Hancock County Arrest Records

Arrest records in Hancock County are official documents that contain information on arrests executed within the county and are created by law enforcement agencies. They usually include information about alleged offenses, the arresting agencies, the booking numbers, the location of arrests, and personal details of arrested individuals. Law enforcement officers make arrests when they reasonably suspect that someone has committed, is committing, or plans to commit a crime. Arrests can be made in Hancock County with or without warrants, and the persons arrested can be detained without charges for a short period.

The responsibility for making arrests within the county falls on the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office and other city police departments in the county. Arrestees are kept in Hancock County Jail pending their appearance in court. The county’s arrest records may be found in other records, such as inmate records and Hancock County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Hancock County?

Yes. Unless specifically restricted by law, Hancock County's arrest records are open to the public. Most arrest records can be viewed and requested by interested parties from record custodians in accordance with the Maine Freedom of Access Act. In addition, the outcome of the criminal case brought about by an arrest in Hancock County determines whether the arrest records will be publicly accessible or not.

Arrest records of trials that result in convictions may be accessed by anyone, while records of arrests that do not result in convictions, were rejected, dismissed, or are still being prosecuted are confidential and closed to the public. Furthermore, some records may be removed from public disclosure to preserve the integrity of current investigations or to protect sensitive information. The following arrest records and information are typically exempt from public access in Hancock County:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Information that can compromise active investigations
• Information that can affect the safety of individuals involved in an investigation
• Expunged records
• Sensitive personal information, including social security numbers, license plate numbers, and driver’s license number

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Hancock County arrest records generally contain the following information:

• The arrested individual’s personal information, including full name, date of birth, address, weight, height, eye color, race, and gender
• Booking number
• Booking date
• Arresting agency
• Arrest charges
• Location of arrest
• Date of arrest
• Arrestee’s mugshot
• Arrest warrants, if available

Hancock County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office arrested 256 persons in 2023. The breakdown of the arrests reveals that there were 190 male and 68 female arrestees. It also showed that 48 persons were arrested for simple assault, 31 for driving under the influence, 23 for larceny, and 15 for liquor law violations. The number of arrests made in 2023 was slightly higher than the 260 arrests made in 2022.

Find Hancock County Arrest Records

Hancock County inmate records provide information about inmates, including details about their arrests. Information such as the arrestee's names and arrest charges can be gleaned from inmate records. One can find Hancock County arrest information under inmate records by contacting the Hancock County Jail at (207) 667-7588. They can also search on the Maine Adult Resident/Adult Community Corrections Client Search Service platform.

Furthermore, the Federal Bureau of Prisons’ Inmate Locator can be used to find inmates from Hancock County incarcerated in federal prisons. In addition, interested persons may filter arrest information from the criminal court records of the Hancock County Superior Court using the re:SearchMaine platform.

Free Arrest Record Search in Hancock County

Official resources that allow the general public to search for Hancock County arrest records for free include:

• The Maine Adult Resident/Adult Community Corrections Client Search Service platform
• The BOP Inmate Locator

Alternatively, anyone can use free third-party websites for Hancock County arrest record searches. These websites provide ready access to arrest information from court records, criminal records, and prison records. However, their information might not be accurate or as reliable as those of official websites.

Hancock County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Although criminal records and arrest records are frequently used interchangeably, they are different, and they provide different information. A Hancock County criminal record is a comprehensive record that details a person's criminal history. It is useful when vetting applicants, tenants, or business partners to verify their history. In contrast, Hancock County arrest records only indicate that an individual had previously been apprehended for an offense without showing the outcome of such arrest. Furthermore, criminal records are generated after a court process, whereas arrest records are created following an arrest.

Arrest records in Hancock County contain basic details about an arrest, including the arrestee’s personal information, mugshots, fingerprints, date and location of the arrest, details regarding the arrest, statute violated, the facility where they were detained, and arresting agency details. Conversely, criminal records include arrest records, trial details, convictions, judgments, and other contacts with the criminal justice system in Hancock County.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Hancock County arrest records remain on an individual’s record permanently. Maine does not have a provision for expunging criminal records, including arrest records. However, arrest records that do not result in convictions are made confidential and can only be accessed by authorized persons.

Expunge Hancock County Arrest Records

Maine does not have an expungement procedure. All criminal records in Hancock County, including arrest records, are either public or confidential. Persons interested in expunging their arrest records can only apply for them to be sealed, which removes them from public view. Sealed arrest records can still be accessed by law enforcement officers, judicial officers, and other authorized persons. Hancock County arrest records for cases that were rejected, dismissed, not filed after a year, or resulted in non-conviction are automatically sealed.

Per Maine Revised Statute, Title 15, Chapter 310-A, only persons convicted of Class E crimes and certain marijuana-related convictions can apply for their arrest records to be sealed in Hancock County. To be eligible, they must meet the following criteria:

• At least 4 years have passed since they completed their imposed sentence, including probation, license suspension, community service, and fine payment
• They have no other adult criminal convictions in Maine and no dismissed case since completing their sentence
• No other criminal conviction in any other jurisdiction since completing their sentence
• No pending criminal charges

Eligible persons in Hancock County must complete the Motion to Seal Criminal History (CR-218) form and submit it to the Hancock County Superior Court Clerk’s Office. The Superior Court will schedule a hearing to review the requirement and grant the motion if in order. The court will then send a notice of the sealing to the Maine State Bureau of Identification to seal the arrest records.

Hancock County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal document issued by a Hancock County judge that allows law enforcement officers to apprehend and detain someone for committing a crime in the county. A law enforcement official in the county is required to file a request with a judge that includes specifics of the offense and sufficient proof to establish that a person did it. If the evidence is enough to demonstrate probable cause that the person committed the offense, the judge will issue an arrest warrant. Disobeying an arrest warrant is a crime in and of itself. An arrest warrant in Hancock County contains the following information:

• The name of the person to be arrested, if known
• The description of the person to be arrested
• Warrant number
• A description of the alleged crime
• The date the warrant was issued
• The court that issued the warrant
• The bail amount
• The signature of the issuing judge

Do Hancock County Arrest Warrants Expire?

A Hancock County arrest warrant does not expire; it is not limited by the offenses’ statute of limitation. It can be executed within and outside the county at any time. It can only be recalled and dismissed by the court that issued it.