Bethlehem 24 Hour Booking Records
Bethlehem 24 hour booking records come from the Bethlehem Police Department and the Northampton County court system. Bethlehem sits in both Northampton and Lehigh Counties and is home to about 76,000 people. The city's police force has 154 sworn members who handle arrests and booking across the Lehigh Valley. If you need to find a 24 hour booking record in Bethlehem, you can start with the police records bureau or search through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. This page walks through each step so you know where to look and what to bring when you search for Bethlehem booking records.
Bethlehem Quick Facts
Bethlehem Police Booking Records
The Bethlehem Police Department keeps all booking records at its main office at 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018. The Records Bureau is the first point of contact for anyone who needs a copy of a 24 hour booking record in Bethlehem. You can reach the Records Bureau by phone at 610-865-7175 or by email at jcasella@bethlehem-pa.gov. Staff there handle requests for arrest reports, incident files, and other police documents tied to booking in Bethlehem.
Bethlehem's police force serves a daily population that can reach 100,000 people. That number includes visitors to Wind Creek Casino, the mall complex, ArtsQuest and Steel Stacks events, two local universities, and several industrial parks. Each arrest in Bethlehem goes through a booking process that creates a record. The department has a Patrol Division, Criminal Investigation Division, and Forensic Services Unit. All of these units may produce records tied to a 24 hour booking case in Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem Police Department earned CALEA accreditation. This means the agency meets national standards for law enforcement. It also means their booking and records systems follow strict protocols for accuracy and public access.
Bethlehem Booking Record Fees
Bethlehem charges set fees for copies of police records. As approved by City Council Resolution No. 2014-263, the Bethlehem Police Department Records Fees page lists the current rates. A criminal history background check costs $15.00. Fingerprint requests also cost $15.00. Vehicle accident reports are $15.00 each. All other records and documents kept by the city cost $0.25 per page.
The Bethlehem Police Department records fees page provides a full breakdown of costs for 24 hour booking record copies and related documents in Bethlehem.
Fees may change over time. Call the Bethlehem Police Records Bureau at 610-865-7175 to confirm costs before you visit. Cash or check is the most common form of payment for booking record copies in Bethlehem.
Note: List of Calls reports cost $1.00 per page at the Bethlehem Police Department.
How to Get Bethlehem 24 Hour Booking Info
You can request 24 hour booking records in Bethlehem by visiting the police department in person or by mail. The main phone line is (610) 865-7150. The fax number is (610) 865-2462. In-person visits let you get copies right away. Mail requests take longer but work if you cannot travel to Bethlehem.
The Bethlehem Police Department Contact page has the full directory for each division. The Patrol Division can be reached through Captain Benjamin Hackett at 610-865-7158. The department also runs a substation at Lehigh University at 324 S. New Street, which can be reached at 610-419-9136. If the booking took place near campus, the substation may have the records you need for Bethlehem.
Bring a valid photo ID when you visit. Staff will look up the booking record by name or case number. You can also ask for copies of any related arrest or incident documents from the Bethlehem police files.
Northampton County Booking Court Records
Criminal cases from Bethlehem move through the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. The Northampton County Court portal provides access to case dockets, court orders, and hearing dates. The Constitution of Pennsylvania sets up the Common Pleas Court as the trial court of general jurisdiction. Criminal prosecutions in Northampton County range from homicides to misdemeanors at the common pleas level. All of these create records that connect to 24 hour booking data from Bethlehem arrests.
The Magisterial District Courts in the Third Judicial District hear an average of 70,000 cases each year. These courts conduct preliminary hearings in criminal matters, decide summary criminal cases, hear emergency protection from abuse applications, issue search and arrest warrants, and set bail. Many Bethlehem booking cases start in these lower courts before moving to the Court of Common Pleas. The Public Access Policy, effective January 8, 2018, governs how you can view case records of the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. Public Records Forms are available on the PA Courts website.
Note: Northampton County criminal records cost $10 for official requests through the Clerk of Courts.
Search Bethlehem Booking Records Online
The fastest way to look up 24 hour booking records tied to Bethlehem is through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System Portal. This free tool covers all 67 counties in Pennsylvania. You can search by name, case number, or offense tracking number. The portal shows docket sheets for Common Pleas courts and Magisterial District Courts across the state, including Northampton County cases from Bethlehem.
You can also use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH. This costs $22 per check. PATCH provides a statewide criminal history report. It is different from a single booking record lookup. For Bethlehem booking records specifically, the UJS Portal is the better starting point since it shows case-level details.
Northampton County court records are public under the Pennsylvania Right to Know Law. The Clerk of Courts accepts both oral and written record requests. You can visit in person, call, or email. The Northampton County criminal case lookup is available through the Clerk of Courts office. PATCH costs $22 plus an additional $5 for notarization if you need a certified copy.
Bethlehem Right to Know Requests
Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law gives all U.S. citizens the right to request public records. This applies to Bethlehem booking records held by the city or by state agencies. You can submit a Right to Know request through the Pennsylvania State Police RTK portal for state-level records. For Bethlehem city records, contact the police department directly.
The PSP Bureau of Records and Identification handles statewide RTK requests at 1800 Elmerton Avenue, Harrisburg, PA 17110. You can fax requests to 717-525-5795. In-person requests are accepted Monday through Friday from 8:15 a.m. to 4:15 p.m. The PSP Right-to-Know Law Office phone number is 1-877-785-7771.
Some records tied to Bethlehem 24 hour booking cases may be exempt. Investigative reports are generally not available under the RTK Law. Juvenile records are sealed. Victim information is removed from public records. Expunged records are also not part of any public search. These rules apply across all of Pennsylvania, including Bethlehem.
Bethlehem Arrest and Booking Data
Arrest records from Bethlehem are accessible for free on government search sites tied to Northampton County court records. Court records contain case dockets, pleadings, motions and responses, court orders and judgments, hearing and trial transcripts, evidence and exhibits, and sentencing information. All of this builds on the 24 hour booking record created at the time of arrest in Bethlehem.
Arrest records may be permanent. It depends on the offense and whether there was a conviction. Expungement is available for cases that were dismissed, never taken to court, or ended with a not guilty verdict. If you need to check the status of a Bethlehem booking record, the Northampton County Clerk of Courts is the right office to call. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections also hosts an online database for all current state inmates and parolees, though this only covers people in state prisons, not the Northampton County jail.
Northampton County Booking Records
Bethlehem is in Northampton County, and all criminal cases from the city go through the Northampton County Court of Common Pleas. The county court handles bookings, preliminary hearings, bail, and trial proceedings for Bethlehem residents. For more on the county court system, records access, and related resources, visit the Northampton County 24 hour booking records page.
Nearby Pennsylvania Cities
Residents of nearby cities can search for 24 hour booking records at their own local police department or county courthouse. Pick a city below to learn about booking records in that area.