Access free Vermont state records to gain crucial insight into anyone in the community.
Whether it is necessary to find a person’s criminal history or background data due to employment purposes or curiosity, this brief resource guides citizens through various state and federal agencies and online databases that empower searchers to obtain information on anyone for free.
How Vermont’s Public Records Work
Vermont uses the Public Records Act, which states that any person has the right to request to inspect or copy a public record from a government agency. A “public record” refers to written or recorded information that is contained and held by a government agency through municipal business.1
The Vermont Public Records Law has no restrictions on using public records and does not require a statement of purpose to access public records. The only exceptions to this law are personnel files, criminal investigation files, and the location of historical sites.2
Searchers should note that there are stipulations on who can access what. In some cases, it varies per state or the type of record as to who can view or access public records. Some individuals may need a person’s consent, whereas other records are only available to government agencies and employers in relation to specific jobs and other professions.
Some sites offer a search service that can help the process of finding public records quicker and easier. Although individuals can usually find the necessary information by using government and state-backed resources, paid search services can help find difficult information since they return more comprehensive and trustworthy information compared to free sites.
When seeking criminal records, court records, vital records, or inmate records, individuals should first look through local, state, and federal resources. If the specific state’s resources cannot provide the necessary data, users can then try to use reliable paid searches to find the missing information.
Vermont Criminal Records Guide
Criminal records in Vermont provide detailed information to the searcher regarding an individual’s criminal history and background.
This information is stored in a statewide system and through the local courts, correctional facilities, prison systems, and jails. The information contained in the Vermont criminal records includes the following:
- Sex
- Physical description
- Charges
- Subject’s name
- Offense classification (felony or misdemeanor)
- The trial court, and
- Disposition for the charges3
Availability of Criminal Records in Vermont
The Vermont Freedom of Information Act makes all criminal records publicly viewable in Vermont through the state police department.
Therefore, a criminal record is public in Vermont to anyone who requests them. The only exception to this law is for those records protected under the Vermont Criminal History Privacy Act, which restricts individuals from accessing a public criminal record of another person that has not been convicted of a crime.
The Vermont criminal records that are viewable to the public include the following:
- Mugshots
- Fingerprints
- Details of criminal offenses
- Conviction information identifiers
- Personal data of the subject
How To Obtain Criminal Records in VT
Searchers can contact the local law enforcement agency to find criminal records or perform a background check on a resident of Vermont.
Individuals can access and obtain criminal records in Vermont online or offline through various methods such as phone, in-person, or mail. More information on retrieving criminal history reports on individuals throughout the state and county arrest logs can be viewed in our free resource on finding Vermont criminal and arrest records.
Offline
- Visit the Vermont Crime Information Center website
- Click on ‘Criminal History Information
- Click on ‘Record Checks’
- Click ‘please click here to request a notarized copy of a criminal conviction
- Download and fill out the forms
- Send the forms with a cashier’s check or money order to the Department of Public Safety. Use the following address for the Criminal Records Section:
Vermont Crime Information Center
45 State Drive
Waterbury, VT 05671-1300
For those who do not need a notarized copy of the Vermont state records, they can use online methods to fill out the information.
Online
- Visit the Vermont Crime Information Center website
- Click on Criminal History Information
- Click on ‘Record Checks’
- Click on ‘visit the Vermont Conviction Report (VCCRIS) Website’
- Click on ‘Start’
- Input the Requestor Information (first name, last name, email) and click ‘Continue.’
- Enter the information of the individual to be checked and the purpose of the request
- Enter payment information and billing address information and click ‘Submit.’
Accessibility of Minor or Juvenile Records in Vermont
All juvenile records in Vermont are confidential and not accessible to the public.4
Juvenile records pertain to criminal information stored on an individual who was under the adult age when they committed the crime.
Unlike adults, juveniles are not technically convicted in the Vermont court system. According to the Title 33 Human Services Statute Sealing of Records, juvenile records are confidential, meaning the public has limited access to these records and hearings.
How To Find Out if You Are Wanted (Free Vermont Warrant Check)
An arrest warrant in Vermont is a court-ordered issue from the judge that allows law enforcement to search or seize property, detain an individual, or arrest a person suspected of a crime. These issues are typically created by local judges for law enforcement agencies and describe the person to be arrested.
Searchers can use state services to find out if they have a warrant by using the Vermont Department of Public Safety Public Records Request. Users can fill out the information on the incident, the requestor, and the type of information required (i.e., police report).
Individuals in Vermont can find active warrants by using the DEA Search Fugitive tool or the U.S. Marshall website. Searchers using Marshall’s website can use the Warrant Information System to find warrants, court records, correspondence, related information, and other information on those who have federal warrants.
Reviewing additional guidance on how to look up Vermont warrants can help make for an effective and efficient search.
Look Out for Sex Offenders Nearby: How To Check the State & National Registries
The Vermont Sex Offender Registry houses all pertinent information regarding persons convicted of sex crimes, typically listing the individuals in a specific area to notify the public.
