Androscoggin County Arrest Records

In Androscoggin County, individuals suspected of violating the law are briefly detained for questioning. If there is enough evidence to ascertain probable cause, the process culminates in an arrest. The County Sheriff’s office is the primary law enforcement agency in the County.

During the arrest process, basic details about the individual are captured, the suspect’s police statement is recorded, and fingerprints are taken. This process is known as booking. Thus, the process ends in creating an arrest record for first-time offenders. For repeated offenders, the information is placed in a file of previous arrests. After being booked, individuals may be held in custody until arraignment or released on bail for less severe charges.

Arrest records are essential in the criminal justice system of Androscoggin County. They are official records of an individual’s criminal history used in criminal and civil proceedings. Members of the public and interested parties can stay abreast of law enforcement actions to ensure the County's security and enforce the law. According to the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA), they must provide the public access to Androscoggin County Court Records upon request.

Are Arrest Records Public in Androscoggin County?

Yes. The Maine Freedom of Access Act states that arrest records are public records. These records are accessible by interested persons who can search, view, or even request copies. According to the state’s Criminal History Record Information Act, arrest records are deemed part of criminal history records, and by law, they must be made public.

Under this legislation, a wide range of information relating to an individual’s formal interaction with the criminal justice system is considered public information. This includes information concerning a person’s status as an accused or convicted offender, including arrests, charges made, and sentences served.

The Act also includes provisions for specific kinds of records that must be partially or fully non-disclosure on privacy or security grounds. Some arrest records might be restricted with legal permission that can only be obtained through a court order. Some examples of arrest records that are confidential include:

• Juvenile arrest records per §3308-C of the Maine Juvenile Code
• Arrest records that constitute a portion of an ongoing criminal investigation
• Arrest records included in a case in which the individual was acquitted

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following specific information is included in an Androscoggin County arrest record:

• The details of the arrested individual, such as name, birth year, place of residence, and, if applicable, employment;
• A physical description of the detained individual, such as their height, weight, sex, and visible tattoos.
• The legal description of the offense or offenses for which someone was placed under arrest, together with the time and place of the alleged offense
• the arrest's date, time, and location
• The arrest's circumstances, such as any applicable use of physical force, resistance to the arrest, the presence of any weapon
• Information on any warrant of arrest

Although the FOAA permits citizens to access public records, some may remain undisclosed due to privacy and confidentiality regulations.

Androscoggin County Crime Rate

The FBI's 2019 report for Androscoggin County documented 114 total offenses, marking a 5.78% decrease from the 121 offenses recorded in 2018. The breakdown of these offenses shows that property Crimes totaled 100, consisting of 69 larceny thefts, 25 burglaries, and six motor vehicle thefts. Violent Crimes accounted for 13 offenses, including seven aggravated assaults, five rapes, and one robbery. Additionally, there was one reported case of arson.

Androscoggin County Arrest Statistics

Androscoggin County, with a population of approximately 107,000, experiences an annual arrest rate of about 298.13 per 100,000 residents. Law enforcement agencies in the county conduct roughly 3,200 arrests and detentions each year. The county's detention facilities house an average of 160 individuals daily.

Find Androscoggin County Arrest Records

In Androscoggin County, the criminal justice system involves a synergy among multiple law enforcement agencies. Any member of the public curious about information on recent arrests should contact the County Sheriff’s department. Requests directed to the Sheriff’s Department should describe the desired records and specify relevant names, dates, and incident descriptions.

Requestors should also note that the Sheriff's Department may require parties to pay fees for access. Requests for Androscoggin County arrest records or police reports should be submitted at the following address:

Androscoggin County Sheriff's Department
2 Turner Street
Auburn, ME 04210
Phone: (207) 753-2500
Fax: (207) 784-3199

Free Arrest Record Search in Androscoggin County

Individuals seeking free arrest records in Androscoggin County have various alternatives. They can either visit the physical location of the law enforcement agency that made the arrest or check the agency's website.

To facilitate the request, individuals should know the law enforcement agency, the date and time of the arrest, and the location. The agency will provide the information at no cost. However, if a copy of the record needs to be produced, there are associated fees. Moreover, each department has a retention schedule for records. As a result, their availability depends on the agency’s retention schedules.

Third-party public records databases collate public information from various government sources, including law enforcement departments. While most of these resources are free, a fee is usually charged to access a comprehensive report containing arrest information about a specific individual.

Get Androscoggin County Criminal Records

Androscoggin County criminal records are official documents that provide comprehensive information about an individual's criminal history, both within the county and outside. These records include arrests, formal charges, convictions, and court-imposed sentences.

Under the Freedom of Access Act, criminal records are classified as public records. Various public agencies are responsible for maintaining these records, with courts and law enforcement agencies playing key roles. The courts are tasked with keeping criminal records in the form of criminal court records. These records pertain to both concluded criminal trials and ongoing ones.

Individuals can submit a request in person to the county court clerk’s office or use online alternatives such as Accessing Electronic Court Records to access criminal court records electronically.

The law enforcement agencies maintain arrest records and county jail inmate records. The sheriff’s office is the primary custodian of county arrest records, and they maintain an updated register of inmates in county jail cells, which is available to the public at the sheriff’s office. Another source of criminal records is the records of correctional facilities. These institutions maintain records of each inmate and their convictions and sentences.

