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.
Chemung County Overview
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 |
How to Search Criminal Court Records in Chemung County
There are several paths to finding criminal court records in Chemung County. You can visit the County Clerk's office in Elmira, send a request by mail, or use statewide search tools online.
The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95 per search. Submit the person's exact name and date of birth. Results arrive by email the next business day for "no records found" searches. If a record exists, staff review it first, which may take additional time. Records sealed under CPL 160.50 or CPL 160.59 are not included. Town and Village Court data in the CHRS is limited.
The New York Courts guide for Chemung County offers information about accessing records through the eCourts system. The NYS Unified Court System's eCourts portal may have some Chemung County case data available online. For full case files, though, you will need to contact the County Clerk directly.
Chemung County is outside the WebCrims coverage area. That system primarily serves New York City and a limited number of other courts. To check on active cases in Chemung County, call the court directly.
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.
Legal Resources in Chemung County
The Sixth Judicial District administrative office oversees court operations in Chemung County and nine other counties. Legal aid organizations in the Southern Tier region may provide free assistance to qualified residents. The Division of Criminal Justice Services lets individuals request their own criminal history through a fingerprint-based process at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or 518-457-9847.
Court records are governed by Judiciary Law Section 255, not FOIL. For police and prosecution records, separate requests to those agencies are needed. The Criminal Procedure Law is available online for reference on sealing, access, and other procedural matters.
Online Access to Chemung County Criminal Court Records
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.