- Visit the Vermont Department of Public Safety Website
- Click on the Vermont Crime Information Center
- Click on Sex Offender Registry
- Click on ‘Visit the Vermont Sex Offender Public Website’
- Click on Continue
- Click on ‘Click Here to Search for Offenders in Your Area’
- Enter the last name and first name of the offender OR the city/town OR the county
Individuals can also use the National Sex Offender Registry to find nationwide sex offenders.
- Visit the NSOPW website
- Search by first name and last name, or search by location
Using Vermont state’s sex offender registry is easier for those who just know the county or city they wish to search. For the national registry, users must input a specific address or name to complete the search.
Furthermore, the national registry does not provide geographic coordinates for addresses in the National Sex Offender Registry.
Performing Background Checks in Vermont
Searchers should look into the basics of how to perform background checks in Vermont to see the most effective ways of using local, state, and nationwide resources to find information on an individual.
Searchers need to typically decide between using a fingerprint or name-based background check based on their desired information.5
State Level Criminal Record Checks via the Department of Public Safety or Criminal Court
One of the most common types of background checks performed in Vermont is a state-level record check. In Vermont, criminal history is maintained unless they are expunged or sealed court records.
Any individual can perform a criminal record check by filling out a request and submitting it to the county criminal court where the charges were filed, online through the Department of Public Safety, or by submitting requests to the Criminal Records Section at the Vermont Crime Information Center.
Those curious about another individual can find a criminal record at the state level by visiting the Vermont Crime Information Center. The record checks on this website will contain important information, such as the following:
- Date of birth
- Social security number
- Fingerprints
- Felonies
- Warrant
- Arrests records
- Addresses
- Aliases
- Drivers license number
- Criminal information
A criminal background check typically takes between 1-3 business days but can be faster, depending on the database.6
Employment Background Check (Fingerprint-Based)
The next type of background check is an employment-based background check that requires consent from the individual. Since this check requires fingerprints to be taken and submitted through an authorized US Post Office Location, the searcher or employer needs consent from the subject in question.
Background checks are processed through fingerprinting, the Vermont Department of Public Safety, and the federal system. The employment background check typically takes between 2-5 business days to complete.7
Court Records: Vermont
Vermont court records are public records that can be accessed by individuals.
Vermont has different divisions that have distinctive roles in handling specific cases and helping with the state’s maintenance of law and order.8
- Civil Division — Civil matters (breach of contract, malpractice, land disputes, etc.), appeals from the Probate Division, and Small Claims Court
- Criminal Division — Felony and misdemeanor cases, approving or declining search warrants, special treatment courts
- Environmental Division — Environmental law
- Family Division — Family court, divorce, separation, child support, custody, and visitation rights
- Judicial Bureau — Civil violations (alcohol and tobacco, traffic, municipal ordinance, non-criminal marijuana violations, etc.)
- Probate Division — adoptions, correction, and establishment of death, birth, marriage, and divorce certificates
- Supreme Court — Appeals from courts and agencies
How To View Someone’s Court Records in VT
Court records in Vermont are public records that can be accessed based on the Vermont Rules for Public Access to Court Records and using the following form.
These case records are open to any member of the public for inspection or making copies, except for when a record is redacted or removed due to legal reasons.
Individuals can find court records in Vermont by narrowing down the courthouse locations. Searchers should find out the specific courthouse and contact the clerk of courts to access paper or electronic court records. Requestors can access court records through the in-person courthouse or online.
Furthermore, individuals can access copies of court record information through the VTCourtsOnline system to gather information from civil courts.
Civil court records usually have to deal with organizational bodies but do have crossover with criminal courts — making them more common than criminal cases. The only information not accessible through this online system includes criminal, juvenile, and domestic matters. Users can use a name search or docket number search online.
If a user wishes to obtain court records information from the Environmental Division of the Judicial Bureau, users can access the Vermont Judiciary Public Portal to search via a case record number of the name of the person in the case.
Lastly, specific individuals can access particular case court records through the Public Portal by submitting a Vermont Judiciary Public Portal Access Request Form, such as attorneys and self-represented litigants. These individuals must submit the following fees for court records to the custodians:
- $0.25 per page of court records or court materials
- $10 exemplified copies
- $5 official certificate
- $45 authenticated documents
Obtain Public Bankruptcy Records in Vermont
Most states allow bankruptcy records to be requested through the PACER system, clerk offices, the VCIS system, or the Archives website.
In Vermont, individuals can find bankruptcy records through the Case Management and Electronic Case File Database. This allows users to view information via the PACER system through their online accounts. Furthermore, public members can also use the case locator to find information before their search.
All About Vermont Inmate Records
Vermont inmate records are helpful for those who want to find if a person has a criminal history or find someone in the prison system.
Inmate records offer the type, degree of offense, date of admission, court information, custody classification, and inmate type.
The best ways to find Vermont inmate records are to find out where the inmate is serving time, determine if they are in jail or prison, determine if the county, sheriff, jail, or police department maintains online records, and find custodian information to obtain inmate records in person, online, or via mail.
How To Find Jail Inmates & Records
The best way to find inmates and records for those in jail is to determine if the individual is in county jail, city jail, or regional jail.
