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Milford Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Milford, Connecticut?

Arrest records are public in Milford, Connecticut, pursuant to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act (FOIA), Connecticut General Statutes § 1-200 et seq. This legislation establishes the presumption that records maintained by public agencies are accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law. The Connecticut FOIA mandates that government agencies, including law enforcement departments, make their records available for public inspection to promote transparency and accountability in governmental operations.

The Milford Police Department maintains arrest records as part of their official documentation of law enforcement activities. These records become public documents once they are filed with the court clerk's office or entered into the department's record management system. Members of the public may access these records to verify the actions of law enforcement agencies, conduct background checks, or for research purposes.

Certain exceptions to public disclosure may apply in cases involving:

Ongoing investigations where disclosure could compromise law enforcement efforts
Juvenile records, which are subject to stricter confidentiality requirements under Connecticut General Statutes § 46b-124
Records sealed by court order
Information that would constitute an invasion of personal privacy under Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210(b)(2)

How to Look Up Milford Arrest Records in 2025

Multiple official channels exist for accessing arrest records in Milford, Connecticut. Individuals seeking such information should consider the following methods:

In-Person Requests at the Milford Police Department: Citizens may submit formal requests for arrest records by visiting the Records Division of the Milford Police Department located at 430 Boston Post Road, Milford, CT 06460. The Records Division is open Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 4:00 PM. A valid government-issued photo identification must be presented, and applicable fees may apply in accordance with Connecticut General Statutes § 1-212.
Connecticut Judicial Branch Website: The State of Connecticut Judicial Branch maintains an online database of criminal cases that includes information about arrests and subsequent court proceedings. This resource is accessible through the Ansonia-Milford Public Information - Criminal Case Lookup portal.
State Police Bureau of Identification: For comprehensive criminal history information, individuals may contact the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification at 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457. Phone: (860) 685-8480. The bureau maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records for the entire state.
Freedom of Information Request: Written FOIA requests may be submitted to the Milford Police Department's Records Division. Requests must specify the information sought with reasonable particularity as required by Connecticut General Statutes § 1-210(a).

Contents of a Milford Arrest Record

Standard arrest records maintained by the Milford Police Department contain specific categories of information as mandated by Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142g. These records typically include:

Full legal name of the arrested individual and any documented aliases
Date, time, and specific location of the arrest
Statutory citation and description of the alleged criminal offense(s)
Case number and identifying information of the arresting agency
Booking photographs (mugshots) and fingerprint records
Demographic information including date of birth, gender, race, height, weight, and last known address
Arresting officer's name and badge number
Disposition information, if available (e.g., pending, dismissed, convicted)
Bail or bond amount set by the court
Warrant information, if applicable

The level of detail contained in publicly accessible versions of these records may vary based on the status of the case and applicable exemptions under Connecticut FOIA laws.

Legal Framework for Arrest Records in Connecticut

The management and disclosure of arrest records in Milford operate within a comprehensive legal framework established by state statutes and regulations. Connecticut General Statutes § 54-142a through § 54-142e govern the retention, disclosure, and erasure of criminal records.

Law enforcement agencies in Milford must adhere to the following legal requirements:

Records must be maintained in accordance with retention schedules established by the Connecticut State Library's Public Records Administrator
Arrest information must be reported to the Connecticut State Police Bureau of Identification within 24 hours as required by Connecticut General Statutes § 29-11
Disclosure of records must comply with both the Connecticut FOIA and the federal Privacy Act of 1974
Agencies must protect certain sensitive information from disclosure, including the identities of sexual assault victims and information that would compromise ongoing investigations

The Milford Police Department, as the primary law enforcement agency for the City of Milford, operates under the authority of the Milford Police Department and must balance the public's right to information with privacy protections established by law.

Expungement of Arrest Records in Milford

Connecticut law provides mechanisms for the erasure 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 automatic erasure after specified time periods:

Cases dismissed or nolled (not prosecuted): Records are erased 13 months after the disposition date
Cases resulting in not guilty verdicts: Records are erased immediately upon the finding of not guilty
Pardoned offenses: Records may be erased following the granting of a full pardon by the Board of Pardons and Paroles

For convictions, Connecticut's Clean Slate Law (Public Act No. 21-32) provides for the automatic erasure of certain criminal records after specified waiting periods:

Misdemeanor convictions: 7 years after the most recent judgment of conviction
Class D or E felonies and unclassified felonies with maximum penalties of less than 10 years: 10 years after the most recent judgment of conviction

Individuals seeking expungement outside of these automatic provisions must petition the Superior Court in the Ansonia-Milford Judicial District, located at 14 West River Street, Milford, CT 06460. Phone: (203) 877-4293.

The expungement process requires the submission of specific forms and may necessitate a court hearing. If granted, expungement results in the physical destruction or electronic deletion of arrest records from both public and law enforcement databases, effectively restoring the individual's record to its pre-arrest status.

Limitations on Use of Arrest Records

Connecticut law imposes significant restrictions on how arrest records may be used, particularly in employment contexts. Pursuant to Connecticut General Statutes § 31-51i and § 46a-80, employers are prohibited from:

Asking about arrests that did not lead to convictions
Discriminating against individuals solely based on their arrest record without a conviction
Considering erased criminal records in employment decisions

Additionally, Connecticut's "Ban the Box" legislation (Public Act No. 16-83) prohibits employers from inquiring about an applicant's criminal history on initial employment applications, with limited exceptions for positions where specific background check requirements are mandated by law.

The Connecticut Commission on Human Rights and Opportunities, located at 450 Columbus Boulevard, Hartford, CT 06103, Phone: (860) 541-3400, enforces these protections and investigates complaints of discrimination based on improper use of arrest records.