McKean County Arrest Records

McKean County arrest records are created following a person's arrest in the county. Arrests happen when law enforcement officers apprehend individuals and take them into custody, usually based on criminal offenses or warrants.

Local law enforcement agencies, including the McKean County Sheriff's Office and local police departments, create arrest records during the arrest process. These records contain details of the arrest and the arrestee, including name, date of birth, and physical description of the individual; the charges; the arrest date, time, and location; the arresting agency; and a photograph.

McKean County arrest records do not indicate guilt for offenses preceding an arrest; they only document the arrest and related details. However, these records are closely connected to McKean County court records. Once charges are filed, the arrest becomes part of a court record containing additional information such as hearings, sentencing, and verdicts (guilty, dismissed, or acquitted).

Are Arrest Records Public in McKean County?

Yes. Arrest records are public in McKean County under Pennsylvania's Right to Know Law, which statutorily declares official records of government agencies public records available and accessible to any individual. To this effect, individuals can request these records from the McKean County Sheriff's Office or local police departments within the county.

However, certain arrest records are restricted from public access under the law. These include any record connected to active criminal investigations, information on witnesses or confidential informants, juvenile arrest records (42 Pa.C.S. § 6307), private and sensitive information, such as bank data and SSN, and records that have been sealed or expunged.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A public arrest record in McKean County includes:

• Personal information of the arrestee (name, date of birth, aliases, age, etc)
• Physical description of the arrestee (height, race, hair, eye color, tattoos or scars)
• Charges filed
• Arrest information, including the date, time, and location of the arrest
• Arresting authority (i.e., arresting agency or officer)
• Booking information, including number, date, and time
• Fingerprints
• Mugshots
• Bail or bond information (if applicable)
• Witness testimonies or statements.

McKean County Arrest Statistics

McKean County reported 355 arrests in 2023 per the Pennsylvania Uniform Crime Reporting program. This record showed a 9.67% decrease from the 393 arrests in 2022. Of these arrests, 312 involved adults, while 43 were juveniles. Arrests by offense were as follows: rape (6), robbery (1), aggravated assault (41), simple assault (168), burglary (8), larceny-theft (120), motor vehicle theft (9), and arson (2).

Find McKean County Arrest Records

Interested individuals can access or obtain McKean County arrests by contacting the McKean County Sheriff's Office Monday through Friday (during business hours).

McKean County Sheriff’s Office
17013 Route 6
Smethport, PA 16749
Phone: (814) 887-3454
Fax: (814) 887-5753
Email: djwoods@mckeancountypa.gov

Alternatively, individuals seeking arrest records in McKean County can file right-to-know requests with local police departments. For example, individuals can submit a "right to know request" to the Bradford City Police Department in person, by phone at (814) 362-3884 ext. 111 or online.

Additionally, interested parties can contact the Pennsylvania State Police for McKean County arrest records at the level or use the Pennsylvania Access to Criminal History (PATCH) program to access arrest data as part of a person's criminal history record.

To find arrest records from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), use the Online Detainee Locator System or contact a local ICE field office by phone or in person. For FBI-related arrests, use the Federal Inmate Locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in McKean County

To access free arrest records in McKean County, contact local law enforcement agencies like the McKean County Sheriff's Office or local police departments. While searches may be free, fees could apply for coping and certification of these records. Alternatively, third-party websites offer free access to public arrest records. These sites compile arrest records from law enforcement agencies and make them searchable. However, because these sites are privately owned and operated, they may not always contain accurate, up-to-date, and detailed arrest records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. In Pennsylvania, arrest records remain on file indefinitely unless expunged or sealed. Expungement is possible if charges are dismissed, the individual is acquitted, or in some cases, after a conviction for specific offenses, provided the person maintains a clean record for a set period.

Expunge McKean County Arrest Records

Under Pennsylvania law, individuals who qualify to request expungement of their arrest records include:

• Pardoned individuals
• Those aged 70 or older with no arrests or prosecutions for 10 years after completing their last sentence (18 Pa.C.S. § 9122).
• Individuals convicted of alcohol-related offenses at 18 can apply for expungement after turning 21.
• Persons convicted of summary offenses after five years without new arrests or convictions.
• Those whose charges were dismissed, withdrawn, or not prosecuted.
• Individuals completing programs like Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) or Probation Without Verdict (PWV) under the Controlled Substances Act.

Expungement permanently erases arrest records. In contrast, sealing restricts public access but allows law enforcement to view them. In Pennsylvania, the Criminal History Record Information Act governs these processes, and it usually begins with a petition.

Under the Clean Slate Law, petitions are generally not needed. This law allows non-conviction records and non-violent misdemeanors to be automatically sealed after 10 years (without crime in the same period). However, where an arrest after 10 years has not automatically been sealed, individuals can file a "Petition for Limited Access" under the clean slate law to effect its sealing.

To start the McKean County arrest records expungement process, eligible individuals should:

• Request their arrest records: Complete Form SP4-170 and mail it to the Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) central repository with a $20 fee and a copy of a government-issued photo ID. The PSP will process the request and send back the requested arrest records.
• File a Petition: Submit an expungement petition to the Cumberland County Court of Common Pleas. If approved, the court will notify the petitioner, the PSP, and local law enforcement to erase the arrests from their records.

McKean County Arrest Warrants

McKean County arrest warrants authorize law enforcement to arrest individuals for different reasons, including committing a criminal offense, failing to appear in court, and violating bail or bond conditions. These warrants are issued and executed based on the stipulations outlined in Title 234, Chapter 5, Part B(3), Sections 513-518 of the Pennsylvania Code.

Under the law, arrest warrants for criminal offenses are issued based on sufficient evidence that an individual has committed a crime. Law enforcement presents this evidence to a judge or magistrate who reviews it and determines if there is probable cause to believe a crime has been committed.

Mckean County arrest warrants typically contain the subject's name, the alleged charges, the date of issue, the issuing court, the judge or magistrate’s signature, and the order directing law enforcement to arrest the person named on the warrant.

Do McKean County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. McKean County arrest warrants do not expire. They remain valid and enforceable until the person named in the warrant is arrested or voluntarily surrenders to law enforcement. However, a McKean County arrest warrant can become invalid if the warrant subject passes away before it is executed or the court officially cancels or recalls the warrant for different reasons, including changes in legal circumstances.