New York State Criminal Records: Criminal Records Guide
New York State • Public court records and official criminal history
New York State Criminal Records: How to Search Cases, Convictions and Public Records
Looking for a New York criminal case, someone’s publicly available conviction information, or your own official criminal history? New York has several different search systems, and choosing the right one matters.
Use WebCriminal to check selected pending court cases, OCA Criminal History Record Search for a paid statewide public court-history report, or DCJS Record Review to request your own fingerprint-based criminal history.
Know the case’s court? Search that court first, often for free. Need a public statewide criminal history search? OCA charges $95. Need your own official New York State rap sheet? Request it from DCJS using fingerprints. Need an official conviction or dismissal certificate? Contact the court where the case was decided.
The essential difference
Which New York State Criminal Records Are Public?
New York criminal records are maintained by several government entities. Some court records are public, but the official DCJS criminal-history repository is not an unrestricted public database.
| Record you need | Official source | Public access | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|---|
| Current criminal case or hearing | WebCriminal / eCourts | Free for supported courts | Only selected pending cases and future appearances |
| Statewide public conviction and pending-case report | Office of Court Administration (CHRS) | $95 per search | Exact name and DOB; not certified or complete |
| Your own official NY State criminal history | DCJS | Fingerprint-based personal record review | Not available for unrestricted third-party searches |
| Official conviction or dismissal certificate | Original court clerk | Available to eligible requesters; fee generally applies | Case-specific, not statewide |
| NY State incarceration or supervision | DOCCS | Public lookup, subject to statutory exclusions | Not a full criminal-history report |
| Registered sex offender information | NY DCJS Sex Offender Registry | Public access depends on risk level | Online directory covers Level 2 and 3 registrants |
| Federal criminal case | PACER | Federal case lookup; usage charges may apply | Separate from New York state criminal courts |
A defendant may have cases in more than one county, old records that are not indexed online, sealed matters, or federal proceedings. Even the OCA statewide public report has express limitations that can affect what it returns.
Free court lookup
How to Search New York Criminal Court Cases Free With WebCriminal
New York’s eCourts website provides a WebCriminal service, also commonly called WebCrims. It helps the public find selected pending criminal cases with future court appearance dates.
Supported areas include New York City, Nassau and Suffolk, the County Courts in Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess, and certain Erie County and Buffalo courts. The current online system determines which courts can actually be searched.
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Go to the New York eCourts website
Under Case Search, select WebCriminal. If a guest-access or disclaimer screen appears, continue using the publicly available option.
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Choose a search method
Search by Defendant Name, Case Number or Court Calendar, depending on the information you have.
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Enter the name or complete case number
For name searches, enter the person’s first and last name as required by the form. For an individual case, use the complete docket or indictment number to reduce the chance of a mistaken match.
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Choose the court or location
Select the applicable court, such as New York Supreme Criminal Court, a supported NYC Criminal Court, or another participating court.
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Review the matching entries
Check the case number, defendant, courthouse, court part and next appearance date. The displayed date should always be verified before attending court.
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Contact the original court for final records
WebCriminal is not a complete archive of closed cases. If the case is finished or no longer displayed, ask the court clerk how to access the public disposition or court file.
The courts explain that WebCrims does not display warrants, finished cases or sealed cases. A missing result is therefore not proof that a person has never been charged or convicted.
How to check a future criminal court calendar
If the defendant’s name search does not help, open Court Calendar within WebCriminal, select a participating court and enter the hearing date or courtroom details where supported. Court calendar searches are useful for confirming a scheduled appearance, not for retrieving a complete criminal record.
Public statewide criminal record search
New York OCA Criminal History Record Search: All 62 Counties
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) operates the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) service. It searches public electronic criminal-case information using a person’s exact first name, last name and date of birth.
The statewide report covers public qualifying felony and misdemeanor pending cases and convictions originating in County/Supreme, City, Town and Village Courts across New York’s 62 counties. The report is not fingerprint-based and is not certified.
How to submit a statewide public CHRS request
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Open the official CHRS website
Choose Online Direct Access or the mail-in application route. Review the record coverage and privacy conditions before paying.
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Register or sign into Direct Access
Follow the Public Account instructions. Businesses and other organizations may have separate account arrangements.
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Enter the exact legal name and date of birth
OCA requires a first name, last name and DOB. The middle initial is not part of its exact-match search mechanism. Name variations that are not matched will not necessarily appear in the report.
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Review and pay the request charge
OCA charges $95 for each statewide search. Its online payment process may include additional convenience charges, so verify the final total before submitting.
