Lackawanna County convictions on file with the Pennsylvania State Police. The Clean Slate Act (Act 56 of 2018) may seal certain qualifying convictions. Expungement under 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 can remove eligible Scranton records from state databases.
The Pennsylvania Board of Probation and Parole at pbpp.pa.gov oversees parolees from Scranton cases released from state prison. The PA State Police at psp.pa.gov can assist with cross-agency records. The UJS Portal at ujsportal.pacourts.us gives free access to all Lackawanna County court records without a formal request.
Lackawanna County Released Inmates
Scranton is the county seat of Lackawanna County, and most Scranton inmate records flow through the county prison system. For the full Lackawanna County inmate search, prison details, and additional resources, visit the Lackawanna County released inmates page.