Cumberland County, Maine Arrest Records
Cumberland County arrest records are documents created by the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office and other local law enforcement agencies, like the Portland Police Department and the South Portland Police Department, in connection with an arrest. The record details all the necessary information about the event, including who was arrested, where the arrest happened, and the original charges filed for the arrest.
Arrest records in Cumberland County are considered public documents per the Maine Freedom of Access Act, giving members of the public access to the records. These records are also part of the broader criminal history information, which also captures convictions and sentences. The release of criminal history information in Maine is regulated by the Criminal Record History Information Act.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Cumberland, Maine?
Yes. Access to arrest records in Cumberland County is generally governed by the Maine Freedom of Access Act (FOAA). The FOAA grants every person the right to examine and procure copies of all public records, including arrest information in the state. The state does not place any roadblocks or significant requirements before individuals can access a record, provided the request is made in accordance with the custodian's rules and legal procedures.
What Do Public Cumberland County Arrest Records Contain?
When an individual is arrested in Cumberland County, and a record is created to document the arrest, the information entered into the record typically consists of two compartments: Public and non-public sections. The public section of the record is what is usually disclosed to individuals who request access to the record, while the non-public section is generally only accessible to authorized staff.
The public section of an arrest record typically includes
- The arrestee's personal information: Full name, date of birth, city of residence, hair color, eye color, gender, height, and weight
- The arresting agency
- Confinement information
- The booking number and date
- Judicial status
- Offense committed and the statute violated
- Bond type and amount
The non-public section may include the following information.
- Sensitive personal identifiers
- Medical conditions
- Juvenile details
- The identity of certain crime victims
Cumberland County, Maine Arrest Search
Cumberland County arrest records are generated locally and forwarded to the State Bureau of Identification, which is a division of the Maine State Police. The State Bureau of Identification, the state's central repository for criminal history information, receives arrest information not only from Cumberland County but also from all other counties.
Individuals can search for statewide criminal history information using the Criminal History Record Information (CHRI) Portal. Researchers need the exact legal name and date of birth of an individual to conduct a search. If there is a name match, researchers will then have access to the individual's conviction information and pending charges that are less than one year old. The search fee is $31 for out-of-state subscribers and non-subscribers, and $21 for in-state subscribers.
Additionally, Cumberland County arrest records also make their way to the federal arrest database managed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). Individuals who want to access their United States criminal record from the FBI may submit a request online, by mail, or via an approved channeler.
Cumberland County Inmate Locator
After an individual is arrested in Cumberland County, they are booked by the Sheriff's Office and kept in the Cumberland County Jail. The Cumberland County Jail is the largest in Maine and serves as the primary holding facility for individuals awaiting trial.
Researchers can browse through the list of inmates currently in jail on the Cumberland County Jail Confined Inmate List. The list contains the details of current inmates, excluding federal inmates serving their sentences in the jail. Individuals can also contact the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office for information about inmates.
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office
36 County Way
Portland, ME 04102
Phone: (207) 774-1444
Active Warrant Search in Cumberland County
An arrest warrant is best defined as a judicial document authorizing police officers to locate and detain an individual. Arrest warrants are issued after law enforcement submits a document that demonstrates probable cause that the accused individual is the most likely culprit in the crime. However, bench warrants, which also require a person's arrest, are issued without probable cause. A bench warrant is primarily issued after an individual misses a compulsory court hearing or violates a court order.
Warrants in Cumberland County typically contain these details
- The name of the accused (or a sufficient description if their name is not known)
- The charges and violations alleged against the accused
- The directive commanding law enforcement to arrest the person
- The signature/title of the issuing judge
- The date the warrant was issued
- Bail conditions
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office is the primary custodian responsible for maintaining and executing active warrants. Members of the public who want to find an active arrest warrant may contact the Sheriff's Office by visiting or calling. The Sheriff's Office will ask for the name the inquirer wants searched, and then the warrant database will be checked for any matching information. Inquirers should note that the Sheriff may arrest them if an active warrant is found in their name.
|
Agency / Resource |
Purpose |
Search Methods |
Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Cumberland County Sheriff's Office |
Maintains and serves warrants |
Phone and in person |
There is no active online warrant search database in the county |
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Cumberland County
The Cumberland County Sheriff's Office publishes a record of recent police activity regarding arrests on the Activity Logs page. The Sheriff publishes this data so members of the public can access arrest information for free, without having to physically inquire at the office. Basic details of inmates in the county can also be found using the county jail's Confined Inmate List. However, researchers using both resources should note that sealed or confidential arrest details will not be shown on both systems.
Cumberland County Arrest Report
An arrest record and an arrest report are similar documents created to capture the details of an arrest. The primary difference between these documents is the depth of information that they contain. An arrest record is a summarized entry, detailing only the basic facts of the arrest, while an arrest report is a comprehensive narrative of the arrest written by the arresting officer. The report contains all other data that were not detailed in the arrest record, including the officer's observations, description of the scene, witness testimonies, and any evidence found.
Individuals who want to access an arrest report may request it from the agency that made the arrest. For example, arrest reports maintained by the Cumberland Police Department can be accessed by following instructions on the agency's Records Requests page.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Cumberland County
Maine does not have a general expungement law for arrest records, so a record cannot be entirely erased from a person's criminal history. However, the law allows for sealing under certain circumstances. When the court issues a sealing order, the record is removed from public sight and will no longer show up on background checks.
Maine's sealing laws (15 M.R.S. § 2262) are quite restrictive, as an arrest record can only be sealed in the state if the arrest did not result in a conviction or if it resulted in an eligible conviction under 15 M.R.S. § 2261. Additionally, individuals who were convicted and are seeking record sealing must have stayed 4 years after the completion of their sentence without having a conviction in Maine or any other state, or having any pending criminal case.
Individuals who meet the eligibility criteria may begin the application process by requesting a copy of their criminal history through the Maine State Bureau of Identification. The next step is to complete and submit the Motion to Seal Criminal History Form (CR-218) to the Clerk of Court's office where the conviction happened. After the submission, the court will schedule a hearing, inviting the petitioner and the prosecutor. The motion to seal will be granted if the petitioner shows that each statutory requirement has been met by a preponderance of the evidence.
How Do You Remove Cumberland County Arrest Records From the Internet?
Individuals who want their arrest records removed from the internet first have to obtain a sealing order from the court. The order gives individuals the legal footing to demand the removal of their records from a website.
For government-run websites, such as the Cumberland County Sheriff's Office Activity Logs page, individuals do not need any further action, as the departments are bound by the court to immediately remove the record the moment an order is issued. For arrest records on a third-party website, affected persons will need to reach out to the website, present the court order, and request the record's removal. Some websites also have a dedicated record removal portal that makes the request process easier.