Access Clinton County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Clinton County are maintained by the County Clerk's Office in Plattsburgh. The county sits in the North Country region of New York State and is part of the Fourth Judicial District. Clinton County Court handles felony criminal prosecutions, while the Plattsburgh City Court and various Town and Village Courts deal with misdemeanors and violations. The County Clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts, making the office the primary custodian of felony case files. The Fourth Judicial District administrative office is at 101 State Farm Place, Suite 100, Malta, NY 12020, and the District Administrative Judge is Hon. Kris K. Singh.

Clinton County Clerk and Criminal Court Records

The Clinton County Clerk is responsible for maintaining land records and court documents, including criminal court records for the Supreme and County Courts. All felony case files from Clinton County Court are stored by the Clerk. These files include indictments, motions, plea records, trial transcripts, and sentencing orders.

Clinton County is located along the Canadian border in the far northeast corner of New York State. Plattsburgh is the county seat and the main population center. The county's proximity to the border means some criminal cases involve federal charges that go through the Northern District of New York federal court rather than the state system. Those federal cases would not be in the County Clerk's files. State criminal cases from anywhere in Clinton County, whether from Plattsburgh, Peru, Champlain, or other towns, end up at the County Court for felony prosecution.

The Clinton County government website provides information about county services and contact details for various departments. Property assessment and tax information are available online. The County Clerk's office is in the county office building in Plattsburgh.

Searching Clinton County Criminal Court Records

You can look up criminal court records in Clinton County by visiting the County Clerk in person, mailing a written request, or using online state tools.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95 per search. You need the person's exact name and date of birth. Results arrive by email the next business day for searches with no results. If records are found, OCA staff verify them before sending. Sealed records under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 are excluded. Town and Village Court disposition data is limited in the CHRS system, so minor offenses from local courts in Clinton County may not show.

The New York Courts guide for Clinton County provides details on how to access records through the eCourts portal. The county Clerk's office in Plattsburgh can search records by name or case number. Walk-in requests get the fastest results, but mail requests are accepted as well.

Clinton County is not served by WebCrims. That system covers New York City, Long Island, and a few other jurisdictions. For pending cases in Clinton County, contact the court or County Clerk directly.

Clinton County District Attorney

The Clinton County District Attorney's Office prosecutes criminal cases throughout the county. The DA handles felony and misdemeanor cases in County Court and works with the Plattsburgh Police Department, Clinton County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, and other law enforcement agencies. The office has authority to present felony cases to the Grand Jury and negotiate plea agreements.

The DA's office keeps files on active and recent cases, but the official court records are maintained by the County Clerk. Once a case is concluded and appeals are exhausted, the permanent record of what happened is in the County Clerk's files. The DA may archive or destroy its prosecution files based on state retention schedules. For historical criminal case records in Clinton County, always start with the County Clerk.

Record Sealing in Clinton County

New York's record sealing statutes apply to Clinton County criminal court records. CPL 160.50 automatically seals records when cases are dismissed or result in acquittal. CPL 160.55 covers sealing of certain violation and traffic infraction convictions.

CPL 160.58 lets eligible people apply to seal up to two convictions, with only one felony. The wait is ten years from sentencing or release. A formal application is required, and the Clinton County District Attorney gets notice. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies are excluded.

CPL 160.59, the Clean Slate law, automatically seals eligible misdemeanor convictions after three years and eligible felony convictions after eight years from completion of the sentence. This law reduces the number of Clinton County criminal court records available in public searches over time. For the full text of these sealing provisions, visit the New York State Senate website.

Clinton County Criminal Court Records Fees

The Clinton County Clerk charges fees under CPLR 8019(f) for searching and copying criminal court records. Certificates of Disposition typically cost $10. Regular copies are per page. Certified copies cost more. Staff searches by name may carry a separate fee. Payment should be by check or money order payable to the Clinton County Clerk.

The $95 OCA CHRS fee is separate and paid to the Office of Court Administration. Contact the Clinton County Clerk to verify current fee amounts before sending a request by mail.

Legal Resources for Clinton County

The Fourth Judicial District administrative office at 101 State Farm Place, Suite 100, Malta, NY 12020 oversees court operations in Clinton County and ten other counties. The Division of Criminal Justice Services lets individuals request their own criminal history record through a fingerprint-based review. Contact RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or 518-457-9847.

Legal aid organizations serving the North Country region may provide free assistance to qualified residents for criminal record issues. Court records are governed by Judiciary Law Section 255, not FOIL. For police records and DA investigative files, separate requests through FOIL to those agencies are needed.

Nearby Counties

Clinton County borders these counties. Criminal jurisdiction depends on where the offense took place.