Annually, New Hampshire reports over 140,000 arrests statewide, with Cheshire County accounting for about 1,500 of them. Under New Hampshire's Right-to-Know Law, arrest records are considered public records unless exempt by law. Members of the public have the constitutional right to inspect and copy arrest records for a fee ranging from $1 to $25, depending on the volume of the request.
Exempt records include juvenile records, medical records, and sealed or expunged records. However, certain individuals and entities have access to the county's restricted records, such as the record owners, their legal representatives, law enforcement agencies, judicial officers, and the County Attorney's Office.
Agencies responsible for maintaining arrest records in the county include the County Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, the county courts, and the New Hampshire Division of State Police.
The Cheshire County Sheriff's Office provides access to the county's arrest records. To obtain these records, individuals can visit the Sheriff's Office in person or request copies by mail at:
The County Sheriff's Office
12 Court Street
Keene, NH 03431
Phone: (603) 352-4238
Fax: (603) 355-3020
Requesters can visit the office Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM. Individuals must provide the necessary information, such as the arrestee's name, date of birth, and location of the incident, and pay any applicable fees for obtaining copies of arrest records.
Interested individuals can obtain arrest records in Cheshire County by contacting the Police Departments with jurisdiction over the areas where the arrests occurred. To assist with the search, it is helpful to provide details such as the arrestee's name, the date of the incident, and the location of the arrest. Many Police Departments offer online access to arrest records, providing a more convenient and efficient option. Requesters can also visit the Police Departments in person to obtain physical copies of the arrest records and pay any associated fees. Some of the Police Departments operating within the county include:
The New Hampshire Division of State Police (NHSP) is responsible for maintaining criminal history records statewide, including those for Cheshire County. Requesters can obtain criminal records through the New Hampshire Division of State Police online portal. Criminal records can also be obtained by completing the Criminal History Record Information Release Authorization Form and submitting it by mail or in person at the NHSP:
New Hampshire Division of State Police
Record Unit
33 Hazen Drive
Concord, Room 106A
Cheshire County criminal court records may be obtained from the Cheshire County Superior Court and the Cheshire County District Divisions. The clerks of each court are responsible for maintaining and providing access to these records. To obtain copies of criminal court records, visit the respective courthouse. The New Hampshire Judicial Branch provides online access to criminal court records by creating an account. Users can search the portal by case number or party name. Alternatively, the county arrest records may also be accessed through trusted third-party websites such as InfoTracer. This platform typically provides more convenient and faster access.
Cheshire County has an arrest rate of 1,792.4 per 100,000 residents. Below is a breakdown of arrest statistics for the county:
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Robbery | 8 |
| Homicide | 4 |
| Aggravated Assault | 35 |
| Rape | 8 |
| Motor Vehicle Theft | 29 |
| Burglary | 5 |
| Larceny Theft | 106 |
| DUI | 281 |
| Drug/Narcotic Offenses | 6 |
| Simple Assault | 111 |
| Total Number of Arrests | 1,158 |
Source: FBI Crime Data Explorer (CDE).
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Marlborough Police Department | 236 Main St | 603-876-3311 |
| Troy Police Department | P0 Box 597 | (603)242-7992 |
| Winchester Police Department | 6 Parker | (603)239-4814 |
| Alstead Police Department | 15 Mechanic St | 603-835-6277 |
| Dublin Police Department | P0 Box 283 | (603)563-8411 |
| Hinsdale Police Department | 102 River St | (603)336-5723 |
| Jaffrey Police Department | 26 Main St | 603-532-7865 |
| Keene Police Department | 400 Marlboro St | 603-357-9815 |