Rutland County Arrest Records

Arrest records are valuable for researching and analyzing individual criminal history and how the criminal justice system functions. Arrest data not only informs the public but is also useful to judicial officers during criminal court staff, in criminal court proceedings and appeals, and in evaluating the behavior of law enforcement officials.

Generally, after an individual has been arrested for violating criminal laws or disrupting law and order, the arresting agency records and documents their personal information and all details about the arrest. This process is called booking, and the information recorded is an arrest record.

Arrest records contain information about events leading up to and at the time of the arrest, the location, date, and time of arrest, the name and identity of the suspect, their fingerprint, photograph (mugshot), physical description, and reason for the arrest. Rutland County arrest records are filed and maintained by the Rutland County Sheriff's Office. Arrest information may also be accessible in Rutland County Court Records filed by the county court clerk and criminal history records at the Vermont Crime Information Center.

Are Arrest Records Public in Rutland County?

Yes. In accordance with the provisions of Vermont Statutes 1 V.S.A. § 316, any person may inspect or copy any record of any public agency. Individuals may access and copy arrest records or other public documents in the custody of the Rutland County Sheriff's Office, City Police Departments, the Rutland County Courts, and other state and local law enforcement agencies, boards, or departments during customary business hours or allotted hours.

If the agency maintains arrest records in standard paper or electronic formats, all such records, regardless of their form or features, must be made available for copying in the format requested by the requesting party. The agency is authorized to charge the applicants all associated search, copying, and record production fees.

Not all government documents constitute public information; some records are sealed or exempt from public disclosure by court order or statute. These exemptions prohibit the divulgence of confidential and privileged information that may interfere with law enforcement investigations and procedures. 1 V.S.A. § 317 (c) references public records and information exempt from public inspection and copying.

• Personal Identification Information: Social security number (SSN), passport number, driver's license number, personal address, phone number, taxpayer identification number, and financial information.
• Records designated as confidential
• The name or identity of any confidential source, witness, or victim
• Where such disclosure will reasonably interfere with enforcement proceedings
• Where such disclosure may constitute an unwarranted invasion of privacy
• Where such disclosure would deprive a person of a right to a fair trial or an impartial adjudication
• Where disclosure may endanger the life and safety of an individual.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Rutland County, Vermont, will typically contain the following information:

• Arrestee personal information: The arrestee's full name, date of birth, age, etc
• Mugshot or booking photo
• Physical description: Race, ethnicity, sex, height, weight, hair and eye color, visible scars, and tattoos.
• Arrest and booking Information: City of arrest, booking number, booking officer, booking date and time, arresting agency and officer, arrest time and date.
• Charge: Description of the charge, offense count, class of offense (felony or misdemeanor)
• Bail information: Eligibility for bail, bond amount, and conditions for release
• Outstanding warrants (if any)
• Other comments by the arresting officer or agency.

Rutland County Arrest Statistics

Arrest data retrieved from the Federal Bureau of Investigation's Crime Data Explorer reveals that law enforcement agencies in Rutland County made 3,103 arrests in 2023. The Rutland Police Department alone recorded 1,973 arrests, which accounts for 63.58 percent of the total arrests in 2023.

That year, the most popular crimes in Rutland County were violent and property crimes. The most prevalent offenses were Larceny (592 arrests), simple assault (415 arrests), driving under the influence (351 arrests), aggravated assault (215 arrests), disorderly conduct, and drug/narcotic offenses.

Find Rutland County Arrest Records

The Rutland County Sheriff's Office is responsible for creating and maintaining records of all arrests occurring in the county. Persons in need of arrest information are advised to contact the Rutland County Sheriff's Office to inquire about its procedures for requesting records, fees, office hours, appointments, and ID requirements. Depending on the availability of such service, individuals may be able to send mail requests for copies of arrest records.

People living in Rutland County may also try contacting other local law enforcement agencies. The arrested person may have been transferred to a state or federal prison or may be in a holding facility within the county. In this case, one can look up Rutland County Inmate Booking Records or Vermont Department of Corrections Offender Locator.

