Find Criminal Court Records in Queens County

Queens County criminal court records are handled through the New York City court system. The Queens Criminal Court at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens processes misdemeanor cases, violations, and initial felony arraignments. The Queens County Supreme Court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica handles felony trials and appeals. Queens is the most diverse county in the United States with over 2.3 million residents. District Attorney Melinda Katz leads the prosecution of all criminal matters in the borough. Because Queens is part of New York City, its criminal records are accessible through the WebCrims online system.

Queens County Criminal Court

The Queens Criminal Court is at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. It handles all misdemeanor cases, violations, and traffic offenses in Queens. The court also conducts initial arraignments for felony cases before they are moved to the Supreme Court. The building is one of the busiest criminal courts in New York City.

The Queens County Supreme Court at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica handles felony trials and appeals. The Supreme Court is the highest trial-level court in the county. E-filing is mandatory for most case types. The Office of Court Administration maintains criminal records for both courts.

Queens Criminal Court has specialized parts. These include the Queens Treatment Court, which handles drug cases, and an Integrated Domestic Violence part. The court processes a high volume of cases each day, serving the largest borough by area in New York City.

How to Search Criminal Court Records in Queens County

WebCrims is the best free tool for searching pending Queens County criminal cases. It covers all New York City criminal courts. Search by defendant name or case number. The system shows future court dates, charges, docket entries, and basic case details. It updates four times daily. WebCrims also shows universal summons information for Queens.

WebCrims only has pending cases. Once a case is closed, it drops off the system. For closed case records, you need a Certificate of Disposition from the court where the case was heard. Go to the Queens Criminal Court clerk's office for misdemeanor dispositions, or the Supreme Court clerk for felony cases.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name. It covers all 62 counties. Submit a name and date of birth at ww2.nycourts.gov/apps/chrs. Results come by email the next business day. This is the most complete statewide search available. Sealed records under CPL 160.50 do not appear.

Court records in Queens are governed by Judiciary Law 255, not FOIL. Requests go to the clerk of the court that handled the case. You need to describe the specific records you want. A full name, date of birth, and case number help locate the file quickly.

Queens County Court Records Resources

Queens County court records resource page for criminal case searches.

Queens County District Attorney

District Attorney Melinda Katz leads the Queens County DA's Office at 80-17 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. The phone number is (718) 286-6000. The office prosecutes all felony and misdemeanor crimes in Queens. It has specialized bureaus for homicide, special victims, economic crimes, and other case types.

The DA's office provides victim services through its Victim Services Unit. This includes crisis help, court accompaniment, and witness protection. The office works with the NYPD and other agencies. It reviews all arrests and makes charging decisions. Visit queensda.org for more information about the office and its programs.

Prosecution records are not part of the court file. Police reports and investigation files are held by the NYPD. The court file contains the legal papers: complaints, indictments, motions, and judgments. To get police records, file a FOIL request with the NYPD.

Criminal Record Sealing in Queens County

Dismissed and acquitted cases are sealed automatically under CPL 160.50. The records are removed from public view. No action is needed from the defendant.

Violation convictions can be sealed under CPL 160.55. Drug convictions may qualify for sealing under CPL 160.58 if the person completed treatment. CPL 160.59 allows sealing of up to two eligible convictions after ten years. File a motion with the Queens County Supreme Court. The DA gets notice. The judge considers the crime, your history, and the public interest. Violent felonies and sex offenses are not eligible.

Sealed records still exist but are hidden from most searches, including WebCrims and OCA results. Law enforcement can access sealed records in limited circumstances, such as when a sealed case is relevant to a new prosecution.

Types of Criminal Cases in Queens County

Queens handles a huge range of criminal cases. The Criminal Court processes misdemeanors and violations. The Supreme Court handles felonies. Common case types include:

• Drug possession and sale charges
• Assault and weapons offenses
• Burglary and robbery
• DUI and traffic crimes
• Fraud and white-collar offenses

Certificates of Disposition show the final outcome of a case. They are commonly needed for jobs, housing, licensing, and immigration. Get one from the court that handled the case. The fee is typically $10 to $25. Queens Criminal Court handles misdemeanor dispositions. The Supreme Court handles felony dispositions.

Legal Resources in Queens County

The Legal Aid Society of New York provides free defense services in Queens. Queens Legal Services offers civil legal help. The Queens County Bar Association has a lawyer referral service. Free court forms are at nycourts.gov/courthelp. For your own criminal history, contact DCJS at 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov.

Cities in Queens County

Queens County is one of the five boroughs of New York City. All criminal matters go through the New York City court system.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Queens County.