Armstrong County Arrest Records

An arrest record in Armstrong County is an official document that provides details of individuals taken into custody by the law enforcement agencies in the County.

Following an arrest, the arrested individuals are booked and subsequently detained in the Armstrong County Jail pending arraignment or posting of bail. The enforcement agency in charge of the arrest creates arrest records from information retrieved during the booking process and makes them available to the public on request. The Armstrong County Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian for arrest records produced in the County.

Arrest records report the events surrounding the apprehension and detention of individuals suspected of committing crimes or violating state laws. Arrest records alone may not establish guilt as they do not contain information about convictions or sentences. Details of arrests that lead to an arraignment or conviction may be available in Armstrong County court records. Like other public records, these arrest and court records may be inspected and duplicated by interested persons.

Are Arrest Records Public in Armstrong County?

Yes. Per the Pennsylvania Right-to-Know Law (65 P.S. §§ 67.101 - 67.3104), Armstrong County arrest records are usually considered public records. Under this law, anyone can request, inspect, and copy arrest records in Armstrong County. However, certain information in arrest records are not publicly available as contained in §708 of the Right-to-Know Law. Some of these restricted arrest records and information include:

• Records connected to ongoing investigations of a law enforcement agency
• Arrest records that have been expunged, sealed, or tagged confidential by law
• Medical, health, and hospital records and information
• Victim and witness information that may breach privacy and security
• Personal identifying information such as social security number, driver's license number, and home addresses

Requestors are to note that juvenile and minor arrest records are generally unavailable for public access. Nonetheless, members of the public may be able to access the following juvenile arrest records and information:

• Arrest records of juveniles between ages 12 and 13 related to cases of rape, manslaughter, murder, aggravated assaults, and other severe criminal offenses
• Records of minors aged 14 years or more who would have been tried for a felony if they were adults
• Cases where national security warrants the disclosure of juvenile records
• Juvenile records that have been subpoenaed or have a court order attached to their disclosure

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Pennsylvania, public access to criminal history records, including arrest records, is governed by the Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA). Under this act, public access is freely available for arrest records that led to a conviction. Accessing records of arrests that did not result in a conviction and juvenile arrest records may require a court order. Per the CHRIA, the following information contained in Armstrong County arrest records is available to the public:

• Name and birth information of the arrestee
• Gender, race, and residency of the arrestee
• Physical descriptions of the arrestee, including tattoos and marks
• Mugshots or photographs taken during the booking process
• The time and place of the arrest, including detention facility information if available
• The alleged offense or reason for the arrest
• Arresting agency and name of the officer handling the arrest
• Bail, bond, and release details where applicable
• Custody and arrest status
• Previous arrests, probation, and parole information
• Details of the arraignment and case disposition

Armstrong County Arrest Statistics

The Pennsylvania State Police publishes arrest statistics through its Uniform Crime Reporting Program tagged "Crime in Pennsylvania". Based on data published by the State Police, in 2023, Armstrong County recorded 477 adult and juvenile arrests. Compared to figures reported in 2022, there was a decline in the arrest rate by 21.80%. Simple assault(336) had the most number of arrests, followed by larceny (87) and aggravated assaults(28). The less common crimes for which persons were arrested in that year were rape (4), robbery (1) and motor vehicle theft(4).

Find Armstrong County Arrest Records

The Armstrong County Sheriff's Office, in collaboration with other local police departments in the County, maintains arrest records and makes them available for inspection and copying. Most of these agencies also provide online search tools on their websites for public access to inmate information and arrest records. Concerned persons may submit requests in person, online, or via mail to:

Armstrong County Sheriff's Office
Armstrong County Courthouse
500 E. Market Street, Suite 106
Kittanning, PA 16201
Phone: (724) 548-3265
Fax: (724) 548-3264
email: sheriff@co.armstrong.pa.us

Interested persons may also obtain arrest records and inmate information from the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate/Parole Locator. To use this locator, an inquirer must provide search criteria such as a name, committing County, current location, inmate number, gender, birth date, or age. The Federal Bureau of Prisons' Inmate Locator is another option for obtaining information about persons arrested by federal enforcement agencies for committing federal crimes.

