Orleans County Arrest Records

In Orleans County, an arrest involves bringing a person into custody for an alleged criminal offense. Arrests may be carried out with or without a warrant (provided a reasonable law enforcement agent has probable cause to suspect the perpetration or intended perpetration of a crime).

Once an arrest is made, the suspects are booked into jail. During the booking process, the officer in charge retrieves the arrestees' personal information and records the arrest details. This information is then collated to form arrest records. Suspects are usually held at the Northern State Correctional Facility (NSCF) managed by the Vermont Department of Corrections, pending arraignment and sentencing.

Orleans County arrest records are officially documented reports that reveal the events preceding the arrest, personal information about the arrestee, and other information about the arresting agency. In Orleans County, arrest records are typically maintained by the Sheriff's Office and other local police departments. However, inquirers may find arrest information in records maintained by criminal justice agencies such as the Vermont Crime Information Center. Arrest information may also be featured within Orleans County Court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Orleans County?

Yes, According to 1 V.S.A. § 316, anyone may request to inspect and copy records maintained by public agencies, including the Sheriff's Office, local police departments, and County courts. Therefore, interested persons may request access to arrest records from Orleans County.

Nonetheless, not all arrest records are publicly available for inspection and copying. Generally, arrest records and information that may interfere with ongoing investigations or divulge personal information are exempt and prohibited from public access by state laws. As stated in 1 V.S.A. § 317(c), the following arrest records and information are typically exempt from public access:

• Identifying information about confidential witnesses, informants, and victims
• Arrest records involving juveniles, mentally challenged persons, and sexual assault victims
• Personal information such as social security numbers, telephone numbers, taxpayer ID numbers, financial statements, driver's license numbers or passport information
• Arrest records that have been sealed, expunged, or tagged confidential by law.

While exempt records are typically unavailable for public inspection, record subjects, their legal representatives, and other government entities with legitimate interests may be granted access to exempt records. In addition, an individual may petition a court to provide access to these records in cases where the need for their disclosure outweighs the need for prohibition.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Orleans County, a publicly available arrest record will typically reveal the following information:

• Personal information about the arrested individual, including their complete name, gender and birth date
• A physical description stating the gender, hair/eye color, race, height, and weight of the arrestee. The presence of scars, tattoos, and marks may also be indicated
• The charges filed against the suspect (offense type, class, and count)
• Mugshots or photos taken during the suspect's booking process
• Arresting information such as the name of the agency/ agent handling the arrest, arrest date/ time, location of the arrest, and events preceding the arrest
• Booking information, including the booking date, time, facility, and officer in charge
• Bail information, including the amount, eligibility, and requirements for release
• Arrest warrant information (if available)

Orleans County Arrest Statistics

Based on the information provided in the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the total number of arrests in Orleans County for 2023 was 128. The most common offenses recorded in Orleans County in 2023 were larceny(21), driving under the influence(20), drug possession(7), and simple assault(4).

Find Orleans County Arrest Records

The Orleans County Sheriff's Office is the official custodian of arrest records created in the County. Interested parties may contact the Sheriff's Office to inquire about the processes, fees, alternatives, and identifications required to request, inspect, and copy arrest records. The contact information of the Sheriff's Office is provided below:

Orleans County Sheriff's Office
5578 US- Route 5
P.O. Box 355
Derby, Newport, VT 05855
Phone: (802) 334-3333
Fax: (802) 334-3307

Most city police departments also keep records of the arrests that occur within their jurisdiction. Persons seeking arrest records may query the relevant police department to obtain them. In addition, inquirers may review the Orleans County inmate booking records or utilize the Vermont Department of Corrections Offender Locator to retrieve arrest records and information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Orleans County

Record seekers may access Orleans County arrest records for free by visiting the Sheriff's Office in person. The Sheriff's Office also uploads press releases on the latest arrests on its official website for free public inspection. However, the press releases are not updated daily. Residents are generally advised to contact the Sheriff's Office directly to access recent arrest records.

Interested persons may also search for arrest records for Orleans County online for free via third-party websites. Third-party aggregate sites usually provide users with an extensive database of information from various repositories. They require basic search criteria such as a name or filing date. However, these websites are usually not government-affiliated and may contain inaccurate, outdated, or incomplete information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Arrest records created by law enforcement agencies in Orleans County will typically remain permanently on a subject's records unless they are sealed or expunged under State laws.

Expunge Orleans County Arrest Records

Vermont State laws permit qualifying record subjects to expunge or seal their arrest records. In expungement, all documents related to the subject's interactions with the criminal justice system are physically destroyed, whereas sealed records are only kept private from public disclosure. Persons seeking to expunge their Orleans County arrest records must meet the Vermont Crimes and Procedure Code 13 V.S.A. § 7603 criteria.

Eligible adults may proceed to file a duly completed Petition to Expunge or Seal Criminal History form; juveniles may use the Petition to Expunge (Juvenile Diversion) form to process their application. Petition forms are to be filed with a Court of jurisdiction alongside the necessary supporting documents and fees. If the court grants the petition, a notice of the order is issued to the applicant, the Vermont Crime Information Center, the prosecuting agency, and other relevant government entities according to 13 V.S.A. § 7606. Additional information on record expungement is available on the Vermont Judiciary webpage.

Orleans County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Orleans County is an official writ issued by a judge demanding the apprehension and detention of an individual suspected of committing a crime. Arrest warrants are usually directed to a law enforcement agency or a designated peace officer for execution.

For an arrest warrant to be issued in Orleans County, a prosecuting officer or law enforcement agent (with probable cause based on facts, observations, eyewitness testimony, or information) may petition a judicial officer (a clerk, judge, or magistrate) to issue a warrant for the arrest of a named defendant. The prosecuting officer is expected to submit the documents backing the claims, including an affidavit and oath, to the issuing judicial official.

If there is probable cause, the judicial official issues an arrest warrant for the immediate arrest of the suspect, stating that the subject be brought before the nearest trial court without delay, according to Vt. R. Crim. P. 4. An issued arrest warrant typically contains the suspect's name or aliases, a physical description of the suspect, the name of the prosecuting agency/ agent, and the reasons for the arrest.

Do Orleans County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Once an arrest warrant is issued in Orleans County, it remains valid until it is executed, the subject appears before a judge, or the subject dies. A court may also decide to quash or recall an arrest warrant for various legal reasons, including wrong information or inadequate probable cause.

However, the statutes of limitations attached to crimes may also influence the validity of an arrest warrant. For instance, an arrest warrant for a misdemeanor may be recalled in a shorter time than one for felony charges.