Vermont's criminal history system has a structural feature that matters for anyone searching records: the VCIC (Vermont Crime Information Center) provides two distinctly different types of reports. The Criminal History Report covers all arrests and dispositions including pending, acquitted, and dismissed charges -- but it is available only to the subject of the record. The Criminal Conviction Report covers only conviction information and is available to the public. For the general public searching someone else's record, court records through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal are the practical route. Vermont's expungement and sealing framework under 13 VSA Chapter 230 also makes a clear distinction between the two remedies: expungement means physical destruction of records; sealing means restricting access while records remain in existence. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes Vermont Arrest Records Public
Vermont's public records framework is governed by the Vermont Public Records Act at 1 VSA 315-320. The law establishes a general right of access to government records, with no requirement to state the purpose of a request.
The Vermont Crime Information Center (VCIC), a division of the Department of Public Safety, serves as the central repository for criminal records under 20 VSA Chapter 117. VCIC consolidates arrest, prosecution, sentencing, and correctional information provided by criminal justice agencies statewide.
The access structure has a specific and important limitation: the full Criminal History Report (all arrests and dispositions) is available only to the subject of the record. The public receives only the Criminal Conviction Report, which covers conviction information submitted by courts. Dismissed charges, acquittals, and pending cases are not included in what the public receives from VCIC.
Exemptions from public access include the full Criminal History Report for non-subject requesters, juvenile records, sealed and expunged records, sexual assault victim identifying information, and active investigation materials.
What a Vermont Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
Vermont distinguishes between two record types at VCIC:
Criminal History Report: The comprehensive record including all arrests, dispositions, pending charges, acquitted charges, and dismissed charges. Available only to the subject of the record. In person at VCIC, no charge to view; $30 for a printed copy.
Criminal Conviction Report: Contains only conviction information submitted by courts to VCIC. Available to the public. Contains charges arraigned in Superior Court Criminal Division, dispositions, sentences, and post-conviction supervision information.
Note that the VCIC repository does not include all categories -- motor vehicle offenses arraigned before September 1, 1995, Family Court charges, Traffic Ticket Bureau charges, and Municipal Ordinance Bureau charges are not in the VCIC repository.
How to Search Vermont Arrest Records
For the subject's own Criminal History Report: VCIC accepts in-person requests at 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1300. Phone: 802-244-8727. Viewing is free; printed copies cost $30. Mail requests are also accepted with a cashier's check or money order for $30 payable to the Department of Public Safety.
For the public seeking conviction information: VCIC provides the Criminal Conviction Report to the public. The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal (accessible through the Vermont Judiciary website at vermontjudiciary.org) provides free online access to court case records. Search by name, case number, or citation number. Case summaries are available online; not all documents are accessible electronically.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. Vermont has 14 counties and each county has a Superior Court and a county sheriff. Most sheriff offices provide arrest and booking information through direct contact or online where available.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across Vermont's 14 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the Vermont DOC system and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in Vermont
Vermont has 14 counties, but Vermont does not have traditional county jails in the same sense as most states. The Vermont Department of Corrections operates the correctional facilities, including facilities that hold both pretrial detainees and sentenced individuals. The VDOC Correctional Facilities handle most detention functions.
The Vermont Department of Corrections provides a free online offender search at doc.vermont.gov. You can search by name to locate current inmates and get facility and supervision status information.
Federal Arrests in Vermont
Federal arrests in Vermont are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. Vermont is home to the U.S. District Court for the District of Vermont in Burlington.
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the VCIC criminal history system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. Vermont specifically restricts public access to non-conviction arrest data: the general public receives only conviction information from VCIC, while the full Criminal History Report including dismissed and acquitted cases is available only to the subject.
Dismissed charges and acquittals remain in VCIC records and court records until expunged under 13 VSA 7602. The Vermont Judiciary Public Portal may still show dismissed cases in case summary information until they are expunged or sealed.
Vermont Expungement and Sealing Under 13 VSA Chapter 230
Vermont law makes a clear and meaningful distinction between two types of record relief, codified in 13 VSA Chapter 230.
Expungement (13 VSA 7606): Expungement in Vermont means the physical destruction or obliteration of the criminal record. After expungement, the person is treated in all respects as if there was no arrest, conviction, or sentence.
Sealing (13 VSA 7607): Sealing restricts access to the record but does not destroy it. Sealed records remain in existence but are accessible only as specifically authorized by statute. Employment and licensing applications cannot require disclosure of sealed records.
For dismissed charges and acquittals: Petitions may be filed immediately after final disposition with no waiting period. The court shall grant expungement if conditions are met.
For qualifying misdemeanor convictions: Under 13 VSA 7602, eligible misdemeanor convictions may be expunged after a waiting period (historically 5 years from sentence completion; verify current waiting period as 2025 S12 made changes to the statute). The person must not have been convicted of another crime since the qualifying conviction, and all restitution and surcharges must be paid.
