The reasons why an indictment is kept secret or not made public are meant to prevent the possibility that an individual runs away to avoid arrest and also to protect witnesses and other people involved in the case. A secret indictment is totally legal and will be unsealed when the government feels that it should do so.
Since a secret indictment purposely makes it hard for an individual to know if they have one, it’s pretty difficult to find out if you have a secret indictment since secret indictments are sealed and only allowed to be discussed by the grand jury.
In short, it may be impossible to know for sure, but there are a few things you can do if you believe you have a secret indictment against you. To figure out if you have a secret indictment, you may have to learn some information about criminal proceedings by doing the following:
Way 1: Look for Local Arrest Records and Police Reports
All you can do is search local arrest records and police reports to find any useful information. Here, you may find a police report and any arrests that may have been made regarding those reports.
Most jurisdictions usually provide some sort of name-based background search to make it simple for people to find information about an individual who may have an indictment. Make sure to figure out if a secret indictment has been released.
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Make a record request
To search local arrest records and police reports, you can try to visit the official website of the local police department and make a record request through it. Since each police department has different rules and policies, you can try to send an email or make a phone call using the information provided to complete the records request.
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Do a simple Google search
Or you can do a simple Google search to find as much information as possible regarding how and where the necessary records are kept and how you can access them. After finding it, you can narrow down the search to easily find local arrest records.
Way 2: Search Local and States Court Records
In addition to looking for local arrest records and police reports, you can also try to search local and state court records. Even if much of the necessary information is not disclosed, they may still provide useful information about the indictment records.
The way to search local and state court records is similar to looking for local arrest records and police reports. Here’s how!
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Visit the official website of your local court
The easy way to search local and state court records is by visiting the official website. You can then search for the records once you’ve arrived at the website of the local and state courts you’re looking for.Usually, court records are kept online in a searchable database. The next page will take you to court records, where you can search for individual reports by following the on-screen instructions.
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Access the sheriff’s department
There is no doubt that local sheriff’s departments will have accessible records for the public. However, you may find it hard to find the court records you want since the court system tends to have much of the same information.
To make your search easier, you can try to access the “Inmate Records Requests” link that is usually available on the official website of your local court. After that, you have to follow the on-screen instructions to make a record request.
Step 3: Search for News on Google About an Incident You May be Involved
To make your search simpler, you can try to do a Google search. So far, this is the most effective and efficient way to find a secret indictment. Even though you cannot really find the sealed information, at least you can search for news articles regarding a particular incident.
By doing a Google search, you may find a news story about an incident, including the specific date, place, and names involved. Afterwards, you will know whether the indictment has been filed in the case or not. You can then use the information to search state and local law enforcement agencies and courts to gain more information about a secret indictment.
Read also: Can Charges Be Dropped After Indictment?
Way 4: Check with Law Enforcement
If you have followed all of the steps outlined above but have not received the expected results regarding a secret indictment, you may need to consult with law enforcement. However, law enforcement is the only party that has access to more sensitive information regarding criminal records or police reports.
So far, checking with local law enforcement is the only recommended way to help you determine whether or not there is a secret indictment against you. However, if you try to figure out a secret indictment by yourself, it may cause an incident that leads to an indictment to be kept secret.
Not only will you have a better chance of determining whether or not a secret indictment has been issued, but they may also advise you on what to do next if you do.
However, law enforcement should be easy to find. You can just get in contact with one that comes highly recommended and provide any information as to why a secret indictment may have been issued.
Okay, these are several ways you can find out whether or not you have a secret indictment.
A bookworm and researcher especially related to law and citizenship education. I spend time every day in front of the internet and the campus library.
