Delaware County Arrest Records

Police in Delaware County arrest people whenever there is reasonable suspicion that they have committed a crime. These arrests may be due to various offenses, such as traffic offenses, major crimes, and violations of any court order.

After an arrest in Delaware County, suspects are taken to the George W. Hill Correctional Facility detention center, which holds pre-trial detainees, under-sentence inmates, and others who hold intermediate sentences.

Delaware County arrest records are produced in the remit of the Delaware County Sheriff's Office and different police departments. These records make a significant record of any individual's arrest, including matters such as the charges, date of arrest, and other details. Arrest records are useful in the courts and are interrelated with other record systems, such as the Delaware County court records that show the status of cases in the judiciary system.

Are Arrest Records Public in Delaware County?

Yes, arrest records in Delaware County are public per Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law. While some parts of an arrest record are open, others can be confidential. For example, information related to ongoing investigations, juvenile records, or victim information is often redacted. Likewise, the public cannot retrieve documents expunged or sealed by court order.

Requests for access may be restricted depending on the record held by the police and available to the public. The general public can ask for and access public arrest records, while sensitive information is only accessible to specific people like the police and those directly involved in a case. Law enforcement agencies or appropriate courts can be approached for access to the records; otherwise, there may be some limitations set by privacy and legal provisions.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Delaware County contain the following information:

• Personal Details of the Arrestee: This involves the name of the person arrested, their date of birth, gender, race, and, in some cases, the residence of the said person.
• Arrest Details: The timing and date of arrest, the location of arrest, and the police agency that arrested the person.
• Charges: The legal offenses that have been attributed to the individual consisted of both misdemeanors and felonies.
• Booking Information: This consists of the time the bookings were made, where they were detained or even information concerning the bails and/or bonds.
• Case Number: An identification figure assigned to a given case to identify it in the legal process.
• Mugshot: In some cases, a photograph that can be described as a 'booking mugshot' may also be captured.
• Court Information: Additional information on the first time a case is presented to a court, such as the court's name and the case's status.

Find Delaware County Arrest Records

Arrest records and inmate information in Delaware County can be found through state and federal resources. The Pennsylvania Department of Corrections (PA DOC) has an online inmate locator where the public can search for individuals in state facilities. By going to the PA DOC Inmate Locator, requesters can search by name, inmate number, or other identifiers. Results will show the location, sentence, and projected release date.

For court information, the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal allows public access to criminal case records in Delaware County. The UJS Web Portal has information on court cases, charges and dockets. This can help individuals track arrest information when inmate information from local facilities is unavailable.

The Delaware County Sheriff's Office and local police departments are local resources for recent arrests and inmates in county facilities. Although they may not have an online search tool, one can contact the office for arrest or inmate information.

The BOP Inmate Finder helps individuals track down anyone in federal jail if they are under the government's watch.

Free Arrest Record Search in Delaware County

Free arrest records in Delaware County can be found through the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System (UJS) Web Portal and the Delaware County Sheriff's Office. Both resources may be accessed for free unless requesters require physical copies of the records. In addition to these official sources, third-party websites sometimes offer free arrest record searches. However, these services typically charge users for extensive records.

Get Delaware County Criminal Records

A criminal record, commonly known as a criminal history, refers to the description of the individual's action with law enforcement and courts.

Applicants seeking criminal records in Delaware County may utilize the Pennsylvania Unified Judicial System, which allows members of the public to search by simply entering the offender's name or the case number, specifying Delaware County. Applicants whose applications may need certifications may also address their request to the Clerk of Courts, Delaware County Courthouse, Media. Custodians typically require the requesting party to submit a request form, photo identification, or any required fee.

Statewide criminal history searches are also available through the Pennsylvania State Police via their PATCH system, which is internet-based. Under specific conditions, such as when cases have been dismissed or a diversion program has been successfully completed, criminal records can be expunged by filing an appropriate Petition in the Delaware County Court.

Delaware County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Delaware County arrest records and criminal records fulfill different intents and purposes.

Arrest records generally indicate when a law enforcement agency arrested someone. The information typically includes the date of arrest, the charges at that time, and the arresting agency. It may not show the disposition of the case or whether the subject was convicted or acquitted.

