Free links to official New York state and county government records — courts, criminal histories, vital records, property, voter, business, and licenses across all 62 counties.
How to Search New York Criminal Records (Start Here)
New York criminal records come from two main sources: the state criminal history repository (maintained by the state police or equivalent agency) and individual county court systems. These are separate databases that may show different information.
What this page covers: New York state-level criminal history searches, county court criminal case lookups, and sex offender registry searches. What it does not cover: Federal criminal cases (those require PACER) or arrest records that did not result in charges.
Where to start: For a broad criminal history check, start with the state repository. For specific case details (charges, dispositions, documents), go to the County Clerk (Supreme Court) / City Court Clerk in the county where the case was filed. For sex offenders, use the state sex offender registry.
Common mistake: A state criminal history search and a county court search are not the same thing. The state repository compiles conviction data from across the state. County courts have the actual case files with full detail. You may need both.
Edited by Sam Rokni — Editor & Owner, SearchSystems.net. Public records professional since 1999. NAPBS founding member. Full bio & credentials.
Last reviewed: June 04, 2026 · Methodology: New York repository URL, fee, and statute verified against the official NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) publisher on review date. 6 primary .gov sources cited below.
New York Criminal Records — Key Numbers (2026)
DCJS records (arrests, indictments, convictions) are NOT public. The OCA CHRS is the $95 statewide search used by most private employers.
$17.50 self / $95 CHRS (court-admin)
Public access fee
Per state-only check
Self-review via DCJS or
Primary method
How to submit
NY Division of Criminal
Issuing agency
Statewide repository
NY Exec. Law §837
Governing statute
State law citation
June 04, 2026
Last reviewed
By SearchSystems
What's in a state criminal check (typical %)
In-state arrests
100%
In-state convictions
100%
Out-of-state arrests
10%
Federal cases
5%
Sealed/expunged
0%
Juvenile records
15%
Unit: % included in a typical state-only check.
What Changed in 2026 — New York Criminal Records
2026
New York state-only check active
The NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) continues to process state criminal history checks via www.criminaljustice.ny.gov.
For most non-employment uses, a New York state-only check from the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) is sufficient.
2
Step 2 — Choose your method
Self-review via DCJS or fee-based CHRS via court system. Current fee: $17.50 self / $95 CHRS (court-admin).
3
Step 3 — Submit your request
Use the official portal at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov — never a third-party data broker.
4
Step 4 — Add federal coverage if needed
For pre-employment FCRA screening or out-of-state coverage, add an FBI Identity History Summary check ($18) — fingerprint required.
Five Things People Get Wrong About New York Criminal Records
❌ Myth: "New York background check shows everything."
✓ Truth: False. The NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) check covers ONLY New York arrests/convictions. Out-of-state and federal records are NOT included.
❌ Myth: "Free third-party 'instant' checks are accurate."
✓ Truth: False. Only www.criminaljustice.ny.gov (the official New York repository) is authoritative. Data brokers often have stale data.
❌ Myth: "Sealed records will show on a check."
✓ Truth: False. Records sealed or expunged under New York law are removed from public-facing checks. Law enforcement may still access them.
❌ Myth: "Arrest = conviction on my record."
✓ Truth: False. An arrest is not a conviction. Most New York public checks distinguish arrests, dispositions, and convictions; the FCRA bars non-conviction arrests older than 7 years from employer checks.
❌ Myth: "State and FBI checks return the same data."
✓ Truth: False. The New York state check shows New York-only records. The FBI check is fingerprint-based and shows records reported by all agencies nationwide.
If friends and family members wish to send photographs to incarcerated individuals at the Monroe County Jail through one of the following third party vendors - Free prints, Walmart, Inmate Photos, or Shutterfly - the photograph will be delivered to the incarcerated individual and not require ...
These opinions are not available for publication in any official or nonofficial reports, except the New York Law Journal, without the approval of the State Reporter or Committee on Opinions. (22NYCRR 7300.1) The following is a collection of all non-matrimonial short form orders and memorandum decisions issued by Justices of the Supreme Court, Nassau County, on or after June 1st, 2000.
the Supreme Court and, upon reargument, adhered to its prior decision. Informational statement - Clvll · FILED: NASSAU COUNTY CLERK 09/07/2023 03:24 PM · INDEX NO. 617709/2022 · NYSCEF DOC. NO. 493 · RECEIVED NYSCEF: 09/07/2023 · 4 of 13 · Issues: Specify the Issues proposed to be raised on the appeal, proceeding, or application for CPLII 5704 review, the grounds ·
The County Correctional Facility provides for custody of prisoners from throughout the judicial system who have been remanded to the custody of the Sheriff of Oneida County . Some prisoners are pre-trial — committed to jail while awaiting trial.
