Search Tonawanda Criminal Court Records
Tonawanda criminal court records are part of the Erie County court system. The Town of Tonawanda has about 72,000 residents and sits north of Buffalo in Erie County. There is also a smaller City of Tonawanda within the area. Felony cases from both go to Erie County Court in Buffalo. The Tonawanda Town Court and City Court each handle misdemeanors, violations, and traffic offenses within their respective boundaries. The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name for a statewide check, while WebCrims lets you search pending cases at no cost.
Tonawanda Overview
Where to Find Criminal Court Records in Tonawanda
Criminal records from Tonawanda are handled at the town, city, and county levels. The Town of Tonawanda has its own town court for misdemeanors. The City of Tonawanda has a city court. Felonies from both go up to Erie County Court in Buffalo.
Erie County Court is at 25 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. The Eighth Judicial District administration office is at 92 Franklin Street. Phone is 716-845-2505. The Erie County Clerk maintains felony case files as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM weekdays.
| Court | Erie County Court (Felonies) |
|---|---|
| Address | 25 Delaware Avenue Buffalo, NY 14202 |
| Phone | (716) 845-2505 |
| Hours | Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM |
The Tonawanda City Court handles misdemeanor cases, traffic violations, and civil matters for the City of Tonawanda. The court keeps records of arraignments, hearings, and sentences. The court operates under the Eighth Judicial District. Contact the city court clerk for copies of misdemeanor records.
The Town of Tonawanda also has its own town court handling misdemeanors and violations for the town. Town courts keep separate files from the city court. If a felony starts in either court, it gets transferred to Erie County Court for prosecution.
The Erie County District Attorney's Office prosecutes all criminal cases in the county. The DA's office handles about 25,000 cases per year. The Tonawanda Police Department maintains arrest records and incident reports, which are separate from court files and subject to FOIL requests.
How to Search Tonawanda Criminal Court Records
Several search options are available for Tonawanda criminal records.
The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the statewide option at $95 per name. You need the full name and exact date of birth. Results come by email the next business day. Sealed records do not appear. Town and village court data is limited, so some Tonawanda court cases may not show up. Results are not certified.
WebCrims shows pending cases with future court dates. Erie County Court cases and Buffalo City Court cases are in the system. Search by name or case number. Updates happen four times a day. Once a case is sentenced and closed, it leaves WebCrims.
Erie County offers some online record access through SearchIQS. You can search land records and some court filings. Complete criminal case files require a direct request to the Erie County Clerk's Office in Buffalo. For in-person searches, bring the defendant's name and case details.
For Tonawanda City Court records, contact the city court clerk. For Town of Tonawanda court records, contact the town court clerk. Each maintains its own files. Court records access falls under Judiciary Law 255. Police records require a FOIL request to the Tonawanda Police Department.
Criminal Record Sealing in Tonawanda
New York's sealing statutes affect what criminal records from Tonawanda are available in public searches.
CPL 160.50 automatically seals records after a dismissal or acquittal. CPL 160.55 covers sealing of certain violation convictions after ten years without new arrests. CPL 160.58 allows sealing of up to two convictions for eligible individuals who meet strict criteria including a ten-year wait from sentencing or release from incarceration.
The Clean Slate law, CPL 160.59, started in 2024 and provides automatic sealing. Eligible misdemeanors seal three years after the sentence is complete. Eligible felonies seal after eight years. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and Class A felonies do not qualify. This law will seal many old records from Erie County Court, Tonawanda City Court, and the Town of Tonawanda court.
DCJS offers personal record reviews. An "unsuppressed" report includes sealed records. Call 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov.
Tonawanda Criminal Court Records Fees
The statewide CHRS is $95 per name. Aliases add $95 each.
At the Erie County Clerk's Office:
- Certificate of Disposition: $10 to $25
- Copy fees under CPLR 8019(f)
- Search fees for name lookups
- Certified copies carry extra charges
The Tonawanda City Court and Town Court each have their own fee schedules for misdemeanor records. Contact the specific court clerk for fees. Pay the Erie County Clerk by check or money order. Call (716) 845-2505 for current county fees.
Legal Resources in Tonawanda
Neighborhood Legal Services serves Tonawanda and the greater Buffalo area with free legal assistance for qualifying residents. The Erie County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. For record sealing, an attorney can handle applications under CPL 160.50, 160.55, 160.58, or 160.59.
The NYS Unified Court System website has forms and self-help guides. The Eighth Judicial District office in Buffalo can direct you to the correct court. DCJS record reviews are available at 518-457-9847 or RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov.
Erie County Criminal Court Records
Tonawanda is in Erie County. All felony cases go to Erie County Court in Buffalo. The Eighth Judicial District covers Erie and seven other counties in western New York. For full county court details, visit the Erie County page.
Nearby Cities
Other Erie County communities with criminal court records pages: