Does a Police Department have to say if someone has been arrested?

trooper3316

Arrests are a matter of public record. They will normally tell you, but there are some exceptions. If the person is underage or if the case is still being investigated and releasing the name would jeopardize the investigation, they will not release the information.

Teresa

This is public information but in most cases you can check on line. Just google your local sheriff department and you should find it there.

TetonCop

An arrest is usually a matter of public record so, yes, they should tell you that a person has been arrested. However, there are exceptions in certain cases, such as a matter of public safety (telling some one has been arrested while trying to locate other suspects in the case), or if there is an on-going investigation (i.e., drug cases) that release of that information would be detrimental to the case. However, this is only for short periods of time, depending on the case.

Big Fella

No!!! There are reasons why they will not tell you and individual has been arrested! They are not bound by any law to tell anyone if someone has been arrested. Say they want to use the an arrested person in a sting, it would not be wise to let people know this guy has been arrested!!!!!!!!

Art Vandelay

Yes, it must be made public. I'm not sure if they have to tell you directly, but they must make the information available through public records and the press.

Andy G {Join The Resistance}

Yes, law enforcement has to provide the arrest information of anyone who was detained. However, the local police department may not have his information (unless you live in NYC or DC).

You would have to contact the county Sheriff or the county police since counties are the ones that have the information on a person who is being held in a detention center.

Some county sheriff websites even offer the names of their detained prisoners on their website.

delive_rance

NO ABSOLUTELY NOT an obligation of the police department to answer your inquiry if someone has been arrested unless you are a relative or immediate family member then perhaps your inquiry could be entertained.

Why call the police department if for example a friend of yours is arrested why not drop by his own home or house or his own mom or dad and asked them. Is this too hard to do than calling a police department for a mere knowledge if your friend is there in the police station? The police department is not a DJ radio station to asked them about person or anybody being brought there for interrogation or just been arrested. They have no tenacity to look over their list of persons brought in the station for the last 24 hours for your convenient and luxury. IF YOU ARE THAT DILIGENT to find out then why not DROP by the station and asked the police desk officer there yourself personally if they have your friend over there and give them his name. I think that is more proper and in good order than just calling them. You want to know your friend condition yet you are in the comfort of your house or room eating perhaps a hamburger while the cops who are too busy fighting crimes around the city and just pick up the phone and give you the where about your friend. You are so lucky huh?!

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