On the other hand, criminal records offer a broader perspective about someone's background with regard to law enforcement; they show not just arrests but also dispositions if any action was taken through the court. For instance, some may contain court dates, convictions, sentencing, and dismissal or acquittal dates.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Delaware County arrest records do not get removed from a person's record except through the due process of law relating to expungement or sealing. Under Pennsylvania state law, specific conditions are levied when these records may be cleared. For example, arrest records are expunged if charges against the person are dismissed or they are acquitted in a trial. Apart from this, it allows for the expungement of certain low-level crimes known as summary offenses. An individual convicted of a summary offense, like disorderly conduct or public intoxication, may have such a record expunged if no further criminal activity is recorded for 5 years or more from the date of conviction.

Expunge Delaware County Arrest Records

An arrest record for certain conditions can be expunged, removed, or sealed in Delaware County. Expungement refers to the removal of the arrest record from public view; sealing the record may prevent the general public from accessing it, yet it may still be available to some agencies, such as law enforcement. Eligibility for expungement will also depend on the specifics entailed in a given case. For example, people whose cases were dismissed or were acquitted may file a motion to expunge their records. Also, people convicted of a summary offense, such as disorderly conduct, may be eligible for expungement following at least five years with no convictions after the fifth year. Also eligible would be a person who completes the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program and some juvenile offenders. Everything begins with filing a petition to the Delaware County Court, explaining in detail the arrest made, the charges applied, and the final outcome, if any.

The court will analyze the petition, and the District Attorney may either oppose or agree to that request. In certain situations, a hearing may be required, during which the petitioner would make their case for the expungement. Upon the court's decision to grant expungement, the court would issue an order to delete such records from any relevant databases, such as those maintained by the Pennsylvania State Police. Where full expungement does not apply, the partial sealing against public view-as allowed by Pennsylvania's Clean Slate Law-of selected misdemeanor and low-level felony records is allowed.

Automatic sealing can be don after 10 years of good conduct pending no charges and when all fines or court costs have been satisfied. The objective is that past incidents are not a continuous obstacle and give the offender a full opportunity to get on with their life without having the past arrest records as a continued part of a public record.

Delaware County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a legal document given by either a judge or magistrate to the police that allows them to take a person into custody in the county of Delaware. Typically, warrants are issued once law enforcement has presented sufficient evidence, called probable cause, to believe a person has committed an offense. The police must obtain a warrant from a judge based on an affidavit sworn by them, setting forth the evidence and facts of the commission of the crime. In turn, the judge must review the affidavit and decide on probable cause. If the evidence presented is sufficient, they will then issue a warrant.

Arrest warrants can be issued in cases of failure to appear after summons to court, when there is overwhelming evidence linking a person to criminal activity, and when one violates the terms of probation or parole. They include essential information like the name of the individual who is to be arrested, the criminal charges pressed against him, the signature, the date of issuance by a judge, and instructions as to how to arrest the suspect.

Once issued, the police have the authority to arrest the subject anywhere: at home, at work, or while walking in the street. Procedures need to be upheld when an arrest is made, such as identification by the officers and notification of charges.

Delaware County Arrest Warrant Search

An active arrest warrant search in Delaware County can be initiated with the Sheriff's Office or local police departments because these agencies are responsible for issuing and handling warrants. However, as warrants are very much associated with court proceedings, individuals can direct a further inquiry to either the Delaware County Court of Common Pleas or the Magisterial District Courts for the required records. Third-party websites can also extend warrant search services. However, such information is recommended to be crosschecked with official county resources for more completeness of accuracy and an updated perspective.

Do Delaware County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants issued within Delaware County do not expire. Once issued, an arrest warrant remains valid indefinitely until executed or formally withdrawn by its issuing authority, a judge. Thus, law enforcement agencies can detain such a person for arrest at any time if there is an outstanding warrant against them.

Several factors can affect the status of an arrest warrant. A common occurrence is recalling or quashing the warrant upon resolution of legal issues, which results in its issuance in the first place. This will likely occur upon dismissal of charges, case settlement, or when a court issues a correct order for cancellation.