Payette County Arrest Records

Law enforcement officers in Payette County, Idaho, make arrests when an individual is found committing or is reasonably suspected of committing a criminal offense (Idaho Code § 19-603). These offenses fall under infractions, misdemeanors, or felonies, each defined by separate statutory penalties and procedural requirements.

County law enforcement departments generate and maintain arrest records. These records are usually created at the point of booking and generally include public arrest information. Arrest records are crucial when initiating criminal prosecution and are frequently referenced in larger government-owned repositories. As such, they may appear in other public files maintained by local and state institutions. For instance, relevant data may be included in Payette County court records and criminal history files.

Are Arrest Records Public in Payette County?

Arrest records in Payette County are generally accessible under the Idaho Public Records Act, codified in Idaho Code § 74-102. This statute presumes that all public records maintained by state and local agencies are open to inspection unless specifically exempted by law. However, certain arrest-related information is exempt from public disclosure. Idaho Code § 74-124(1) exempts disclosure if their release would do any of the following:

• Hamper law enforcement proceedings
• Deprive a person of a fair trial
• Create an unwarranted invasion of personal privacy
• Reveal the identity of a confidential source
• Reveal investigative techniques or procedures
• Endanger the life or physical well-being of law enforcement personnel.

Additionally, juvenile records are generally confidential under Idaho Code § 74-105(1). However, access to exempt records may be granted to specific parties, such as the record subject or their legal representative.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The following information in a Payette County arrest record is public:

• Full name of the arrestee
• Date and time of the arrest
• Location of the arrest
• Arresting agency
• Charges filed at the time of arrest
• Case or citation number
• Booking information, if applicable (facility, time, date)
• Bail or bond amount, if set.

Payette County Arrest Statistics

Per the FBI's Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) data covering the past two years, Payette County recorded 1,023 arrests. Of this number, 619 (61%) were categorized as "All Other Offenses", a broad group that includes various non-index crimes not classified elsewhere.

Drug and narcotic violations ranked second with 226 arrests (22%), followed by driving under the influence with 49 arrests (5%). Assault-related offenses accounted for 65 arrests (6%), comprising 35 aggravated assaults (3%) and 30 simple assaults (3%). Property-related crimes were less frequent: vandalism and larceny each accounted for 12 arrests (1%), while burglary accounted for six arrests (0.6%).

Find Payette County Arrest Records

Since local police departments carry out most Payette County arrests, records seekers should submit a records request to the agency responsible for the arrest or its records division to obtain a Payette County arrest record.

Most departments accept in-person or mail-in requests. For instance, if the Sheriff's Office made the arrest, interested parties should submit a request to the office's Records/Police Reports Division using the contact form available on the official records request page. Further enquiries can be made by contacting the division via Phone: ((208) 642-6006 Ext.1149).

Regardless of the arresting department, the following information is usually required when making records requests:

• Full name of the arrestee
• Date of birth (if available)
• Date and location of the incident
• Requester's contact details
• Valid government-issued ID (for restricted records)

Individuals should direct the inquiry to the arresting agency or the county's Detention Facility if the arrestee was jailed before a court appearance. For example, individuals arrested by the Sheriff's Office may be located through the facility at (208) 642-6006 ext. 1143. For arrestees remanded following arraignment, interested parties should contact the Detention Facility at (208) 642-6006 ext. 1143.

Free Arrest Record Search in Payette County

Record requests are typically free of charge in Payette County. For example, the County Sheriff's Office allows the public to request arrest records at no cost through the contact form on its Records Division's official request page. However, fees may apply if fulfilling the request requires over two hours of staff time or involves more than 100 pages. Requesters will be alerted of any charges before processing begins.

In addition, third-party websites offer searchable databases that may include county arrest information. These platforms often aggregate public records from multiple jurisdictions and may provide basic details at no cost. However, comprehensive reports or expanded access may require a subscription or one-time payment.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely. Idaho law does not establish a mandatory timeline for the expungement or deletion of arrest records. All relevant government agencies typically retain criminal history data, including arrests, unless a court orders expungement. Local agencies, including county sheriffs and police departments, follow these state-level guidelines and often transmit records to federal databases. The only viable method for removal is a legitimate expungement, available only under narrow statutory conditions.

Expunge Payette County Arrest Records

Idaho Code § 67-3004 authorizes expungement of arrest records under limited conditions. An individual may submit a written request to the Idaho State Police for expungement of arrest records if one of the following applies:

• No charges were filed within one (1) year of the arrest or criminal summons
• The individual was acquitted of all charges related to the incident; or
• All charges stemming from the arrest or summons were dismissed.

If granted, the official court file may also be sealed. Notably, expungement is unavailable for dismissals granted under Idaho Code § 19-2604(1). Generally, Idaho Code § 67-3004(11) permits record "shielding" for specific offenses, including non-violent misdemeanors and felony drug possession charges. Shielding means restricting public access to eligible arrest records while allowing limited access to law enforcement and courts. To qualify, the petitioner must meet all the following criteria:

• At least five (5) years have passed since completing all sentence terms, including probation, parole, fines, and restitution
• No new felony or misdemeanor convictions during the five-year period
• There were no pending criminal cases or restraining orders at the time of filing the petition.

To shield records, a petition must be filed with the county court that handled the case. After a hearing, the court may order the documents to be shielded from public access if public safety is not compromised. Shielded records are treated as though the incident never occurred, but they remain accessible to law enforcement and court officers. Only one petition may be granted in a lifetime.

Payette County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a court order authorizing law enforcement to apprehend a party suspected of committing a crime. Warrants are issued when a judge notes probable cause based on a complaint, affidavit, or indictment (Idaho Code § 19-506). They are commonly issued when a suspect fails to appear, flees jurisdiction, or a criminal investigation identifies a probable offender.

A Payette County arrest warrant typically contains the following information:

• Defendant's full name and description
• Alleged offense(s)
• Jurisdiction of issuance
• Date of issuance
• Judge's signature
• Bail amount, if applicable

Do Payette County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Once issued, Payette County arrest warrants stay active until the subject is arrested, surrenders, or is confirmed deceased. However, the court may recall or quash the warrant if a party successfully moves to challenge its legality or validity.