Search New York Criminal Court Records
New York criminal court records are kept by the County Clerk in each of the state's 62 counties. These records include case filings, indictments, plea minutes, and sentencing documents from County Court and Supreme Court. The NYS Office of Court Administration runs a statewide Criminal History Record Search for a $95 fee. Free access to pending case data is also available through the WebCrims portal. Residents can request copies of criminal court records in person, by mail, or through county online systems. Access to court records in New York is governed by Judiciary Law Section 255, not by FOIL.
New York Criminal Court Records Overview
Where to Find New York Criminal Court Records
Criminal court records in New York are held at the county level. The County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts and keeps case files for all felony prosecutions. Each of the 62 counties has its own County Clerk's office. You need to contact the office in the county where the case was filed. The clerk can pull records by name or case number and make copies for a fee.
The state court system is split into 12 judicial districts. Each district has an Administrative Judge and a district office that handles court operations. The NYS Office of Court Administration runs the statewide Criminal History Record Search, known as CHRS. This search covers criminal court records from County, Supreme, City, Town, and Village courts in all 62 counties. It costs $95 per name searched and requires an exact match of both name and date of birth. Results come back the next business day by email or mail.
For pending cases, WebCrims provides free online access to criminal cases with future court dates. The system covers New York City courts, Nassau and Suffolk Counties, the Ninth Judicial District, Erie County Court, and Buffalo City Court. It shows defendant names, charges, next court dates, and case status. The data updates four times per day.
Town and Village Courts handle most low-level criminal cases by volume. New York has over 1,200 of these local courts. They process misdemeanors, violations, and traffic offenses. Records from Town and Village Courts stay with the local court. To get old case files from these courts, contact the specific court where the case was heard. The NYS Unified Court System keeps a directory of all Town and Village Courts with phone numbers and addresses.
Note: Court records in New York are not subject to FOIL requests. Access is governed by Judiciary Law Section 255. Requests go to the Clerk of the Court that holds the records, not through a FOIL officer.
How to Search Criminal Court Records in New York
The CHRS system is the most thorough way to search for criminal court records across New York State. You submit an application with the person's full name, middle initial, and date of birth. The search returns open, pending, and conviction records from courts in all 62 counties. Sealed records do not show up. Each alias or alternate date of birth counts as a separate $95 search. Applications can be sent online, by mail, or in person at 25 Beaver Street, Room 940, New York, NY 10004. Contact the CHRS unit at CHRS@nycourts.gov or call 212-428-2943.
CHRS results are not the same as a Certificate of Disposition. A Certificate of Disposition is a certified document from the court where the case was heard. It shows the final outcome of a specific case. Many agencies and courts need this certified document rather than a CHRS report. The fee for a Certificate of Disposition is typically $10 to $25 depending on the county. Contact the County Clerk or court clerk in the county where the case was resolved to get one.
You can also search county by county. Many County Clerk offices provide online access through the SearchIQS system. This lets you look up case index data from your own computer. The index shows names, dates, and case types. Full case files and certified copies still require a visit to the clerk's office or a written request. The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records, but these are not public. Only the individual or authorized agencies can access DCJS records.
Types of Criminal Court Records Available
New York's court system produces different types of criminal court records depending on the court and case. County Court handles felony prosecutions. The Supreme Court hears felony appeals and some trials. City Courts handle misdemeanors and violations within city limits. Town and Village Courts process lesser offenses in their jurisdictions.
A felony case file in New York typically contains the indictment or superior court information, arraignment records, plea minutes, pretrial motions, trial transcripts (if the case went to trial), and the sentencing record. Misdemeanor files include the criminal complaint, hearing records, and disposition. Under Criminal Procedure Law Article 160, certain records get sealed automatically when a case ends in the defendant's favor. Dismissed cases and acquittals are sealed under CPL 160.50 without the defendant having to do anything.
CPL 160.55 covers violations and traffic infractions. These lower-level conviction records can be sealed after a set period with no new arrests. CPL 160.58 allows sealing of up to two eligible convictions, only one of which can be a felony, after a ten-year waiting period. The newer CPL 160.59, often called the Clean Slate law, provides for automatic sealing of certain convictions after three years for misdemeanors and eight years for felonies. Serious violent felonies, sex offenses, and Class A felonies are not eligible for sealing under any of these provisions.
Criminal Court Records Fees in New York
Fees vary by county and type of request. The statewide CHRS search is $95 per name. This fee is payable by check, money order, or credit card for online requests. Cash is not accepted by mail. Each alias name or alternate date of birth is a separate $95 charge.
At the county level, fees are set under CPLR Section 8019(f). A Certificate of Disposition costs between $10 and $25. Copying charges apply for pages of case files. Some counties charge a search fee for looking up records by name. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. Call the specific County Clerk's office for current fee amounts. The NYC 311 portal provides guidance on obtaining criminal court records in New York City.
Record Sealing and Public Access in New York
Not all criminal court records are open to the public. New York law provides several paths for sealing records. Sealed records do not appear in CHRS searches. They are not available to the general public. Only the defendant, their attorney, or someone with a court order can access sealed records. Law enforcement and certain agencies can still see them in limited circumstances.
Under CPL 160.50, records are automatically sealed when a case is dismissed, the defendant is acquitted, or the prosecution declines to pursue charges. This includes cases adjourned in contemplation of dismissal (ACD). Once sealed, the person can legally deny the arrest ever happened in most situations. Under CPL 160.59, eligible older convictions are now sealed automatically without filing an application. The waiting period runs from the date the sentence was completed, including any parole or probation term.
The Public Officers Law Article 6, which contains FOIL, does not apply to court records. Police records, district attorney administrative files, and corrections records can be requested under FOIL. But the actual court file goes through the Clerk of the Court under Judiciary Law 255. The request must describe the records with enough detail for the clerk to find them. General requests for "all records" about a person may be turned down as too broad.
Court Records Resources in New York
The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps the state's central fingerprint-based criminal history repository. Individuals can request their own record by contacting RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or calling 518-457-9847. The process requires fingerprinting at an authorized location. Results are mailed to the individual's home address.
For people in state prison, the NYS Department of Corrections and Community Supervision runs an inmate lookup service. You can search by name or Department Identification Number. The system shows conviction charges, sentence length, custody status, current facility, and earliest release date. DOCCS covers state prisons only. City and county jail records must be requested from the local facility. In New York City, the Department of Correction runs a separate inmate lookup for people in city jails on Rikers Island and borough facilities.
The NYC OpenRecords portal lets users submit FOIL requests to city agencies like the NYPD and District Attorney offices. This covers police reports, arrest records, and administrative files. It does not cover court records, which must be requested from the court clerk directly. The NYPD gets thousands of FOIL requests and response times vary.
Browse New York Criminal Court Records by County
Each of New York's 62 counties has its own County Clerk who maintains criminal court records. Pick a county below to find local contact info, court addresses, and resources for criminal court records in that area.
Criminal Court Records in Major New York Cities
Residents of major cities can search criminal court records at the County Clerk in their county. Pick a city below to find out where criminal court records are handled for that area.