Middlesex County Arrest Records

Arrests in Middlesex County, Connecticut, can be made by a law enforcement agent or, in rare cases, a citizen. Arrests can be made based on an existing complaint or following a warrant issued for the apprehension of an individual. Arrests may also be made based on an immediate reasonable suspicion per Connecticut General Statutes Sec. 54-1f(a), which gives a law enforcement officer in charge of their precinct the authority to detain anyone for any offense within their jurisdiction without first obtaining a complaint or warrant when the person is apprehended a criminal act or upon prompt information from other persons.

Following an arrest, the individual is taken to the police station to have thier fingerprints taken. The person's data is then entered into an arrest file in paper and digital formats. This file includes data such as the following:

• The name of the accused, or if his identity is unknown, a name or description that allows for a reasonable assurance of identification; the terms of any release, if any;
• A description of the alleged offense

A bond is set depending on the gravity of the offense committed by the suspect if they were apprehended using a warrant per CGS § 54-2a(b), which mandates that a judge specify terms of release or the exclusion of the accused from posting bail when issuing a bench warrant for arresting an individual charged with a crime carrying a death or life sentence. The judge or court may decide to impose conditions on the person's release if they are charged with additional crimes.

In Middlesex County, every person arrested has an arrest record, whether or not they were charged with a crime. However, arrest records do not reflect one's criminal past. Charges or convictions do not result from many arrests, so a person could be found not guilty even with an arrest record.

Middlesex County Arrest Records are produced by arresting agencies, either police departments or the county sheriff's office. They are held by members of law enforcement and may also be featured within Middlesex County Court Records, depending on the circumstances surrounding the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Middlesex County?

According to Connecticut's Public Records Law, arrest records are considered public documents. They are kept on file by the State Police Bureau of Identification and are considered public records. However, the Freedom of Information Commission's Section 1-215 restricts some types of arrest records from being made public. These include:

• Arrest records of juveniles
• Any arrest record erased pursuant to chapter 961a of the Connecticut General Assembly laws.
• Any arrest record included in a law enforcement agency's investigative file as a result of the investigation into a crime that resulted in an arrest.
• Any report or arrest record that contains a victim of sexual assault's name, address, or other identifying information.
• Any data a court orders to be made confidential is to be kept secret and unavailable to the general public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

According to Section 1-215 of the Freedom of Information Commission, a "record of arrest" typically includes the following details:

• The arrestee's name;
• Their physical description;
• The arrested person's address;
• Place of the detained person's incarceration;
• If the arrest was made using a warrant, the arrest warrant application and any supporting documentation;
• The incident or arrest report;
• The individual's race and personal description;
• The crime for which the individual was arrested
• The name of the arresting officer
• Court dates

Middlesex County Crime Rate

The latest data collected from the Connecticut Department of Criminal Justice fact sheet and the FBI Uniform Crime Report shows that Middlesex County has the lowest crime rate in Connecticut. Out of the 13 judicial districts in the state, the District had one of the lowest violent crime rates. In 2018, there were 5.5 violent offenses for every 10,000 inhabitants.

In 2020, 10738 crimes were reported in Middlesex County, Of this number, 2478 were due to drug abuse violations, and 1894 reported crimes were for simple assault. The least committed crimes were murder and rape, with only one each reported in the year 2020.

Find Middlesex County Arrest Records

The primary access point for Middlesex County arrest records is the police department or sheriff's office, depending on the agency that made the arrest. However, police departments in Middlesex County might not possess a comprehensive arrest record for individuals. There are 14 police departments in the Middlesex County area responsible for maintaining law and order within their respective jurisdictions. Each department allows individuals to request arrest records from thier records department either by mail, in person, or through telephone. For example, individuals can obtain arrest records from the middle town police department by searching for the records online using the person's name on the record and the date of the arrest. Inquirers may similarly visit the Essex County police department to request arrest records. For in-person requests, the staff at the office will require that individuals provide certain information about the arrest record of interest to initiate a search:

• The person's full name
• The date of the incident
• A personal description of the arrestee

The state police records unit of the state police bureau of identification can provide a more comprehensive statewide arrest record for any citizen in Middlesex County. Requests for arrest records can be made as part of a criminal history check. A request can be made at any Bureau of Identification location in Connecticut or through any police department in the state.

If an individual is charged and has made a court appearance, their arrest record may be made available to the court as part of their legal proceedings. Interested individuals may contact the Middlesex court clerk where the individual is being tried to request a person's arrest record. For federal arrest records, The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) will retain arrest data as part of a person's case file on the PACER system. Federal court documents can be found in the Public Access to Court Electronic Documents (PACER) database. Searching and viewing documents costs money, but some records can be viewed for free.

Free Arrest Record Search in Middlesex County

Free arrest record searches may be performed at any law enforcement office within Middlesex County. Inquirers may visit any police department and request a free arrest record search or search police department arrest logs either in person or online to find arrest records. However, to obtain any official certified arrest record, the requestor must pay a small fee and make copies of these records.

Any arrest record that has led to a criminal conviction can also be viewed in court dockets from any Middlesex County court. The documents can be searched from the dockets using the individual's name on the arrest record.

Searching a third-party public records database is another option for finding Middlesex County arrest records. A few of these sites provide access to arrest records for free; however, the free versions usually only contain limited information.

Get Middlesex County Criminal Records

A Middlesex County criminal record is a summary of arrests and convictions, sometimes referred to as a "rap" sheet or summary criminal history. The history includes all of a person's criminal convictions, together with the charges, the date of the conviction, the punishment, and the classification of the offense as a felony or misdemeanor.