The information on this web page is extracted from the Department's computer database at the beginning of each day . This is the most current information available via the internet. The date is shown here so if a page is printed and filed, the date it was prepared is available for future reference ...
Welcome to the Onondaga County Sheriff’s Office Correction Department, located in Jamesville, New York, a suburb of Syracuse. We are a direct supervision facility with a capacity of 538 inmates and employing approximately 167 employees.
Jamesville Correctional Facility · Incarcerated Individual Visitation Information · Incarcerated Individual Work Programs · Online Facility Tour · Second Chance Dog Shelter · Justice Center · Onondaga County Justice Center · Incarcerated Individual Management · PREA · Programs · Inmate Handbook ·
WebCriminal provides information on criminal cases with future appearance dates for selected New York State Courts of criminal jurisdiction . Case Identifier Allows you to search by the Case Number or Summons Number. Defendant Name Allows you to search by the Defendant's First and Last Name, ...
Archivists can be contacted via email at archref@nysed.gov and by phone at (518) 474-8955 . Records are retrieved twice daily at 10:30 a.m. and 2:00 p.m. New York State Archives staff determines access to archived inmate records on a case-by-case basis. The New York State Department of Corrections ...
Data tables are also provided for New York State, New York City, and all non-NYC counties. The data are from the Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system maintained by DCJS. CCH includes adult arrests for fingerprintable offenses · (ages 16 and older; and juvenile offenders prosecuted in ...
Please note: There is no In-Person Service at 25 Beaver Street – Criminal History Record Search Unit (CHRS) The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides a New York Statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) for a fee of $95.00 . You can submit a CHRS request via our ...
City of New York Department of Correction has recently redesigned its website and this page has moved. Please update your bookmark to: http://www1.nyc.gov/site/doc/inmate-info/inmate-lookup.page
FOIL FAQ can be found here. ... Parties needing a local records request shall report in person to Schenectady Police Headquarters with current Photo ID and the appropriate fee and complete in full and sign the records request form . Current Fees as of June 1st, 2023, are as follows: Background ...
It is the mission of the Syracuse Police Department to prevent crime, enforce the laws, and understand the needs of the community while providing professional service with ethical treatment for everyone.
More News Stories · First Step Act · Fallen Heroes · Actively Hiring · How Do I ... Learn more about the First Step Act (FSA): FSA Overview · FSA PATTERN Risk Assessment · FSA Needs Assessment and Programs · View All FSA Resources ... Contact the BOP · Do business with the BOP · Volunteer on the Inside · Report an Inmate Concern · Report Staff Misconduct · Find a policy or form · Have a career with the BOP · Visit a federal inmate ·
62 New York counties are indexed on SearchSystems.net — top 28 counties shown below. Browse the full directory or click any county for local court, sheriff, recorder and assessor links.
How do I run an official New York background check?▼
New York's official statewide criminal-history check is administered by the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Begin the request at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov. Most state-level checks require submitting fingerprints (live-scan or ink) plus a processing fee, and the response covers convictions and certain non-conviction data permitted by New York statute.
Are New York criminal records public?▼
Most adult criminal-history information in New York is considered public record, but access is restricted depending on the requester (self, employer, government agency) and the data type (arrest, conviction, sealed, juvenile). The NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) explains who can request what at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov. County-court records are also public and searchable through the trial-court system.
What's the difference between a state and an FBI background check in New York?▼
A state check from the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) (www.criminaljustice.ny.gov) covers only criminal activity within New York. An FBI Identity History Summary (fbi.gov) is the nationwide check covering federal records and contributing states. Employers and licensing boards often require both.
Can I get someone else's New York criminal record?▼
Generally, no — only the record subject (with their own ID and signature) or a specifically authorized requester (such as a credentialed employer under the Fair Credit Reporting Act, a licensing board, or law enforcement) can pull a third-party criminal history from the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) documentation at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov lists each authorized requester category.
How do I challenge or correct a New York criminal record?▼
If you find an error on your New York criminal history, the NY Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) offers a record-review and challenge process. Begin at www.criminaljustice.ny.gov — typical steps include fingerprint verification, a written dispute, and supporting court documents (such as a dismissal or expungement order) for each contested entry.
