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Connecticut Arrest Records

Connecticut arrest records are formal reports of arrests or incidents where law enforcement agencies took an individual into custody in the state. Law enforcement agencies in the state create arrest records upon making an arrest and these records are updated with future arrests. The creation, retention, and public disclosure of arrest reports in the state are governed by the state's Open Record Law and the Connecticut Criminal Procedure (Connecticut General Statutes Title 54).

Arrest records offer vital insights into an individual's history of arrests, detentions, and police investigations related to criminal activities. However, these records are not definitive proof of guilt. Arrest records provide specific details about the circumstances of each arrest, revealing the who, how, when, and why.

A typical Connecticut arrest record includes essential information like:

  • The individual's name
  • Age and birth date
  • Mugshots
  • Arrest date and location
  • Filed charges.
  • Outcome of the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Connecticut?

Yes. Arrest records are public in Connecticut. The Connecticut Freedom of Information Act empowers the public to access arrest records. Under this act, any interested party can request these records from the police or the local sheriff's office. However, under the Act, certain arrest information may be redacted or withheld from public disclosure (Section 1.210).

Records that are typically restricted from public access include:

  • Juvenile arrest information
  • Arrest records revealing witness identities
  • Personal information of victims in cases like sexual assault, voyeurism, injury, risk of injury, impairing of morals, or family violence.
  • Arrest records that could jeopardize pending prosecutions or law enforcement actions
  • Arrest records sealed by a court from public disclosure
  • Personal possessions or effects found on an arrested person, unless relevant to the crime.

How Do I Look Up Arrest Records in Connecticut?

Interested parties can direct requests for arrest records in Connecticut to the record custodians described below.

Local Law Enforcement Agencies

To obtain arrest records, individuals can direct their requests to the local sheriff’s office or police department responsible for the arrest. These agencies typically maintain online portals the public may access, e.g., the Hartford Police Department’s daily arrest log, the Middletown Police Department's arrest log, and the Bridgeport Police Department’s monthly arrest log.

Alternatively, requesters can either visit the physical location of the arresting agency for in-person requests or use the agency's website to download a special request form. After completing the form with the required information, submissions can be made online, by mail, or by fax. For example, those seeking the New Haven County police department’s arrest records may fill out the request form online, mail a completed form, or make an in-person visit to the police department.

Note: Looking up an arrest record is generally free, but obtaining copies usually incurs a fee, which may vary by agency.

The Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification (SPBI)

Individuals may obtain statewide arrest records by requesting a criminal history record from the State Police Bureau of Identification. To initiate the lookup process, a requester must print, complete, and mail the criminal history record request form to:

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection

State Police Bureau of Identification

1111 Country Club Road

Middletown, CT 06457

Phone: (860) 685-8480.

When making a request, individuals can choose from three search options: a $36 name or date of birth search that verifies the existence of a criminal record but does not provide a copy; a $75 name or date of birth search that includes a copy if a record exists; a $75 fingerprint search that also provides a copy if there is a criminal record.

The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

Individuals seeking nationwide arrest records can submit a written request to the FBI's Criminal Justice Information Services Division, paying a standard fee of $18 for a national search. However, the FBI restricts access to arrest records, releasing them only to the subjects of the records.

Alternatively, requesters may reach out to the court with jurisdiction over a criminal case to request an arrest record, if available. However, access may be restricted to the defendant or authorized parties.

Free Arrest Record Search in Connecticut

Individuals interested in conducting free arrest record searches in Connecticut can do so by using the online arrest data portals available on certain official websites of local police departments or sheriff’s offices. Arrest record searches on these portals, where available, are free and only require individuals to supply the first and last name of the arrestee or, in some cases, the booking ID/number to lookup a record. Alternatively, requesters can visit the local police department or sheriff’s office responsible for the arrest in person to verbally request to lookup their arrest log.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Connecticut?

In Connecticut, arrests generally remain on a person's record indefinitely unless expunged or sealed. Connecticut laws do not specify a retention period for arrest records in the state. Therefore, how long an arrest stays on an individual's record may depend on factors such as the offense, the legal action taken to seal or expunge the record, the applicable expungement law, and internal agency policies.

How to Seal Arrest Record in Connecticut

When an arrest record is sealed, it means that the record and all the information it contains are officially closed to the public. Connecticut lacks specific laws for sealing records. Instead, it has a special expungement law that makes arrest and criminal offense records public unless erased or expunged. However, juvenile arrest records and records related to victims of sexual offenses are automatically restricted from public disclosure.

Expunging an arrest or criminal record, referred to as "erasure," is a process that involves obtaining an absolute pardon from the Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. Applicants can request a form for an expungement pardon from the Board, and if granted, the previous convictions, including felonies, misdemeanors, violations, and arrests, are erased.

Once the request is approved, applicants submit the petition to the superior court where the conviction occurred or the court in the region where conviction records are stored. If accepted, the court erases the individual's entire criminal history.

Automatic erasure can also occur in specific cases, including when the defendant is found not guilty, the case is dismissed, the prosecution ceases within 13 months for lack of probable cause (nolle prosequi), or there is no further action within 13 months for cases on hold. However, this automatic erasure only applies to the specific case addressed and does not erase the accused's entire criminal history.

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