Platte County Arrest Records

Individuals arrested by police officers are first transported to the Platte County Detention Facility. Upon arrival, they must complete the booking process, which includes property intake, medical screening, fingerprinting, photographing, and warrant checks. Some arrestees may be able to post a bond. Those who cannot bond out of jail will be brought before a judge within 24 hours after arrest. At this first appearance, the judge will inform the suspect of the charges against them and will set a bond amount.

The Platte County Sheriff's Office makes arrest records available to the public. Like Platte County court records, these records serve various purposes for residents. For example, they are often used for background checks, ensuring safety and awareness, making family or relationship decisions, addressing legal and personal matters, pursuing expungement applications, and restoring rights.

Are Arrest Records Public in Platte County?

Yes. The Nebraska Public Records Act provides citizens with the right to access arrest records in the custody of any law enforcement agency in the state. However, this right is only limited to arrest records considered public by law. Confidential arrest records are only open to a selected few. According to Nebraska Revised Statute § 84-712.05 and 29-3523, an arrest record that reveals the identity of an alleged victim of sex trafficking or sexual assault is confidential. Criminal intelligence or investigative and dismissed arrest records are also unavailable to the public.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

A typical public Platte County arrest record contains the following information:

• The arrested person's name, sex, race, age, height, and weight
• Arrest date and time and the name of the arresting agency
• Release date and time and booking number
• The bond amount and type, and court date
• Warrant information (case number, charges, date of birth, and warrant issuance date)

Platte County Arrest Statistics

The Nebraska Crime Commission (NCC) has an Arrest Data Query where individuals can conduct arrest statistics searches. The portal reveals that about 1141 arrests occurred in Platte County in 2018. About 206 of those arrested were juveniles, while 935 were adults.

Find Platte County Arrest Records

The Nebraska Department of Correctional Services (NDCS) operates nine prisons in five communities with an average daily incarcerated population of 5,880 inmates (including those from Platte County). Arrest records of these offenders can be obtained in person at NDCS Facilities during business hours. Individuals who cannot visit the facilities can use the NDCS Incarceration Record Search portal to find Platte County arrest records. The search parameters are name and ID.

Copies of Platte County arrest records can also be obtained in person from federal law enforcement agencies. Requesters must provide basic information about their desired records to facilitate the search. Some agencies have online databases available to the public for arrest searches. The Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP), for example, uses its Inmate Locator to disseminate arrest information to members of the public. Users will need to enter a number (BOP register number, DCDC number, FBI number, or INS number) or name (first, middle, or last) in the appropriate search box to locate a record. Other agencies like the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) close their records to the public. The FBI provides its records online, by mail, and through approved channelers to only subjects of records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Platte County

Individuals can contact the Platte County Sheriff's Office by phone at (402) 564-3229 or in person to inquire about free access to arrest records. Typically, a name or arrest date will be required to process the request. Requesters can also click the Warrant List menu on the Sheriff's Office website to view arrest warrant information for free.

Individuals seeking records can also use third-party websites to conduct free searches for arrest records. These platforms typically require a name as the primary search criterion but may also offer additional filters, such as location, gender, and year of arrest, to refine the search. The results are usually limited in detail compared to those available through paid subscriptions or access fees.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Although most arrests in Platte County remain on record forever, the Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-3523(3) establishes a retention period for some arrest records. For example, dismissed arrest charges stay on record for only three years after the arrest date. The Nebraska Secretary of State's (SOS) Records Management Division also publishes the retention period of some arrest records on its website. County sheriffs also keep inactive warrant indexes for five (5) years and inmate adult files for felony cases for up to 50 years.

Expunge Platte County Arrest Records

Individuals whose arrest cases were dismissed after December 31, 2016, are eligible for automatic expungement in Platte County. However, those whose dismissal occurred before January 1, 2017, must file a Motion to Seal an Adult Criminal Record at the Platte County or District Court. The court will notify the county or city attorney of the applicant's request to seal their arrest record and schedule a hearing. At the hearing, the judge will decide if the applicant's record is eligible for sealing, and the prosecutor will have an opportunity to object to or approve the expungement request. The judge will sign an expungement order if they grant the request. The court may take some days before they update the applicant's arrest record on their computer system.

Platte County Arrest Warrants

The Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-403 empowers judicial officers in Platte County to issue warrants for the arrest of individuals charged with criminal offenses. The warrant will be directed to the Platte County Sheriff, village or city marshal, or police officer and must recite the substance of the accusation. It will authorize the officer to arrest the accused and bring them before the issuing court (Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-406). Per Neb. Rev. Stat. § 29-407, an arrest warrant can be executed anywhere in Nebraska.

Do Platte County Arrest Warrants Expire?

In Platte County, arrest warrants typically do not expire. They remain active indefinitely until the defendant is apprehended or the warrant is rescinded and dismissed by the issuing judge. Therefore, anyone with an outstanding warrant who wishes to surrender should contact the Platte County Sheriff's Office or visit the nearest police station.