New Hampshire Arrest Records

New Hampshire arrest records contain information on arrests conducted within the state. Such records typically reveal arrest data like the arrest date, criminal offense, booking information, and the arresting officers’s details.

Arrests typically occur when law enforcement officers apprehend persons suspected of breaking the law. Per NH Rev Stat § 594:10, officers may also conduct arrests to prevent a potential breakdown of law and order. Arrestees are temporarily detained in the county jail pending the outcome of further investigations.

In New Hampshire, local law enforcement agencies create arrest records from documented arrest events. These agencies might also maintain and release the record to interested parties.

Are Arrest Records Public in New Hampshire?

Yes, most arrest records are accessible to the public in New Hampshire. The NH Rev Stat § 91-A:4 allows public access to arrest-related records generated by government entities. In addition, the law requires government entities to release records upon requests from eligible persons or entities. To release records, these entities may require specific information about the arrest, identification, or necessary search fees.

Nevertheless, government entities may refuse access to arrest records whose disclosure is not in the public interest. Such records typically contain sensitive information that may violate a person’s right to privacy or security. Other examples of  non-public arrest records include the following:

• Information about crime victims.
• Gruesome crime scene photos and videos.
• Expunged or sealed arrest information.

Note: The law may allow specific entities to access arrest records. Such entities may include the record subject, legal representatives, and government entities.

New Hampshire Arrest Statistics

The FBI’s Crime Data Explorer maintains yearly reports on all arrests conducted within New Hampshire. Per the agency’s report, the state’s law enforcement agencies made 38,204 arrests in 2024. The report revealed that driving under the influence (4,497), simple assault (4,241), and drug/narcotic crimes (3,078) were the most reported crimes in the state. 

Based on gender, male arrestees made up 69 percent of documented arrests in the state. Irrespective of gender, a majority of arrestees were between the ages of 30 and 49 years old.

Find Public Arrest Records in New Hampshire

Interested parties may look up arrest records in New Hampshire by following these steps:

1. Determine where to find the record: New Hampshire arrest records may exist in other public documents. So, you may broaden your search beyond arrest records to include related documents like court case files and criminal history documents.
2. Determine the record custodian for the record: New Hampshire arrest records generally fall under the jurisdiction of the law enforcement agency in the region where the arrest occurred. For instance, the Hillsborough County Sheriff’s Office oversees records of arrest events within the county. The New Hampshire Police Department is also a record custodian for arrest information.
3. Select a preferred mode of accessing the record: record custodians may allow online or offline access to arrest records in their custody. Online access may involve using self-service terminals installed at law enforcement premises. However, you may send mail or make a request in person to use the offline access option. For instance, the Rockingham County sheriff’s office typically accepts in-person requests for arrest records. 
4. Fulfill the requirements for choosing a preferred request option: Each record request option comes with a specific set of requirements. For example, you are typically required to provide relevant information about the requested arrest document. Record custodians may require valid identification if the requested document contains sensitive data. So, inquirers may call the record custodian to determine the requirements.
5. Pay the required fees: There are no general fees for requesting arrest records i n New Hampshire. So, the fees are dependent on the record custodian, number of requested copies, and document format.

How to Look up Arrest Records Online in New Hampshire

You may look up New Hampshire arrest records through online repositories and databases. For instance, the New Hampshire Department of Corrections website hosts a searchable database for arrestees serving time in state correctional facilities. Inquirers must input an inmate’s first and last name to view records on the platform. County-level law enforcement agencies may provide online databases for arrestees held in local jails. Case in point: The City of Dover’s Police Department regularly updates an arrest log for recent arrestees. 

Third-party search websites are an alternative option for viewing New Hampshire arrest records. Such platforms are typically easy to navigate and users might only need to provide an arrestee’s name to view records. Nevertheless. Third-party search websites operate outside government jurisdiction and, as such, are not reliable options for accessing arrest records.

What is Included in New Hampshire Arrest Records?

New Hampshire arrest records typically include information on the following:

• Arrestee’s full name and physical identifiers like age, sex, and race.
• Arrest charges
• Arrest date and location
• Booking date and ID.
• Arresting agency.
• Arrest warrant information.
• Bail and bond information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in New Hampshire?

Arrests will permanently stay on your records unless you file to expunge or seal them. The state allows you to expunge arrest records immediately after charges are dismissed. However, you may wait for 31 days after a court dismisses a criminal charge. The waiting period is different for conviction records. Convicted persons are typically required to adhere to these waiting periods: 

• Class A misdemeanor: 2 to 10 years after completing the sentence. The 10-year waiting period applies to domestic violence cases.
• Class B misdemeanor: 2 years after completing the court sentence.
• Infraction: 2 years after completing the court sentence.
• Felony conviction: 5 to 10 years after completing the sentence.

Expunge an Arrest Record in New Hampshire

Expungement is a legal procedure for erasing crime-related information from both public and private domains. In New Hampshire, an offender seeking to expunge criminal records may use this step-by-step guide:

1. Determine if the required waiting period has elapsed.
2. Fill out the appropriate form:
   1. Use the form (NHJB-3056-DSe) for non-conviction and conviction cases that occurred before January 1, 2019. 
   2. Use the form (NHJB-2317-DSe) to expunge records of arrests and court cases that occurred after January 1, 2019.
3. Obtain a case summary from the convicting court if you do not have all the required information to fill out the forms.
4. File the petition with the convicting court or a court of competent jurisdiction. File a separate petition for each charge you want to expunge.
5. Attach a $125 filing fee along with the request. Offenders may pay an extra $100 if the petition needs to be referred to the Department of Corrections.

Upon receiving the petition, the court may make a decision by reviewing evidence from all concerned parties. The court will also weigh the public interest against the petitioner’s need to expunge the record. After granting the expungement request, the court may issue an expungement order for all concerned agencies to expunge the record subject’s criminal information.

How Do I Find Recent Arrests in New Hampshire?

You may find recent arrest information in the custody of an arresting agency. Agencies, such as county sheriffs and city police departments, may maintain online or offline arrest logs. 

Online arrest logs are often included on their official websites. Since some websites offer a search option, you may view these logs by inputting “arrest log” in the search bar. An alternative option is to visit the arresting agency’s physical address.

Are New Hampshire Arrest Records Free?

Most arrest records are free to view in New Hampshire. Inquirers seeking to view free arrest records must use online search portals or downloadable lists provided by the state’s arresting agencies. For instance, you may view arrest records for free via New Hampshire’s inmate search portal. County- or city-level law enforcement agencies also maintain searchable portals for arrest records.

With that being said, you might need to pay fees to obtain physical copies of arrest documents.