New Haven County Arrest Records

New Haven County arrest records are official documents and information on arrest incidents in the county. These records are generated by law enforcement agencies when an individual is taken into custody for allegedly committing a crime or conspiring to commit one. An arrest may be made pursuant to a warrant issued by a court or if the police have probable cause to make the arrest.

The various municipal police departments in Haven County are primarily responsible for making arrests and maintaining records of persons arrested and detained at the county’s jail. Nonetheless, official documents of other government bodies, such as probation records and state police records, as well as independent sites like New Haven County court records, may also contain information on arrests in New Haven County.

Are Arrest Records Public in New Haven County?

In New Haven County, arrest records are public according to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. As such, anyone who makes the appropriate requests to the record custodians may obtain arrest records. However, the law also restricts public access to certain forms or parts of arrest records, including:

• Records of ongoing investigations
• Records of juvenile arrests
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• Personal information of a victim of sexual assault
• Medical details contained in arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Per Section 1-215 of the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act, arrest records in the state, including New Haven County, may contain the following information:

• Name, race, and address of the person arrested
• The date, time, and place of the arrest
• The offense for which the person was arrested
• Arrest warrant application and supporting affidavit (for arrest with a warrant)
• Official arrest, incident, or similar report (for arrests without a warrant)

New Haven County Crime Rate

The municipalities in New Haven County are classified into three juridical districts: Ansonia-Milford, Waterbury, and New Haven judicial districts. The county’s residents generally experience more property crimes, such as larceny, burglary, and motor vehicle theft. Listed below are the crime rates per 10,000 residents of each judicial district according to the 2021 Judicial District Fact Sheets:

• Ansonia-Milford: 10.8 violent crimes and 174.8 property crimes
• Waterbury: 24.1 violent crimes and 251.4 property crimes
• New Haven: 34.1 violent crimes and 229.2 property crimes

New Haven County Arrest Statistics

According to statistics in the 2021 Judicial District Fact Sheets, municipalities in New Haven County recorded a total of 22,211 criminal arrests. A breakdown of the statistics shows that the Ansonia-Milford judicial district recorded 3,949 arrests. Similarly, the Waterbury and New Haven judicial districts recorded 6,954 and 11,308 criminal arrests, respectively.

Find New Haven County Arrest Records

Members of the public can access information about persons arrested and detained in New Haven County by searching inmate records maintained at the state and federal levels. Interested persons can find inmate records for state correctional facilities using the Connecticut Department of Corrections inmate search tool. This tool allows users to search inmates by DOC number, name, and date of birth. Similarly, the Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) maintains records of inmates in federal prisons. Anyone can access these records on the BOP Inmate Locator using the inmate’s name or registration number.

Free Arrest Record Search in New Haven County

New Haven arrest records can be accessed for free using official online tools, including the following:

• The Connecticut Department of Corrections inmate search tool
• The BOP Inmate Locator

Additionally, record seekers also have the option of finding arrest records and many other New Haven public records using third-party websites. However, because these sites are run by private companies, the information they provide may not be as accurate and comprehensive as the one obtained from official sources.

Get New Haven County Criminal Records

New Haven County criminal records are official documents detailing an individual’s past crime-related history, including information on arrests, warrants, arraignments, and convictions. Interested persons can obtain New Haven County criminal records from the State Police Bureau of Identification by mailing a completed 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

Requests must include a money order or check for the applicable fee. Furthermore, persons requesting their own fingerprinted criminal history must have completed the fingerprinting process, which involves the following steps:

• Booking an appointment online
• Visiting the provided location on the scheduled day
• Presenting a copy of the appointment booking, a $15 fingerprinting fee, and a government-issued ID

For inquiries on the fingerprinting process and applicable fees, call (860) 685-8270.

New Haven County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although arrests and criminal records may share similar information, they differ in nature and purpose. Generally, arrest records contain information specific to arrest incidents and subsequent detention, but it ends here. Criminal records, on the other hand, detail a wider range of events, including arraignment in court, the outcome of the proceedings, and post-conviction matters like probation.

Furthermore, in New Haven County, arrest records are generated by the local police department that conducted the arrest. Meanwhile, New Haven criminal records are maintained at the state level by the State Police Bureau of Identification.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Under Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a, arrest and criminal records are automatically erased if the charges have been dropped or put on hold for at least 13 months, dismissed, or if the individual has been acquitted. Where a charge leads to a conviction, the records can be automatically erased after 7 years for misdemeanors or after 10 years for Class D, Class E, or unclassified felonies and DUIs.

Persons convicted after January 1, 2000, who believe the conviction should have been automatically erased can apply for an erasure hearing by submitting a completed Criminal History Record Request Form and Hearing For Clean Slate Erasure Form via email or mail to:

DESPP
Attn: Legal Affairs
1111 Country Club Road
Middletown, CT 06457

Expunge New Haven County Arrest Records

Arrest information and other records relating to criminal activities can be expunged upon application to the State of Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles. The applicant’s criminal history is erased upon completing this process. To be eligible for this erasure, the application must have been brought at least three years after a misdemeanor case or five years after a felony. Additionally, the applicant must not be under parole or probation or have pending charges before any state or federal court.

Eligible applicants must then gather the following documents:

• Criminal History Report from State Police
• Notarized Background Investigation Authorization
• Three Reference Questionnaires (only one from a family member allowed)
• Reports of arrests resulting in conviction within the last 10 years
• Letter from Adult Probation for any period of probation supervision
• Copy of your valid driver’s license or state ID
• Proof of income

Additional documents, such as military discharge certificates, resumes, and evaluations, may be included. After gathering the necessary documents, proceed to the ePardons Portal to apply for arrest records expungement.

New Haven County Arrest Warrants

New Haven County arrest warrants are court orders directing the arrest of persons suspected of committing crimes within the county. To obtain a warrant, law enforcement applies to the court with proof of probable cause to arrest the suspect of a crime. A warrant may also be issued against a person who fails to appear in court when required or violates probation. Arrest warrants in New Haven County typically contain the following information:

• The issuing authority
• The suspect’s identity
• Conditions for release, if any
• Statement of offense charged
• Direction to law enforcement to execute the warrant

New Haven County Arrest Warrant Search

New Haven County residents can search arrest warrants through several means. One option is to use the judicial branch’s arrest warrant search. Information about arrest warrants can also be accessed by contacting the courts and local police departments. Additionally, New Haven residents may find warrant information using warrant search resources provided by bail bond agents. However, information from these tools may not be as comprehensive as that from official sources.

Do New Haven County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In New Haven County, an arrest warrant remains valid until the person named on it is arrested or the warrant is recalled by the court that issued it.