Tioga County Arrest Records

Tioga County arrest records are created when law enforcement agencies take individuals into custody. These records help discover the reasons for a person's arrest, where an arrestee is being held, whether they have been released, and their bail conditions, among other details.

People can find arrest information by approaching the arresting agency or visiting the county prison. Interested parties can also search Tioga County court records, as arrest data are entered into the court's database once a suspect is brought before a judge.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tioga County?

Yes. Arrest records are considered public records in Tioga County under Pennsylvania's Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) and Right to Know Law (RTKL). Under these laws, police agencies are instructed to provide details of arrests to the public upon request.

However, some arrest records are restricted from public access to protect sensitive information and maintain the integrity of certain criminal justice proceedings. For example, some juvenile arrest records and criminal trial proceedings are not considered public to protect the identities of minors. Personal identification numbers, bank account details, and medical records are also prohibited from public access.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information can be accessed by researching Tioga County arrest records:

• Arrestee name. Physical description, date of birth, gender, and race/ethnicity
• Arresting agency and officer
• Arrest and offense dates
• Location of arrest
• Title and description of alleged offenses or charges
• Statute allegedly violated
• Bail and bond information
• Booking number and date
• Incident number
• Court appearance dates

Tioga County Arrest Statistics

The Crime in Pennsylvania dashboard captures arrest figures submitted by law enforcement agencies across the state. It is part of the Commonwealth's UCR (Uniform Crime Reporting) program, which aims to inform the public about crime and arrest trends.

According to the figures published for 2023, there were 602 arrests in Tioga County, a 5.80% increase from 2022 (569 arrests). Out of that number, 178 arrests were recorded for Other Assaults (besides aggravated), 155 for Driving Under the Influence, and 86 for Drug Abuse Offenses.

Find Tioga County Arrest Records

Members of the public can approach different agencies and institutions to view and obtain arrest records. While the search method should depend on the arrestee's current stage in the criminal justice process, starting at the local level is always ideal.

The Sheriff's Office and police departments are responsible for most arrests within the county and maintain the records generated during these incidents. One can contact the Sheriff's Office for information using the following details:

118 Main Street
Wellsboro, PA 16901
Phone: (570) 724-3491

The Tioga County Prison holds recently arrested inmates awaiting court appearances. One can contact the prison's Administration and Records division using these details for information about inmates:

Tioga County Prison
1768 Shumway Hill Road
Wellsboro, PA 16901
Phone: (570) 724-5911, option 8

If the arrest occurred within Wellsboro, one can contact the Wellsboro Police Department for details.

As established earlier, anyone can find arrest information in court records since bail hearings and warrants are processed through the county's Magisterial District Court and Court of Common Pleas. Individuals can use the statewide UJS (Unified Judicial System of Pennsylvania) Case Search portal, where they can view case summaries, including arrest and offense dates, arrestee's name and date of birth, violated statute, offense description, arresting agency and officer, and incident number. Individuals can search the portal by attorney information, case-related number (docket, incident, complaint, or citation number), or a defendant's full name.

At the state level, one can go through the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections to find state inmates. It is worth noting that the department can only release information about inmates convicted of serious criminal offenses. Sometimes, people are charged with different crimes from the ones they were accused of during their arrests. To find state inmate information, members of the public can access the DOC's Inmate Locator online tool to view the location of inmates, the crimes for which they are serving time, and possible release dates. One can search by inmate name or number.

If a federal agency arrests a person, one can contact the arresting authority for records. For example, the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement allows members of the public to use its Online Detainee Locator System to find people arrested in connection with federal immigration and customs violations. However, people can also use the Bureau of Prisons' Federal Inmate Locator to find inmates arrested by other agencies like the FBI and ATF.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tioga County

Certain government organizations provide free resources for finding arrest-related information. For example, anyone can obtain arrest information like an arrested individual's personal details, arrest and offense dates, and arresting agency for free through the state's UJS Case Search portal. People can also use inmate locator tools provided by state and federal prison bodies to find detained or incarcerated persons without charge.

At the same time, members of the public can access arrest data through online resources provided by independent businesses. Intending users should understand that these vendors do not collaborate directly with government agencies and cannot guarantee the accuracy of published records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Forever. Arrest records remain public until the individual successfully requests expungement. However, records can be automatically expunged when pardons are issued, or a court grants an order to vacate certain convictions per 18 Pa. C.S § 3019. In other cases where a person does not qualify for expungement, their arrest records will remain public

Expunge Tioga County Arrest Records

People who have arrest records qualify for expungement if any of the following is true:

• There was no trial: Charges were dismissed, not filed (nolle prossed), or withdrawn. Individuals who had their charges dismissed after completing an Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) program will also qualify
• No conviction: The individual was found not guilty
• Summary convictions: Individuals who were summarily convicted (summary offenses only) and have been arrest-free for the past five years
• Certain convictions: If the subject is 70 years old and has not been arrested in the past ten years

The first step in submitting an expungement petition is obtaining one's criminal history record. The petitioner can find this information through the county's prothonotary's office or the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository. Going through the state police involves Filling out a printed copy of Form SP 4-170, attaching a copy of a government-issued picture ID and the required $20 fee (certified check/money order payable to the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania), and mailing it to:

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

Once the individual has obtained their criminal or arrest information, they can use the instructions found under "Expungement" on the county's Self Help Center webpage.

Tioga County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal order issued by a Court of Common Pleas or Magisterial District Court judge to apprehend and confine named persons. The order is usually approved after law enforcement officers submit complaints accusing individuals of committing specific crimes. However, judges can also issue bench warrants, which are orders given to the sheriff's office to apprehend people in contempt of court.

Anyone who believes they or someone else may have an active arrest warrant can approach the sheriff's office or the court.

Do Tioga County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Arrest warrants remain valid indefinitely until executed by law enforcement or recalled by judges. People named on warrants can also turn themselves in or fulfill their legal obligations to resolve their warrants.