Individuals can request Middlesex County criminal records from the state Bureau of Identification. The department allows requests based on name, date of birth, or fingerprint card submission. Requests for fingerprint submissions are only accepted in person and by appointment. Interested Persons will have to contact the department and make an appointment. After creating an appointment, requesters will be expected to bring the following to the office:

• A page confirming the appointment from the fingerprint-based appointment scheduling
• Authentic photo ID from the government. (Passport, ID card from Connecticut, or driver's license)
• Fingerprinting fees and other associated fees

The Fingerprinting Fee is $15, and the State Criminal History Check costs $75.The Bureau also offers a Federal Criminal History Check that costs $13.25.All fees must be paid separately by cash, money order, or check. All results will be sent to requestors via email or USPS. A name-based search can be done by completing the department criminal records request form and mailing it to the following address.

Department of Emergency Services and Public Protection
State Police Bureau of Identification
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, CT 06457
(860) 685-8480

Middlesex County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record is a list of the offenses for which an individual was contacted by law enforcement and then placed under arrest; the person would then be transported to the relevant police department, fingerprinted, and charged. Most arrest records only include the fact that the applicant was placed under arrest and not the case's outcome. A Middlesex County arrest record typically comes with the arrest report, which shows the cause of the arrest, the place and time of the arrest, and a general account of the arrest procedure from the arresting officer's point of view.

A criminal record contains complete information about a person's interactions with law enforcement and the entire criminal justice system. It shows a person's arrest, convictions, court appearances, criminal charges, time spent incarcerated, and any other information relating to a person's history with the criminal justice system. The major difference between an arrest record and a criminal record is that unlike an arrest record, which only reveals information about a person's detention, a criminal record shows whether an arrest led to a conviction.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever! Arrest records stay on a person's record indefinitely, especially when the arrest leads to a conviction. In general, arrest records that do not lead to prosecution are sealed after 13 months, after which an individual can apply to have the records expunged if they are eligible. Arrest records that are part of a criminal record may be erased when:

• The criminal case is dropped or withdrawn,
• The defendant is found not guilty.
• The crime for which the defendant was found guilty is later decriminalized.

Connecticut also provides for the automatic erasure of arrest records for specific categories of misdemeanors with a prison sentence of less than one year and specific Class D, E, or unclassified felonies with a prison sentence of less than five years.

Expunge Middlesex County Arrest Records

Record holders in Middlesex County who satisfy the state’s eligibility requirements may erase these records in a process known as expungement. Alternatively, they can have them removed from public view in a process known as sealing.

Expunction, sometimes referred to as an "absolute pardon," is a legal option in Connecticut that erases a person's criminal past. Upon receiving an unconditional pardon, the state destroys all police and court records related to a case. The information cannot be shared with anybody. A person is qualified to have their arrest records expunged if the arrest was for misdemeanors and meets the following criteria:

• Their was dropped after they were found not guilty;
• At least 13 months have passed since the accusations against someone were abandoned or "nulled";
• No prosecution or other resolution of the situation has occurred since the case was placed on hold at least 13 months ago.

For misdemeanor or felony convictions, a person may be eligible for expungement, also known as an absolute pardon, if:

• They are not on parole or probation;
• They have no pending charges or open cases against them in any other state or federal jurisdiction;
• At least three years have passed since the disposition of the most recent misdemeanor conviction, and at least five years have passed since the disposition of the most recent felony conviction.

Individuals can apply to have their arrest records expunged by following these steps:

• Affected persons should first check if they are eligible to have their records expunged.
• Obtain all necessary documents required to make the expungement application:
• Police report(s) for each arrest that took place within the previous ten (10) years and was followed by a conviction
• A Report on Criminal History of the State Police (Rap Sheet)
• A copy of the individual's official state ID or driver's license
• Individuals can upload the completed documents online through the State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles e-pardons portal or mail the documentation to the same office.

The staff will examine each application to see if the applicant will be put through a conventional pre-screen or expedited review without a hearing. If the convicted party committed non-violent crimes without involving victims of interest, they might qualify for an expedited review. If they are eligible for an expedited review, they will receive a complete pardon without being present. The Board may decide to submit an application to a full panel hearing, award an unconditional pardon, or reject an application during an expedited review.

Middlesex County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Middlesex County is a court order issued by a legal authority that gives police enforcement the right to detain someone for the offense listed on the warrant. Arrest warrants are also known as an "order to incarcerate" in Connecticut.

A warrant for an individual's arrest is issued when a Middlesex County Court determines that the police's application for a warrant demonstrates probable cause for the arrest. The police may investigate for weeks or even months before asking the court for an arrest warrant, depending on how serious or complicated the allegations appear. The court may authorize and issue the actual arrest warrant within a few weeks or even a few days after the police file an application for one to the court, depending on the situation.

A Middlesex County arrest warrant must include the following information:

• The full name of the individual
• The subject's date of birth
• Last known address
• The date the warrant was issued
• Docket Number

Middlesex County Arrest Warrant Search

A Middlesex County arrest warrant search can be done at the sheriff's or police department in any city in Middlesex County. Interested persons may visit any of the law enforcement agencies to request a search. The office will provide information on all active warrants issued in Middlesex counties.

An alternative option for performing a Middlesex County arrest warrant search is to use the state of Connecticut arrest warrant search portal. This portal can be used remotely to look up any active arrest warrants in Middlesex County and any other county in Connecticut. Individuals can search for information on this portal using a person's name or date of birth.

Do Middlesex County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Middlesex County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active forever unless they are fulfilled when the suspect is apprehended or when the suspect dies. Arrest warrants may also be recalled and deactivated in light of new evidence that exonerates the suspect.