Broome County Criminal Court Records Search

Criminal court records in Broome County are maintained by the County Clerk's Office at the Broome County Courthouse in Binghamton. The county is part of the Sixth Judicial District, which covers ten counties in the Southern Tier and Central New York. Broome County Court handles all felony prosecutions, while local courts in Binghamton and other towns deal with misdemeanors and violations. The County Clerk can be reached at 607-778-2451, and the County Court phone number is 607-778-2448. For records of specific criminal cases, the County Clerk's office is the starting point.

Broome County Clerk's Office

The Broome County Clerk's office handles records for the Supreme and County Courts. This includes all felony criminal case files. The office is in the Broome County Courthouse at 44 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY. In addition to criminal court records, the Clerk processes passports, copies of deeds, mortgages, DBA filings, and naturalization petitions. But for criminal records specifically, the County Court files are the key resource.

The County Court is authorized to handle prosecution of all crimes committed within Broome County. Felony cases go through this court, from arraignment through sentencing. The County Clerk keeps the official files, which include indictments, motions, plea transcripts, and sentencing orders. If you need records from a felony case in Broome County, you contact the County Clerk with the defendant's name and approximate case dates.

The District Attorney's office can be reached at 607-778-2423. The DA is responsible for representing the People in all criminal proceedings in Broome County. However, once a case is closed, the official court records are with the County Clerk, not the DA. The DA's office does not provide criminal history reports or case disposition records to the public.

Searching Broome County Criminal Court Records

You can search for criminal court records in Broome County by visiting the County Clerk's office in person, sending a written request by mail, or using statewide online tools. Each approach has its own advantages and limitations.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the most thorough way to check for criminal records across New York State, including Broome County. The fee is $95 per search. You must provide the exact name and date of birth. Results are emailed the next business day when no records are found. If records exist, staff verify them before sending, so it may take a bit longer. Sealed records under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 will not appear in the results.

Broome County records may also be accessible through the eCourts service run by the NYS Unified Court System. Additionally, the New York Courts guide for Broome County provides information on how to access records and navigate the local court system. The SearchIQS system at the SearchIQS system offers online searching of land records and some court filings, though full criminal case files generally require a direct request to the County Clerk.

For in-person searches, bring identification and be prepared to provide as much detail about the case as possible. The more information you have, the faster staff can locate the records. A case number or indictment number will get you immediate results. Name-only searches take more time and may involve a search fee.

Broome County Criminal Court Records Fees

The Broome County Clerk charges fees for searching and copying criminal court records under CPLR 8019(f). A Certificate of Disposition costs $10 to $15 depending on the court. This certificate is the official proof of how a criminal case ended and is the document most commonly requested for legal and personal purposes.

Copying fees are charged per page. Certified copies cost more than plain copies. If you request a staff search for a specific name, there is typically an additional search fee. Payment should be by check or money order payable to the Broome County Clerk. Call ahead at 607-778-2451 to confirm current fees and payment methods.

Criminal Record Sealing in Broome County

New York's sealing statutes apply uniformly across all counties including Broome. Records of dismissed cases and acquittals are sealed automatically under CPL 160.50. The defendant takes no action. The records simply become unavailable to public searches.

CPL 160.55 addresses sealing for certain violation and traffic infraction convictions. CPL 160.58 lets eligible individuals seal up to two convictions after a ten-year waiting period. A formal application to the court is required, and the District Attorney receives notice. Only one of the two convictions can be a felony. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies are excluded from sealing under this provision.

The Clean Slate law, CPL 160.59, automatically seals eligible convictions without any action by the defendant. Misdemeanors are sealed after three years and felonies after eight years from completion of the sentence. This includes any period of parole or probation. As this law continues to take effect, more Broome County criminal court records will become sealed and unavailable through public searches. The full text of these statutes is available through the New York State Senate website.

Legal Resources in Broome County

The Sixth Judicial District administrative office oversees court operations in Broome County and nine other counties. For questions about court procedures, the district office can point you in the right direction. Legal Aid of Mid-New York and similar organizations may provide free help to people who qualify based on income.

Access to court records in New York is governed by Judiciary Law Section 255, not FOIL. This means you submit your request to the clerk of the court that handled the case. The request must describe the records with enough specificity for staff to find them. General requests for all records about a person may be denied as too broad. The Division of Criminal Justice Services lets individuals request their own criminal history record through a fingerprint-based process.

Nearby Counties

Broome County borders several other counties in the Southern Tier. Criminal jurisdiction depends on where the offense took place.