Access Cattaraugus County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Cattaraugus County are kept by the County Clerk at the courthouse in Little Valley. The county is part of the Eighth Judicial District, which covers eight counties in Western New York. Cattaraugus County Court has exclusive authority over felony trials, while Town and Village Courts handle misdemeanors and violations at the local level. The County Clerk maintains the official files for all Supreme Court and County Court criminal cases. If you need to look up a felony case or get a Certificate of Disposition, the County Clerk's office is where you start.

Cattaraugus County Clerk and Criminal Court Records

The Cattaraugus County Clerk serves as the Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. The office maintains all criminal court records for felony cases prosecuted in the county. These records include indictments, plea minutes, motions, trial transcripts, and sentencing documents. The Clerk also handles land records, pistol permits, and other county filings, but criminal court records are a core function of the office.

To request criminal court records from Cattaraugus County, contact the County Clerk with the defendant's name, the approximate date of the case, and the case number if available. The office can search by name alone, but having a case number speeds things up considerably. Certificates of Disposition are available for a fee and show the final outcome of a criminal case. These are the documents most commonly needed for proof of case resolution.

The County Court handles all felony criminal prosecutions in Cattaraugus County. This includes serious charges like burglary, grand larceny, drug offenses, and violent crimes. Misdemeanor cases from cities like Olean and Salamanca go through their local city courts, while cases from towns and villages go through the local justice courts. Records from those lower courts are kept at the local court level, not with the County Clerk.

How to Search Criminal Court Records in Cattaraugus County

There are several ways to search for criminal court records in Cattaraugus County. The method you choose depends on what type of record you need and whether you prefer to search online or in person.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the state's official statewide search tool. It costs $95 per name and date of birth. Results cover all 62 counties, so you will see Cattaraugus County cases alongside any from other parts of the state. The search requires an exact match of both name and date of birth. Sealed records under CPL 160.50 or CPL 160.59 do not appear in the results. Town and Village Court data is limited in the CHRS system, so minor offenses from local justice courts in Cattaraugus County may not show up.

The New York Courts guide for Cattaraugus County provides information on accessing records through the eCourts service. This is the NYS Unified Court System's online portal for case information. You can also contact the County Clerk directly to request an in-person or mail-based search. For in-person visits, bring as much identifying information about the case as possible.

Cattaraugus County is not covered by the WebCrims system, which only serves New York City courts and a few other jurisdictions. For pending cases in Cattaraugus County, you will need to contact the court clerk directly.

Cattaraugus County Criminal Court Records Fees

Fees for criminal court records in Cattaraugus County follow the schedule set under CPLR 8019(f). A Certificate of Disposition is typically $10. Copying fees are charged per page, with certified copies costing more than plain copies. If you ask staff to conduct a name search, there may be an additional search fee.

The $95 statewide CHRS fee is paid to the Office of Court Administration, not the County Clerk. That is a separate process from requesting records directly from the county. Payments to the County Clerk should be by check or money order. Call the office to confirm what payment methods are currently accepted before sending a request by mail.

Record Sealing in Cattaraugus County

New York's record sealing laws apply to Cattaraugus County criminal court records just as they do everywhere else in the state. Under CPL 160.50, records of cases that end in the defendant's favor are sealed automatically. This covers dismissals, acquittals, and adjourned in contemplation of dismissal outcomes. No action is needed from the defendant.

CPL 160.55 provides for sealing of certain violation and traffic infraction convictions. CPL 160.58 allows eligible people to seal up to two convictions, but only one can be a felony. The wait is ten years from sentencing or release, whichever is later. A formal application to the court is required. The DA gets notice and can object.

The Clean Slate law under CPL 160.59 automatically seals eligible misdemeanor convictions after three years and eligible felony convictions after eight years. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies are excluded. This law will gradually reduce the number of Cattaraugus County criminal court records available in public searches. For the full text of these sealing provisions, see the Criminal Procedure Law on the state senate website.

Legal Resources for Cattaraugus County

The Eighth Judicial District administration is at Erie County Hall, 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202. Phone: 716-845-2505. District Administrative Judge: Hon. Amy C. Martoche. This office can direct you to the correct court clerk for records requests in Cattaraugus County.

Legal Aid of Western New York may serve residents who need help with criminal record issues. Individuals who want to review their own criminal history can contact the Division of Criminal Justice Services at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or 518-457-9847. The DCJS process requires fingerprinting and provides a complete record including sealed information, which is useful if you believe your record may contain errors.

Nearby Counties

These counties are adjacent to Cattaraugus County. Criminal cases must be filed in the county where the alleged offense occurred.