Albany Criminal Court Records
Albany criminal court records are maintained by the Albany County Clerk and the Albany City Court. As the state capital and seat of Albany County, the city has both county-level and city-level courts handling criminal matters. Felony cases go through Albany County Court, while Albany City Court handles misdemeanors, violations, and traffic infractions committed within city limits. The county courthouse is at 16 Eagle Street in downtown Albany. You can search pending cases online through WebCrims or run a statewide criminal history check through the OCA for $95.
Albany Overview
Where to Find Criminal Court Records in Albany
Albany has two courts that handle criminal matters. The Albany County Court takes felony cases. Albany City Court deals with misdemeanors and violations. Each court keeps its own records. The charge level tells you where to look.
The Albany County Clerk's Office is at 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207. The phone number is (518) 487-5100. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM. As Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts, this office holds the official records for all felony cases in Albany County. The fee for a Certificate of Disposition is $10.
| Court | Albany County Court (Felonies) |
|---|---|
| Address | Albany County Courthouse 16 Eagle Street Albany, NY 12207 |
| Phone | (518) 487-5100 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM |
Albany City Court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, traffic violations, and civil matters for offenses within city limits. The court operates under the Third Judicial District. Criminal records from Albany City Court can be accessed by contacting the court clerk's office. The court provides certified copies for a fee.
The Albany County District Attorney's Office at 6 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207, prosecutes all criminal cases from the city. Call (518) 487-2700 for case information. The DA handles felony prosecutions in County Court and works with Albany City Court on misdemeanor cases. Victims can get case updates through the DA's victim services unit.
Albany County also offers online record access through the SearchIQS system. This tool lets you search land records and some court filings from your own computer. While the index of criminal cases may be searchable, complete criminal court records still require a direct request to the County Clerk's Office.
How to Search Albany Criminal Court Records
You have several options for searching criminal court records in Albany. Each method gives you different levels of detail.
The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all courts in New York. It costs $95 per name. You need the full name and exact date of birth. Results come by email the next business day. If there are no hits, you get an instant response. The CHRS is not certified, so you may still need a Certificate of Disposition for legal purposes. Mail requests go to 25 Beaver Street, Room 940, New York, NY 10004.
WebCrims shows pending criminal cases with future court dates. Albany County Court cases appear in the system. You can search by name or case number. The data updates four times daily. Once a case is closed, it leaves WebCrims. For closed cases, contact the County Clerk directly or use CHRS.
For in-person searches, bring the defendant's name and any case details you have. The Albany County Clerk can look up cases by name or case number. Staff will pull files and make copies on the spot. Certified copies cost more than plain ones. Call ahead to confirm payment methods accepted.
Criminal Record Sealing Laws
New York has several laws that seal criminal records from public view. When a record is sealed, it will not show up in a CHRS search or public court records check. Understanding these laws matters if you are searching Albany criminal court records and come up empty.
CPL 160.50 automatically seals records when a case is dismissed or the defendant is acquitted. This includes ACDs (adjournments in contemplation of dismissal). CPL 160.55 covers violation convictions like disorderly conduct. After ten years with no new arrests, a person can apply to seal these. CPL 160.58 allows sealing of up to two convictions for eligible people. The ten-year wait starts from sentencing or release from incarceration.
The Clean Slate law under CPL 160.59 went into effect in 2024. It automatically seals eligible misdemeanor convictions after three years and felony convictions after eight years. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and Class A felonies are not eligible. This law affects many old cases in Albany County Court and Albany City Court.
Court records in Albany are governed by Judiciary Law 255, not FOIL. This means you make requests directly to the court clerk. Requests must be specific and describe the records you want. General "fishing expedition" requests may be denied.
Fees for Albany Criminal Court Records
Cost depends on what you need and how you get it. The statewide CHRS is $95 per search. Each alias or date of birth variation is an extra $95.
At the Albany County Clerk's Office:
- Certificate of Disposition: $10
- Document copies: per-page fees under CPLR 8019(f)
- Certified copies: additional certification fee
- Search fee for locating records by name
Pay by check or money order made out to the Albany County Clerk. Credit cards may be accepted for some services. Cash is not always accepted, especially for mail requests. Call (518) 487-5100 to confirm before visiting.
Legal Help in Albany
The Legal Aid Society of Northeastern New York serves the Albany area and provides free legal help to qualifying individuals. They handle criminal defense and can assist with record sealing applications under CPL 160.50, 160.55, 160.58, and 160.59.
The Albany County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. The NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services handles record reviews. Contact them at 518-457-9847 or RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. Individuals can request their own criminal history from DCJS to check for errors or see what sealed records exist.
The Albany Police Department at its records division handles FOIL requests for police reports and arrest records. These are separate from court records. Police records require a FOIL request to the police department, while court records go through the clerk under Judiciary Law 255.
Albany County Criminal Court Records
Albany is the county seat of Albany County. All felony cases from the city go through Albany County Court. The Third Judicial District oversees courts in Albany and six surrounding counties. For full details on the county court system, visit the Albany County page.
Nearby Cities
Other cities near Albany with criminal court records pages: