Wondering How To Find Recent Arrests?
How can you find out who was recently arrested?
What’s important to know?
Keep reading as we have gathered exactly the information that you need!
Let me explain to you how to find recent arrests once and for all!
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Table of Contents
How To Find Recent Arrests
It’s usually easy to find recent arrests since they are public records.
On some occasions, arrests are sealed and are unavailable to the public.
But, this is usually not a common scenario.
You can typically find the recent arrests on the local police department’s website.
You can also try other law enforcement agencies, but knowing which one to search for depends on the crime the individual has been arrested for.
Sometimes it’s required to contact authorities by phone or visit a government office in person.
However, in most jurisdictions, it’s possible to find arrests online and free of charge.
Why It’s Important To Find Recent Arrests
It’s important to find recent arrests when looking for a loved one.
Knowing this information saves you time and a lot of anxiety.
When an individual is arrested, they are processed by the police and must appear in court.
Knowing where to find recent arrests is helpful for friends and family members willing to offer bail assistance whenever possible.
Other common reasons for finding arrests are when you’re considering moving to another city, hiring someone, or working with another person.
This information allows you to make better, informed decisions.
Can Everyone See Recent Arrest Information
The information relating to individuals arrested is generally public information.
This means that everyone is allowed to search for this information.
There are exceptions to the rule.
For instance, sealed records or imprisonment for national security crimes may not be accessible to the public.
Only law enforcement agents or court officers can see recent arrests, even those with sealed records.
People who have obtained a warrant authorizing access to these records can view sealed arrests.
Juvenile criminal records are typically confidential.
The juvenile criminal justice system believes minors should not be labeled criminals, so arrests are sealed.
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What Is An Arrest Report
When police officers take a person into custody, an arrest report is generated.
Usually, law enforcement agents arrest a person with a warrant for a suspected crime.
A person can also be incarcerated when there is probable cause.
Regardless of the case, the arresting agency is responsible for creating an arrest record recounting the circumstances surrounding the imprisonment.
The arrest report provides information regarding the outcome of the arrest, including the court appearance.
An arrest report could be part of an individual’s criminal record.
It’s essential to understand that arrest reports are only one part of the police archives that law enforcement agencies gather.
A person only has a criminal record when he’s found guilty of their alleged offenses.
This means an arrest record alone cannot make a person a criminal.
Regardless, a person can be arrested and imprisoned, and an arrest report is generated even for a person found not guilty.
Usually, the arresting agency is the primary guardian of arrest records.
Most of the time, this means the city police department or the sheriff’s department.
Remember, arrest reports are generally public information and are accessible upon petition.
Are Arrest Records Free
It’s common for states and counties to have arrest records on their websites.
Knowing the person’s full name makes it possible to find their arrest report.
Some law enforcement agencies’ sites ask for more data, like date of birth.
Some states and counties do not have arrest records online.
In this case, you must visit the law enforcement agency and request the necessary information.
Sometimes a nominal administration fee is charged.
It’s important to remember that having an arrest report doesn’t mean the person is found guilty and convicted.
As mentioned, an arrest report is generated whenever a person is physically apprehended by law enforcement officers, even if they have been wrongfully incarcerated, mistakenly arrested, or found not guilty.
Are Arrest Reports Free
It’s common for people searching for arrest reports to find websites that sell this information.
Law enforcement agencies offer this information for free as it’s public records.
Suppose you’re having trouble accessing recent arrest information.
You can pay for these websites’ services.
Websites like GoLookUp and Instant Checkmate offer affordable services to check arrest reports and criminal records online.
The information revealed on these websites differs.
But usually, these sites give you:
- Traffic violations
- Drunk driving records
- Arrest reports
- Felonies
- Traffic tickets
- Misdemeanors and more
Remember, juvenile criminal records and other cases are only available for law enforcement officers and court officials.
If you want arrest information about someone who has a confidential record, contact a criminal defense lawyer to request a court order to access the report.
