Washington County Arrest Records

Carrying out arrests is a core part of law enforcement duties in Washington County. An arrest becomes necessary when a person is reasonably suspected to have committed a crime. When a suspect has been arrested, the person is immediately taken to the station to be booked. After being booked, the arresting agency generates an arrest record to document necessary information on the arrest.

Apprehended suspects are held in the Washington County jail pending trial or bail. If the suspect is tried in court for the arrest charges, the individual's arrest records become part of the Washington County court records. Inquirers can search these court records to obtain arrest information on individuals.

Are Arrest Records Public in Washington County?

Yes. Arrest records are public under Vermont's Public Records Law. The statute allows any individual to examine or obtain a copy of an arrest record maintained by a Washington County law enforcement agency.

However, some arrest records are subject to statutory exemptions. These exemptions may be to protect sensitive information or ensure confidentiality in some instances. Arrest records exempt from the public's access include:

• Arrest records of juveniles
• Arrest record information pertaining to an ongoing investigation
• Personal information of the victims of certain cases
• Sensitive personal information of individuals
• Medical records
• Sealed and expunged arrest records

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information may be found in a Washington County public arrest record:

• The arrestee's personal information: Full name, date of birth, gender, and body description
• The charges
• The arresting agency and officer
• The date, time, and location of the arrest
• The booking number and photograph (mugshot)
• Bail amount, if applicable
• Court dates

Washington County Arrest Statistics

Interested persons can access the most recent arrest statistics reported for Washington County on the FBI's Crime Data Explorer page. The Crime Data Explorer discloses arrest data by reporting agency. Researchers can select any of Washington County's 14 reporting agencies on the portal to access their arrest data. Researchers may also contact local law enforcement agencies in Washington County to submit an arrest statistics request.

Find Washington County Arrest Records

Washington County law enforcement agencies retain the arrest records of individuals they arrest. If the agency in custody of the desired arrest record is known, inquirers can contact/visit it to access the record. If the agency that made the arrest is unknown, inquirers can query the Sheriff's Office instead. Inquiries about the arrest records of individuals detained in the Washington County jail can also be made to the Sheriff's Office.

State offenders are housed in state-run correctional facilities across the state. Nonetheless, the Vermont Department of Corrections (DOC) manages both in-state and out-of-state Vermont inmates. Researchers can search for state inmates using their names on the DOC's PublicUseFile portal.

The Bureau of Prisons (BOP) is the agency in charge of inmates on a federal level. The Inmate Locator tool on the BOP's website enables individuals to search for federal inmates. A federal inmate can be located using their full name, FBI number, DCDC number, INS number, or BOP Register number.

Free Arrest Record Search in Washington County

Inquirers can search for a Washington County arrest record for free through third-party resources. These third-party resources are remote online platforms that interested individuals can access from anywhere if they have an internet connection. To search for a record, a researcher will need to furnish the third-party resource with the arrestee's name or a case number if the arrestee was charged in court. These platforms may provide additional filters to help a researcher constrain the search results if the arrestee's name is common. Once a search has been completed, the search portal may disclose information about the arrest incident to the researcher. However, the third-party vendor may require a fee to disclose the entire record.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

If an individual is arrested in Washington County, law enforcement is required to preserve the arrest record unless otherwise directed by the court. This means that the arrest will remain on the arrestee's record indefinitely.

However, under 13 V.S.A. § 7609, individuals convicted of a "qualifying crime" between 18 and 21 may be eligible for automatic expungement of their arrest records. Qualifying crimes in Vermont refer to specific offenses that are generally eligible for sealing or expungement. If the offender is eligible, the court will order the expungement of their arrest record within 30 days of the completion of the conditions of their sentence.

Vermont also allows for the sealing and expungement of arrest records for individuals outside the 18 to 21 age range under specific conditions. This provision allows individuals to erase or restrict access to their arrest records from public view when it is in the furtherance of justice.

Expunge Washington County Arrest Records

The provisions for sealing and expunging arrest records in Washington County, Vermont, are outlined under 13 V.S.A. §§ 7601-7611. The sealing or expungement procedure in Vermont differs depending on the individual's conviction status.

If an individual was arrested for a crime but received no conviction on the following basis:

• No probable cause determination is made at the time of arraignment
• The charge is dismissed before trial without prejudice

The court may order the sealing or expungement of the arrest record within 60 days after the final disposition, provided no objections are made by either party (defendant or prosecutor). If an objection to the sealing or expungement is made, the court will hold a hearing to determine if the sealing or expungement action serves in the interest of justice. Individuals can also petition the court to have their arrest record sealed or expunged outside the 60-day period. The court is required to expunge any no-conviction arrest record after it has been sealed for eight years except if objections exist.

If an arrest leads to a conviction, the arrestee may file for the sealing or expungement of the arrest from their record under the following circumstances:

• If the conviction was for a qualifying crime or multiple qualifying crimes arising out of the same incident
• If the conviction was for a crime no longer prohibited by law or classified as a criminal offense
• If the individual was convicted of a crime under 23 V.S.A. § 1201 (a) or § 1091 relating to driving under the influence, provided the act did not cause severe injury or death
• If the person was convicted of burglary at age 25 or younger without the use of a deadly weapon

If an eligible individual files for the sealing or expungement of an arrest record, and the respondent (State Attorney General) agrees, the record will be sealed or expunged without a hearing. If the respondent objects to the petition, a court hearing will occur to determine the best course of action.

With or without a hearing, the court can only grant the sealing or expungement petition under the following conditions:

• If five or ten years, depending on the case, have passed since the completion of the sentence.
• The petitioner did not have a felony conviction in the previous seven years and a misdemeanor conviction in the last five years.
• If the petitioner has paid all restitution and surcharges.
• If the sealing or expungement is deemed in the interest of justice.

If the offense for which the conviction occurred is no longer considered a crime, the sealing or expungement petition is generally granted once the sentence's conditions are met. Depending on the crime, several particularities may also apply to the expungement procedure.

If a petition is rejected, the petitioner can only file a new one two years after the rejection unless the court authorizes a shorter waiting period.

Washington County Arrest Warrants

When a person is suspected of committing a crime in Washington County, a law enforcement agency may submit a complaint to the court requesting an arrest warrant. An arrest warrant is a written order issued by a judge that permits law enforcement to arrest and detain a suspect. Per 13 V.S.A. § 5503, an arrest warrant will not be issued until an officer submits a complaint and the sitting judge has carefully examined the complaint. The judge will heed the request if the evidence in the complaint is satisfactory.

A Washington County arrest warrant will generally include:

• The name of the accused or a suitable description if the name is unknown
• The charges for which the warrant was issued
• The name and signature of the issuing judge
• The date of issuance
• A written order demanding the apprehension of the suspect

Individuals can search for active arrest warrants at the Sheriff's Office or through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal.

Do Washington County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Washington County arrest warrants generally do not expire. Law enforcement will apprehend an individual no matter how long the warrant has existed. A warrant may only become ineffective if the court recalls the warrant. A recall may happen if the reason for the arrest no longer exists or the warrant's issuance is found to be erroneous. However, a warrant can always be reissued if probable cause exists for the person's arrest.