Groton Released Inmates
Released inmates records for Groton come from state and local sources across New London County. Groton is a town of about 38,700 people on the Thames River in southeastern Connecticut. There is no state prison in Groton itself, so inmates from this area are held at other DOC facilities around the state. The Groton Police Department handles local arrests and keeps its own set of records. Criminal cases from Groton go through the New London Judicial District courthouse at 70 Huntington Street in New London. You can search for released inmates tied to Groton through the CT DOC inmate lookup, the state court case search, or by filing a request with the Groton police.
Groton Quick Facts
Groton Released Inmates Through CT DOC
Connecticut runs all jails and prisons at the state level. This has been the case since 1968. There are no county jails. Every person held on criminal charges in Groton ends up in a state DOC facility. The Connecticut Department of Correction keeps records for all inmates, past and present. When someone from Groton is arrested and held, the DOC assigns them to a facility based on space and the type of charge. Most people from the New London area are sent to facilities in the eastern part of the state.
The DOC runs an online search tool. The CT DOC inmate search lets you look up inmates by last name. The state says to type just a few letters for the best results. If someone is still in custody, the tool shows their current facility and status. For released inmates from Groton, the online tool may not show them if they left the system a while back. In that case, call the DOC Public Information Office at (860) 692-7480. They can check older records and tell you about released inmates from Groton who are no longer in the active database.
Under C.G.S. § 54-142g, the state tracks the full criminal history for each inmate. This covers the arrest, the charges, the sentence, and the release date. That record stays with the DOC even after the person leaves state custody.
Groton Inmate Search Tools
The Federal Bureau of Prisons also runs an inmate locator that covers people held in federal facilities. Groton is home to a large naval base, and federal cases from the area can result in inmates being placed in the federal system rather than the state DOC. The Federal BOP Inmate Locator lets you search by name or register number for anyone in federal custody or recently released.
The BOP tool is free and covers all federal prisons across the country. It shows the facility name, release date, and inmate register number.
For most Groton released inmates, though, the state DOC search is the main starting point. The federal tool is a good extra step if you think the person faced charges in a federal court rather than a state court. Both tools are free to use.
Groton Court Records for Released Inmates
Criminal cases from Groton go through the New London Judicial District. The courthouse is at 70 Huntington Street, New London, CT 06320. Call (860) 443-8340 to reach the clerk. This court handles felonies, misdemeanors, and other criminal matters from Groton and the surrounding towns in the district. The clerk's office keeps case files that you can view in person during business hours.
The CT Judicial Branch case lookup is the online search tool for court records. It shows criminal convictions from the past 10 years. You search by name or docket number. Each result shows the charges, the plea, the verdict, and the sentence. For released inmates from Groton, the court record tells you what happened in the case after the arrest. It fills in the gap between the police report and the DOC file.
Under C.G.S. § 1-215, arrest records are public in Connecticut. They list the name, address, and arrest date. Court records add the full case history on top of that. If you want a complete picture of a released inmate from Groton, check both the court lookup and the DOC search. One shows the case. The other shows the time served.
Groton Police Released Inmates Records
The Groton Police Department handles all local law enforcement in town. They process arrests, write incident reports, and keep records of each booking. When the police arrest someone in Groton, the booking creates a record that stays on file with the department. That record includes the person's name, date of birth, charges, arrest date, and the outcome.
You can ask for copies of arrest records and incident reports. Under C.G.S. § 1-210, most police records are public in Connecticut. File a Freedom of Information Act request with the Groton Police Department to get what you need. Be clear about the name, date, and type of record. The department has four business days to respond. Copy fees are typically $0.50 per page.
There are some limits. Reports tied to an active case may be held back. Records involving arrests are not always available until all charges have been resolved in court. This means some Groton released inmates records from the police may not be open to the public right away. Once the court case ends, the record becomes available through a standard FOIA request.
Note: Groton has its own police force, separate from the Connecticut State Police. Make sure you send your request to the right agency based on where the arrest took place.
Criminal History Checks in Groton
The State Police Bureau of Identification runs criminal history checks for all of Connecticut. Their office is at 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457. A state check costs $75. A federal check through the FBI adds $13.25. Fingerprinting costs $15. Under C.G.S. § 29-11, the bureau keeps a central file of criminal records for every person age 16 or older who has been charged with a crime in the state. This includes released inmates from Groton.
To request a check, fill out form DPS-0846-C and mail it to the Middletown address. The bureau does not take requests by email or fax. A law enforcement agency must do the fingerprinting. In Groton, you can go to the police department for this step. The state check covers all arrests and convictions in Connecticut. The federal check adds records from other states and federal agencies.
These formal checks give the most complete view of a released inmate's record. The free online tools are a good start, but they have limits. The DOC search may not show people who left the system years ago. The court lookup only goes back 10 years. A criminal history check from the bureau fills in those gaps. It takes longer and costs more, but the data is more thorough for Groton released inmates.
Record Erasure and Groton Released Inmates
Some released inmates records from Groton may not show up in any search. Connecticut has a Clean Slate law that allows certain records to be erased. Under C.G.S. § 54-142a, records can be erased if charges were dismissed, nolled after 13 months, or ended in acquittal. Misdemeanor convictions may be erased after 7 years. Some felony convictions qualify after 10 years.
Once a record is erased, it is gone from public view. The person will not show up in the DOC inmate search, the court case lookup, or any police records check. This is why a search for released inmates in Groton may come up empty even when you know the person was once in the system. The erasure process takes time, so a recently erased record might still appear in some databases for a short while before all systems catch up.
Victim Alerts for Groton Inmates
If you are a crime victim in Groton, you can sign up for alerts when an inmate's status changes. The DOC Victim Services Unit tracks releases, transfers, and escapes at all state facilities. Call 888-869-7057 to register. CT SAVIN sends phone alerts. The toll-free SAVIN line is 1-866-277-7477.
VINELink is another way to get alerts. You can sign up for email, text, or phone calls when a person's custody status changes. The service covers all Connecticut DOC facilities. For Groton victims, this is the fastest way to know when someone is released from state custody.
The Board of Pardons and Paroles makes parole decisions for state inmates. Their office is at 55 West Main Street in Waterbury. Victims can attend public hearings by video. If an inmate tied to a Groton case is up for parole, you get advance notice through SAVIN or VINELink if you are registered.
Public Records Requests in Groton
Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act gives you the right to access government records. Under C.G.S. § 1-210, records held by public agencies are presumed open. This covers arrest logs, incident reports, and court files that relate to released inmates in Groton. You can send a FOIA request to the Groton Police Department or any other public agency that holds the records you want.
There is no set form. Write a letter or send an email that describes what you need. Include names, dates, and the type of record. The agency has four business days to respond. If they deny your request, you can appeal to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. The commission holds hearings and can order the release of records if the denial was not valid.
Some records fall under FOIA exemptions. Active investigations, pending cases, and sealed files are not open to the public. C.G.S. § 1-215 spells out which parts of arrest records must be made public and which can be held back. For most Groton released inmates records, the basic arrest data and court outcomes are available through this process.
New London County Released Inmates
Groton is in New London County. All state DOC and court records for the town fall under the New London Judicial District. The county covers many towns along the southeastern coast and inland areas of Connecticut. For a wider look at released inmates across all of New London County, visit the county page.
Nearby Cities
New London and Norwich are the two nearest qualifying cities to Groton in the southeastern Connecticut area. Both share the same judicial district and DOC system for released inmates records.