For qualifying felony convictions: Eligible felony convictions may be expunged 5 years after sentence completion, with no subsequent convictions and restitution paid. Specific categories of qualifying felonies are enumerated in 13 VSA 7601.
For persons 18-21 at the time of a qualifying offense: An expedited pathway is available -- petition may be filed 30 days after all sentence conditions are met.
For offenses no longer criminal: If the underlying conduct is no longer prohibited by law, the conviction may be expunged by petition immediately upon completing the sentence.
DUI/DWI (operating under the influence): DUI offenses are eligible only for sealing (not expungement) after a 10-year waiting period, with certain exceptions for DUI resulting in serious bodily injury or death to another person.
Certain offenses are not eligible for expungement or sealing regardless of time, including domestic assault and certain sex offenses listed as disqualifying under 13 VSA 7601.
The petition is filed in the Superior Court Criminal Division in the county where the case was adjudicated. The filing fee is $90, waivable for inability to pay under 32 VSA 1431. The State's Attorney or Attorney General is the respondent and may object. If a petition is denied, no further petition may be brought for 2 years.
InmateAid's guides on expungement and sealing cover Vermont's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after expungement is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are Vermont arrest records public?
Partially. Vermont's Public Records Act (1 VSA 315-320) establishes general access rights, but VCIC provides two different records: the Criminal History Report (all arrests, pending, dismissed, and acquitted cases) is available only to the subject; the Criminal Conviction Report (conviction information) is available to the public. Court case records through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal provide additional public access to case-level information. Expunged, sealed, and juvenile records are not publicly accessible.
How do I search Vermont arrest records?
For your own Criminal History Report: request in person or by mail from VCIC, 45 State Drive, Waterbury, VT 05671-1300, phone 802-244-8727 ($30 for printed copy; viewing free in person). For public Criminal Conviction Reports: available from VCIC or through the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal at vermontjudiciary.org (free online case search). For recent arrests, contact the relevant county sheriff's office. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For custody notifications, VINELink at vinelink.com is free. For VDOC inmates, search at doc.vermont.gov.
What does a Vermont arrest record contain?
VCIC's Criminal History Report (subject only) includes all arrests, pending charges, acquitted charges, dismissed charges, and dispositions. The Criminal Conviction Report (public) contains only conviction information submitted by courts. Note that not all offense categories are in the VCIC repository -- pre-1995 motor vehicle offenses, Family Court charges, and municipal ordinance charges are not included.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in Vermont?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Vermont specifically limits public access to non-conviction arrest data -- the general public can only obtain the Criminal Conviction Report from VCIC. Dismissed charges and acquittals appear only in the subject's Criminal History Report and in court case records until expunged.
How do I find someone in a Vermont county jail?
Vermont does not have traditional county jails -- the Vermont Department of Corrections operates the state correctional facilities which handle both pretrial detention and incarceration. Use the VDOC offender search at doc.vermont.gov to locate anyone in state custody. VINELink at vinelink.com provides custody notifications. For very recent bookings, contact the local police department or state police directly.
Can I search federal arrest records in Vermont?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the VCIC system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in Vermont?
Vermont arrest records remain in VCIC and court records indefinitely unless expunged or sealed. Dismissed charges and acquittals can be expunged immediately with no waiting period. Qualifying misdemeanor and felony convictions require a 5-year waiting period (verify current period under 2025 S12 changes). DUI offenses may be sealed after 10 years.
Who qualifies for expungement or sealing in Vermont?
Under 13 VSA 7602: dismissed charges and acquittals qualify immediately. Qualifying misdemeanor and felony convictions require a 5-year waiting period from sentence completion, no subsequent convictions, and paid restitution and surcharges. Persons 18-21 at time of offense may file 30 days after sentence completion. Offenses no longer criminal may be expunged immediately. DUI offenses qualify for sealing (not expungement) after 10 years. Domestic assault, certain sex offenses, and other disqualifying offenses listed in 13 VSA 7601 are not eligible.
What is the difference between expungement and sealing?
Under Vermont law: expungement (13 VSA 7606) means physical destruction of the criminal record -- it is obliterated and the person is treated as if the arrest, conviction, and sentence never occurred. Sealing (13 VSA 7607) restricts access to the record without destroying it -- the record remains in existence but is accessible only as specifically authorized. Employment and licensing applications cannot require disclosure of either sealed or expunged records. DUI offenses qualify only for sealing, not expungement.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Vermont's public Criminal Conviction Report does not include dismissed charges or acquittals -- those appear only in the subject's Criminal History Report and in court records. If a dismissed or acquitted case is showing up on a background check, it may be sourced from the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal or from third-party data aggregators. Petitioning for expungement under 13 VSA 7602 -- which has no waiting period for dismissals and acquittals -- is the path to removing qualifying non-conviction records. ---
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