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Guilford Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Guilford, Connecticut?

Arrest records are public documents in Guilford, Connecticut, pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 1-200 et seq., commonly known as the Freedom of Information Act (FOIA). This legislation establishes the presumption that records maintained by governmental agencies, including law enforcement entities, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The Connecticut FOIA mandates that arrest records be made available to promote governmental transparency, ensure public safety awareness, and maintain accountability within the criminal justice system.

The Guilford Police Department, as a public agency, is required to maintain and provide access to arrest records in accordance with state regulations. Members of the public may inspect these records during normal business hours, subject to reasonable fees for reproduction costs as permitted under Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212.

How to Look Up Guilford Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist through which members of the public may access arrest records in Guilford, Connecticut. The following methods are available for conducting arrest record searches:

In-Person Requests at the Guilford Police Department: Citizens may submit requests directly at the department headquarters. Proper identification may be required, and applicable fees may apply for document reproduction.

Guilford Police Department
400 Church Street
Guilford, CT 06437
(203) 453-8061
Guilford Police Department
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM

New Haven County Superior Court: Court records related to arrests and subsequent proceedings may be accessed through the clerk's office.

New Haven County Superior Court
235 Church Street
New Haven, CT 06510
(860) 263-2700
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Connecticut Judicial Branch Website: The state's judicial branch maintains an online case lookup system for court records related to arrests.
Written Requests: Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212, written requests may be submitted to the Records Division of the Guilford Police Department. Requests must include specific information to facilitate record location, including the subject's full name, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest if known.

Contents of a Guilford Arrest Record

Arrest records maintained by the Guilford Police Department and accessible to the public typically contain the following categories of information as prescribed by Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142g:

Biographical Information: Full legal name of the arrested individual, date of birth, physical description, and residential address at time of arrest
Arrest Details: Date, time, and location of the arrest; statutory charges filed; case/docket number
Arresting Authority: Name and badge number of the arresting officer(s) and the law enforcement agency involved
Booking Information: Processing details, including fingerprinting and photographing documentation
Custody Status: Information regarding bail or bond amounts, release conditions, or detention status
Court Appearance: Scheduled court dates, hearing information, and judicial district assignment
Case Disposition: Final outcome of the case if adjudicated, including dismissal, conviction, or acquittal information

Certain information may be redacted from public arrest records in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210(b), including but not limited to:

Information that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy
Records of juvenile arrests (under 18 years of age) except in limited circumstances
Information that might compromise ongoing investigations
Medical or mental health information

Legal Framework for Public Access to Arrest Records

The accessibility of arrest records in Guilford is governed by a comprehensive legal framework that balances public transparency with individual privacy rights. Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act establishes the foundational principle that government records, including arrest documentation, shall be available for public inspection with limited exceptions.

Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 1-215, law enforcement agencies must disclose basic arrest information within 24 hours of an arrest. This information includes:

Name and address of the person arrested
Date, time, and place of the arrest
Criminal charges
Circumstances surrounding the arrest

The Connecticut Supreme Court, in Commissioner of Public Safety v. Freedom of Information Commission, 312 Conn. 513 (2014), clarified that while basic arrest information must be disclosed promptly, additional documentation may be withheld if its release would prejudice a pending prosecution.

Law enforcement agencies may impose reasonable fees for the reproduction of arrest records as permitted under Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212. As of 2025, the standard fee structure for the Guilford Police Department is as follows:

Paper copies: $0.50 per page
Certified copies: $2.00 per document
Electronic records: $20.00 per storage device

Expungement of Arrest Records in Guilford

Connecticut law provides mechanisms through which eligible individuals may petition for the erasure or expungement of arrest records under specific circumstances. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a, records of arrests that did not result in convictions may be eligible for erasure as follows:

Cases resulting in dismissal: Records may be erased 13 months after the date of dismissal
Cases resulting in nolle prosequi: Records may be erased 13 months after the entry of such disposition
Cases resulting in not guilty verdicts: Records may be automatically erased upon the finding of not guilty or dismissal

The erasure process effectively seals the arrest record from public view, though certain governmental agencies may retain limited access for specific purposes as permitted by statute. The Connecticut Board of Pardons and Paroles administers the pardon process for convicted offenses, which may result in the erasure of associated arrest records.

To initiate an expungement petition, eligible individuals must:

File an application with the Superior Court where the case was adjudicated
Pay applicable filing fees (approximately $75 as of 2025)
Attend a scheduled hearing if required by the court
Demonstrate eligibility under relevant statutory provisions

Legal representation is not required but may be beneficial in navigating the expungement process. The Connecticut Legal Aid Society provides assistance to income-eligible individuals seeking expungement of arrest records.

Connecticut Legal Aid Society
426 State Street
New Haven, CT 06510
(203) 946-4811
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Restrictions on Use of Arrest Records

Connecticut law imposes significant restrictions on the use of arrest records for employment and housing decisions. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 46a-80, employers are prohibited from disqualifying a person from employment solely because of a prior arrest or criminal charge that did not result in conviction.

The Connecticut Fair Chance Employment Act, effective as of January 1, 2023, further prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history until after a conditional offer of employment has been extended. Violations of these provisions may result in complaints filed with the Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities.

Similarly, housing providers are restricted in their consideration of arrest records when evaluating rental applications. The use of arrest records that did not result in conviction as the basis for housing denial may constitute discrimination under Connecticut's housing laws.