Free Arrest Record Search in Armstrong County

Residents of Armstrong County may typically have access to arrest records free of charge by visiting the custodial office during business hours. Inspecting arrest records at the record custodian's physical location might be free of charge, but requesting copies of the records may require the payment of a fee. Alternatively, online search tools like the Armstrong County Jail inmate inquiry page may provide details of an arrest and arrestee at no cost.

In addition, record seekers may be able to obtain free arrest record information from some third-party websites. These third-party websites provide free online access to interested individuals. An arrest record search may be conducted by name, birth date, or location on these sites. While third-party websites provide convenient and swift access to arrest records, the accuracy and authenticity of the information they provide may not be guaranteed.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. An Armstrong County arrest record will typically remain on the subject's record for a lifetime unless a petition for expungement or sealing such records is granted. Pennsylvania laws make provisions for the expungement or sealing of certain arrest records. Eligible individuals may apply for expungement or sealing their records, thereby limiting public access to them.

Expunge Armstrong County Arrest Records

An expungement in Armstrong County is a legal process that erases a criminal or arrest record, making it seem non-existent. Under Pennsylvania laws, expungement of arrest records is available for certain categories of offenders and some classes of offenses. Generally, arrests that did not end in a conviction or those involving juveniles are eligible for expungement in Armstrong County. Per Pennsylvania laws(18 PA CS 9122), the following types of expungement are available for eligible individuals:

• Expungement for Summary offenses: An individual convicted for a summary offense may seek expungement after five years of good behavior from the time of the arrest
• Expungement for Minor liquor offenses: Persons who were convicted for possessing or purchasing alcohol at 18 years of age may apply for expungement when they are 21 years or older.
• Expungement due to Governor's Pardon: A recipient of an unconditional pardon from the Governor of the State may request for expungement
• Expungement for aged persons: record subjects who are 70 years and above may request expungement if they have been arrest-free and law-abiding for a period of ten years after their release.
• Expungement for non-conviction records: arrest records that did not lead to a conviction, were dismissed, the suspect was acquitted or the prosecuting failed to file charges are eligible for expungement
• Expungement under the Clean Slate Law: persons convicted for second or third-degree misdemeanors and other non-traffic infractions qualify for sealing of records after ten years of crime-free and good behavior
• Expungement under Section 17 or an ARD program: individuals who participated in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program for crimes like driving under the influence are eligible for expungement

To expunge an eligible arrest record:

• Record subjects must request copies of their criminal records from the Pennsylvania State Police by mailing a completed FORM SP4-170, proper identification, and a fee of $20 to:

Pennsylvania State Police
Central Repository – RCPU
1800 Elmerton Avenue
Harrisburg, PA 17110-9758.

• After receiving the requested record, file a petition containing vital information about the record and the reason for expungement with a court of jurisdiction.
• If the petition is granted, the court issues an order notifying the appropriate repositories to remove the expunged records from public access.

Armstrong County Arrest Warrants

An Armstrong County arrest warrant is a legal document authorizing the arrest and possible detention of a suspect in relation to an offense. The reasons for which an arrest warrant can be issued may be a criminal offense, failure to appear in court, civil suits, or an ongoing investigation. In Pennsylvania, the judges, magistrate district judges, or bail commissioners may issue arrest warrants within their jurisdictions.

For an arrest warrant to be issued in Armstrong County, the law enforcement agency must submit an affidavit or sworn testimony attesting that there is probable cause for the intended arrest. The peace officer requesting a warrant may apply remotely via telephone or other approved audio-visual devices in cases where in-person requests may not be possible. Upon receipt of the probable cause and accompanying documents, the issuing judge scrutinizes the submitted documents before issuing a warrant. The judge must ascertain that the evidence provided is substantial and does not violate the Fourth Amendment rights. An arrest warrant issued in Armstrong County usually contains the following information:

• The subject's name or description
• The specific reason for the arrest
• The signature and title of the issuing authority
• The date and location of issuance
• An order mandating the arrest of the subject

Do Armstrong County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. An Armstrong County arrest warrant will typically be active and valid until execution. An arrest warrant is said to have been executed when a law enforcement agency makes an arrest. A court may also recall an arrest warrant in cases where the suspect voluntarily appears in court, fulfills the legal obligations demanded by the court, or dies. Other factors, such as jurisdiction, severity of crime, and a fleeing suspect, may influence the execution of an issued arrest warrant.