Find Criminal Court Records in Chemung County

Criminal court records in Chemung County are maintained by the County Clerk's Office in Elmira. The county is part of the Sixth Judicial District, which covers ten counties across the Southern Tier and Central New York. Chemung County Court handles all felony prosecutions. The Elmira City Court processes misdemeanor and violation cases from the city. Town and Village Courts throughout the county handle local-level criminal matters. The County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts and is the official repository for felony criminal case files in the county.

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Chemung County Overview

84,148 Population
Elmira County Seat
6th Judicial District
$95 Statewide CHRS Fee

Chemung County Clerk and Criminal Court Records

The Chemung County Clerk's office maintains records for the Supreme and County Courts. This includes all felony criminal case files processed through Chemung County Court. The Clerk stores indictments, plea records, motions, trial transcripts, and sentencing documents. These are the official records of the court and the primary source for anyone looking up a felony criminal case in the county.

The Chemung County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement and maintains arrest records separate from the court files. Arrest records are obtained through the Sheriff or local police departments, not the County Clerk. The County Clerk's criminal court records cover what happened in court, not what happened during the investigation or arrest. This is an important distinction. Court records include the charges as filed, the plea, any motions, and the final disposition. Police records include arrest reports, incident reports, and investigation notes.

The District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases in Chemung County. The DA handles felony and misdemeanor cases in County Court and works with local police agencies. Once a case is concluded, the official record is kept by the County Clerk, not the DA's office. For historical case records, the County Clerk is the first place to check.

Office Chemung County Clerk
Address Chemung County Courthouse
210 Lake Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Website Chemung County Government
Chemung County government website for accessing criminal court records

Record Sealing in Chemung County

New York's Criminal Procedure Law has multiple provisions for sealing criminal records. These laws apply to Chemung County criminal court records the same way they apply throughout the state.

CPL 160.50 seals records automatically when a case ends favorably for the defendant. Dismissals, acquittals, and adjourned in contemplation of dismissal cases are sealed without any action needed. CPL 160.55 addresses sealing of violation and traffic infraction convictions after specified periods. CPL 160.58 permits individuals to apply for sealing of up to two eligible convictions, with a maximum of one felony, after a ten-year waiting period from sentencing or release.

The Clean Slate law, CPL 160.59, went into effect in 2024. It automatically seals eligible misdemeanor convictions three years after sentence completion and eligible felony convictions eight years after sentence completion. This includes any period of parole or probation. Violent felonies, sex offenses, and Class A felonies are excluded. The full text of these statutes is at the New York State Senate website.

Chemung County Criminal Court Records Fees

The Chemung County Clerk charges fees for searching and copying criminal court records under CPLR 8019(f). A Certificate of Disposition is the standard document showing the final outcome of a case and typically costs $10. Copying fees are per page. Certified copies cost more than regular copies.

Payments should be by check or money order. The $95 OCA statewide search is a separate fee paid to the Office of Court Administration. Call the Chemung County Clerk to confirm current fee amounts before sending a request.

The statewide Criminal History Record Search run by the Office of Court Administration remains the most comprehensive online option for Chemung County criminal court records. The $95 fee covers a search of all courts in all 62 counties. You need exact name and date of birth. Each alias and each date of birth counts as a separate $95 search. Results are not certified and should not be confused with a Certificate of Disposition, which can only come from the court of original jurisdiction.

For individuals who want to see their own record, the DCJS Record Review process is available. This is fingerprint-based and shows both sealed and unsealed information, depending on which version you request. The unsuppressed version includes CPL 160.50 dismissed cases, CPL 160.55 violation convictions, and CPL 160.58 eligible convictions. The suppressed version excludes sealed matters. Contact RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or call 518-457-9847 for instructions.

Nearby Counties

Chemung County is bordered by these counties. Criminal jurisdiction follows the location of the alleged offense.

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