Search Cortland County Criminal Court Records

Criminal court records in Cortland County are processed and stored by the County Clerk's office at 46 Greenbush Street in Cortland. The county is part of the Sixth Judicial District. The County Clerk handles all civil and criminal court actions and judgments filed in Cortland County. Cases from 1994 to the present can be viewed by the public through the office's records system. For felony criminal files, which contain confidential information, these are not searchable through the public record website. Instead, you can access them on a computer terminal at the County Clerk's office, unless the records have been sealed by the court.

Cortland County Clerk and Criminal Court Records

The Cortland County Clerk's Office is the legal repository for all recorded land transactions from 1808, when Cortland County was formed, to the present day. The office also processes all civil and criminal court actions and judgments in the county. The Court Clerk maintains the records for all felony criminal court cases in Cortland County.

Due to confidential information in criminal files, these records are not searchable through the public record website. Unless a case has been sealed by the court, criminal files can be accessed on a computer terminal in the County Clerk's office. This means you need to visit in person to look at felony case files. If you cannot visit, you can submit a written request.

A search of criminal files may be requested by submitting the name and time frame. It may take up to 24 hours for the request to be processed. There is a $5 fee for each two-year time frame searched. This is a specific and notable fee structure. If you want records covering a ten-year span, that would be five two-year periods at $5 each, totaling $25. Include a self-addressed stamped envelope with your request for the results to be mailed back.

If an attorney represents a party in a Supreme Court case, all filings must go through NYSCEF, the state's electronic filing system. This applies to civil Supreme Court actions but may also affect motions and post-conviction proceedings in criminal cases that reach the Supreme Court level.

How to Search Criminal Court Records in Cortland County

There are multiple ways to look up criminal court records in Cortland County. The best method depends on whether you can visit in person and how much detail you need.

For in-person searches, go to the Cortland County Clerk's office at 46 Greenbush Street, Suite B5, Cortland, NY 13045. Criminal files can be viewed on a computer terminal in the office unless sealed. Staff can help you locate specific cases. Bring the defendant's name and any other identifying information you have. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.

For mail requests, submit the name and time frame you want searched. Include the $5 fee for each two-year period and a self-addressed stamped envelope. It may take up to 24 hours to process. The Cortland County Court page on the county website has more details about the process.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 and covers all 62 counties statewide. It requires the exact name and date of birth. Results arrive by email. Sealed records under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 do not appear. The New York Courts guide for Cortland County provides additional information about accessing records through the state court system.

Cortland County is not covered by WebCrims. For pending case information, call the County Clerk or the court directly at (607) 753-5021.

Cortland County Criminal Court Records Fees

Cortland County has a specific fee structure for criminal record searches. The County Clerk charges $5 for each two-year time frame searched. This means a search covering 2020 to 2026 would be three periods at $5 each, or $15 total. A Certificate of Disposition is also available for a separate fee.

Copying fees for court documents follow the rates under CPLR 8019(f). Certified copies cost more than plain copies. The $95 statewide CHRS is a separate fee paid to the Office of Court Administration. When mailing a request to the Cortland County Clerk, include a check or money order payable to the Cortland County Clerk, along with a self-addressed stamped envelope for the response.

Criminal Record Sealing in Cortland County

Records that have been sealed by court order are not accessible through the Cortland County Clerk's office. CPL 160.50 automatically seals records when criminal cases are dismissed or result in acquittal. These sealed records will not show up when staff search for a name, and they will not be visible on the computer terminals in the office.

CPL 160.58 lets eligible individuals apply to seal up to two convictions, with no more than one felony. The waiting period is ten years from sentencing or release. The Cortland County District Attorney must be notified. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies are excluded from this sealing provision.

The Clean Slate law, CPL 160.59, provides automatic sealing of eligible misdemeanor convictions three years after completion of the sentence and eligible felony convictions eight years after completion. This includes probation and parole. As these sealings occur, the $5-per-two-year-period search at the Cortland County Clerk will return fewer results over time for older cases. Read the Criminal Procedure Law online for the full text of sealing statutes.

Legal Resources for Cortland County

The Sixth Judicial District oversees court operations in Cortland County and nine other counties. Legal aid organizations in Central New York may provide free legal help to qualifying residents for criminal record issues. The Division of Criminal Justice Services lets individuals review their own criminal history through fingerprinting. Contact RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or 518-457-9847.

Access to court records is governed by Judiciary Law Section 255, not FOIL. Requests go to the clerk of the court that handled the case. For police records and DA investigative files, separate requests under FOIL to those agencies are needed. The court's files contain the legal papers, not the investigative materials.

Nearby Counties

Cortland County borders several other counties. Criminal jurisdiction is determined by where the alleged offense occurred.