Find Released Inmates in Stamford

Released inmates records in Stamford are held by the Connecticut Department of Correction and the Stamford Police Department. Stamford sits in Fairfield County and is the third largest city in the state with close to 140,000 people. There is no state prison in Stamford, but many inmates who go through the local court system end up at the Bridgeport Correctional Center or other DOC sites. The Stamford Police Department keeps its own arrest records at 725 Bedford Street. You can search for released inmates in Stamford through the state DOC inmate lookup, the CT Judicial Branch case search, or by filing a records request with the police department.

Stamford Released Inmates Through the DOC

Connecticut has no county jails. The state took over all jail and prison functions in 1968. Every inmate in the system falls under the Connecticut Department of Correction. This means that released inmates from Stamford who were held in custody went through a state facility. The closest one is the Bridgeport Correctional Center at 1106 North Avenue in Bridgeport. Some Stamford inmates may have been held at facilities further away, such as Hartford CC or the Corrigan-Radgowski facility in Montville. Under C.G.S. § 54-142g, criminal history record information includes the arrest, charges, sentence, and release date for each inmate.

The DOC runs an online search tool for inmates. The CT DOC inmate search lets you look up people by last name or inmate number. The state site says you should type just a few letters of the last name for the best results. Current inmates show up in the tool. Released inmates may not always appear. If the person you need has left DOC custody, call the Public Information Office at (860) 692-7480. They can help track down records for released inmates from Stamford who are no longer in the active system.

The Bureau of Identification within the Division of State Police also holds criminal records for all of Connecticut. You can see the bureau's page for more on how they manage record requests.

The bureau processes criminal history checks and keeps a central file of records going back decades.

Note: The DOC inmate search updates daily, but records for people released years ago may not show up in the online tool.

Stamford Police Department Records

The Stamford Police Department is at 725 Bedford Street, Stamford, CT 06901-1194. The department's Records Section is responsible for collecting, processing, and protecting all records filed within the SPD. Their goal is to maintain accurate records and give access as the law allows. The records room is open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM. Those are the only two days you can walk in. Outside of those hours, you need to reach the department by email at spdrecords@stamfordct.gov.

Copies of reports cost $0.50 per page. Collision reports are $8.50 per request. The SPD only takes checks. Make your check payable to "The City of Stamford." They do not take cash. This is a strict rule, so bring your checkbook if you plan to visit in person. The records that the Stamford Police Department keeps include incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other case files that tie into released inmates records in Stamford.

Under C.G.S. § 1-210, most police records are public in Connecticut. Arrest records fall into this group. The law says that government records are open unless a specific exemption applies. There are some limits though. Reports tied to active investigations can be held back. The names of confidential informants and minor witnesses may be withheld. Each police department in the state handles its own FOIA requests, so you file your request with the Stamford PD directly for released inmates records from this city.

C.G.S. § 1-215 spells out what parts of arrest records must be made public. The name, address, and date of arrest are always available. The charges are public too. But some details may be held back if they fall under an exemption. For Stamford released inmates records, the police department is often the first stop because they have the local arrest data that starts the whole process.

Court Records for Stamford Released Inmates

The Fairfield Judicial District handles court cases from Stamford. Criminal cases filed in Stamford go through this court system. The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs a public case lookup tool online. The CT Judicial Branch case search shows criminal convictions from the past 10 years. You can search by name or docket number. The results show charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences. This is one of the main ways to find records on released inmates from Stamford who went through the court system.

Court records and police records work together to give a full picture. The arrest happens at the local level. The Stamford Police Department handles that. Then the case moves to the Fairfield Judicial District court. If there is a conviction and a sentence that includes time in custody, the person goes to a DOC facility. When they get out, they become a released inmate. So checking all three sources gives you the most complete view of released inmates in Stamford.

The Judicial Branch site also has forms, court locations, and information on how to access records in person.

Note: Youthful offender cases and juvenile records do not show up in the public case lookup. Sealed records are also left out.