County jail: County jails are usually run by the sheriff’s office. The quickest way to find an individual is to see where a person may have been arrested and contact the local sheriff’s office. For example, searchers can visit the Windham County Sheriff’s Office website to find contact information.
City jail: Searchers can view the local correctional facilities by visiting the DOC website. Once they narrow down the list to the specific location in which the subject may be held, they can use the contact information to call or visit the location in person.
Lastly, a searcher can use the Inmate Locator on the Vermont DOC website.
How To See Someone’s Mugshots in Vermont
The quickest way to find someone’s mugshot in Vermont is to determine where the individual has been arrested by using the previous steps. Once a person knows where they might be housed, they can look up the respective jail’s online website or social media account to find mugshot photos.
For example, the Windham County Sheriff’s Facebook page offers current and up-to-date arrests and information.9
Get Prisoner Records in Vermont: Run an Inmate Search
The quickest way to find a prisoner in Vermont is to do the following:
- Federal inmates — Use the Bureau of Prisons’ Find an Inmate’ locator to search by name or number
- State inmates — Use the Vermont Department of Corrections site to access the Inmate Locator tool
Information on Vital Records in Vermont
Vital records are records of life events kept by a governmental authority.10 Vital records in Vermont contain birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates since 1857.
Most records in Vermont are accessible to the public through Vermont Title 18: Health Vital Records statute. The following graph is a testament to the public availability of vital records, specifically divorce records; it displays data from the Census Bureau, depicting the divorced population in Vermont counties.
Searchers can find information regarding vital records through the Vermont Department of Health by submitting a public record request or using the online Vermont Vital Records & Population Data to find information on Vital Records.
How To View All Vital Records in Vermont
Vital records are publicly viewable in Vermont.
Copies from any online resources cannot be used for legal purposes, but they are accessible and feasible to view by any individual. Users can access records through FamilySearch or Ancestry.com, according to the Vermont Secretary of State.
How To Check for Free Marriage & Divorce Records in VT
Searches can obtain certified birth, marriage, death, and divorce records through Vermont’s Department of Health website. Users need to complete the Application for Certified Copy of Marriage from (choose years) and bring it to a town clerk within Vermont.
Searchers can also order a certified copy of a divorce or dissolution certificate by completing the Application for Certified Copy of Divorce from (choose years) and contacting the family division of the Superior Court where the union was filed.
Vermont: How To Get Another Birth or Death Certificate
Searchers can use Family Search to view a birth, marriage, residence, or death certificate for a Vermont resident.
Furthermore, individuals can search for records by using the Vital Records Request Service and the Searchable Index of Vermont Births and Deaths.
Lastly, individuals can contact the Vital Records Office to issue certified copies of vital records, such as birth or death certificates. Individuals should find more information via the Vermont Department of Public Health to see how to order certified copies of death certificates from the town clerk or the Health Department.
Individuals can also order certified copies of birth certificates from the town clerk or the health department by following the information on ‘Birth Certificates & Parentage Forms’ on the DHS website.
Now that you have all the right tools needed, you can navigate Vermont state records quickly.
References
1Public Records Act. (n.d.). Vermont League of Cities and Towns. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.vlct.org/municipal-assistance/municipal-topics/public-records-act>
2Vermont FOIA Laws – National Freedom of Information Coalition. (n.d.). National Freedom of Information Coalition. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.nfoic.org/vermont-foia-laws/>
3Information about Criminal Records. (n.d.). Legal Aid at Work. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://legalaidatwork.org/factsheet/records/>
4Juvenile Court. (n.d.). Vermont Judiciary. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/family/juvenile-court>
5R. K. (2018, June 27). Do I Need to Use a Fingerprint or Name-based background check? Trusted Employees. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.trustedemployees.com/learning-center/articles-news/do-i-need-to-use-a-fingerprint-or-name-based-background-check/>
6Korolevich, S. (2021, February 10). How Long Does A Background Check Take? GoodHire. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.goodhire.com/blog/how-long-do-background-checks-take/>
7How Long Do Pre-Employment Background Checks Take? (2022, May 25). Indeed. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.indeed.com/career-advice/career-development/how-long-do-a-background-check-take-for-a-job>
8Court Divisions. (n.d.). Vermont Judiciary. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.vermontjudiciary.org/court-divisions>
9Windham County Sheriff’s Office. (n.d.). Facebook. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://www.facebook.com/WindhamSheriff>
10Vital record. (n.d.). Wikipedia. Retrieved June 11, 2022, from <https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vital_record>
11The Vermont Department of Public Safety. Accessed 5 May 2023. <https://vcic.vermont.gov/ch-information>
12The Vermont Department of Public Safety. Accessed 5 May 2023. <https://secure.vermont.gov/DPS/criminalrecords/request.php>
13United States Department of Justice National Sex Offender Public Website. Accessed 5 May 2023. <https://www.nsopw.gov/>
14Vermont Courts. Accessed 5 May 2023. <https://www.vermont.gov/#gsc.tab=0>
15FamilySearch. Accessed 5 May 2023. <https://www.familysearch.org/search/>