Manchester Arrest Records
Manchester booking reports show arrests made by the Manchester Police Department. The town has a population of about 59,000 and is in Hartford County. Manchester Police maintain arrest records at their Records Division. These reports are public under Connecticut law, and you can request copies by contacting the police. All inmates from Manchester are held in state facilities since Connecticut merged county jails into a state system in 1968. You can search for current inmates through the Connecticut Department of Correction online database to find people arrested in Manchester who remain in custody.
Manchester Quick Facts
Manchester Police Department Records
The Manchester Police Department handles all arrests in town limits. They create booking reports for each arrest. These reports show when someone was taken into custody, what charges were filed, and other basic details about the arrest. You can request copies of arrest records from the police Records Division in Manchester.
Manchester Police maintain several types of records. Booking reports are part of the arrest process and include information like name, age, address, and charges. Incident reports give more detail on what led to the arrest. Accident reports cover traffic crashes. Each type of report may have different fees and availability timelines in Manchester.
| Agency | Manchester Police Department |
|---|---|
| Division | Records Division |
| Website | manchesterct.gov/police-department |
To get a copy of an arrest report in Manchester, call the police department and ask for the Records Division. They can tell you how to request records, what fees apply, and how long it takes to get a copy. You may need to provide the arrested person's full name and the date of arrest when you make your request.
Reports tied to active court cases may not be available until the case is finished. Juvenile arrests and ongoing investigations are generally not released to the public. Sexual assault victim information is also protected under Connecticut law and will not appear in public records from Manchester.
How to Search for Arrest Records in Manchester
You can search for arrest records in Manchester by contacting the police Records Division. There is no online arrest blotter for Manchester like some other Connecticut cities have. You need to call or visit the police station to ask about specific arrests. Provide as much information as you can, such as the full name and approximate date, to help staff find the right record in Manchester.
For current inmates, use the Connecticut Department of Correction inmate search. This database covers everyone held in state custody after arrest in Manchester. The search is at ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us/searchop.asp. You can search by name, date of birth, or inmate number. The system shows where the person is held, what charges they face, and their custody status.
For court records, use the Connecticut Judicial Branch databases. These show cases after charges are filed in court. The main page is at jud.ct.gov/crim.htm. You can search for convictions, pending cases, and arrest warrants. Court records are separate from police booking reports but both are public in Connecticut.
What you need to search:
- Full name of arrested person
- Date of arrest or approximate time frame
- Case number if available
- Valid ID when requesting in person
Connecticut Inmate Records
Connecticut does not have county jails. All inmates are held in state facilities run by the Connecticut Department of Correction. If someone is arrested in Manchester and held without bail, they go to a state correctional center. This system has been in place since 1968 when the state took over all local jails and merged them into a centralized system.
The DOC inmate search is at ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us/searchop.asp. You can search by name, date of birth, or DOC inmate number. The system shows current inmates and their custody status. It tells you where they are held, what charges they face, and other key details. The database updates daily but may have short delays during processing.
Inmate records include:
- Name and inmate number
- Date of birth
- Status (sentenced or accused)
- Primary offense
- Current facility location
- Admission date
- Sentencing date if applicable
- Minimum and maximum release dates if applicable
- Photo
- Correctional history
- Disciplinary history
The DOC database does not include youthful offenders or federal immigration detainees. If someone was arrested in Manchester but released on bond, they will not appear in the inmate search. The system only covers people physically in DOC custody at a state facility.
Note: The DOC maintains incarceration dates; incarceration does not necessarily mean conviction.
Hartford County Court Records
After an arrest in Manchester, the case goes to the Connecticut Judicial Branch courts. Hartford County has several judicial districts. Manchester is in the Hartford Judicial District. Court records are separate from police booking reports. They show what happens after the arrest, like hearings, pleas, and verdicts in Connecticut courts.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs several online search tools. The main page is at jud.ct.gov/crim.htm. From there you can search for convictions, pending cases, daily dockets, and arrest warrants. Each search covers a different part of the court process in Manchester and Hartford County.