Androscoggin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

The terms “arrest record” and “criminal record” are synonymous and tend to be confused. However, there is a difference between them. An arrest record only contains records of situations where an individual was apprehended by the police, irrespective of the consequences that followed. A criminal record, however, is more detailed in that it maps out a person's misdemeanor and affiliations to crime, thus serving as a tool used by law enforcement agencies. It follows an individual right from arrest to sentencing and possible conviction. It contains data from local and state police departments, courts, district attorneys’ offices, correctional facilities, and probation departments.

The sheriff’s office typically keeps the criminal record master file, aggregating all this information and creating a record of an individual’s interactions with the criminal justice system.

An arrest record is a brief record kept locally at police and law enforcement offices detailing arrest accounts. It relates the particulars of an arrest and the arrestee, the arrest's circumstances, and the arrest's immediate outcome. Unlike a criminal record containing full information about the criminal, arrest records are limited in scope.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Androscoggin County, arrest records are considered part of an individual’s criminal record and, therefore, are retained permanently. However, the county restricts the records in several ways. One is “sealing,” in which an eligible individual can petition the court to limit access to their criminal record within a certain duration. Expungement is another form of relief that can reduce or prevent people from accessing arrest and other criminal records. In Androscoggin County, this privilege is time-sensitive.

Expunge Androscoggin County Arrest Records

Individuals with questionable arrest records often face challenges in various aspects of life, including employment, housing, professional licensure, credit ratings, insurance, and other areas involving background checks. These records can significantly hinder their quality of life opportunities.

To address this issue, Maine has implemented expungement laws. These laws allow individuals to expunge or seal their arrest records, providing a fresh start. With this legislation, specific categories of criminal records can be cleared from an individual's record.

Title 15, Chapter 310-A of the Maine revised statutes permits the sealing of arrest records if the convicted individual meets the following prerequisites:

• The crime to be expunged must be a class E crime as stipulated in the Maine legislature.
• At least four years have passed since the person has served their sentence.
• The individual has not been convicted of a crime since they served their sentence.
• The individual in the arrest record has not been arrested or convicted in another state since they served their sentence.
• The person on the record committed the crime when they were under 28.

Eligible individuals may apply to seal their records in the county court where they were convicted. For non-conviction arrest records, individuals may simply submit a motion at the county court in the jurisdiction where the arrest occurred. The motion to seal form is available on the Androscoggin County judicial branch website. The motion should explain that the person meets the requirements for having their records sealed and contain details about the specific arrest record they want to seal. The court will set a hearing date to decide whether the motion will be accepted.

According to section 2168 of the Maine legislature, a person is eligible for expungement of arrest records and other criminal records if they have only one conviction and the crime they were convicted for was committed between 18 and 21. The crime in question must be a class E or class D crime, as stipulated by the Maine legislature.

An expunged arrest record is considered to have never been recorded, and the individual who was arrested and found guilty is considered never to have been arrested or found guilty of the offense.

An eligible individual must submit a petition to apply for expungement in Androscoggin County. The petition must contain any necessary information about the arrest and conviction and the law enforcement agencies and courts involved in the legal procedures.

After receiving a petition to expunge an arrest record that meets all requirements, all law enforcement agencies, licensing or regulatory bodies, courts, correctional facilities, and any other organizations and officers involved in the initial arrest and conviction that resulted in the record or who have the record will be notified that the records must be removed from their database.

Androscoggin County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal instrument that permits law enforcement personnel to detain, hold, and investigate a person for a criminal act. The warrant requires the accused individual to appear in court to face charges. Failing to comply with a valid arrest warrant, when able to do so, can be considered contempt of court.

To get an arrest warrant, a police officer shows evidence of probable cause to a prosecutor. The prosecutor carefully examines the evidence to ensure it is legally sufficient. If the prosecutor finds probable cause, they draft an affidavit outlining the evidence and submit it to the court for approval.

The Judge then examines the evidence presented in the affidavit. An arrest warrant would be issued only when they are satisfied that the evidence meets the probable cause threshold. This judicial oversight checks law enforcement and prosecution to ensure that arrests are in accordance with the rule of law. Once the judge issues the arrest warrant, it is entered into law enforcement databases.

An arrest warrant typically includes the following information:

• The name of the court that issued the warrant.
• The name of the defendant.
• Their physical description includes height, weight, hair color, eye color, and other unique features that may help identify them.
• The criminal offense charged against the individual.
• The official issuing date of the warrant
• The signature of the judge issuing the warrant.
• The bail amount

Androscoggin County Arrest Warrant Search

In Androscoggin County, there are many ways to learn about outstanding warrants. The Sheriff's Office curates a list of high-priority active warrants linked to specific persons. To obtain information about active warrants, individuals can visit their local police department or sheriff's office. This would potentially require the presentation of a government-issued identification.

Additionally, the Clerk of Courts maintains records of current warrants, which can be retrieved online or by physically visiting the Clerk's office.

Do Androscoggin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Androscoggin County arrest warrants don't expire. Once issued, they remain active until the individual is arrested, a judge cancels them, the charges are dropped, or the person dies.

If law enforcement agents cannot apprehend the individual, the warrant will be entered into a national database, making it easily accessible. Whenever the individual encounters the law again, they will likely be arrested on the outstanding warrant.