Arrest records are public in Hartford County, 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, with certain statutory exceptions. The Connecticut FOIA operates under the presumption that government records are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
The State of Connecticut maintains this policy to ensure transparency in law enforcement operations and to uphold the public's right to information. Residents and non-residents alike may request access to arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies within Hartford County. These agencies are required by law to respond to such requests within statutory timeframes, typically four business days for acknowledgment and a reasonable period for fulfillment.
Certain information within arrest records may be redacted in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210(b), which provides exemptions for information that may compromise ongoing investigations, violate personal privacy, or endanger individuals.
Hartford County arrest records are accessible through various online platforms maintained by state and local government agencies. The Connecticut Judicial Branch provides electronic access to court records through its online portal, which includes information on criminal cases resulting from arrests in Hartford County.
The Connecticut State Police and local police departments within Hartford County maintain online databases that may include arrest information. These resources are available to the public in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212, which governs the electronic distribution of public records.
Users should note that online access may be subject to certain limitations:
For comprehensive arrest record searches, the Connecticut Department of Correction Inmate Information Search provides a searchable database of individuals currently in custody or under supervision.
Members of the public seeking Hartford County arrest records in 2025 have multiple avenues available for conducting searches. The following procedures comply with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212 regarding public access to government records:
Submit a written request to the Records Division of the Hartford County law enforcement agency that made the arrest. Requests must include the subject's full name, date of birth (if known), and approximate date of arrest.
Visit the Hartford County Courthouse in person to access public terminals for searching court records related to arrests:
Hartford County Superior Court
95 Washington Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-548-2700
Connecticut Judicial Branch
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Access the Connecticut State Police Reports and Records portal for arrests made by state troopers within Hartford County.
Submit a request through the Freedom of Information portal maintained by the relevant municipal police department. Most Hartford County police departments provide FOIA request forms on their official websites.
For arrests resulting in incarceration, utilize the Department of Correction's online inmate lookup system, which provides information on current and former inmates.
Requestors should be prepared to pay applicable fees for record retrieval and copying as permitted under Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212(a). Fees typically range from $0.25 per page for paper copies to $20-25 for certified records.
Hartford County arrest records contain standardized information as required by Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142g. These official documents typically include the following elements:
Subject identification information: Full legal name, aliases, date of birth, address, physical description, and identification numbers (state ID, FBI number)
Arrest details: Date, time, and location of arrest; arresting agency; name and badge number of arresting officer; legal authority for arrest (warrant or probable cause)
Offense information: Statutory citations of alleged violations; classification of offenses (felony or misdemeanor); narrative description of the alleged criminal activity
Post-arrest processing data: Booking photographs (mugshots); fingerprint records; property inventory; medical screening information
Case disposition information: Court appearance dates; bail or bond amounts; plea information; case outcomes if available
Victim information may be redacted in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 54-86e, which protects the identity of victims in certain cases
The Connecticut State Police maintain standardized arrest record formats that comply with FBI Uniform Crime Reporting requirements. Local police departments within Hartford County generally follow similar documentation standards to ensure consistency across jurisdictions.
Connecticut law provides mechanisms for the expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a, records of arrests that did not lead to convictions may qualify for erasure. The expungement process in Hartford County operates as follows:
Automatic erasure occurs when:
For cases resulting in conviction, individuals may petition for erasure under the following circumstances:
The petition process requires submission of appropriate forms to the Superior Court where the case was adjudicated:
Hartford Superior Court - GA 14
101 Lafayette Street
Hartford, CT 06106
860-566-3925
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Petitioners should be aware that certain serious offenses, including violent crimes and sexual offenses, may be ineligible for expungement under Connecticut law. Additionally, while state records may be expunged, federal records or private database records may require separate processes for removal.
The Connecticut Probate Court Case Lookup system may provide information on certain expungement proceedings that fall under probate jurisdiction.