Of course, a lawyer will charge a fee for helping you.
Where to Find Recent Arrests
It’s challenging to find an arrest record for a person who has been very recently apprehended.
Most jurisdictions take their time to update this info.
This could mean several hours or even longer depending on the reporting system.
You can also look at county or state websites for recent arrests if the person is accused of a felony.
Look at the Federal Bureau of Prisons website for those arrested for federal offenses.
There are other ways you can find recent arrests, here are a few paths.
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Communication Management Unit
When someone is accused of a crime involving the nation’s security, they can be apprehended at a Communication Management Unit known as CMU.
CMU is designed for those inmates who are not authorized to communicate with people in or outside the prison.
These units are strict monitoring prisons created to prevent and stop further crimes by making it impossible for inmates to contact possible accomplices.
Looking for recent arrests at these facilities is challenging, as most records are sealed.
Finding inmate information is possible; however, most data is confidential for security reasons.
It’s best to speak with a lawyer to find relevant information about the arrest if you suspect a person has been apprehended at CMU.
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Law Enforcement Agencies
If you cannot find recent arrests, we recommend calling or visiting a law enforcement agency and requesting the information.
Doing this is highly effective if the detention is very recent.
It’s also an excellent alternative for those people who don’t have access to the internet or don’t want to search.
Also, phone calls or in-person visits are the only way to find out in jurisdictions that don’t publish recent arrests on their websites.
Bail Bond Person
People who work as bail bond persons can find arrest reports.
A bail bond person usually assists individuals who require information on arrests and custody matters, such as private investigators.
Hiring a bail bond person is only recommended when you know the person has been arrested and has been granted a bail amount for their liberation.
You can work with a bond person if it’s challenging to find out about an arrest and where the person is being detained.
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What Information Do I Need to Find Recent Arrests
If you’re searching for recent arrests, it’s crucial to have the following information about the person taken into custody:
- Full name
- Date of birth
- Sex and gender
- Race
There are some online sites where you can look for a person’s approximate age if the birth date is unknown.
These websites provide multiple results matching the same name and age range.
What Happens When a Person is Arrested
When a person is apprehended for a misdemeanor crime, he or she will be released after a couple of hours in most cases.
This is known as “cite and release.”
Misdemeanors are offenses punishable with less than twelve months in a county or municipal prison.
The court can dictate sentencing alternatives such as fines and probation if the crime is not severe enough for incarceration.
In cases where the misdemeanor crime requires jail time, the offender can serve a sentence at a lower security prison.
Depending on which state the person committed the crime, the offender can even serve their punishment at home under surveillance.
Some common misdemeanors include:
- Traffic infractions
- Petty theft
- Public scandal
- Driving under the influence
- Driving while impaired
- Operating while impaired
- Simple assault
- Public nuisance
If the person is accused of a misdemeanor, he or she receives a citation to appear in court to notify the charges against them.
Felonies are crimes that are sentenced to more than one year in jail.
These offenses are considered serious by all jurisdictions.
People convicted of a felony crime usually serve a sentence in a higher security facility.
Additionally, convicted felony offenders commonly have strict conditions for bond and parole.
Most common felonies include:
- Multiple or aggravated DUI, OWI, DWI infractions
- Murder in the first degree
- Rape
- Arson
- Human and drug trafficking
- Burglary
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Takeaways
So there you have it folks!
The easiest, quickest way to find recent arrests is by searching the law enforcement agency website.
Law enforcement agency websites offer this information for free.
If you can’t find the information online, you can call or visit the local jail and request the report.
Remember, you’ll need the arrestee’s full name, birth date, sex, gender, and race to speed things up.
Finally, knowing where to find recent arrests is helpful, but it’s essential to understand that being arrested doesn’t mean a person is guilty.
Talk to a criminal defense lawyer to help you navigate the justice system.
Now that you know how to find recent arrest information, good luck with your research!
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