Fairfield County Arrest Records

Fairfield County booking reports come from police departments in Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, Danbury, and other towns across the county. Arrest records show who got taken into custody by local police. These reports list the charge, the date, and where the arrest took place. You can search for booking reports online or ask for them at a police station. Fairfield County recorded 25,657 crimes in 2022. This makes it one of the busiest counties in the state for law enforcement activity. If you need to find an arrest record in Fairfield County, start with the town where the arrest took place.

Finding Booking Reports in Fairfield County

Local police departments keep arrest records for each town in Fairfield County. When someone gets arrested, the department files a report. That report goes into their system. Most towns post arrest logs on their website. Some towns update logs every day. Others post them once a week. The format varies by department, but all arrest logs show basic facts like name, age, address, charge, and arrest date.

Bridgeport posts an arrest log on the city website at bridgeportct.gov. This log gets updated each month with all arrests made by Bridgeport police. The Records Division is at the police station and can help you get a full report. Call them at (203) 581-5270 during work hours. Copies cost 50 cents per page, and most reports run about eight pages. You must wait five to ten business days after the arrest before the report is ready to pick up in Fairfield County.

Stamford Police Department maintains arrest records for the second largest city in Fairfield County. Press releases about major arrests are posted on the city website. For full records, contact the department directly. They follow the same rules as other Fairfield County police agencies under Connecticut law.

Norwalk posts daily arrest logs as PDF files. The running arrest log gets updated at 6 am each morning and shows all arrests from the day before. You can find this at nwlk.norwalkct.org. The log includes the person's name, address, age, race, sex, charge, officer badge number, and court date. This is one of the easiest ways to check recent bookings in Fairfield County.

Danbury publishes arrest logs on the city website every week. Recent logs show arrests from the past seven days. The Records Property Division handles requests for full reports. Their office is at 155 Deer Hill Ave and opens Monday through Thursday from 7:30 am to 6:00 pm. Friday hours vary, so call ahead at (203) 797-4500 to confirm. All Fairfield County towns follow Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-215, which requires police to make arrest records public.

State Resources for Fairfield County Arrests

Connecticut runs a centralized system for inmates held in state custody. The Department of Correction keeps a database that covers all correctional facilities including Bridgeport Correctional Center in Fairfield County. As of January 2024, Bridgeport held 639 inmates. This includes people who got convicted and people awaiting trial. The database updates every day with new bookings and releases from Fairfield County.

You can search the DOC database at ctinmateinfo.state.ct.us. Enter a last name or DOC number to search. The results show the inmate's current location, admission date, charges, and release date if known. Photos are included for most records. This search works for anyone held at a state facility in Fairfield County or anywhere else in Connecticut.

The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs a criminal case lookup system. This covers court cases filed in Fairfield County courts. You can search by defendant name or docket number. The system shows pending cases and convictions from the past ten years. Visit jud.ct.gov to access the search. Fairfield County cases appear in the results if they match your search terms. Conviction records get removed after ten years unless state law requires a shorter time period.

The State Police Bureau of Identification maintains official criminal history records for Connecticut residents. These are more complete than local arrest logs. To get a criminal history check, you must schedule an appointment for fingerprinting. The fee is $15 for prints plus $75 for a state background check. Call (860) 685-8480 to ask about this service. These records include all arrests in Fairfield County that resulted in charges being filed with the court.

Laws Governing Arrest Records in Fairfield County

Connecticut General Statutes Section 1-215 controls how police release arrest information. This law says that records of any arrest are public. Police must provide at least the person's name, address, date and time of arrest, location, and the offense. They can give you an arrest report, incident report, or news release. All Fairfield County departments follow this rule.

Some records stay private under Connecticut law. Juvenile arrests are not public unless the child is charged as an adult. Section 46b-124 protects the identity of people under 18 who get arrested in Fairfield County. Sexual assault victim names also stay private under Section 54-86e. Medical details and information about ongoing investigations can be withheld by Fairfield County police departments.

Connecticut passed a Clean Slate law that erases some old records. Section 54-142a says that charges dropped or dismissed get erased after 13 months. Cases that end in not guilty verdicts get erased right away. Some misdemeanor convictions get erased after seven years. This applies to arrests in Fairfield County and statewide. Once erased, the records no longer show up in public searches or background checks.

The Connecticut Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to ask for arrest records from any police department in Fairfield County. If a department denies your request, you can file a complaint with the Freedom of Information Commission. The commission is at 165 Capitol Ave in Hartford. Call them at (860) 566-5682 or toll-free at (866) 374-3617 for help with denied requests in Fairfield County.

How to Access Records in Fairfield County

Most arrest records in Fairfield County are public. Anyone can ask for them. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need to explain why you want the record. Just ask the police department that made the arrest. They may charge a small copy fee.

To get a copy of an arrest report, start by calling the Records Division at the police department that handled the case. Bridgeport, Stamford, Norwalk, and Danbury all have staff who handle records requests. Give them the date of arrest and the person's name. They will tell you if the report is ready and what it will cost. Most departments in Fairfield County need five to ten business days to prepare the report after the arrest happens.

If you need accident reports, many Fairfield County police departments use BuyCrash. This online system lets you order motor vehicle accident reports for a fee. Visit buycrash.lexisnexisrisk.com to search. Wait at least five business days after the accident before trying to order the report. This service works for crashes investigated by local police in Fairfield County.

For requests that involve a large number of records, use a formal FOIA request. Bridgeport has an online portal at bridgeportct.mycusthelp.com where you can submit requests. Other towns may ask you to mail or email your request. Include a clear description of what you want and be as specific as possible about dates, names, and incident numbers related to Fairfield County.

Note: Reports involving arrests are not available until all charges are settled in court.

Additional Resources for Fairfield County

Several state agencies help with criminal record questions. The Connecticut Department of Correction offers a public information office at (860) 692-7780. They can answer questions about inmates at Bridgeport Correctional Center and other facilities that house people from Fairfield County. The office is open from 8:00 am to 4:30 pm on weekdays.

The Division of Criminal Justice does not provide criminal records to the public, but their website has links to agencies that do. Visit portal.ct.gov for more information. They also explain the difference between arrest records and conviction records for people searching Fairfield County data.

If you have a question about your own record, contact the State Police at (860) 685-8480. They can tell you what shows up on your criminal history. If you think a record was erased but still appears in a search, you may need to file a petition with the court in Fairfield County. Legal aid groups in Bridgeport can help with this process if you qualify.

Cities in Fairfield County

Fairfield County includes many cities and towns. Each local police department keeps its own arrest records. The larger cities post arrest logs online. Smaller towns may require an in-person visit or phone call to get booking reports.

Other towns in Fairfield County include Greenwich, Fairfield, Trumbull, Stratford, and Ridgefield. All police departments in these towns maintain arrest records under Connecticut law.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Fairfield County. If you are not sure where an arrest took place, check with police in the correct county. Each county has its own system for booking reports and arrest records.