New Britain Arrest Logs
New Britain booking reports document arrests made by local police in this Hartford County city of about 74,000 people. The police post press arrest logs that show who was arrested, when the arrest took place, what charges were filed, and when the case goes to court. These logs let the public see recent arrests in New Britain without needing to visit the police station. They follow state law that makes arrest records public once the person is taken into custody.
New Britain Quick Facts
New Britain Police Arrest Logs
The New Britain Police Department releases press arrest logs on a regular basis. These logs come out as PDF files. Each one covers a date range and lists all people arrested during that time. The logs show the name, address, age, race, and sex of each person arrested in New Britain. They also list the charges, the bond amount, the incident number, the court date, and the officer who made the arrest.
Each log has a run date and run time at the top. This tells you when the log was created. Below that, you see a list of arrests sorted by date. The most recent arrests appear first. You can scroll through to find an arrest from a specific day. The format makes it easy to see who was arrested in New Britain and why.
Common charges you might see in New Britain arrest logs include:
- Larceny in various degrees
- Assault and threatening
- Burglary and trespassing
- Drug possession and paraphernalia
- Driving under the influence
- Motor vehicle violations
- Failure to appear in court
- Breach of peace
Each charge has a statute number. This number refers to the Connecticut General Statutes. For instance, 53a-123 is larceny in the second degree. You can look up any statute online to see what the law says. The charge description gives you a quick idea, but the statute has the full legal definition.
Bond amounts vary based on the charge. Some arrests lead to a cash bond. Others result in a promise to appear. The log shows what type of bond was set for each arrest in New Britain. It also lists the court date when the person must show up. This info helps you track what happens next after an arrest.
Accessing New Britain Arrest Records
You can find New Britain arrest logs on the city website. Look for the police department page at newbritainct.gov. The site has links to recent press arrest logs. These are PDF files you can view in your browser or download to your device. Each file covers a set time period, usually a week or two.
If you need a full arrest report, you must contact the New Britain Police Records Division. Full reports contain more detail than the press logs. They have the full narrative of what happened, witness statements, and other documents tied to the arrest in New Britain. These reports cost money to copy. The fee depends on the number of pages.
| Record Type | Press arrest logs (free online), full reports (fee-based) |
|---|---|
| Format | PDF for press logs, paper or PDF for full reports |
| Update Frequency | Weekly or bi-weekly for press logs |
| Website | newbritainct.gov |
To get a full report, call the police department and ask for the Records Division. They will tell you what info you need to request the report. Most departments ask for the case number, the date, and the names of the people involved. The more details you give, the faster they can find the right file in New Britain.
Some reports may not be available right away. If the case is still active in court, the police may hold the report until the case ends. Once the case is done, the report becomes public under the Connecticut Freedom of Information Act. You can then get a copy from the Records Division in New Britain.
Connecticut Inmate and Court Records
People arrested in New Britain may be held in a state facility. Connecticut does not have county jails. All jails are run by the state Department of Correction. You can search for current inmates at ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us. This database shows everyone in state custody. You search by name, date of birth, or inmate number.
The inmate search gives you the person's current location, booking photo, charges, admission date, and other key facts. It also shows whether they are sentenced or still awaiting trial. The database updates each day to keep info current for people arrested in New Britain and everywhere else in Connecticut.
Court records are also online. The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs the criminal case lookup at jud.ct.gov. This system lets you search for convictions, pending cases, arrest warrants, and daily dockets. You can search by name or by docket number. The system covers all courts in Connecticut, so it includes cases from New Britain.
Conviction records stay on the website for up to ten years after sentencing. Some come off sooner based on the crime. The site does not show juvenile cases or minor infractions. What you see are the more serious criminal cases that went through the court system after arrests in New Britain or other cities.
Public Records and Privacy Laws
Arrest records are public in Connecticut. The Freedom of Information Act requires police departments to release arrest info to anyone who asks. This applies to New Britain and all other cities in the state. The law makes sure the public can see what police are doing and who they arrest.
Not all records are open. Juvenile arrest records stay confidential. Victims of sexual assault have their names protected. Records tied to ongoing investigations may be withheld until the case is done. Medical info and personal details may be redacted. These are the main limits on public access to booking reports in New Britain.
If the police deny your request for records, you can file a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission. The complaint must be filed within 30 days of the denial. The commission will investigate and decide if the city had a legal reason to say no. You can reach the commission at portal.ct.gov/foi or by calling 860-566-5682.