Available searches include:
- Convictions by defendant name
- Convictions by docket number
- Pending cases by name or docket
- Daily dockets by court
- Active arrest warrants
- Attorney/firm search by juris number
Conviction information stays online for 10 years or less, based on the type of offense. Youthful offender cases, juvenile cases, and infractions do not appear in public searches. The online databases are updated regularly but may not reflect same-day court activity in Manchester.
Court records are public but have some restrictions. Ongoing investigations, sealed records, and information about sexual assault victims are not disclosed. You may need to contact the court clerk for older cases or records that are not available online for arrests in Manchester.
Are Arrest Records Public in Manchester
Yes. Arrest records are public in Manchester under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. This state law requires police to disclose arrest records to anyone who asks. You do not need to explain why you want the records. The law gives you the right to see them without stating a reason.
Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-215 covers arrest record disclosure. It says that records of any arrest are public records. Police must provide at least one of the following: arrest report, incident report, news release, or similar document. The law requires basic details like name, address, date, time, place, and offense to be disclosed in Manchester.
Some records are not public. These include juvenile arrests, ongoing investigation records, sealed or expunged cases, and files related to sexual assault victims. Medical details and witness names may be redacted from reports you receive in Manchester. Police can withhold records if releasing them would harm an active investigation under Connecticut law.
You may need to pay copy fees and wait several days for the police to process your request. Reports tied to active court cases may not be available until the case is finished. Call the Manchester Police Records Division to ask about specific records and current processing times for arrest reports.
Note: Public access does not mean instant access; you must follow proper request procedures in Manchester.
Record Erasure in Manchester
Connecticut allows certain arrest records to be erased. Erasure removes the record from public view. It applies mainly to arrests that did not result in conviction. The rules are in Connecticut General Statutes Section 54-142a and apply statewide, including in Manchester. Erasure can help people move on after an arrest that did not lead to a guilty verdict.
Not guilty verdicts are erased immediately. Dismissed cases are erased 13 months after the dismissal. If the state drops charges with a nolle prosequi, the record is erased after 13 months. Some older misdemeanor and felony convictions may also qualify for erasure after 7 or 10 years depending on the offense and other factors.
The Clean Slate Program handles automatic erasures for eligible offenses. The list of qualifying offenses is at portal.ct.gov/cleanslate/. Some offenses cannot be erased even if listed. Family violence crimes and certain other exceptions apply under the statute. You should check the full eligibility list before assuming your record qualifies for erasure in Manchester.
Once your record is erased, it should not show up in most public searches or background checks in Manchester. The police and courts keep sealed copies but do not disclose them to the public. Erasure can take several months to fully process across all systems in Connecticut. You may need to follow up with the police and courts to confirm erasure is complete after an arrest in Manchester.
Freedom of Information Requests in Manchester
If you are denied access to arrest records in Manchester, you can file a complaint with the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. The FOIC oversees public records access across the state. They handle complaints when police or other agencies refuse to release public records under Connecticut law.
The FOIC is at portal.ct.gov/foi. You can file a complaint online or by mail to their office in Hartford. The complaint must be filed within 30 days of the denial. You need to attach a copy of your records request and any written denial you received from the Manchester Police Department.
The FOIC can order the police to release records if they find the denial was improper. They also provide guidance on what records are public and how to request them. If you have questions about accessing arrest records in Manchester, the FOIC website has a primer on arrest record disclosure and other resources to help you understand your rights.
Contact information:
- Address: 165 Capitol Ave., Suite 1100, Hartford, CT 06106
- Phone: (860) 566-5682
- Toll-Free (CT Only): (866) 374-3617
- Fax: (860) 566-6474
- Email: foi@ct.gov
Note: You must file a FOIC complaint within 30 days of the alleged violation or denial.
Hartford County Booking Reports
Manchester is in Hartford County. Arrests in the town are handled by Manchester Police, but county courts and state facilities manage cases after booking. For more on county resources, court locations, and statewide arrest data, visit the Hartford County booking reports page.