Arrest records are public documents in Stanton County, Nebraska, pursuant to the Nebraska Public Records Law (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-712 through 84-712.09). This legislation establishes that records created, maintained, or under the control of governmental entities, including law enforcement agencies, shall be accessible to members of the public. The statute specifically includes arrest records among those documents available for public inspection unless explicitly exempted by statutory provisions.
The Nebraska Public Records Law operates under the presumption of openness, meaning that all government records are considered public unless a specific exemption applies. Exemptions that may affect the availability of arrest records include:
Individuals seeking access to arrest records in Stanton County must submit their requests to the appropriate custodial agency, which is typically the Stanton County Sheriff's Office or the Stanton County Court.
Arrest records from Stanton County are available through various online platforms, though the comprehensiveness of these digital records varies significantly. The Nebraska Judicial Branch maintains an online case search system that provides limited information about criminal cases, including those originating from arrests in Stanton County. This system, however, does not typically include detailed arrest information or booking photographs.
The Stanton County Sheriff's Office publishes certain arrest information on their official website, including recent arrests and outstanding warrants. This information is updated periodically but may not include historical arrest data or comprehensive details about each case.
Third-party aggregator websites also compile and publish arrest information from Stanton County. These commercial services collect data from public sources and may offer more user-friendly search interfaces. However, pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3523, certain arrest records may be restricted from dissemination after specified time periods if no charges were filed or if the case resulted in acquittal or dismissal.
Users of online arrest record systems should be aware that:
Multiple methods exist for obtaining arrest records from Stanton County authorities. Individuals seeking such information may utilize the following official channels:
In-person requests at the Stanton County Sheriff's Office
Stanton County Sheriff's Office
1010 10th Street
Stanton, NE 68779
(402) 439-2212
Stanton County Sheriff
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Written requests submitted to the Stanton County Court
Stanton County Court
P.O. Box 536
Stanton, NE 68779
(402) 439-2221
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 4:30 PM
Online searches through the Nebraska Judicial Branch's case search portal
Criminal history record requests through the Nebraska State Patrol
Nebraska State Patrol Criminal Identification Division
3800 NW 12th Street, Suite A
Lincoln, NE 68521
(402) 471-4545
When requesting arrest records, individuals must provide sufficient identifying information about the subject of the search, including full name and, if possible, date of birth. Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 84-712(4), agencies may charge reasonable fees for copying records or for the use of equipment to copy records. The fee schedule is established by each agency and must reflect the actual cost of providing the service.
For comprehensive criminal history information, requestors may need to submit fingerprints along with their application to the Nebraska State Patrol. This process is governed by Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3522 and requires payment of applicable fees as established by the State Patrol.
Arrest records maintained by Stanton County law enforcement agencies typically contain standardized information as required by Nebraska state law and departmental policies. These records serve as official documentation of an individual's encounter with law enforcement resulting in custodial arrest. Standard components of a Stanton County arrest record include:
Biographical information of the arrested individual:
Arrest details:
Criminal charges:
Processing information:
Case disposition information:
These records are maintained in accordance with the Nebraska Records Management Act (Neb. Rev. Stat. §§ 84-1201 to 84-1227) and must be retained for periods specified in the records retention schedules approved by the State Records Administrator.
Nebraska law provides mechanisms for the expungement or sealing of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. The process in Stanton County follows state statutory requirements and is administered through the District Court of Stanton County.
Pursuant to Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3523, individuals may be eligible for expungement of arrest records if:
The expungement process requires the filing of a petition with the Stanton County Court or District Court, depending on the jurisdiction of the original case. The petition must include:
Stanton County District Court
1010 10th Street
Stanton, NE 68779
(402) 439-2216
Upon receipt of a properly filed petition, the court will schedule a hearing and notify the County Attorney's Office, which may contest the expungement request. If the court grants the petition, an order will be issued directing all custodial agencies to seal the records pertaining to the arrest.
It is important to note that expunged records may still be accessible to law enforcement agencies for official purposes and may be considered in certain legal proceedings, such as subsequent criminal cases or applications for certain professional licenses.