Butler County Arrest Records

Butler County arrest records refer to the documentation produced by law enforcement agencies following a person's arrest and detainment at a local police station or the county prison. These records carry critical data about the arrest, charge, and offender, making them useful for various reasons. For instance, prosecutors rely on official arrest reports to bring charges against suspects. Attorneys can also review these records to ascertain if an arrest followed proper legal procedure or to build a strong argument for a trial/hearing. Further, arrest records assist police agencies in tracking offender activity and allow members of the public to understand the circumstances surrounding a loved one or person of interest's arrest. However, an arrest record is not often adequate to establish what happened in the ensuing court case, i.e., whether a suspect was found guilty, acquitted, or had the charges withdrawn or dismissed. For such information, reviewing the Butler County court records or other publicly available data from criminal justice agencies may be necessary.

Are Arrest Records Public in Butler County?

Yes, arrest records are presumed public in Butler County. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law (RTKL) and several other laws furnish public access to law enforcement records, including records of arrests. However, general disclosure may be withdrawn or prohibited where:

• The record belongs to a person under the age of 18.
• A law or regulation, court order, or privilege forbids disclosure.
• Divulging a record's contents would frustrate a judicial or law enforcement process, such as an investigation or prosecution.
• A person's life or physical safety may be imperiled.
• A confidential informant's identity may be exposed.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record acquired in Butler County may contain the following details:

• The full name, address, and age of the person taken into custody (i.e., the suspect)
• The arrest date, time, and location
• The suspect's physical description, including height and weight
• The offense(s) committed
• The arresting agency or officer
• Bail information (type and amount)

Butler County Crime Rate

Butler County crime statistics are circulated by the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP). The PSP's annual crime publication revealed 1,856 Part I (Index) Offenses occurring in Butler County in 2023, yielding a crime rate of 9 per 1,000 population.

Larceny-theft, simple assault, and aggravated assault had the highest offense figures among the Part I crimes category, resulting in 963, 519, and 166 incidents, respectively. Compared to the PSP's 2022 offense figures, crime in Butler County decreased nominally by 2% in 2023.

Butler County Arrest Statistics

According to the Pennsylvania State Police's yearly crime publications, Butler County reported 3,399 arrests in 2023, 1,094 of which were for Part I Offenses and 2,305 for Part II Offenses.

Larceny-theft, simple assault, and aggravated assault were the leading Part 1 offense arrests in Butler, resulting in 517, 378, and 115 arrests, respectively. Meanwhile, driving under the influence, drug abuse violations, and disorderly conduct were the most prevalent Part II arrests, accounting for 596, 343, and 211 incidents, respectively.

Find Butler County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking arrest records in Butler County can utilize public request channels provided by police agencies within the county. A person can often visit an arresting agency's physical location during business hours to request an arrest record under Pennsylvania's RTKL.

Each requester must include sufficient information (names, dates, locations) for an agency to locate responsive records. Some police departments also provide mail, phone, fax, and email channels for obtaining public arrest records. However, since a request is submitted under the Right to Know law, certain records will not be releasable unless to someone or for purposes authorized by law. Note that fees may apply to obtain copies of a document.

Acknowledging that local law enforcement agencies are not the only departments that can execute arrests in Butler County is essential. In the case of a state agency arrest, one may request records maintained by the Butler County Prison or call (724) 284-5256 to find out the arrest or charge details related to a particular detainee.

However, an individual can access the Federal Inmate Locator for a federal agency arrest to look up the suspect's location. In some cases, it may be necessary to query the arresting department. For instance, information about persons arrested by ICE (the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement) is unavailable through the Federal Inmate Locator. It may be sought through the agency's Online Detainee Locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Butler County

Local police departments in Butler County provide free arrest record searches to interested members of the public. Although police agencies do not typically offer online databases where people can conduct these searches, they offer other avenues through which a person can request record inspection or electronic copies, which often bear no charge. An inquirer may be liable for the associated service costs if they prefer printed or certified copies.

Another alternative to conducting a free Butler County arrest record search is a third-party website. A first and last name is the usual criterion for searching a third-party website, and users may be offered the option to view/print other public records about their search subject. However, they may be charged for the supplemental service.

Get Butler County Criminal Records

Butler County criminal records refer to the information collated by criminal justice agencies about individuals apprehended for, charged with, or convicted of crimes within the county area. Members of the public have the following means to retrieve these records:

The Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania (UJS) Online Portal: Court records provide substantial information about a person's criminal past, especially as it pertains to their finding of guilt or acquittal. As such, the judiciary can be the first stop when looking into someone's background.

The UJS Web Portal provides simplified access to Butler criminal court records; users can find ss case information and documents by name, case number, and other criteria. At the same time, one can make an in-person request or use other recommended methods to retrieve records from the court that heard or resolved a criminal matter. Admittedly, requesters may need to pay for copies of criminal court records, and certain records/information may have restricted access to protect parties involved, ensure fair adjudication, or for other purposes under the law.

