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  1. Kennebec County Court
  2. Kennebec County Arrest Records

Kennebec County, Maine Arrest Records

A Kennebec County arrest record is the record created when an officer takes someone into custody for an offence. It shows baseline information of the arrested person such as who was arrested, the alleged offense, and when and where the arrest happened. These records are made accessible by anyone so as to keep the government accountable, protect due process and ensure that the law authorities carry out their responsibilities openly and appropriately.

In Kennebec County, the police departments and the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office handle the arrests. Towns like Augusta and Waterville run the largest and busiest municipalities in the region. The Augusta Police Department handles the state capital area while the Waterville Police Departmenthandles the northern end of the county.

Kennebec County arrest records are governed by the Maine Criminal History Record Information Act (CHRIA) codified in 16 M.R.S § 701 et seq. which shows how police and courts handle, share and protect criminal background information.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Kennebec County, Maine?

Under Maine law, arrest records in Kennebec County are made accessible to anybody as provided in 1 M.R.S § 401, which allows basic information such as the arrestee's name, charges filed etc. to be shared with anyone who requests for it. Under the state law codified in 16 M.R.S § 704,public criminal histories of arrested persons are also open to the public; they consist of active arrest reports, formal criminal charges, booking photographs and detention sheets.

There's no rule that states that residency in Kennebec County or even in Maine isn't needed to request public records. Basic police entries can be accessed online without the need for an ID. But an ID might be needed if a FOAA request to access the records physically is filed.

What Do Public Kennebec County Arrest Records Contain?

The public Kennebec County arrest records contain basic details about the arrested party and circumstances surrounding arrests. They include:

  • The arrestee's legal name, age and address
  • The date, time and location of the arrest
  • The arresting agency and the officer's name
  • The specific criminal charge and court docket number
  • The mugshot and the inmate ID number
  • The Bail details, release conditions or current holding status

To protect sensitive information, before an arrest record is handed over to the public, the police authorities will investigate the records and strip out private details. They redact Social Security numbers, driver's license details, medical histories, juvenile records, victims of sexual assaults, active officer notes, and unverified information are restricted. If an arrest results in a dismissal, acquittal or dropped charges, the record becomes confidential once a full year passes without open prosecution.

Kennebec County, Maine Arrest Search

Searchers looking for arrest or criminal history records can begin with several resources.

At the state level, the Maine State Police runs the central repository for criminal histories through its State Bureau of Identification (SBI). Anyone wanting to check a person's record across Maine can do a public search using their name and date of birth on the official InforME web portal. The current fee for this search is request is $31 but InforMe Subscribers qualify for a reduced $21 fee.

At the federal level, arrests on the other hand, are done differently. If someone was picked up by federal authorities, the local or state databases won't show the arrest logs. So to track down someone held on federal charges, search the Federal Bureau of Prisonsonline inmate locator, which is totally free to use. And to locate the actual court records, indictments or docket entries for a case in the U.S District Court in Maine, an account with PACER, the federal courts' electronic record system will be needed.

Kennebec County Inmate Locator

When a person gets arrested in Kennebec County, local authorities, county deputies or the state transfers them to the Kennebec County Correctional Facility in Augusta. It is operated by the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office. This serves as the central holding facility for inmates awaiting bail or their very first court appearance in the county.

To know if someone is already in custody, identify their bail amount, or view active charges, the facility can be reached in person with a complete record request form, a valid government issued ID card and a record search fee of $10 and a copying fee of $0.25 per page.

Kennebec County Sheriff's Office & Jail

Address: 115 State Street, Augusta, ME 04330

Corrections / Inmate Records Desk: (207) 623-2270

Main Office Line: (207) 623-3614

Official Website: Kennebec County Sheriff's Office

It is important to keep in mind that online booking lists may lag or not update so the fastest way to get an up to date custody status is by reaching out to the jail records desk directly.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Kennebec County

Some agencies in Kennebec County provides the public with access to platforms that can conduct arrest searches at no cost.

