Although crime shows on TV have done a fabulous job of making the public aware of the legal provisions called warrants, they have managed to distort the general perception about how these orders are issued. Understanding the process before you launch an arrest warrant search in Cumberland County, ME will help you to derive more from your efforts.
So, how easy is it for the police to get an arrest warrant against somebody?
One of the reasons why the provision for active warrants was created in the criminal code of the state is to take away the absolute power of making arrests from the hands of law enforcement and to bring an impartial third party in the mix. This was done with the express purpose of ensuring that the rights of civilians are not trampled upon.
The sheriff’s department has to file a written complaint with the tribunal and through this probable cause affidavit prove that the evidence they have indeed shows the involvement of the accused in the criminal act. Only after the completion of this process is an arrest warrant granted.
What are the options available to find arrest records from Cumberland County?
The three state agencies that can be contacted for details on arrests and outstanding warrants include:
-
- The sheriff’s department: 36 County Way, Portland, Maine 04102
-
- The magistrate’s and the county clerk’s offices: 142 Federal Street, Portland, Maine 04112
Apart from this, you could also get in touch with a private establishment to find details on criminal history. For this, you can fill the form above.
Is it possible to access the Cumberland County warrants list and arrest records over the phone? (Current as of 2021)
- To know about recent arrests: Call the Cumberland County Jail at 207-774-5939.
- To find out about outstanding warrants: Call the Court at 207-647-3535.
- To access arrest records: Get in touch with the Sheriff’s Department at 207-693-3369.
- To learn about victim’s rights and services: Call the Cumberland County Attorney’s Office at207-443-5104.
- To know more about accessing criminal court records: Contact the Clerk’s Office at 207-822-4200.
Crime statistics of Cumberland County
The Cumberland Sheriff’s Office got 314 criminal complaints in 2019, compared to 436 in 2018. These comprised 285 property-related offenses and 29 violent offenses.
About 207 larceny-thefts, 57 burglaries, and 21 motor vehicle thefts were included in the property offenses category. Around 18 aggravated assaults, 9 rapes, and 2 robberies were included in the violent crimes category.
Older crime statistics
From 2002 onwards, about 7500 criminal complaints were lodged each year with the police of Cumberland County, Maine. Although the rate of violent crime stood at about 5% of this annual total, there was an increase of over 30% in criminal acts such as homicide, assault and rape. In contrast, the growth observed in the average of reported crime was slower at just a bit over 20%.