The Pennsylvania State Police's Access to Criminal History (PATCH) website: Like the UJS portal, ePATCH is available to any member of society who wishes to conduct a criminal record check in Butler County. However, the system has a $22 per search charge and only releases public criminal records, such as conviction information and arrests less than three years old. A name and date of birth are the required criteria to search PATCH. Users can also provide a Social Security number and other identifying information to narrow their search and find the correct person of interest.

A paper application for a criminal record check can also be submitted to the PSP using Form SP4-164 (for employment, adoption, other) or SP4-164A (for volunteers). Like the online application, a $22 fee is needed to process the request, and inquirers can pay an additional $5 fee for notarization. However, no fee is charged if a check is requested for a volunteer (i.e., with Form SP4-164A).

However, a person seeking their criminal record for non-employment purposes (or their legal representative) can utilize the PSP's Individual Access and Review program instead, which allows them to access more in-depth criminal history information. The applicant must submit Form SP4-170, a valid photo ID, and a certified check/money order for $20 to the PSP via mail.

Butler County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

One fundamental distinction between an arrest and a criminal record is that the former only details the circumstances or facts of an arrest incident. In contrast, a criminal record summarizes a person's encounters with the criminal justice system, which may include their arrests, indictments, charges, and convictions.

Compared to an arrest record, a criminal record presents a more comprehensive picture of a person's criminal past and may be called into question when determining their suitability for a particular opportunity, role, or position.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Neither state law nor county ordinance mandates a specific timeframe for the uniform removal or deletion of an arrest from an individual's criminal history in Butler County. Consequently, an arrest remains an enduring element of a person's criminal record. However, certain record subjects may be eligible to seek an expungement from a court of law.

Expunge Butler County Arrest Records

An expungement in Butler County is a legal process that removes arrest or criminal conviction data in a person's criminal record from the public's view. However, law enforcement agencies and courts will retain access.

All expungements in Pennsylvania, including those sought in Butler County, follow the requirements of 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122, the state's expungement statute. The law outlines the expungement criteria to include:

• Where a defendant was granted an unconditional pardon for an offense
• Where a defendant was acquitted (Pa. R. Crim.P. 790.2) or had the charges withdrawn/dismissed or nolle prossed ("not prosecuted")
• Where the defendant, 21 or older, was convicted of a summary offense on or after their 18th birthday and has completed their sentence. However, the individual must have been free of arrest or prosecution for five years following the conviction. Examples of summary offenses include simple trespass, disorderly conduct, and
• Where the subject of the record has been dead for three years or more
• Where the subject of the record is over 70 years old and has not been arrested or prosecuted for 10 or more years following their final release from confinement or supervision

However, expungement is prohibited where the victim is under 18 and the offender was placed on Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) for rape, sexual assault, obscene material, indecent exposure, or other qualifying offenses highlighted in 18 Pa.C.S. § 9122 (b.1).

Working with a lawyer to ascertain one's eligibility to expunge an arrest record in Butler may be necessary. Legal assistance is not mandated to file the petition, but it is advised.

Generally, an expungement petition in Butler County must be filed in the Court of Common Pleas, and a copy must be served on the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor's office has a set number of days to file an objection to the expungement with the court, which varies by the type of petition. The court may issue an order granting the petition if no objection is filed. However, if an objection is filed, the court will most likely hold a hearing to determine the matter.

The relevant expungement forms and fees can be obtained from the Butler Court of Common Pleas Clerk's Expungement, Limited Access, Clean Slate & Pardons page. Parties may also need to request their criminal history from the Pennsylvania State Police to fill out forms accurately.

Note that a different legal process applies to expunge a juvenile arrest record per Pa. R. Crim.P. 170 or to petition the Court of Common Pleas to issue an order of limited access to an arrest record.

Butler County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal order that a judge or magistrate issues to the police to enable them to arrest and detain a person accused of committing a crime, failing to appear for a court hearing, or violating a court order.

Most arrest warrants in Butler County are taken out by law enforcement after an investigation. However, "probable cause" is the primary criterion for a warrant's issue, as provided in Pa. R. Crim.P. 513. This means the requesting entity must set forth reasonable grounds that justify a person's apprehension.

Where a member of the police force requires an arrest warrant, they may establish probable cause through a complaint and affidavit. However, suppose the court issues the warrant due to a defendant's failure to appear or violation of a court order (known as a "bench warrant"). In that case, probable cause is already deemed established by the defendant's actions before the judge or magistrate.

Any arrest warrant in Butler identifies the individual to be arrested and states their offense. It will also indicate the issuing date and jurisdiction and command the executing officer to bring the subject to court.

Butler County Arrest Warrant Search

Members of the public can view active warrants in Butler County through the local sheriff's Online Warrant Portal. The portal has an alphabetized list of active warrants, which includes suspects' names, ages, last known addresses, offenses, offense classifications, and the warrant issue dates. Users can also use certain filters, such as a last name or issuing date, to find information faster.

Do Butler County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Butler County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain outstanding until served. In this context, "service" refers to the accused's arrest, whether by voluntary surrender, after direct contact with a peace officer, or upon targeted efforts by law enforcement authorities to locate and capture the suspect.