The Kennebec County Sheriff's Office provides free access to current inmate information. The current inmate page is usually updated regularly and can be accessed at no cost. It is limited to individuals in custody and doesn't include older arrest records.

The municipal police departments across Kennebec County including the Augusta Police Department and Waterville Police Department, regularly publish public records, media logs and daily incident reports. The local news stations also display these records online for public viewing.

Under the Maine Freedom of Access Act (1 M.R.S § 408-A), a requester can inspect and copy public records for free at the local station house or the Kennebec County Sheriff's Office during normal business hours ( Monday - Friday, 8AM - 4PM, excluding holidays).

The Kennebec County Superior Courtalso makes provision for public access to search court records relating to criminal cases. Additionally, the Maine State Law Library makes room for free public access to legal resources, including some criminal case records.

Kennebec County Superior Court

1 Court Street, Suite 101,

Augusta ME, 04330

(207) 213-2800

Maine State Law Library

43 State House Station

Augusta ME, 04333

(207) 287-1600

Because of how free these public searches are, older arrest records may not be available, and search results are less comprehensive than paid record checks. A valid government issued ID may be required for in person access and a research or printing fee may apply if a request requires an extensive use of the staff's time.

Kennebec County Arrest Report

An arrest record and an arrest report are used interchangeably by the public but are totally different documents as supported by Maine law.

An arrest record is a concise document generated at the time the arrested person was booked for a crime. It records the base line of an arrest such as who the arrested person is, when the person was taken into custody, the arresting agency involved, the date and place of booking, the charges filed and the bail amount set. This record is publicly accessible by anyone upon request according to the Maine law.

An arrest report on the other hand, are well detailed and descriptive investigative reports drafted by the responding officer and are classified as confidential information. It shows the officers observation, victims and witness statements, a list of evidence, and the exact probable cause of arrests.

Even though any citizen can have a copy of an arrest record, the narrative arrest report is restricted for public access. Officer reports are only available to the accused and their defense attorneys to support court proceedings.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Kennebec County

In Kennebec County, wiping an arrest record clean isn't as simple as pressing delete. Maine state law governs record privacy and under specific circumstances, an individual may be eligible to seal their records or get it expunged.

Under 16 M.R.S § 703(2)for non convictions and 15 M.R.S § 2263 for Class E crimes, sealing restricts public access to records but leaves it intact for the court and police use, while locking it away from background checks, landlords and employers. An individual is eligible for sealing their records if the case resulted in dismissal and acquittal of all charges, or if you completed your sentence for a qualifying Class E crime at least four years ago since the completion of all sentencing requirements.

True expungement on the other hand, is where records are completely erased and it is strictly limited in Maine. It is governed under specific provisions such as 15 M.R.S § 3308-C for juvenile records, and victims of human trafficking who were forced into prostitution and convicted for it as a result. As well as records related to old marijuana possession charges.

To start an expungement process, one must:

  • File a formal petition and affidavit with the clerk at the Capital Judicial Center in Augusta (15 M.R.S § 2263)
  • Pay applicable filing fees
  • Attend a court hearing if need be
  • If approved, ensure the court order is distributed to the State Bureau of Identification (25 M.R.S § 1541) and the local police.

Maine's filling process may not be easy, it is advisable to get legal assistance. The Maine State Bar and the Pine Tree Legal Assistance makes provisions for resources to those who need legal help with sealing or expunging a record.

How Do You Remove Kennebec County Arrest Records From the Internet?

To remove arrest records from the internet in Kennebec County, the government and private databases need to be called to action. Under the Maine law, arrest records are removed totally if an expungement order has been obtained. Third party web hosts also take down sealed records once they've been officially notified. Requesters can also submit an official removal request to major search engines to de-index the web pages displaying outdated or legally restricted personal records.