Buffalo County Arrest Records

Arrests in Buffalo County, Nebraska, are conducted by law enforcement agencies based on probable cause that an individual has committed a crime. This may be when an officer directly witnesses a crime, has a court-issued warrant, or receives credible information that leads to an arrest.

The Buffalo County Sheriff’s Office is the primary law enforcement agency responsible for making arrests and generating arrest records. Other local police departments of municipalities in Buffalo County carry out arrests and generate arrest records. Arrested individuals are held at the Buffalo County Detention Center.

Buffalo County arrest records are part of a broader category of public records, which include documents and information generated by governmental agencies. Specifically, these arrest records may be linked to Buffalo County Court Records in the context of judicial proceedings.

Are Arrest Records Public in Buffalo County?

In Buffalo County, arrest records are generally considered public under the Nebraska National Freedom of Information and Public Records Law. This means that most information related to arrests is accessible to the public. These records typically include the arrested individual's name, the arrest date and time, the charges, and the arresting agency.

However, certain types of arrest information may be exempt from public disclosure. These exemptions relate to records containing protected information, such as:

• Juvenile records.
• Personal information that will most likely lead to the violation of a person’s privacy.
• Medical records.
• Trade secrets.
• Records developed from an ongoing investigation.
• Records expressly excluded from public view by a statute or court order.
• Information that could compromise ongoing investigations or the safety of individuals involved is often withheld.
• Information that could reveal the identity of confidential informants is protected.
• Personal information about victims, especially in sensitive cases such as sexual assault.

Buffalo County Arrest Statistics

The Nebraska Crime Commission maintains crime and arrest statistics at the state level, including Buffalo County. In 2022, Buffalo County reported a total number of 1,073 crimes. These included 113 violent crime arrests and 960 property crime arrests. The violent crimes reported included 10 homicide arrests, 42 rape arrests, three robbery arrests, and 58 aggravated assault arrests. The property crimes included 133 burglary arrests, 768 larceny arrests, 50 motor vehicle theft arrests, and nine arson arrests.

Find Buffalo County Arrest Records

Buffalo County arrest records and inmate information are available by using the Buffalo/Kearney County Inmate Inquiry. This portal provides inmate information, including name, age, gender, race, height, weight, primary charge, status, arrest date, booking agency, holding facility, bond amount, release date, docket number, and court date.

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services provides statewide inmate information through the Incarceration Record Search. It may be searched by name and DCS ID number.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Nebraska, including Buffalo County, arrest records remain permanently on a person’s record. There is no automatic removal of arrest records; they are maintained as part of an individual's criminal history and are accessible indefinitely unless legal action is taken to seal or expunge them.

However, an arrest will not be part of the public record of a person in any of the following circumstances:

• When the prosecutor decides not to file charges, the arrest will be removed from the public record one year after the date of arrest.
• When charges are not filed because of a complete diversion, the arrest will be removed from the public record two years after the date of arrest.
• When charges are filed but dismissed by the court, the arrest will be removed from the public record three years after the date of arrest.

Only Buffalo County arrest records that led to non-conviction may be expunged. Criminal convictions cannot be sealed or expunged in Nebraska. Nebraska law permits only a set-aside or pardons for the criminal conviction of an adult. A “set-aside” voids a criminal conviction, while a “pardon” is the official forgiveness of a crime. Set-asides are granted by the courts and pardons by the Board of Pardons.

Generally, arrest records are:

• Removed from the public records of a person one year after the date of arrest when the prosecutor decides not to file charges.
• Removed from the public records of a person two years after the date of arrest when charges are not filed because of a complete diversion.
• Removed from the public records of a person three years after the date of arrest, when charges are filed but dismissed by the court.

To get an arrest record expunged,

• Verify that the arrest was due to an error by the law enforcement agency.
• Draft a petition for expungement detailing the arrest and explaining how it was due to an error by the arresting law enforcement agency.
• Submit the petition to the district court in the county where the arrest occurred. In this case, it would be the Buffalo County District Court.
• Name the county attorney as the respondent in the petition and serve a copy of the petition to the county attorney’s office.
• Collect clear and convincing evidence to support the claim that the arrest was due to an error by the law enforcement agency. This may include police reports, witness statements, or other relevant documentation.
• A hearing will be scheduled where you will present your case. Present the evidence and arguments to the judge, demonstrating the erroneous arrest.
• The judge will review the evidence and decide whether the petition meets the standard of clear and convincing evidence. If the judge is convinced, they will grant the petition and issue an order to expunge the arrest record.
• Once the order is issued, it will be sent to the relevant law enforcement agencies and record-keeping entities to expunge the erroneous arrest information from their records.

Buffalo County Arrest Warrants

In Buffalo County, Nebraska, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge or magistrate that authorizes law enforcement to arrest and detain an individual. An arrest warrant is issued based on probable cause, which means there is a reasonable belief that a person has committed a crime. Law enforcement officers or prosecutors present evidence to a judge to establish probable cause.

Arrest warrants are usually issued when evidence indicates an individual has committed a crime. They are also issued if an individual fails to appear in court as required or if new evidence arises implicating an individual in a crime.

An arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name, date of birth, and other identifying details of the individual to be arrested.
• A description of the charges or offenses for which the individual is being sought.
• The jurisdiction and court that issued it.
• The document is signed by the judge or magistrate who authorized the warrant.
• The date when the warrant was issued.

Do Buffalo County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Buffalo County, Nebraska, arrest warrants do not expire. Once an arrest warrant is issued by a court, it remains active. It remains active until the individual named in the warrant is apprehended, the warrant is quashed or recalled by the issuing court, or the individual appears voluntarily before the court.