Dauphin County Arrest Records

Under Pennsylvania laws, law enforcement officers may make arrests if they have probable cause to believe that a person has committed an infringement. Generally, the police must complete such an arrest after the issuance of a warrant. However, they can conduct arrests without a warrant if certain conditions are fulfilled.

Once the police complete an arrest, the apprehended person is taken to the nearest police station or the police station of the officers who completed the arrest. Their details are subsequently taken down, filed and safely kept for future reference. The details taken down constitute an arrest record.

The Dauphin County Sheriff's Department has access to county arrest records. Arrest and incident reports are available from the department for various prices. They may also be featured within Dauphin County Court Records. Those wishing to view the records may do so in person or by submitting written requests to the department.

Are Arrest Records Public in Dauphin County?

Arrest records are publicly available through the Dauphin County Sheriff's Department. Those wishing to view the records may do so in person or by submitting written requests to the department. To learn more about acquiring police records for the different areas in the county, record seekers can also get in touch with the state's several police agencies. However, the public cannot access all the information in an arrest record. Such information includes:

• Personal data, including home address and health information.
• Information that, if made public, might compromise an ongoing criminal investigation or legal action.
• Information that might compromise public safety.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The kind of information one will find on an arrest record varies from county to county. However, requesters can see the following details in an arrest record.

• Name, date of birth, gender, height, weight, and other physical characteristics
• When and where the police made the arrest
• The arresting officer's name
• The name and address of the jail or detention facility
• The identity of the person issuing the arrest warrant

Dauphin County Crime Rate

The Pennsylvania State Police compiles annual reports on statewide crime data, which the Office of the Attorney General of Pennsylvania publishes. Dauphin County recorded 8,120 crimes in 2018, including 3,492 violent crimes and 4,628 property offenses, according to the Uniform Crime Report (UCR) for 2018. There have been 628 burglaries, 3,762 cases of larceny-theft, and 328 cases of motor vehicle theft reported as property offenses. Thirty-six arsons, 717 aggravated assaults, 2,283 non-aggravated assaults, 41 occurrences of murder and non-negligent manslaughter, 276 robberies, and 161 rape incidents are among the violent crime statistics. The overall number of offenses documented in 2018 was 14.8% lower than the 5,435 total recorded for the same crimes in 2017.

Dauphin County Arrest Statistics

In 2022, law enforcement agencies in Dauphin County made 84,519 arrests. This was an 11% increase from 2021, which saw 75,550 arrests. A significant portion of 2022 arrests was for simple assault offenses, with 36,187 arrests. Additionally, there were 592 arrests for murder and nonnegligent manslaughter, 10,617 for aggravated assault, and 2,489 for motor vehicle theft.

Find Dauphin County Arrest Records

Interested individuals can get in touch with the Dauphin County Sheriff's Office. Requestors must provide names, dates, locations of events or incidents, known charges, and other pertinent information when submitting a request. Interested parties should note that the record custodian may require them to pay a fee before obtaining copies of arrest records. County residents can send requests to the following address:

Dauphin County Sheriff’s Department
Dauphin County Courthouse - 1st Floor
Room 104
101 Market Street
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6590
Fax: (717) 780-6557

The Pennsylvania State Police's Dauphin County station may also have access to arrest records and police reports for Dauphin County. Interested individuals may send applications to these addresses:

Pennsylvania State Police - Harrisburg Station
8000 Bretz Drive
Harrisburg, PA 17112
Phone: (717) 671-7500

Pennsylvania State Police - Highspire Station
P.O. Box 67676
Harrisburg, PA 17106-7676
Phone: (717) 939-9551, Extension 4630

Pennsylvania State Police - Lykens Station
301 State Drive
Elizabethville, PA 17023
Phone: (717) 362-8700

Free Arrest Record Search in Dauphin County

Residents of Dauphin County have free access to an online arrest record search provided by the Sheriff's Department. To complete these searches, interested parties can also utilize free third-party websites. Unaffiliated websites compile data from multiple counties' public databases, including arrest records. There's a chance these websites have information on your county, although the quality and thoroughness can differ significantly. Be careful when using these third-party websites, as they may contain outdated or incomplete information.

