Arrest records are public documents in Shelton, Connecticut, pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Connecticut General Statutes § 1-200 et seq. This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including those pertaining to arrests made within municipal jurisdictions. The Connecticut FOIA operates under the presumption that all government records are open for public inspection unless specifically exempted by statute.
The Shelton Police Department maintains arrest records in accordance with state regulations and makes these records available to members of the public upon proper request. Certain information may be redacted from these records to protect ongoing investigations, juvenile privacy, or other statutorily protected information as outlined in Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210(b).
Public access to arrest records serves multiple governmental and societal functions:
Members of the public seeking arrest records in Shelton have several authorized methods to obtain this information. The following procedures have been established to facilitate public access while maintaining proper record management protocols:
The Shelton Police Department accepts in-person requests for arrest records during regular business hours. Requestors must complete a standard records request form and may be required to present identification.
Shelton Police Department
85 Wheeler Street
Shelton, CT 06484
(203) 924-1544
Shelton Police Department official website
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM, excluding holidays
The Shelton Police Department maintains an online portal where certain arrest information is published. This resource includes recent arrest logs and is updated on a regular basis in compliance with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-215, which requires disclosure of specific arrest information within 24 hours.
Written requests for arrest records may be submitted via postal mail to the Records Division of the Shelton Police Department. All written requests must include:
The Shelton City Clerk's Office maintains certain public records that may include information related to arrests and court proceedings within the municipality.
Shelton City Clerk's Office
54 Hill Street
Shelton, CT 06484
(203) 924-1555 ext. 1503
Shelton City Clerk official website
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM, excluding holidays
Arrest records maintained by the Shelton Police Department typically contain the following categories of information as prescribed by Connecticut General Statutes § 1-215:
It should be noted that pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a, records of arrests that did not lead to conviction or that resulted in dismissals may be subject to erasure provisions and may not appear in publicly accessible records after statutory time periods have elapsed.
While arrest records are generally public in Shelton, Connecticut law establishes several important exceptions and limitations to public access. These restrictions are codified in various sections of the Connecticut General Statutes and are enforced by records custodians:
The following categories of arrest records are subject to restricted access:
Certain information within otherwise public arrest records may be redacted, including:
The Shelton Police Department and other records custodians are required to review records prior to release to ensure compliance with these statutory protections.
Connecticut law provides mechanisms for the expungement or erasure of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. This process removes eligible records from public access and, in some cases, from government databases entirely.
Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a, arrest records may be eligible for erasure under the following circumstances:
Individuals seeking expungement of arrest records in Shelton must:
Connecticut Superior Court - Judicial District of Ansonia-Milford
14 West River Street
Milford, CT 06460
(203) 283-8260
When an arrest record is expunged pursuant to Connecticut law:
Individuals with questions about the expungement process should consult with a licensed attorney familiar with Connecticut criminal record procedures or review the Shelton municipal code for local provisions that may affect record access.