Real Estate Innovation

Public Arrest Reports

While it’s reassuring to see so many websites on the net posting Public Arrest Reports for people’s awareness and information, it’s also disturbing to note the rate of occurrence of such incidents. These reports send informative and cautionary messages simultaneously to both the public and potential delinquents alike. They can also be individually retrieved for its own specific purpose.

An Arrest Report is a record by law enforcement authorities of apprehensions that lead to detention or confinement. It constitutes a list of all arrestees with their personal details plus other information surrounding the incidents together with the ensuing charges if any. Individually, they form part of the Public Arrest Records of the offender.

Public Arrest Reports are mostly generated by the Police although there are other government agencies which are also authorized to do so. As a result, they are also known as Public Police Reports. Police come under state jurisdiction so there may be variations between the states but by and large, the function in regards to Public Arrest Reports is tasked to the respective individual Police Departments.

After an arrest has been completed, a report is put up by the arresting agency to document the incident. It is then submitted to the Case Intake Prosecutor assigned to it for further action. The report basically recites the entire event of the arrest furnished with all the pertinent details where possible such as the personal particulars of the arrestee, the time and place of the incident, case number and type, grounds of arrest, witnesses’ names and addresses and even environmental conditions such as weather.

Public Arrest Reports are posted on various media by many Police Departments and Sheriff Offices for public viewing and attention. Weekly update is the norm but there is no fixed schedule, with some as frequent as live and some at monthly intervals. Cumulative lists over the years are also commonly available. Such reports are usually of a collective nature listing all arrests conducted over a certain period within a particular locality. Expunged records and those of arrestees below a certain age are usually omitted.

Aside from being a standard enforcement documentation procedure, a primary function of Public Arrest Reports is to serve as an official statement or evidence in determining the appropriate formal charges for the Prosecutor or Grand Jury, whichever applies for the particular case. Although they are generally not admissible to Court trials, they often have a significant impact on the bail amount, plea bargain and trial tactics.

Public Arrest Reports are considered as a public service. They can thus be requested from government agencies tasked with the function as long as procedures are followed. An alternative and preferred way to retrieve them is by purchasing them from commercial information providers. On top of government sources, they also tap into private and proprietary information networks, often coming up with extras but fees are charged.