Connecticut also has an erasure law. Some arrest records can be erased from public view. If charges were dropped or dismissed, the record erases 13 months later. If you were found not guilty, it erases right away. Certain convictions also erase after seven or ten years. This gives people a way to clear old records from arrests in New Britain.
Note: Erasure does not delete the record, it just hides it from public searches.
Official Background Checks in Connecticut
For a complete criminal history, you need an official background check from the State Police Bureau of Identification. This is the state agency that keeps records for everyone arrested in Connecticut, including people arrested in New Britain. The background check is more thorough than searching online databases on your own.
Getting a background check requires fingerprints. You must book an appointment at the State Police office in Middletown. The address is 1111 Country Club Road. You need a valid photo ID and payment for the fees. A state criminal history check costs $75. Fingerprinting costs $15. A federal background check adds $13.25 more.
Call 860-685-8480 to ask about scheduling an appointment. You can also book online through the state website. Walk-ins are not accepted. You must schedule ahead. Once you complete the appointment and pay the fees, the background check is processed. Results come back in a few weeks for people with arrests in New Britain or elsewhere in the state.
This is the official way to get a criminal history record in Connecticut. Employers and licensing boards use this system. It shows all arrests and convictions on file with the State Police. The report is considered the most accurate source for criminal history in New Britain and across Connecticut.
Legal Help After an Arrest in New Britain
If you were arrested in New Britain, you may need a lawyer. Public defenders help people who cannot afford a private attorney. You apply for a public defender at your first court appearance. The judge decides if you qualify based on income. If you do, a public defender is assigned at no cost.
Legal aid groups also serve the area. Statewide Legal Services of Connecticut offers free legal help to low-income residents. Call 1-800-453-3320 to ask about services. The Connecticut Bar Association runs a lawyer referral service at 1-860-223-4400. They connect you with a private attorney who offers a first meeting at a reduced cost.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch website has self-help guides for people handling their own cases. These guides cover topics like arraignments, filing motions, and other court steps. You can find forms and instructions at alabamalegalhelp.org. This site walks you through the process if you choose to represent yourself after an arrest in New Britain.
Common Charges in New Britain Arrest Logs
Arrest logs show many types of charges. Some appear more often than others. Larceny is one of the most common charges in New Britain. This covers theft of property. The degree of larceny depends on the value of what was taken. Second-degree larceny involves property worth between $500 and $1,000 under Connecticut law.
Motor vehicle charges also show up often. These include driving under the influence, operating with a suspended license, and failure to grant right of way. Each charge has its own statute number. The arrest log lists the number so you can look up the exact law that applies to the case in New Britain.
Drug charges are another common category. Possession of a controlled substance, use of drug paraphernalia, and sale of drugs all appear in the logs. Connecticut has strict drug laws. Even small amounts can lead to serious charges. The arrest log will show the statute and the bond amount for each drug-related arrest in New Britain.
Assault and threatening charges also appear. These range from third-degree assault to more serious levels. Domestic incidents often lead to these charges. The log will note the charge and the statute but may not give full details about what happened. For that, you need the full police report from the Records Division in New Britain.
What Happens After an Arrest in New Britain
After an arrest in New Britain, the person is booked at the police station. This means their name, photo, and fingerprints are entered into the system. They are then held or released on bond. The bond amount is set based on the charge and the person's criminal history. Some people are released on a promise to appear in court.
The first court date is called an arraignment. At this hearing, the judge reads the charges and asks how the person pleads. The judge also reviews the bond and may change it. If you cannot afford a lawyer, you apply for a public defender at this hearing. The judge decides if you qualify based on your income.
If the case moves forward, there may be more hearings. Some cases go to trial. Others are resolved through a plea deal. The outcome of the case appears in court records. You can search for the case at jud.ct.gov to see what happened after the arrest in New Britain.
Convictions lead to sentencing. The judge may order jail time, probation, fines, or other penalties. The sentence becomes part of the court record. You can also see this info in the online court system. If the case was dismissed or the person was found not guilty, that outcome also shows up in the court records for New Britain.
Hartford County Booking Reports
New Britain is in Hartford County. Each city in the county has its own police department and arrest logs. For a broader view of arrest records across the county, see the Hartford County page. That page links to all city departments, county resources, and state systems that handle booking reports and criminal records in the county.