Addison County Arrest Records

Addison County arrest records are detailed documentation of the apprehension of individuals within the county. Law enforcement agencies generate these records following the arrests they make. In Addison County, arrests become necessary when an arrest warrant is issued for a suspect or a law enforcement officer has probable cause to believe the prospective arrestee committed or is committing a misdemeanor or felony offense.

Generally, Addison County arrest records are criminal justice records that provide information concerning an individual's arrest history in Addison County, including the when, where, and why. The criminal justice system uses these records in different capacities, such as compiling criminal history records and Addison County court records of a criminal case connected to the arrest.

Are Arrest Records Public in Addison County?

Yes. Vermont's Public Record Act (PRA) requires public agencies to make their records accessible to the public upon request unless a specific statute exempts a record from disclosure. As a result, anyone can inspect or request copies of public arrest records from local law enforcement agencies in Addison County.

Meanwhile, arrest records exempt from disclosure are usually only accessible to specific eligible individuals and entities, such as the record's subject or a government agency that needs the record for its official duties. Record custodians may also release these records under a court order. Examples of arrest records that are exempt from public disclosure include:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Arrest records relating to an ongoing investigation
• Arrest records that are part of a policer's disciplinary records
• Arrest records whose release may compromise public safety or endanger a person's life.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Information typically found in public Addison County arrest records includes:

• The arrestee's full name and known aliases
• The arrestee's physical description includes height, weight, age, and other identifying features like tattoo(s) or birthmark(s).
• The arrest date and time
• Incident number
• charges
• Condition for release
• Bail amount (if applicable)

Addison County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Crime Data Explorer, there were 430 arrests in Addison County in 2023, compared to 359 in 2022. These figures show that Addison County experienced a 17.9% increase in arrests in 2023.

Find Addison County Arrest Records

In Addison County, law enforcement agencies are the primary custodians of arrest records. As previously stated, these agencies generate and maintain arrest records after making arrests. Hence, interested persons can find Addison County arrest records by contacting the local law enforcement agency responsible for the arrest.

Different law enforcement agencies operate within Addison County, including the County Sheriff's Office and the local police departments. The former has the jurisdiction to make arrests anywhere in the county, while the latter can make arrests only in the municipality they have jurisdiction over. Generally, local police departments are responsible for most arrests in their respective municipalities. Therefore, if a record seeker knows the town or city where an arrest occurred, they can direct queries for the incident's arrest record by contacting the local police department operating in the municipality. For instance, for arrests that occurred in the Town of Middlebury, record seekers can contact the Middlebury Police Department Record Unit. Subsequently, interested persons can expand their search by contacting the County Sheriff's Office.

The procedures for requesting or accessing arrest records across law enforcement agencies may differ. Although most agencies accept in-person requests, some may accept mail-in, phone, or email requests. Nonetheless, record seekers are usually required to provide some details about the desired arrest record to facilitate their request. These include the incident number, arrest date, or names of involved parties.

Free Arrest Record Search in Addison County

Unfortunately, most local law enforcement agencies in Addison County do not provide online resources interested persons can use to conduct arrest records searches for free. Notwithstanding, these agencies may allow interested persons to inspect arrest records for free on-site. However, record seekers are usually charged a fee for copies of the arrest records they request. Therefore, visiting law enforcement agencies to inspect records may be the only viable option for interested persons to access arrest records for free in Addison County.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

An arrest can remain on an individual record forever. However, depending on the type of offense and the final outcome of the arrest, an arrest record may be restricted from being publicly accessible (sealed) after some time. For instance, arrest records that resulted in a dismissal on July 1, 2018, or later are automatically sealed.

Expunge Addison County Arrest Records

Under 13 V.S.A., individuals with qualifying criminal history records, including arrests, convictions, and sentences, can petition a court to seal or expunge their records. It is important to note that there is an inherent difference between sealing and expunging a record. Sealed records are merely placed in a confidential file that restricts public access to the record. However, entities that maintain sealed records can still use them in future investigations and litigation. Conversely, expunged records are physically destroyed.

