Venango County Arrest Records

Venango County arrest records are official documents and files containing information about arrests made in the county and are created by law enforcement authorities. Information about the offense, the arrestee, the arresting agency, the arrest location, and the facility where the arrestee is being kept are usually included in arrest records. Law enforcement officers make an arrest when they have reasonable suspicion that someone has committed or is committing a crime, regardless of whether or not they have a warrant.

The Venango County Sheriff’s Office, the Pennsylvania State Police, and other local police departments operating within the county limits are tasked with making arrests. Arrestees are detained in the Venango County Prison until they appear in court or are released on bail. Venango County arrest information is typically found in other records, such as inmate records, criminal records, and Venango County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Venango County?

Yes, the public can access Venango County's arrest records. The public has the right to seek and acquire records created and produced by government entities, including arrest records, under the Pennsylvania Right-to-know Law. However, to preserve privacy and maintain the integrity of the county's ongoing investigations, some arrest information might not be made public. Non-public arrest information in Venango County includes:

• Juvenile arrest records
• Information that can compromise active investigations or the safety of persons involved in the investigation
• Expunged or sealed records
• Sensitive personal information, including medical and mental health information, social security numbers, driver’s license number, license plate numbers

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Venango County arrest records generally contain information about the arrestee and details surrounding the arrest, including the following:

• Arrestee’s personal information, including first and last name, residential address, date of birth, height, eye color, weight, race, and gender
• Arrest charges
• Booking number
• Booking date
• Date and location of arrest
• Arrestee’s fingerprint
• Arresting agency and their address
• Court date and bond
• Arrest warrant number (if applicable)
• Arrestee’s mugshot

Venango County Arrest Statistics

In 2022, 354 people were arrested in the county, according to arrest statistics that the Pennsylvania State Police provided to the FBI. The number of arrests in the county decreased by 20% to 283 in 2023. Of the 283 arrests in 2023, 29 persons were arrested for disorderly conduct, 70 for simple assault, 67 for driving under the influence, 19 for larceny, and 33 people were arrested for other offenses.

According to the Pennsylvania Uniform Reporting System (UCR), Venango County had an arrest rate of 3,168 arrests per 100,000 residents as of 2018. The total number of arrests in the county in 2018, according to the UCR, was 1,645.

Find Venango County Arrest Records

Venango County inmate records may be used to obtain some of the county’s arrest information, including the arrestee's name, booking number, sex, and arrest charges. Persons interested in Venango County inmate records may visit the Venango County Prison to request inmate records at:

Venango County Prison
1186 Elk Street
Franklin, PA 16323
Phone: (814) 432-9629

At the state level, the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections has an online database listing details of all the prisoners incarcerated in the state's prisons and those on parole. By entering the full name, birth date, or inmate number of an offender, record seekers can use the Inmate/Parolee Locator to search for Venango County arrest records. Furthermore, at the federal level, they can find inmates in federal prisons using the Bureau of Prisons' Inmate Locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Venango County

Official government websites that provide free access to Venango County arrest records include:

• Pennsylvania Department of Corrections Inmate/Parolee Locator
• BOP Inmate Locator

In addition, third-party websites offer free access to Venango County arrest records. These websites give users access to arrest data from inmates, courts, and criminal databases. However, third-party search tools, in contrast to government-owned websites, may contain inaccurate and incomplete information.

Venango County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Within the criminal justice system, arrest and criminal records have distinct functions. Their origins and usage also differ despite being used interchangeably. Criminal records indicate that a person was tried for a crime, whereas arrest records indicate that a person was suspected of a crime and taken into custody in the county. In Venango County, a person's arrest record usually includes information on their alleged offense, the arrest scene, the arresting agency, mugshots, fingerprints, the arrest warrant, and personal information. Criminal records, on the other hand, contain details regarding an individual's arrest, trial, sentence, incarceration, parole, and other interactions with the criminal justice system.

In essence, an arrest record is a component of a criminal record and may be used when the subject is being prosecuted for an offense or subsequent offenses. It is made subsequent to an arrest and does not show the individual's guilt or innocence.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Venango County, arrest records will remain on record unless it is expunged. A person whose arrest records are eligible for expungement may file a petition for the expungement of such records.

Expunge Venango County Arrest Records

Per the Pennsylvania Criminal History Record Information Act, individuals in Venango County may apply for expungement of their records under certain conditions, including the following:

• Non-convictions: Arrests that result in acquittals, withdrawn charges, or dismissals are eligible for expungement
• Summary convictions are eligible for expungement 5 years after the completion of the penalties, provided the person has not been arrested or prosecuted for any offense in the 5-year waiting period
• Offenses granted unconditional pardons are automatically expunged
• Persons aged 70 years and above can apply for expungement of their arrest records provided they have not been arrested or prosecuted for 10 years since the completion of their sentence
• Persons who complete their Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition (ARD) programs may be eligible for expungement of their arrest records

In addition to expungement, Pennsylvania allows for the automatic sealing of certain offenses after a specific waiting period. Unlike expungement, which destroys an individual’s arrest records, sealing only makes it unavailable to the public but can still be accessed by authorized persons.

Eligible individuals in Venango County must first request their criminal records before they can file for expungement of their arrest records. They can request their criminal history by filling out Form SP4-170 and mailing it to the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository at:

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

The form must be accompanied by a $20 check or certified money order processing fee and a copy of their government-issued ID. After the Central Repository sends them their records, they must then file a petition for expungement at the Venango County Court of Common Pleas. The Venango County Clerk of Courts will serve the Venango County District Attorney’s Office a copy of the petition and await their response. If the DA’s Office does not object to the expungement petition, the petition will be easily granted by the court. Once an expungement order is granted, all relevant record custodians will be contacted to expunge the arrest records.

Venango County Arrest Warrants

A Venango County arrest warrant gives law enforcement agents the authority to arrest and detain someone for committing a crime and is issued by a Magisterial District Judge. To prove that someone committed a crime, a law enforcement official in the county must present an affidavit to the judge that includes specifics of the offense and sufficient proof. An arrest warrant can be issued remotely in Venango County as long as the law enforcement officer can swear the required oath in the hearing of the judge. A Venango County arrest warrant contains:

• The name of the person to be arrested, if known
• The individual’s description
• A description of the alleged crime
• Warrant number
• The date the warrant was issued
• The signature of the issuing judge
• The court that issued the warrant

Do Venango County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant in Venango County does not expire. It remains active until it is executed, the subject dies, or it is withdrawn by the court.