Stamford Record Erasure Laws

Connecticut has a record erasure law that can affect your search. Under C.G.S. § 54-142a, criminal records may be erased in certain cases. If charges were dismissed, the record can be erased. If charges were nolled and 13 months have passed, the record can be erased. Acquittals also qualify. The Clean Slate law goes further. Misdemeanor convictions can be erased after 7 years. Some felony convictions qualify after 10 years. This means that some released inmates in Stamford may not show up in any database because their records have been wiped clean under the law.

Record erasure is automatic for many cases now. The state runs a process that checks records and applies erasure where it fits. You do not need to file a petition for most types. But the timeline matters. A case that just ended last year may not be erased yet even if it qualifies. For Stamford released inmates records, this means that older cases are more likely to have been erased than recent ones. If you can't find someone in the DOC search or the court lookup, erasure under § 54-142a could be the reason.

Victim Alerts for Stamford Inmates

Crime victims in Stamford can track inmate status through two systems. CT SAVIN sends automated phone calls when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. The toll-free SAVIN number is 1-866-277-7477. The DOC Victim Services Unit also helps. Call them at 888-869-7057 or email doc.victimservices@ct.gov. They track changes in status for inmates across all state facilities, including those who were arrested in Stamford.

VINELink is the online version. You can sign up for email or text alerts about a specific inmate. The system covers all Connecticut DOC facilities. If an inmate who was arrested in Stamford is being held at the Bridgeport Correctional Center or any other state site, VINELink will send you a notice when their status changes. You can track bond releases, escapes, parole hearings, and end-of-sentence dates for released inmates tied to Stamford cases.

The Board of Pardons and Paroles handles parole decisions for state inmates. Their main office is at 55 West Main Street in Waterbury. The board holds public hearings. Victims can attend by video feed. If you need to know when someone arrested in Stamford will be up for parole, the board's site has hearing schedules and contact information.

Criminal History Checks in Stamford

The State Police Bureau of Identification runs criminal history checks for anyone in Connecticut. A state-level check costs $75. A federal check through the FBI is $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 covers released inmates from Stamford. You mail your request on form DPS-0846-C to the Bureau of Identification at 1111 Country Club Road, Middletown, CT 06457.

A law enforcement agency must handle the fingerprinting. In Stamford, you can go to the police department at 725 Bedford Street for this step. The bureau does not take requests by email or fax. Only mail is accepted. The state check covers all arrests and convictions in Connecticut. The federal check adds records from other states and federal agencies. Together, these checks provide the most thorough view of a released inmate's criminal history in Stamford, but they cost money and take time to come back.

Public Records Requests in Stamford

Connecticut's Freedom of Information Act gives the public a right to access government records. Under C.G.S. § 1-210, records held by public agencies are open unless a specific exemption applies. This includes arrest logs, incident reports, and court files that relate to released inmates in Stamford. You can file a FOIA request with the Stamford Police Department or any other city agency that holds the records you need.

There is no required form. Write a letter or send an email to spdrecords@stamfordct.gov that describes the records you want. Be specific. Include names, dates, and the type of record. The agency has four business days to respond under the law. Copies cost $0.50 per page at the Stamford Police Department. If a request is denied, you can appeal to the Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission. The commission holds hearings and can order an agency to release records if the denial was not proper under state law.

Keep in mind that the Stamford PD records room is only open on Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11 AM to 7 PM. Plan your visit around that schedule. If you can't make it in person, the email option works for starting the request. Payment by check is the only method the SPD accepts for released inmates records copies and other documents.

Note: Records tied to active investigations or pending court cases may be exempt from public disclosure under FOIA.

Fairfield County Released Inmates

Stamford is in Fairfield County. All state-level inmate records for the area flow through the Fairfield County court system and the DOC. The Bridgeport Correctional Center is the main state facility in the county. For a broader look at released inmates across the whole county, including cities like Bridgeport, Norwalk, and Danbury, check the full Fairfield County page.

Nearby Cities

These cities are near Stamford in the Fairfield County area. Each has its own police department and local records for released inmates.