Luzerne County Warrant Records

Luzerne County warrant records are managed by the Warrants Division of the Luzerne County Sheriff's Office in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. The county sits in the northeast part of the state and has a long coal mining past. Warrant records here cover bench warrants, arrest warrants, and fugitive cases. The Warrants Division tracks all active cases and posts scam alerts on its site. You can reach the office by phone or use the anonymous tip line to share leads on wanted persons in Luzerne County.

Luzerne County Warrants Division

The Warrants Division handles all active warrant cases in Luzerne County. Deputy John Chaumpi heads the division. His team works to find and bring in wanted persons across the county. Each case is logged in the National Crime Information Center, known as NCIC. This means law enforcement in any state can see the record.

The division posts updates on its county website. You can view details on active warrants and learn how the office runs. The site also warns about phone scams where callers pose as law enforcement and ask for cash to clear warrants. The real Warrants Division will not call and ask you to pay over the phone. If you get such a call, hang up and report it to the office right away.

The Luzerne County Warrants Division is based at the county courthouse in Wilkes-Barre. Staff can help with questions about active warrants, court dates, and case status. Walk-ins are welcome during office hours. You can also call to check the status of a warrant before you visit.

The office also works with other law enforcement groups in the area. Joint task forces help track down fugitives who cross county lines. This is common in northeast Pennsylvania where counties share long borders.

How to Search Warrant Records

There are a few ways to look up warrant records in Luzerne County. The best place to start is the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System portal. This free tool lets you search court records by name or case number. It covers all 67 counties in the state, so Luzerne County cases show up here. Visit ujsportal.pacourts.us to start a search.

You can also call the Warrants Division tip line at 888-796-5519. This line is set up for people who want to share info on a wanted person. Tips can be left without giving your name. The division reviews all tips and follows up on each one.

Note: Always confirm warrant details with the Luzerne County Warrants Division before you act on any search results. Online data may not reflect the most current case status.

Luzerne County Warrant Types

Courts in Luzerne County issue several kinds of warrants. Each type serves a different role in the justice system. The most common ones you will find in warrant records are bench warrants and arrest warrants. Both are tracked by the Warrants Division and entered into NCIC.

Bench warrants come from a judge when a person fails to show up for court. They can also be issued for not paying fines or not meeting the terms of probation. An arrest warrant is issued when a judge finds probable cause that a crime took place. Search warrants let law enforcement look through a home, car, or other place for proof of a crime. These are kept in a separate file and are not always public right away.

• Bench warrants for missed court dates
• Arrest warrants based on probable cause
• Fugitive warrants for out-of-state charges
• Search warrants for specific locations

Warrants in Pennsylvania do not expire. Once a judge signs one, it stays active until the person is found or the court pulls it back. This means old warrants can still show up in records years later. The NCIC entry stays in place as long as the warrant is open in Luzerne County.

NCIC Entries for Wanted Persons

All wanted persons in Luzerne County are entered into the National Crime Information Center. NCIC is a database run by the FBI. It lets police across the country check for active warrants during traffic stops, arrests, and background checks. This means a Luzerne County warrant can lead to an arrest in any state.

The Warrants Division makes sure each new case goes into NCIC fast. This gives local and federal agents the data they need. If a person is picked up in another state on a Luzerne County warrant, the division works to bring them back for court.

Note: NCIC data is for law enforcement use. The public cannot search NCIC on its own. To check for active warrants, use the UJS Portal or call the Warrants Division in Luzerne County.

Luzerne County Public Record Access

Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law gives the public broad access to government records. This includes many types of warrant records. You can file a request with the Luzerne County open records officer to get copies of documents tied to warrant cases. The law sets a five-day window for the county to respond.

Some warrant records may be sealed or redacted. Active search warrants, for example, are often kept from public view until they are served. Juvenile records are also protected. But most adult bench warrants and arrest warrants are part of the public court file. You can request these through the Pennsylvania Office of Open Records if the county does not respond in time.

The Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History system, known as PATCH, also provides background check data. Visit epatch.pa.gov to run a check. This will show convictions but may not list all pending warrants. For the most complete picture, combine a PATCH search with a UJS Portal search and a call to the Warrants Division.

Warrant Scam Alerts

Luzerne County has posted warnings about phone scams on its website. Callers pretend to be from the Sheriff's Office. They tell people there is a warrant for their arrest. Then they ask for gift cards or wire transfers to clear the warrant. This is a scam.

The real Warrants Division does not call and ask for cash. They do not ask for gift cards. If someone calls you and claims you have a warrant, do not send money. Call the Warrants Division at the courthouse to check. You can also call the tip line at 888-796-5519 to report the scam.

Pennsylvania Warrant Court Rules

Warrants in Pennsylvania are governed by the Rules of Criminal Procedure. Rule 513 covers the process for issuing an arrest warrant. A police officer or private citizen must file a complaint. A judge or issuing authority then decides if there is probable cause. If so, the warrant is signed and sent to law enforcement.

Rule 150 covers bench warrants. These are issued when a person fails to appear for a court date or violates a court order. The judge can issue the warrant from the bench at the time of the missed hearing. Once issued, the warrant is logged in the court system and sent to the Warrants Division for service in Luzerne County.

Both types of warrants create records that are stored at the courthouse. You can find case details through the UJS Portal or by visiting the Clerk of Courts in Wilkes-Barre. These records show the charges, the date the warrant was issued, and the current status of the case.

Nearby Counties

Luzerne County shares borders with several other counties in northeast Pennsylvania. If you are not sure which county holds the warrant record you need, check the address tied to the case. Courts have jurisdiction based on where the alleged crime took place.

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