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  1. Strafford County Court
  2. Strafford County Arrest Records

Strafford County, New Hampshire Arrest Records

Arrest records in Strafford County are law enforcement documents detailing the apprehension, detention, and booking of individuals alleged to have violated criminal laws. These documents identify the arrested individuals, the reasons for the arrests, and the conditions for their release. In Strafford County, arrest records are created and maintained by the Strafford County Sheriff's Office, the Dover Police Department, and the Rochester Police Department. In addition to other local law enforcement agencies,  Strafford County arrest records are also maintained by court systems handling criminal proceedings. 

Are Arrest Records Public Information in Strafford, New Hampshire?

Yes, Strafford County arrest records are public. The New Hampshire Right-to-Know Law, RSA Chapter 91-A guarantees public access to Strafford County arrest records. However, RSA 91-A:5 allows law enforcement to redact information that compromises privacy rights or interferes with active criminal investigations.

Access to Strafford County’s public-facing arrest records does not require an Identification or eligibility through local or state residency. Nevertheless, record seekers may need to present a valid government-issued ID to obtain official Strafford County arrest records in person. While viewing Strafford County arrest records is free, obtaining copies of the documents from custodian agencies may incur nominal fees.

Note: New Hampshire also operates a separate statutory framework for  criminal history records. Section 106-B:14 of the New Hampshire Revised Statutes Annotated and Chapter Saf-C 5700 of the NH Code of Administrative Rules govern how law enforcement agencies control and disseminate criminal offender records.

What Do Public Strafford County Arrest Records Contain?

New Hampshire law mandates that custodian agencies make basic Strafford County arrest information  accessible to the public. Under Title LIX, Section 594:14-a  of the New Hampshire Statutes Annotated, a public-facing Strafford County arrest record contains, but is not limited to, the following information:

  • The Identity of the individual arrested, including the name, sex, date of birth, and mugshot.
  • Name of the arresting officer, unless disclosing it fails to serve the public interest.
  • The offense the individual is alleged to have committed at the time of the arrest.
  • A statement detailing the reasons for the arrest.
  • An indication specifying whether the officer made the arrest pursuant to a warrant.

Although Strafford County arrest records are publicly accessible under New Hampshire law, unauthorized persons cannot access arrest records that disclose active law enforcement investigations and information protected by privacy laws. Additionally, there is an exemption on  public access to juvenile records, sealed and expunged records, and victim information.

Strafford County,  New Hampshire Arrest Search

There are several state and federal pathways for accessing Strafford County arrest records. The New Hampshire Division of State Police Criminal Records Unit is the central repository for criminal arrest and history records in the state. Record seekers can request and obtain Criminal History Records Information (CHRI) through the New Hampshire State Police Criminal Records Request portal. Likewise, interested parties can also review the New Hampshire Division of State Police Weekly Arrest Blotters for recent Strafford County arrest bookings and charges. Strafford County arrest records can also be accessible as part of criminal court records through the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal. Requesters can use this search tool to locate Strafford County arrest information within criminal case files.

In addition to conducting state-level searches, individuals can access information about Strafford County arrests that resulted in federal prosecutions through PACER (Public Access to Court Electronic Records). This online tool allows users to retrieve federal arrest details from court case dockets. Information seekers can also request their own rap sheets through the FBI Identity History Summary Checks. This summary file includes arrest records and disposition data submitted by Strafford County law enforcement and courts. 

Strafford County Inmate Locator

The Strafford County Department of Corrections (SCDOC) operates the local jail facility. However, the county does not maintain an online inmate lookup database. Individuals seeking to obtain Strafford County inmate records and arrest information should call the SCDOC at (603) 742-3310 or visit the facility at:

266 County Farm Road,

Dover, 

NH 03820.

In Strafford County, municipal police departments also grant public access to arrest records through their arrest logs. For instance, individuals can access Strafford County arrest information by reviewing the Dover Police Department's Weekly Arrest Logs and the Rochester Police Department’s Daily Press and Arrest Logs.

Active Warrant Search in Strafford County, 

Strafford County arrest warrants are legal documents authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest and bring specific individuals before the court (RSA Title LIX, Chapter 594 ). Typically, judges/magistrates of the Strafford County Superior and 7th Circuit Courts issue arrest warrants when there is probable cause to believe that specific individuals committed crimes. A typical Strafford County arrest warrant outlines the following information:

  • The name and physical description of the accused 
  • The alleged criminal offense 
  • Date of issuance 
  • Name of the issuing court 
  • Signature of the authorizing judge/magistrate 
  • Probable cause statement 
  • Bond amount (if applicable)
  • Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the arrest.

