Knox County Arrest Records

Title 17-A of the Maine Criminal Code allows law enforcement agents to execute arrests if they have probable cause or a valid warrant. When an arrest is made in Knox County, the arrestee is typically taken to a detention facility such as the Knox County Jail.

When booking an individual into jail, a police officer will compile the arrestee's identifying information, take their fingerprints and photographs, and document details regarding the alleged offense. This information is compiled into an arrest record, among other documents, which serves numerous purposes, such as:

• Facilitating background checks
• Aiding criminal prosecutions
• Supporting research and crime statistics

In the course of a suspected offender's prosecution, their Knox County arrest record may become part of other criminal justice documents. For example, the Knox County court records may include arrest information. At the same time, Knox County police reports may also reference arrest information to provide context for investigations. Knox County inmate records may also incorporate arrest information as part of an individual's custody history.

Are Arrest Records Public in Knox County?

Yes. Maine's Freedom of Access Act (Title 1, Chapter 13 of Maine Revised Statutes) stipulates that members of the public have the right to access records maintained by public bodies. Specifically, § 408 (A) directs that public records be made available for inspection and copying within a reasonable time. Furthermore, these requests need not be made in writing or in person. A record custodian can mail a copy of an arrest record upon request.

However, members of the public should note that the right to access arrest information is not absolute. For example, record custodians maintain the right to refuse the disclosure of information that falls under one of the exceptions outlined in § 432. These include information that jeopardizes a person's safety or is deemed confidential by federal law. Records that are part of an ongoing investigation or have a juvenile subject are also barred from public disclosure.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information is obtainable from a public Knox County arrest record:

• Arrestee's name, physical description, and mugshot
• Charges, such as the offense type
• Bail information
• Arresting agency
• Arrest date and location

Knox County Arrest Statistics

Per the Crime in Maine publications released by the Maine Department of Public Safety, the Knox County Sheriff's Office executed 292 arrests in 2023. Of that number, 198 were adult arrests, and the remaining one was categorized as a juvenile arrest. The most recurring arrests were for Simple Assault (36) and Driving under the Influence (24) offenses. More arrests were also made for larceny, intimidation, aggravated assault, drug/narcotic violations, and destruction/damage/vandalism of property.

Interested parties can find other local agency arrest statistics in the Crime in Maine 2023 report or the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Crime Data Explorer.

Find Knox County Arrest Records

Members of the public can contact the Knox County Sheriff's Office and municipal police stations to find Knox County arrest records. They can also visit a police department in person or check the respective agency's website for guidance on obtaining arrest information. Parties can also utilize the Inmate Search option on the Knox County Sheriff's Office website to find information on locally incarcerated or detained individuals.

Another option for looking up Knox County arrest records is to conduct a statewide search through the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC). The DOC maintains information on individuals arrested in Knox County and other Maine areas and incarcerated in a Maine prison facility. Records of adult inmates are public information that anyone can access using the Department's Adult Resident Search tool. One can also obtain arrest information by conducting a public criminal history record information search through the Maine State Police's State Bureau of Identification.

Lastly, the whereabouts of individuals arrested in Knox County by a federal criminal justice agency may be determined by querying the U.S. Bureau of Prisons (BOP). The BOP maintains a publicly accessible inmate search tool that can look up incarceration information by inmate name or number. Details of federal inmates may also be retrieved via a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) inquiry to the agency responsible for an arrest.

Free Arrest Record Search in Knox County

The above resources for finding information about people arrested in Knox County are provided free of charge to the public. However, record custodians may request reasonable fees for searching, retrieving, compiling, converting, or making copies of documents.

Individuals may also find free arrest information on some third-party databases. However, the information obtained may be limited and subject to inaccuracies.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. A person's criminal record will permanently include their arrest information unless they obtain a sealing order from a court. Record sealing hides specific information that would otherwise have been available to the public without restriction. Individuals can also block the public viewing of their arrest information via a governor's pardon. However, obtaining a pardon is rare and involves a lengthy process.

Expunge Knox County Arrest Records

Generally, in Knox County, arrest information is deemed confidential if:

• It is more than a year old, and there is no active prosecution or pending charge (except the subject is a fugitive)
• Law enforcement did not refer the matter to a prosecutor, no prosecutor proceeded with the case, and there was no grand jury indictment.
• A judge dismissed the case with prejudice, or a prosecutor dismissed the charges with finality.
• The subject was acquitted after trial, or there was a mistrial.
• The subject was granted a full pardon.

Otherwise, only class E crimes (offenses with a maximum punishment of 6 months in jail and a $1,000 fine) and a few other crimes are eligible for sealing. Even so, arrestees must meet the following statutory requirements to seal their record:

• They were 18 to 27 years old at the time the offense was committed
• They have waited 4 years after the completion of the sentence
• They have no pending criminal charges (federal or state)
• They have not been convicted or received a deferred disposition and dismissal since they completed their sentence

The process for expunging an arrest information in Knox County involves the following steps:

• Filing a "Motion to Seal Criminal History" in the court where the case was heard
• Attending a court hearing to determine their eligibility for record sealing

Note: Knox County has no provision for the expungement (total destruction) of arrest information. However, although a record may be sealed and restricted to the public, certain parties, such as criminal justice agencies, will retain access.

Knox County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Knox County are issued to law enforcement agents, authorizing them to arrest and bring a named individual before the court. The subject of a Knox County arrest warrant is often one named in an indictment or accused of committing a crime in the county.

A judge can issue an arrest warrant after finding probable cause based on evidence or facts proffered by law enforcement officials. However, a judicial officer can also issue such a warrant when a person fails to appear in court or obey a court order (in these cases, the warrant is referred to as a bench warrant).

Knox County arrest warrants contain the following information:

• A subject's name, aliases, or date of birth
• The identified charge
• Other available information regarding the subject's identity and location, including their photographs and distinguishing physical characteristics

One may find active Knox County arrest warrants by querying the Knox County Sheriff's Office or other local police stations. They can also approach the court system to find out if an arrest warrant was issued for a particular case

Do Knox County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. A law enforcement officer can legally execute a Knox County arrest warrant once it has been issued, regardless of the amount of time that has passed since then. However, in some cases, an issuing court can recall an arrest warrant, or the subject of the warrant may surrender it to law enforcement agencies, thus rendering the warrant served.