New Hampshire Criminal Records

Are criminal records available to the public in New Hampshire?

Anyone is able to view and inspect criminal records in New Hampshire and in all of America. This is due to the New Hampshire Right to Know law, which states that governmental information concerning citizens should be publicly available.

Where can I access criminal records in New Hampshire?

The Department of Safety of New Hampshire is responsible for seven different divisions, including the division of State Police. This is the place to go in order to perform any kind of criminal background check in the state of New Hampshire. The Criminal Records Unit of New Hampshire's Division of State Police offers the users a wide range of ways of performing background checks.

Can I get rid of my criminal record in New Hampshire?

It is possible to get rid of a multitude of crimes on a criminal record in New Hampshire through a process called expungement. Expungement is the destroying of a criminal record, both physically and online. The purpose of this is to prevent people from creating a negative bias against people who have a criminal history.

What counts as a misdemeanor in New Hampshire?

A misdemeanor in New Hampshire is any crime that has a sentence of less than a year or has no jail sentence and only fines. They are the lesser version of crime in New Hampshire and are typically easier to expunge and don't negatively impact one's life as much. Examples of misdemeanors are DUI, graffiti, prostitution, and trespassing.

What counts as a felony in New Hampshire?

A felony in New Hampshire is any crime that has more than a year of jail time. They are the more severe classification of crime and have much worse sentences. They are divided into two classes, with Class A being the most severe and Class B being the least severe. Class B sentences have a maximum of 7 years in prison, five years of probation, and $2000 in fines. Class A sentences have a maximum of 15 years in prison and $4000 in fines. Examples of felonies in New Hampshire are kidnapping, manslaughter, theft over $1000, and arson.

How do I find court records in Hillsborough County?

You can find court and criminal records on the Hillsborough County website. Additionally, you could visit the local court or the court where the case was heard and visit the clerk's office. They should be able to provide you with records related to the proceedings of the court.

Are there crimes less severe than misdemeanors in New Hampshire?

Sometimes an offense will be downgraded or classified as a violation. Violations are not crimes, so they will not go on your record. This category was made for offenses such as speeding or a parking violation. They typically will have a fine, and that's it.

How far does a criminal history check go in New Hampshire?

New Hampshire is one of the seven-year states, which means that background checks cannot go farther back than seven years. This law was put into place in this state and others to protect potential job applicants or people applying for a loan.

Can employers see past crimes in New Hampshire?

Employers will be able to pass a background check on any job applicants. However, certain laws have been put into place in order to protect the privacy of these job applicants. Employers are not allowed to do things such as not give someone a job because of a prior arrest that was not proven guilty.

How long do you have to wait to get your criminal record expunged in New Hampshire?

Misdemeanors will take two to three years to qualify for expungement, and felonies will take five-ten years, depending on the class of the crime. Certain crimes such as sex offenses may not be expunged. The time passed to qualify for expungement must have started after the completion of the sentence. Compared to other states, New Hampshire does not have a long waiting period to expunge these crimes.

How much does expungement cost in New Hampshire?

The filing fee for expungement will be $125. However, in most cases hiring an attorney is highly recommended. Not only will they do all of the work for you, but they will also give you the best chance of having the expungement go through. They have a fiduciary duty to serve you as best as they can, and they are specifically trained to do something like this. If you can afford it, get a lawyer.

How do I get my criminal record expunged in New Hampshire?

To get the expungement process started in New Hampshire, you send a request to the court that heard your case. This is called the Petition to Annul form. After this is done, there will be more gathering of documents and paperwork. The court will then begin an investigation on your criminal history and decide whether or not to grant the expungement.

How do I get my arrest record expunged in New Hampshire?

You can file for the expungement of an arrest in New Hampshire immediately after the court hearing. They are much easier to expunge as compared to criminal convictions. Arrests are different than criminal convictions because they do not show that the defendant was proven guilty.

Do arrests show up on background checks in New Hampshire?

If the arrest is not expunged, there is a chance it could show up on a background check. Certain companies will not show the arrests of an individual to protect their privacy, but it is not guaranteed. Arrests are very easy to clear, however, and should be cleared as soon as possible.

Can arrest records be viewed by the public in New Hampshire?

Arrest records that have not been expunged are open to the public. Even if you weren't proven guilty of a crime, the arrest would still go on your record, and people will have access to it. Additionally, anyone can request an arrest record to a law enforcement agency, and they will provide it.

Do juveniles have criminal records in New Hampshire?

Juveniles do have criminal records in New Hampshire; however, they will be sealed once the juvenile turns 21. This sealing is different than expungement because law enforcement agencies would still be able to view the information if necessary. This is so that a teenager or child that made a mistake has a fresh start when they become an adult.

How do I find an inmate in New Hampshire?

Looking up New Hampshire's DOC (Department of Corrections) is another way of performing a limited background check. The DOC's website includes an inmate locator. Using it, it's possible to lookup any individuals who are currently under the custody of the DOC. However, the search engine is not so powerful, and the information returned is not complete. The user doesn't have access to the criminal records of the inmates but to a brief explanation of who they are, where they are, and when they can be out on parole. There is no information regarding the reason why they are under the DOC's custody or any physical description. The results of the search are indeed plagued by small errors and bureaucratic inaccuracies that make the whole background checking task very complex. You can search for inmates at the DOC website.

Are inmate records public in New Hampshire?

Inmate records are made public in New Hampshire so that the government and prisons are held accountable. The information in an inmate record has the location of the inmate, their remaining sentence, any parole or probation status, and their personal information. Personal information is things like name, weight, height, and eye color.

Can a sex offender get off the registry in New Hampshire?

Depending on the risk level associated with a registered sex offender, many can get off of the registry after a certain period of time. Tier 1, classified for sex offenders with the lowest risk of re-offending, is removed after a ten-year period of registration. Tier 2 sex offenders can petition to be removed after 15 years, and Tier 3 sex offenders must register for life.

How do I find the sex offender registry in New Hampshire?

Even though New Hampshire's Division of State Police and Department of Corrections are not so keen on sharing information of their criminal records archive, New Hampshire's sex offender registry is surprisingly open and easy to access. This registry is managed by the State Police, and it is easily accessible online. The search engine returns fairly complete records on the sex offenders. These records do not include the entire criminal history of the offenders. It only includes sex offenses committed in the state of New Hampshire. You can search the sex offender registry at the State Police website.