According to the New Hampshire Right-to-Know-Law, the state classifies arrest warrants as public documents. However, law enforcement agencies maintain the confidentiality of active warrants under RSA 91-A:5 until an officer executes the order. While the Strafford County Sheriff's Office executes and manages active warrants, the agency does not maintain an online public database. Individuals seeking warrant information in Strafford County should visit or call the Strafford County Sheriff's Office at (603) 742-4960. Alternatively, record seekers can contact the relevant municipal police departments to inquire about local warrants within that  specific city or town's border. However, appearing in person may result in immediate arrest if a warrant is active.

Record seekers can also call the Strafford County Superior and Circuit Court Clerks at (855) 212-1234 to inquire about criminal and bench warrants. In Strafford County, individuals seeking information about arrest warrants are expected to provide specific details to ensure accurate results. Generally, the search criteria include the following information:

  • First and last name of the individual 
  • Date of birth 
  • Any known aliases 
  • Case or docket number, if the warrant is linked to a specific court proceeding 
  • Last known location (if known)
  • Approximate date of the alleged incident.

Agency / Resource

Purpose

Search Methods

Notes

Strafford County Sheriff’s Office

Maintains and serves warrants

Phone and in person

Record seekers should call (603) 742-4960 or visit the  Sheriff's Office.

Strafford County Superior and Circuit Court Clerks’ Offices 

Manages official case dockets and records for both criminal arrest warrants and court-issued bench warrants.

Phone and in person 

Call (855) 212-1234 or use the public access terminals available at the courthouse.

Municipal police departments 

Handle city/town arrest warrants 

Phone and in person 

Contact the relevant local police department that handled the arrest

New Hampshire Division of State Police Criminal Records Unit 

Maintains state-level criminal history checks

Online, mail-in, and in-person 

The agency provides access to past convictions and closed warrants.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Strafford County

In Strafford County, individuals can access arrest records for free through local and state resources. The Strafford County Department of Corrections does not maintain a searchable online jail roster where interested parties can search for arrest records for free as part of an inmate record lookup. However, inquirers can call the SCDOC at (603) 742-3310 or visit the facility to request information. 

Municipal police departments in Strafford County also provide free access to arrest records.  Requesters can visit the relevant local police department or access their free public arrest logs online. Additionally, the New Hampshire Judicial Branch Case Access Portal provides public access to court dockets for free. Record seekers can use this search tool to access Strafford County arrest information through criminal case records. 

Strafford County Arrest Report

Strafford County arrest reports are detailed accounts of arrest incidents by the arresting officer. In comparison with arrest records, which are summary entries within custodial and judicial databases, arrest reports are more detailed documents explaining the circumstances surrounding the arrest and the events leading up to it. Information on a Strafford County arrest report includes:

  • The arrestee's identifying information 
  • Arresting officer and agency involved 
  • Probable cause justification 
  • Witness statements 
  • Evidence collected during the arrest 
  • Victim information 
  • Location of the arrest 
  • The arresting officer’s first-hand narrative.

New Hampshire law classifies arrest reports as public documents. However, law enforcement agencies redact the internal investigative narrative from the public while cases are active or to protect victims’ identities.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Strafford County

In New Hampshire, the legal process for removing an arrest or conviction record from public view is called annulment. According to Title LXII, Chapter 651:5 of the New Hampshire Criminal Code, a Strafford County arrest record becomes eligible for annulment if the charge does not result in a conviction, or after the individual completes the sentence for the crime and fulfills the applicable waiting period. However, violent and sex offenses are ineligible for annulment.

Individuals seeking to annul Strafford County arrest records should follow these steps:

  • Obtain all relevant records, including: 
    • Criminal records from the New Hampshire State Police
    • Driving records from the New Hampshire DMV if the charges involve motor vehicle offenses or DWI
    • Court records from the appropriate court that handled the case. 
  • Download and complete the appropriate petition to annulment of record forms through the Superior Court Criminal Forms page and the District Division Annulment Forms portal.
  • File the petition with the clerk of the appropriate Strafford County Court that handled the case resulting from the arrest.
  • Pay the applicable filing fee.
  • Complete an authorization for the New Hampshire Department of Safety to obtain the individual's official criminal record history report so the court can review the petition.
  • Attend the court hearing if the court schedules one.
  • If the petition is granted, the court enters an official order to annul the records.

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

In Strafford County, interested individuals seeking to remove their arrest records from the internet should obtain a court-ordered annulment under RSA 651:5. Once ordered, government agencies remove the arrest records from official law enforcement and judicial databases. Nevertheless, it does not automatically clear the arrest data from private websites. 

An applicant seeking to remove a Strafford County arrest record from the internet should first identify the publishers of the arrest record. Third-party platforms require the individual to submit a removal request along with a copy of the official Order to Annul Records. Additionally, individuals can use search engine tools to de-index cached links, ensuring the arrest records no longer appear in search results.