Rutland County Sheriff's Office
88 Grove Street
Rutland, VT
Phone: (802) 775-8002
Fax: (802) 775-1794

Free Arrest Record Search in Rutland County

Rutland County arrest records may be accessed for free at the Sheriff's Office or online at the Rutland County Sheriff's Office website. The office releases news on arrests and other events that occur in the county. However, this information available online is not updated often. Residents are advised to contact the county sheriff's office or other city police departments for more recent arrest information

Interested parties can also search arrest records online using third-party aggregate search sites. These sites primarily compile information from various states in a single database. However, these service providers are not affiliated with the government. As a result, the information available on these sites may not be up to date, making it inaccurate and incomplete.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. In Vermont, an arrest will remain on a person's public record unless it is expunged or sealed. The effect of expunging a record is that it permanently removes all traces of an individual's criminal record or arrest from public view. An expunged or sealed record will not be publicly accessible, and the person named in the record does not have to acknowledge the record on applications. To expunge/delete a record, the record owner has to file an application at the court in the county where they were arrested or where the charge was filed.

Expunge Rutland County Arrest Records

Where an individual is arrested and charged, but there is no conviction, they may be eligible to petition the court subject to certain conditions. Persons who wish to expunge their arrest record must meet eligibility requirements per Vermont Crimes and Procedure Code 13 V.S.A. § 7603. The court shall issue an order sealing the records of arrest and other criminal records related to the arrest of a person within 60 days after the final disposition of the case if:

• The court did not establish probable cause to believe the defendant committed the offense at the time of arraignment
• The charges are dismissed before trial without prejudice or at any time
• The prosecuting attorney and defendant specify or request that the court grant a petition to seal the record.

Unless a party objects in the interest of justice, the court shall issue an order expunging the arrest record within 60 days after the final hearing of a case if the defendant was acquitted of the charges or the case was dismissed without prejudice or at any time, the prosecuting attorney and defendant specify or request that the court grant a petition to seal the record. An individual may file a petition to the court to seal or expunge criminal history records relating to an arrest at any time if it satisfies any of the above conditions.

Suppose a petition for expungement is denied by the court pursuant to 13 V.S.A. § 7603 or any other applicable sections. In that case, the law mandates a two-year wait period before another petition can be brought before the court, except the court authorizes a shorter duration (13 V.S.A. § 7605).

Once the court finds that the requirement for expungement has been satisfied, the court shall issue an order to annul the record of arrest and other related official records. That person shall be treated as though they were never arrested for the offense. The court will issue a notice of the order to the respondent, Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC), the arresting agency, the Restitution Unit of the Vermont Center for Crime Victim Services, and any other entity that may have a record related to the order to expunge (13 V.S.A. § 7606).

Rutland County Arrest Warrants

To obtain a warrant for arrest in Rutland County, the prosecuting officer or law enforcement officer will request (in an indictment presented on oath and an affidavit) a judicial office (judge, magistrate, or court clerk) to issue a warrant for the arrest of the named defendant. The prosecuting officer must present documents, including an oath and affidavit made before the judicial officer, showing probable cause to believe that an offense has been committed and the defendant has committed it. The arrest warrant shall be directed to any law enforcement officer and must state the name of the defendant or, if the defendant's name is unknown, any alias or description that can reasonably identify the defendant. An arrest warrant commands that the defendant be arrested and brought without unnecessary delay before the nearest available trial court (Vt. R. Crim. P. 4)

Do Rutland County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants do not expire. However, certain factors may affect their validity. Warrants issued for misdemeanors may last shorter periods before they are recalled, but if the criminal charge for which the subject named in the warrant is to be arrested is a felony, the warrant may last for several years.

There is also the factor of statute of limitation to consider. Note that the statute of limitations applies to crimes and not to warrants. In many jurisdictions, the issuance of a warrant satisfies the statute of limitation, and action will not be strictly barred. Therefore, the offender can still be arrested and brought before the court to answer the charges up to and over 10 years after the warrant is issued. If a person suspects a warrant out for their arrest, it is crucial to go to the police or consult an attorney to answer the charges as soon as possible.