Department Of Justice in Pennsylvania

Pennsylvania does not run a single cabinet-level agency called the Department of Justice. Legal and law enforcement work is split between an elected Attorney General, 67 county district attorneys, the Pennsylvania State Police, and federal prosecutors. This page covers seven offices in Pennsylvania cities, from Philadelphia to Sharon, that appear in our directory under the Department of Justice name. Use it to find the closest one and to understand who actually handles what.

How Justice Services Are Divided Across Pennsylvania

The state-level body is the Office of Attorney General, headquartered in Harrisburg. Pennsylvanians have elected the Attorney General directly since 1980, when the Commonwealth Attorneys Act took effect. Before that, the governor appointed the office holder. The Attorney General serves a four-year term and may serve two terms.

That office prosecutes statewide crimes such as large-scale drug trafficking, public corruption, and Medicaid fraud. It also runs a Bureau of Consumer Protection that takes complaints about scams, deceptive sales, and unfair business practices. Most ordinary crimes, however, are not handled there.

Day-to-day prosecution belongs to each county's elected district attorney. A shoplifting charge in Williamsport goes through the Lycoming County District Attorney. An assault case in Pittsburgh goes through the Allegheny County District Attorney. Philadelphia is unusual because the city and county share the same boundaries, so one District Attorney's Office covers the whole city.

A third layer is federal. The United States Department of Justice works in Pennsylvania through three U.S. Attorney's Offices, one for each federal judicial district:

• Eastern District: based in Philadelphia, covering the southeast and Lehigh Valley.
• Middle District: covering the center and northeast, with offices that include Harrisburg and Williamsport.
• Western District: based in Pittsburgh, covering the west and much of the Allegheny Mountains region.

Knowing these three layers saves time. A local theft, a state consumer scam, and a federal fraud case each have a different front door.

Seven Pennsylvania Justice Offices in Our Directory

Our database holds ten listings across seven cities. Seven of them carry full street addresses and phone numbers. Here they are, from east to west:

• Philadelphia Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 200 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Philadelphia County. Phone 215-597-2344.
• Allentown Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 504 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Lehigh County. Phone 610-770-0940.
• Harrisburg Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 228 Walnut Street, Harrisburg, Dauphin County. Phone 717-221-4515.
• Williamsport Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 240 West 3rd Street, Williamsport, Lycoming County. Phone 570-323-3791.
• Johnstown Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 319 Washington Street, Johnstown, Cambria County. Phone 814-532-4600.
• Pittsburgh Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 1000 Liberty Avenue, Pittsburgh, Allegheny County. Phone 412-395-4502.
• Sharon Pennsylvania Department of Justice, 300 West State Street, Sharon, Mercer County. Phone 724-983-5135.

Philadelphia has four listings in total, more than any other city. If you live there, browse the Philadelphia County page to compare them. For the Lehigh Valley, see Lehigh County. For the capital region, see Dauphin County.

Names in a directory can be broader than the services behind them. Before you travel, phone the number shown and ask what the office handles. Some offices are legal or advocacy offices rather than prosecutors, and staff can redirect you in one short call.

Philadelphia and Pittsburgh Compared With Smaller Pennsylvania Cities

Where you live changes how easy it is to reach help. Pennsylvania has two very large metro areas and many mid-sized or small cities, and the gap shows up in office hours, staffing, and travel.

Philadelphia and Allegheny County

The Chestnut Street office in Philadelphia sits in Center City, close to SEPTA transit lines. Most visitors arrive by train, bus, or subway rather than by car. Parking downtown is expensive and limited, so plan around public transit when you can.

Pittsburgh's Liberty Avenue address is in the Downtown Golden Triangle. Allegheny County is the second-largest county in the state, and its services are concentrated in the city. If you live in a suburb, expect a drive or a bus ride. Visit the Allegheny County page to see what else is listed nearby.

Mid-sized cities

Allentown, Harrisburg, and Williamsport serve large surrounding areas. Harrisburg is the seat of state government, so statewide agencies are close at hand. Allentown anchors the Lehigh Valley, where residents of nearby boroughs often travel in for legal matters. Williamsport serves north-central Pennsylvania, where the next large city can be an hour or more away.

