Search Connecticut Busted Mugshots
Connecticut busted mugshots and arrest records are public documents held by local police departments and the state court system. You can search for mugshots and booking photos from arrests made across all eight counties in Connecticut. The Connecticut Judicial Branch runs an online case lookup tool that lets you find arrest records by name or docket number. Each local police department also keeps its own arrest logs with mugshots and charge details. Whether you need to look up a recent arrest or check old case records, Connecticut gives you several free ways to search busted mugshots from home or in person at a courthouse.
Connecticut Busted Mugshots Quick Facts
Where to Find Connecticut Mugshots
There are several places to look up busted mugshots in Connecticut. The main source is the Connecticut Judicial Branch, which runs the statewide criminal case lookup system. This free tool covers all courts in Connecticut. You can search arrest warrants, pending cases, daily court dockets, and conviction records all in one place. The system shows case details for arrests going back up to ten years. It does not show juvenile cases or records that have been erased under Connecticut law.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch Criminal Case Look-up gives you several ways to search. You can look up arrest warrants, find convictions by name, check daily dockets by court, or search pending cases by docket number. Each search pulls from the same court database that covers every judicial district in the state.
The Connecticut Judicial Branch criminal case database is shown below. This is the main portal for searching busted mugshots and arrest records across all Connecticut courts.
This tool is free to use. No account is needed. You can search from any device at any time of day.
Connecticut Inmate Search for Mugshots
The Connecticut Department of Correction runs an inmate search database. This tool shows people who are currently in state custody. You can search by name or DOC inmate number. The database gets updated each day. It shows booking details and custody status for those held in Connecticut prisons and jails. Keep in mind that a person's current time in custody does not always mean they have been found guilty. Connecticut's system also holds people on accused status who are still waiting for trial.
There are some limits to what the DOC database shows. Records for people held under the Youthful Offender Statute are not in the system. Cases tied to federal Immigration and Customs Enforcement are also left out. The data changes fast, so what you see may not show the most current status of an inmate in Connecticut.
Note: The DOC inmate search is separate from the court case lookup and may show different information about the same person.
How to Search Connecticut Busted Mugshots
Connecticut offers several paths to find busted mugshots and arrest records. The way you search depends on what you need. Online tools are fast and free for basic lookups. In-person visits to police departments let you get copies of full arrest reports, including mugshots. Both options are open to anyone in Connecticut under the state's Freedom of Information Act.
For online searches, the Judicial Branch case lookup is the best starting point. You can search by defendant name to find arrest records from any court in Connecticut. The convictions search shows results for the past ten years. The arrest warrants search shows active warrants statewide. For pending cases, use the pending case search by defendant tool. Each of these is free to use and pulls from the same court system that tracks all busted mugshots across Connecticut.
The DESPP accident information summary search is another state database that can be helpful for finding related records in Connecticut.
This portal provides access to incident summaries that may connect to arrest records in some cases.
To get copies of actual mugshot photos, you need to contact the police department that made the arrest. Each local department in Connecticut keeps its own booking photos. Under CGS § 1-215, the record of an arrest is a public record from the time of the arrest. This includes the name, race, and address of the person, the date and time of the arrest, and the offense. You can request copies through a Freedom of Information Act request or by visiting the records division in person. Municipal agencies can charge up to $0.50 per page for copies.
Connecticut Criminal History Records
The State Police Bureau of Identification is the central place for criminal history records in Connecticut. Under CGS § 29-11, this office keeps a record of every person age 16 and older who has been charged with a crime in the state. The SPBI handles fingerprinting, criminal history checks, and maintains the statewide criminal record database. This is the most complete source for arrest and conviction history in Connecticut.
Getting a criminal history check through the SPBI requires a few steps. First, you need to book a fingerprinting appointment online. Appointments are available Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:00 PM at their office at 1111 Country Club Road in Middletown. You must pre-enroll online before your visit. Bring your appointment confirmation, pre-enrollment page with tracking number, and a valid government ID. Fees run $15 for fingerprinting, $75 for a state criminal history check, and $13.25 for a federal check. All fees must be paid separately in exact amounts. Cash, check, or money order only.
The State Police Reports and Records Unit handles other types of records. Requests for case reports go through the GovQA portal. A $16 non-refundable search fee applies under CGS § 29-10b whether or not a report is found.
Are Busted Mugshots Public in Connecticut
Yes. Arrest records are public in Connecticut. CGS § 1-215 makes the record of any arrest a public record from the moment of the arrest. This law covers the basic facts of the arrest: who was taken in, when and where it happened, and what they were charged with. For warrant arrests, the warrant application and supporting affidavit are also public. For arrests made without a warrant, the official arrest report is public.
The Connecticut Freedom of Information Commission oversees public records access in the state. Under the Connecticut FOIA, you have the right to get records from any public agency. There are no required forms. You can make a request in writing, by email, or in person. Agencies must respond promptly. If you believe an agency has violated the FOI Act, you can file a complaint with the Commission within 30 days. The FOIC is at 165 Capitol Avenue, Suite 1100 in Hartford. Call them at (860) 566-5682 or toll-free at (866) 374-3617.
Some records are not public. Under CGS § 1-210(b), exemptions protect ongoing investigations, juvenile records, sealed or expunged cases, personal information of sexual assault victims, and witness identities. Under CGS § 54-142a, arrest records get erased when charges are dismissed, dropped, or when a person is found not guilty. Nolled cases are erased after 13 months. Connecticut's Clean Slate law also allows automatic erasure of certain misdemeanors after 7 years and certain felonies after 10 years, as long as the person stays crime-free. Sex crimes, family violence, and gun offenses are not eligible for Clean Slate erasure.
Note: As of late 2025, Connecticut has erased about 50,000 past convictions under the Clean Slate program, with over 100,000 more expected.
Browse Connecticut Busted Mugshots by County
Connecticut has eight counties. Each one has local police departments that handle arrests and keep mugshot records. Pick a county below to find local contact info and resources for busted mugshots in that area.
Busted Mugshots in Major Connecticut Cities
Residents of major cities can search for busted mugshots through their local police department or the state court system. Pick a city below to learn about arrest record access in that area.