Get Dauphin County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Dauphin County are open to the public. Therefore, anyone interested can apply by mail or make an online request to obtain information about their own or another person's criminal history. The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) offers a tool called Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) for those seeking electronic access to records. Users are not required to register on the PATCH platform.

Every request carries a $22 non-refundable fee that users must pay with a credit card or by charging a PATCH account. Parties can get notarised copies for an additional $5. Users should know that PATCH will charge for mistakes, including misspellings and repetitive submissions.

Interested parties who want to complete requests via mail should fill out the Criminal History Request Form (SP4-164) and send it to the PSP. Money orders or checks made payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania are accepted as payment for mail requests, costing $22. Requesters should mail their applications to the following location:

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

Dauphin County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records in Dauphin County are different despite their similarities. For example, there is a discrepancy between the two documents' manifestations. An arrest record is from considerably earlier in the process—immediately following an arrest. On the other hand, a criminal record usually emerges following a conviction.

They also differ in the type and quantity of information they include. Criminal histories are typically more detailed and depict an individual's path through the criminal justice system. Usually, they comprise

• Arrests
• Charges
• Convictions
• Sentences
• Dispositions of the case

Arrest records, however, focus solely on the arrest itself. They might contain details like:

• Reason for arrest
• Arresting agency and officer
• Date, time, and location of arrest
• Charges filed at the time of arrest (these charges might not always result in convictions)

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The amount of time that law enforcement agencies are required to keep arrest records is not explicitly stated under Pennsylvania law. Accordingly, the time that county sheriff's departments maintain these documents will depend on their storage capacity and departmental policies.

Expunge Dauphin County Arrest Records

If Dauphin County residents want their arrest records erased, they must file for them to be sealed or expunged. However, expungement is not available to every person. A person must meet certain requirements before arrest records can be sealed or expunged. They include:

• Suppose someone was allowed to participate in an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program rather than be found guilty. In that case, they can be qualified for an expungement after the program ends.
• An expungement may be possible for someone over 70 if at least ten (10) years have gone by without any criminal proceedings being brought against them.
• After serving their whole sentence and going at least five (5) years without committing any new crimes, a person found guilty of a summary offence may be eligible for an expungement.
• A person may be eligible for expungement if they were arrested. Still, the criminal charges were, for example, dropped by the Dauphin County Court or withdrawn by the Dauphin County District Attorney's Office. In other cases, though, a "redaction," also called a "partial" expungement, might be a more appropriate course of action for charges that were dropped or withdrawn.

Pennsylvania's "Limited Access" rules allow individuals to expunge their records for more severe offenses, provided specific requirements are fulfilled. Certain documents will not be accessible during background checks if a criminal record has been sealed. Misdemeanour records about second-, third-, or ungraded misdemeanor-level offenses may be sealed under Pennsylvania's Limited Access rules. A person must also have served out any applicable sentence and not have had any criminal charges brought against them for at least ten (10) years.

Dauphin County Arrest Warrants

A judge will issue an arrest warrant in court, enabling police to detain someone they believe is guilty. It proves there's cause to suspect someone of a crime and that they should be taken into custody. Law enforcement must submit an affidavit to the court outlining the nature of the alleged offense and any evidence that may identify the perpetrator to obtain an arrest warrant.

After reviewing the affidavit, the judge determines whether sufficient evidence exists to arrest. In that case, a warrant is issued. By reviewing the affidavit, the judge decides if there is a compelling reason to arrest. Felonies are considered significant crimes, and warrants are typically issued. However, they may also be issued for misdemeanors, mainly if the accused avoids court to deal with an earlier charge.

Dauphin County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested parties can access Dauphin County arrest warrants at the county’s police department. To search, the requester must submit the personal details of the person they are searching for. Requesters can locate the department at:

Dauphin County Sheriff’s Department
101 Market St #104
Harrisburg, PA 17101
Phone: (717) 780-6590

Do Dauphin County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Dauphin County arrest warrants are valid for the subject's life or until the magistrate or court that issued them recalls them. If someone has an outstanding warrant, Gaston County police officers can arrest them anytime. It is crucial to remember that the court or magistrate who issued a particular kind of warrant, such as a search warrant, may have specified the exact date it expires.