An arrest that led to no convictions may qualify for expungement or sealing if it meets the eligibility requirements outlined in 13 V.S.A § 7602. Meanwhile, an arrest that led to a conviction must meet the eligibility requirements outlined in 13 V.S.A § 7603 to qualify for expungement or sealing. Nonetheless, the steps to request to expunge or seal a record are as follows:

• Obtain relevant criminal case records: Prospective petitioners can request relevant criminal case records from the Addison County Superior Court or through the Vermont Crime Information Center. To request their criminal history records from the Addison County Superior Court, interested persons can complete the Criminal Record Check Request form (200-00331) and submit it with the required fees by mail or in-person to;

Addison Criminal Division
7 Mahady Court,
Middlebury, VT 05753
Phone: (802) 388-7741

Alternatively, the record seeker can visit the Addison County Superior Courthouse and use the provided Public Access Terminals to search for court records by party's name or case number. Court records available on the terminal date as far back as the 1990s, and there is no charge to view records. However, there are charges to print.

On the other hand, interested persons can also conduct statewide criminal record checks through the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC) in person, by mail, or online at a $30 per request fee. Record seekers can also conduct online checks through the Vermont Criminal Conviction Report (VCCRIS) Website. The VCIC offers walk-in record check request service for in-person requests between 8:00 am and 4:00 pm. Walk-in applicants must come with an acceptable form(s) of identification to make their request. These include a valid driver's license, government ID, passport, or others outlined in the VCIC's My Own Records page. To make requests by mail, applicants can utilize the VCIC's Criminal Record Request form. Applicant can complete the form and mail it with a self-addressed, stamped, business-sized envelope and required fee (via a cashier's check or money order payable to the Department of Public Safety) to:

Criminal Records Section
Vermont Crime Information Center
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-1300

• Review relevant records: this step is crucial because it can determine whether to proceed with filing the expungement petition. It entails comparing relevant records with applicable statutes like 13 V.S.A § 7602 and § 7603 to ascertain if the record qualifies for expungement.
• Contact the Prosecutor's Office: If their record qualifies for expungement, petitioners can contact the prosecutor's Office (State's Attorney or Attorney General) and ask them to agree to—stipulate—their request.

If the prosecutor agrees to stipulate, fill out the Stipulation to Expunge or Seal Criminal History Record form (200-00132) and give it to the prosecutor to sign. After signing, the prosecutor may file the completed 200-00132 form with the court on the petitioner's behalf. Alternatively, the prosecutor may return the 200-00132 form to the petitioner after signing it, and the petitioner would be responsible for filing it with the appropriate court. Usually, there is no fee for filing a petition unless the petition is for a conviction for driving under the influence of alcohol (23 V.S.A. § 1201(a)) committed when the offender was 25 or older. In this case, the petitioner can ask to waive the fee by completing and filing the Application to Waive Filing Fees and Service Costs form (600-00229). After filing the expungement petition and paying fees (if required), the judge will review the petition without a hearing.

However, if the prosecutor does not agree to stipulate, petitioners can complete the Petition to Expunge or Seal Criminal History form (200-00130) and file it with the Addison County Superior Court. As previously explained, there is usually no fee for filing an expungement petition, but in cases where there is, petitioners can ask the court to waive the fee. After receiving the petition, the court will notify the prosecutor of the petition. In turn, the prosecutor will notify any victim(s). Subsequently, the judge will review the petition without a hearing if the prosecutor agrees to the request. Otherwise, the court will schedule a hearing.

• The judge's decision: if the judge grants the petition, the court will send the order, sealing or expunging the petitioned record to the petitioner. The court will also notify the Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC), the arresting agency, the Restitution Unit of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, and other entities that may have the record. If the petition gets denied, the petitioner must wait at least two (2) years before filing another petition unless the court states otherwise.

Addison County Arrest Warrants

An Addison County arrest warrant is a court order that commands law enforcement officers or other authorized agents to apprehend a specific individual. A judge or magistrate may issue an arrest warrant upon finding probable cause that the prospective arrestee (the defendant) has committed a crime pursuant to an indictment or information presented to them. For a warrant to be valid, it must contain the defendant's name or any information that identifies them with reasonable certainty. It must also contain the issuing officer's details and command that the defendant be arrested without unreasonable delay.

Do Addison County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Addison County arrest warrants do not expire. As a result, an arrest warrant can last indefinitely pending the warrant's subject's arrest or death. Notwithstanding, the issuing court can cancel or recall a warrant based on new evidence.