Lancaster County, Nebraska Arrest Records
In Lancaster County, Nebraska, arrest records reveal information about arrests conducted within the county. Such records typically reveal an arrestee's personal information, charges, booking date, and bail amount.
Local law enforcement agencies create arrest records after an offender is arrested and booked in the county jail. The Lancaster County Sheriff's Office and the Lincoln Police Department are some of the largest local law enforcement agencies in the county. These agencies may store arrest records and disclose them to the public in line with specific laws.
The Nebraska Public Records statutes govern public access to arrest records held by government entities. On the other hand, the Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3501 requires specific state-level agencies to maintain criminal history records, which may also include arrest data.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Lancaster, Nebraska?
In Lancaster County, arrest records are generally accessible to the public. The Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712 allows all interested parties to view and make requests for arrest information in the custody of government agencies. These agencies act as record custodians and may disclose records through online or offline options. For example, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services maintains an online search platform that may include arrest information.
To obtain Lancaster arrest records, record seekers are generally required to follow specific steps outlined by the record custodian. Note that there is no law that restricts non-residents from accessing arrest records in Lancaster County.
Nebraska laws exempt specific information from publicly accessible arrest records. Record custodians may only release such documents to individuals or entities with a direct and tangible interest in them. Eligible parties typically provide government-issued IDs when requesting such documents.
What Do Public Lancaster County Arrest Records Contain?
Lancaster arrest records may reveal the following public information:
- The arrestee's personal information and physical description.
- Booking photograph.
- Arrest charges and a description of the alleged offense.
- Date and location of the arrest.
- Arresting agency and current holding facility.
- Bond or bail information.
Note that publicly accessible arrest records may not include information that is exempt under state laws. The laws generally restrict access to information that may compromise the safety of concerned parties. Examples of non-public arrest records include the following:
- Information on juvenile arrestees.
- Materials that may interfere with an active investigation.
- Personal identifying details of victims and confidential sources.
- Arrest records sealed under court orders.
Lancaster County, Nebraska Arrest Search
Interested parties may search and find Lancaster County arrest records in online search platforms maintained by state and federal entities. At the state level, the Nebraska Department of Correctional Services maintains a searchable portal for current inmates in state prisons. The database may reveal arrest details, including the arrest charges, mugshot, and bail amount. To look up records on the portal, users typically provide the inmate's name or DCS ID number.
The Nebraska Judicial Branch also hosts a state-level resource for finding arrest records. The resource reveals arrest details included in case files. Record seekers may view relevant data on the platform by entering the case party name or number. Note that the platform charges $17 per search.
At the federal level, the Federal Bureau of Prisons hosts an inmate locator that reviews information on inmates held in federal facilities. A search using the inmate's name or prison ID number may reveal arrest information.
Record seekers may find arrest data in criminal history files maintained by the Nebraska State Patrol. The agency allows name- or fingerprint-based requests for criminal history files in their custody. Record seekers may obtain records by submitting an online or offline request to the agency. For offline requests, record seekers typically follow these steps:
- Complete the Criminal History Record request form.
- Attach a $30 fee. For mail-based requests, applicants typically send the fee as a money order or check made payable to the Nebraska State Patrol.
- Submit the document and fees via mail or in-person to this address:
Nebraska State Patrol
Criminal Identification Division
4600 Innovation Drive
Lincoln, NE 68521
Lancaster County Inmate Locator
The Lancaster County Department of Correctional Services handles inmate-related operations in the county jail, including the maintenance of inmate records. Record seekers may view arrest records using the agency's online search platform. To look up records, interested parties typically enter the inmate's name to view arrest details, such as the charges, booking date, and mugshot.
Alternatively, record seekers may find arrest information of current inmates by directly contacting the sheriff's office or the county's department of corrections. These entities may attend to in-person or mail-in requests at this address:
Lancaster County Sheriff's Office
575 South 10th Street,
Lincoln, NE 68508,
Phone: (402) 441-6500
Lancaster County Department of Corrections
3801 West O Street,
Lincoln, NE 68528,
Phone: (402) 441-1900
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Lancaster County
Official government platforms may provide free information about arrests conducted in Lancaster County. The county's Department of Corrections hosts an online search platform that may reveal arrest details of current inmates in the county jail.
In contrast, the Nebraska Department of Corrections and the Federal Bureau of Prisons maintain searchable portals for inmates held in state and federal prisons, respectively. These databases also reveal arrest information, such as the arrest charges, date, arresting agency, and bail amount. To look up records on these platforms, record seekers typically enter relevant search data.
In addition to using online search tools, record seekers may freely view arrest information at the arresting agency or local court. The agencies may allow free viewing during official business hours.
Note that online search tools often exclude information on older arrest events and statutorily exempt information. Interested parties may only obtain such information by submitting a request to the custodian agencies. The custodians may ask for a valid ID before disclosing sensitive information.
Lancaster County Arrest Report
Lancaster arrest reports contain a detailed description of an arrest event. Arresting officers create such reports after apprehending suspected offenders. A typical arrest report includes these details:
- Description of events that led to the arrest, including issuance of warrants and tip-offs.
- Evidence recovered at the crime scene or arrest location.
- The arresting officer's name and badge number.
- Information from victims or witnesses.
Arrest reports are generally obtainable from the agency that conducted the arrest. Furthermore, concerned parties may locate arrest reports in the custody of the court that handled the case. Custodial agencies may restrict the public from accessing confidential data in arrest reports.
Arrest records differ from arrest reports in terms of their content and accessibility. Based on content, arrest records only reveal basic details about arrest events. They may also include post-arrest data, like the mugshot photograph, booking date, and bail information. In terms of accessibility, record seekers may find arrest records in the custody of criminal justice agencies. These agencies maintain arrest information in related public files, like inmate and criminal history records.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Lancaster County
In Lancaster County, residents may only expunge arrests that were as a result of mistaken identity. They may file an expungement petition with the Lancaster County District Court. The petition typically contain sufficient evidence that they were wrongfully arrested.
Concerned parties may seal arrest records, provided they follow the standard steps:
- Fulfill any of these legal requirements:
- The arrest charges were dismissed.
- The court passed a not-guilty verdict.
- They were convicted but later pardoned.
- They were convicted while being a victim of sex trafficking.
Note: Nebraska laws allow the automatic sealing of dismissed arrest charges or court acquittals that occurred after December 31, 2016.
- Obtain a copy of criminal history records from the Nebraska State Patrol.
- Get copies of relevant case files from the court that handled the case.
- Complete the Motion to Seal an Adult Criminal Record.
- File the completed form with the court that handled the case.
After receiving the forms, the court will notify the court attorney of your petition to seal arrest records. The court will then set up a hearing to determine whether to grant or deny the petition.
How Do You Remove Lancaster County Arrest Records From the Internet?
To remove arrest records from the internet, Lancaster County residents typically first obtain a court order to seal arrest records. The court may forward the order to relevant agencies. Upon receiving the order, the agency will pull down all mentions of the arrests on their platforms. However, concerned parties typically directly contact the third-party website to remove their arrest information. They typically send a copy of the order and a request to the website's contact information.