Smaller western cities

Johnstown and Sharon serve rural and former industrial communities. In Cambria County and Mercer County, public transit is limited. Winter weather on mountain roads can also delay a trip. Call ahead, confirm that someone is available, and ask whether a phone appointment is possible.

If you live in Lycoming County or another rural area without a listed office, start with your county courthouse. The district attorney and the clerk of courts can tell you which agency applies to your situation.

Preparing for Your Visit to a Pennsylvania Justice Office

A little preparation prevents second trips. Most offices work on weekdays during business hours, and many close for state and federal holidays. Confirm hours by phone, since our directory does not guarantee them.

Bring the following, whatever the reason for your visit:

• A government-issued photo ID, such as a Pennsylvania driver's license or a passport.
• Any court papers, notices, or letters you received, including the docket or case number.
• Names, dates, and addresses connected to your matter, written down in order.
• Copies of receipts, contracts, messages, or photographs that support your account.

Keep originals at home and hand over copies. Staff may not be allowed to return documents on the spot.

Know what a justice office cannot do. Government attorneys represent the public or the agency, not you personally. They cannot give private legal advice on your own dispute. If you need a lawyer, county bar associations across Pennsylvania run lawyer referral services. Court systems and legal aid organizations also help people with low incomes.

If you are in immediate danger, do not travel to an office. Call 911. For non-emergency crimes, contact your local police department or the Pennsylvania State Police barracks that covers your area. For consumer problems like a contractor who took a deposit and vanished, a written complaint to the Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection creates an official record, and that record can matter later.

Finally, write down the name of each person you speak with, along with the date and what they told you. Government processes can take weeks, and a simple log makes follow-up calls faster and clearer.

Department of Justice resources in Pennsylvania include U.S. Attorney's Office district operations, FBI field offices, and the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office, which enforces state law and consumer protection statutes at the state level while coordinating with federal DOJ components on major investigations.

Department Of Justice locations are available in 7 cities across Pennsylvania. They are spread across 7 counties.

Cities with the highest concentration include Philadelphia, Harrisburg, Sharon, reflecting federal district headquarters and major cities where DOJ field offices, U.S. Attorneys, and federal law enforcement units are based.

Residents of Pennsylvania who need to engage with the DOJ should identify the correct agency division for their matter — whether it involves civil rights, a federal crime, antitrust, or a FOIA request — before contacting the appropriate office.

Residents of Pennsylvania who need to file a civil rights complaint, report federal fraud, or access victim assistance programs should visit justice.gov to identify the appropriate DOJ division or contact the U.S. Attorney's Office for the federal district covering their area.

Browse Department Of Justice by county across Pennsylvania to find the nearest location.

Pennsylvania Details Worth Knowing Before You Call

Several Pennsylvania rules affect how you use any justice office, and they are easy to overlook. The first is the court structure. Cases usually begin in a magisterial district court for minor matters, including traffic cases, small claims, and preliminary hearings. Serious criminal and civil cases move to the Court of Common Pleas in the county. Appeals go to the Superior Court or the Commonwealth Court, and the Supreme Court of Pennsylvania sits at the top.

The second is public records. Pennsylvania's Right-to-Know Law lets any person request records from state and local agencies. Requests go to the agency's open-records officer, and the Office of Open Records hears appeals when a request is denied. Some criminal investigative records are exempt, so expect partial answers in active cases.

The third is victim services. The Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency runs the Victims Compensation Assistance Program, which can reimburse certain costs for victims of violent crime. County district attorneys also employ victim and witness advocates. If you are involved in a case in Philadelphia, Allentown, or Harrisburg, ask for the advocate when you call the office.

The fourth is geography. Federal matters follow district lines, not city limits. A resident of Allentown deals with the Eastern District. A resident of Harrisburg or Williamsport falls in the Middle District. A resident of Pittsburgh, Johnstown, or Sharon falls in the Western District. Knowing this helps you reach the correct federal prosecutor.

Finally, remember that listings change. Phone numbers, suite numbers, and public hours shift over time. If a call goes unanswered, try another weekday morning, and check the county page for neighboring offices.

Frequently Asked Questions About Justice Offices in Pennsylvania