Oxford County Arrest Records

Arrests are measures used by law enforcement in Oxford County to curb the occurrence of crimes and ensure law and order in the community. An arrest becomes necessary when a person is believed, with reasonable evidence, to have violated the law.

Generally, each arrest requires authorization from the court through an arrest warrant. The court's input helps to ensure that an arrest is lawful and does not violate an individual's fundamental rights. However, in some instances, especially when involving serious crimes or a crime committed in an officer's presence, an arrest can be made without a warrant. The arresting officer or agency must eventually justify any arrest made without a warrant to the court.

The arresting law enforcement agency is responsible for creating a record to document details about the arrest. This record is known as the arrest record. Arrest and other public records created within the legal system, like Oxford County court records, serve vital purposes in prosecuting offenders.

Generally, the Sheriff's Office is in charge of persons arrested in Oxford County. An arrestee may be detained in the county jail awaiting their court trial or bail hearing. Per Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, §3205, juvenile offenders are not detained in the same facility as adult offenders, except under specific conditions.

Are Arrest Records Public in Oxford County?

Yes. Oxford County arrest records are public per the Maine Freedom of Access Act (Title 1, Chapter 13, §§ 400-414) of the Maine Revised Statutes. Arrest records being public means an interested party can legally access a record's content. However, exceptions exist where public access to an arrest record is restricted by statute or by court order. The following are exempt from Oxford County's publicly accessible arrest records:

• Sensitive personal information on individuals
• Information that may reveal the identity of the victim of certain crimes
• Juvenile arrest records
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• Arrest records tied to an ongoing investigation
• Mental health records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Oxford County public arrest records contain information generally not restricted by statute or court order. Public arrest record information is disclosed to anyone who requests to view it. This includes:

• The name, sex, date of birth, race, and physical characteristics of an arrestee
• The agency responsible for the arrest
• The date and location of the arrest
• The charges on which the arrest occurred
• Mugshot
• Booking number
• Bond amount, if any

Oxford County Arrest Statistics

Since July 1973, the Maine State Police has collated crime data from local law enforcement agencies through the Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program. The reported crime data includes the arrest statistics from each county. This data is useful to local law enforcement agencies, the FBI, and criminologists for planning and research, for example, for studying social indicators.

Oxford County arrest data is reported to the FBI and is accessible on its Crime Data Explorer. Researchers can access arrest data reported by each law enforcement agency in the county by selecting "Maine" as the focus state and selecting the desired local law enforcement agency. Researchers may also contact local law enforcement departments to verify arrest statistics obtained from the portal.

Find Oxford County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement agencies are the primary custodians of Oxford County arrest records. To view an arrest record, an inquirer may request it from the arresting agency. The Sheriff's Office also holds records of individuals incarcerated in the county jail and can be contacted by interested parties.

If a person is incarcerated in a Maine Adult Facility, their records are not obtainable through the local Sheriff. Instead, such files may be requested from the Maine Department of Corrections (DOC), which supervises state inmates.

Members of the public can search records of state inmates using the Maine Adult Resident/Adult Community Corrections Client Search Service. The basic search criteria are an inmate's MDOC number, first name, middle name, or last name. Search filters like age range, weight range, height range, race, inmate current status, location, and offense type can help narrow a user's search. The search portal also includes information about inmates housed by the DOC in other correctional facilities. However, the search portal does not grant access to information about juveniles imprisoned by the state.

For federal prisoners, the interested party may access the Federal Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator. A federal inmate search may be performed using an inmate's name, FBI number, DCDC number, BOP Register number, or INS number. Users can visit the Record Availability page to learn about the type of information disclosed by the BOP.

Free Arrest Record Search in Oxford County

Oxford County public arrest record information may be obtained at no cost via select third-party platforms. These resources can be convenient when accessing arrest record information remotely. Arrest records can generally be searched using the individual's name on the record. Some third-party resources also provide limited information about the record for free to a researcher. However, researchers should note that third-party resources are not official sources of arrest records and may divulge inaccurate information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrests in Oxford County are inputted and maintained on a person's record forever. There is no provision for an automatic, time-triggered expungement of an arrest record. Individuals who want the record of an arrest removed may petition the court for an expungement or sealing. An expungement or sealing ensures the record becomes inaccessible to the public. However, an individual may only file a petition to seal/expunge an arrest record in Oxford if they fulfill Maine's eligibility requirements.

Expunge Oxford County Arrest Records

In Oxford County, an arrest record can be sealed if it falls under arrests eligible for sealing. Generally, Individuals may petition the court to seal their arrest record if the charges were dismissed or if the court acquitted them. However, if an individual was found guilty of the charges laid against them, they can only file for the sealing of the record if the conviction is an eligible criminal conviction.

An eligible criminal conviction under Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, §2261 is a conviction for a current or former Class E crime. Class E crimes under Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 17-A, ch. 11 are ineligible for sealing. These crimes relate to sexual misconduct and the deliberate involvement of a minor in committing a crime. Convictions for certain drug crimes committed before January 30, 2017, are also eligible convictions.

Aside from a criminal conviction being eligible, a petitioner seeking to seal an arrest that led to a conviction must meet statutory prerequisites. The statutory requirements are listed under Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, §2262 and Me. Rev. Stat. Ann. tit. 15, §2262-A. The prerequisites include:

• Four years lapsing after the petitioner has completed each sentencing alternative for the eligible criminal conviction.
• The petitioner not being convicted of a crime in another jurisdiction after satisfying each sentence alternative for the eligible criminal conviction.
• The individual not being convicted of another crime in the state and did not have a charge dismissed due to a deferred disposition.
• The petitioner does not have any pending criminal charges.

Once an arrest record is sealed, the record will only be disseminated by request to the subject of the record, a victim of the crime (if conviction occurred), and other authorized personnel.

Oxford County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court-issued document ordering the arrest and detention of an individual. In Oxford County, judges issue arrest warrants upon finding probable cause.

The issuance process begins when a complaint is filed with the court. The complaint is typically an accusation against a party stating that the person has committed a crime. The accusation must be accompanied by evidence that supports the complainant's claim. If the judge finds such claims sufficient, they will issue the warrant. However, a summons may be issued instead of a warrant if the offense is considered to be minor and it is believed that the accused will comply with the summons.

Arrest warrants issued in Oxford County can be executed by law enforcement officers across other counties in Maine if needed. These warrants include necessary information to help identify the suspect during the arrest. Typically, a warrant consists of the following information:

• The suspect's identifying information
• Warrant issuance date
• Jurisdiction of issuance
• A description of the alleged crime
• Order commanding the arrest of the suspect
• Signature and title of the issuing authority

The court and the local Sheriff maintain copies of issued arrest warrants. Inquisitive persons can query either agency for active warrants.

Do Oxford County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire in Oxford County. The execution timeline of arrest warrants may differ based on the nature of an offense. Law enforcement often prioritizes the execution of warrants issued for severe crimes and thus may not immediately serve a warrant for a lesser offense. However, irrespective of how long an arrest warrant takes to be served, it remains executable unless recalled by the court. A recall may occur when a review reveals errors or inconsistencies in the warrant. Also, if probable cause is found to exist no longer, the warrant may be quashed.