Stephens County Arrest Records

The Oklahoma Penal Code mandates law enforcement officials arrest anyone breaking the law. Once arrested, they are held pending a court appearance and placed in a correctional facility. Subsequently, the police collect the arrestee's information at the correctional facility. This information is what forms an arrest record. Stephens County arrest records include the details of an arrestee, the circumstances surrounding the arrest, and the offense alleged to have been committed. The Stephens County Sheriff’s Office maintains these records. Interested parties can also find these records in Stephens County Court Records, as arrest records play a significant role in criminal proceedings.

Are Arrest Records Public in Stephens County?

The Oklahoma Open Public Record Act permits the public to see, examine, and copy Stephens County arrest records. According to the Act, the public must have access to all state or municipal police enforcement records.

This Act does, however, have certain exceptions. For instance, an arrest record that a custodian has sealed may not be made public without a court order. Restricted information includes disposition information, arrest records from active investigations, and juvenile criminal history records.

Despite the limitations on arrest records, some individuals or organizations may have access to arrest records that are not publicly disclosed for criminal justice purposes:

• Law enforcement agencies
• Courts and prosecutors
• Employers (with the subject's consent)
• Licensing boards (with the subject's consent)
• Armed forces (with the subject's consent)
• Attorneys
• Credentialing organizations
• Media organizations
• Private citizens

Stephens County Arrest Statistics

According to the Federal Bureau of Investigation’s Crime Data Explorer, the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office made 50 arrests in 2023. All Other Offenses saw the highest number of arrests (9) among other offense categories. Driving Under the Influence and Simple Assault had eight arrests each.

Find Stephens County Arrest Records

The Stephens County Sheriff's Office supervises all county jail operations. Therefore, by submitting requests to the Sheriff's Office, people may find inmates and get inmate information. Interested parties can also visit the Sheriff’s Office at:

Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
101 South 11th Street
Duncan, OK 73533
Phone: (580) 255-3131

In the Stephens County Jail, most inmates are low-level offenders and non-convicted persons awaiting trial or disposition. Interested parties can use the basic search on the Oklahoma Department of Corrections website to find information on offenders sentenced to jail terms in state-run prisons.

Stephens County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records are both documents well associated with criminal procedure. Each document represents a different part of criminal proceedings. For instance, an arrest record documents how law enforcement apprehended an individual. It includes details such as the arrest date, time, place, and charges against the person.

However, a criminal record is far more comprehensive and details the entirety of a person's interactions with the criminal justice system. They include details regarding a person's past criminal history. It provides information about offenses for which a person was found guilty or pleaded guilty in court. Additionally, a criminal record demonstrates that the person has been formally convicted of a crime by a court. Criminal records contain information about convictions, sentencing, and penalties, such as fines or jail time.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Depending on the offense, an arrest may remain on a person's record for varying lengths. For instance, arrests for infractions such as speeding tickets might not remain on a person's record for a long time. However, arrests for sexual offenses and violent crimes (particularly those carrying a sentence of more than a year in jail) are permanently recorded.

In Stephens County, an individual can seal their arrest record by expunging it. An expungement ensures an arrest record is not available to everyone. Additionally, expungement comes in two forms. An expungement under Section 99 of Oklahoma’s Criminal Procedure Act allows a person who received a deferred sentence to delete their plea and alter the case disposition to reflect the case has been dismissed. Meanwhile, a Section 18 expungement allows a person to expunge their entire arrest record.

Individuals looking to apply for an expungement must pay a $150 processing fee to the Stephens County Sheriff’s Office. Those who qualify can petition the Oklahoma State Bureau of Investigation (OSBI) for expungement. Individuals can gain eligibility by completing all court-mandated obligations and avoiding arrests for five years following the date of the last conviction.

Parties must include the following details in their Petition for Expungement or Order of Dismissal and/or Expungement. This comprises of:

• Arrestee's name
• Social security number
• date of birth,
• Charged crimes
• The date of arrest
• The disposition (result) of arrest and/or charges in court

Stephens County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant is a formal court or magistrate's order that allows police to hold someone they suspect of committing a crime in Stephens County. However, before the court may issue a warrant, law enforcement must present an affidavit and accompanying documentation to demonstrate probable cause. The whole name, birthdate, physical characteristics, suspected offense, and the issuing judge's information are all included in the warrant.

To learn who has an outstanding warrant, individuals should go to the Sheriff's Office, located at:

Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
101 South 11th Street
Duncan, OK 73533
Phone: (580) 255-3131

Do Stephens County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants in Stephens County are valid indefinitely unless the individual on the warrant is taken into custody, the warrant is revoked by the judge or magistrate, or the charges against the accused are dropped.

To find out if an arrest warrant is still active, Stephens County citizens can go to the Sheriff's Office website. Alternatively, they could go to the office at:

Stephens County Sheriff’s Office
101 South 11th Street
Duncan, OK 73533
Phone: (580) 255-3131