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Check your receipt or processing status
Requests yielding no matching record may return quickly. Results requiring review can take additional processing time, generally during business hours.
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Verify any consequential match
If a report lists a conviction or pending case, obtain the relevant court’s certified disposition when a definitive case outcome is required.
What OCA CHRS does not reliably include
This is especially important before purchasing a second search or relying on a no-results report.
- Sealed cases: legally sealed records are not returned in public CHRS results.
- Federal criminal proceedings: federal court records are not part of OCA CHRS.
- Town and Village Court cases from 1991–2002: criminal disposition data from that period is not part of OCA’s statewide disposition database.
- Some Town and Village cases from 2002–2007: availability remains limited, even though courts subsequently began more consistent reporting.
- Violations and infractions: noncriminal offenses generally are not reported, subject to the court system’s stated exceptions.
- Qualifying old single-misdemeanor cases: OCA’s Misdemeanor Redemption Policy can exclude a qualifying conviction older than ten years.
- Some inactive unresolved cases: cases without a final disposition or activity for five years may be omitted under OCA’s reporting rules.
The official CHRS page provides an Earliest Available Year for CHRS Data (By County) resource and a list of reporting Town and Village Courts. Those resources are useful when researching an old arrest or conviction in a small upstate community.
Mail-in CHRS requests
OCA also accepts application forms submitted by mail with the proper fee and supporting information. Obtain the latest application from the official CHRS page and follow its payment instructions.
Division of Technology and Court Research
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street, Room 940
New York, NY 10004
OCA states that there is no in-person CHRS service at the Beaver Street location. Do not visit expecting a walk-in statewide background check.
Official fingerprint-based history
How to Request Your Own New York State DCJS Criminal Record
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains New York’s official fingerprint-based criminal-history repository. Its records can include arrest information, prosecution details, reported dispositions and sentencing information.
DCJS does not release these official rap sheets to the public through a general name search, and it does not provide them to commercial background-search sites. Individuals may request their own record through the agency’s Personal Record Review process.
DCJS service code 15464Z
This version excludes certain sealed or otherwise suppressed record information according to DCJS rules. Read the agency’s description before choosing it.
DCJS service code 15465F
This version may show information not present on a suppressed response. It is especially useful for reviewing what DCJS maintains when checking the accuracy of your own record.
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Select suppressed or unsuppressed review
Open DCJS’s Record Review instructions. Choose the response type that matches your purpose.
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Book fingerprinting with IdentoGO
Follow the provider’s website linked by DCJS or telephone 877-472-6915 to schedule an appointment. Use the correct DCJS service code.
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Bring an accepted ID and pay processing charges
The published in-state fee is $17.50, effective February 2, 2026. DCJS lists $57.45 for out-of-state enrollment; separate Cardscan instructions apply when a suitable fingerprint location is unavailable.
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Receive the report by mail
DCJS says the response is generally mailed within three to four weeks after it receives the request. Responses are not collected in person.
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Check every entry
Review the dates, arrests, dispositions, charges and sealed-record status. The response includes information about challenging inaccurate entries.
DCJS offers a fingerprint processing fee-waiver application process for qualifying people unable to afford the processing cost. Request an application packet by emailing RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov and include your complete mailing address.
Not through Personal Record Review. A third party needs a specific legal authorization to access DCJS fingerprint-based criminal-history information. A person’s public court case is a different type of record.
Where the original records are held
Find Criminal Court Records in NYC, Long Island and Upstate New York
New York’s court system varies by geography. A statewide report can help identify cases, but the original court usually remains the best place to obtain missing documents or proof of a final disposition.
Manhattan (New York County), Brooklyn (Kings County), Queens, the Bronx and Staten Island (Richmond County) have criminal courts handling different case stages and offense levels. Serious felony proceedings may be handled in Supreme Court, Criminal Term, while misdemeanors and initial criminal proceedings may be in NYC Criminal Court.
Long Island has District, County, Town and Village Courts with differing jurisdictions. Use WebCriminal where supported for pending cases and the original court for a completed matter.
The Ninth Judicial District includes Westchester, Rockland, Orange, Putnam and Dutchess counties. County Court matters in this region have some WebCriminal coverage, but local Town and Village Court records may require direct clerk requests.
Buffalo City Court and Erie County Court are among the courts covered by New York’s listed WebCriminal access. Older completed cases or missing disposition documents should be researched with the responsible court.
Albany City Court handles qualifying local misdemeanor and criminal cases, while Albany County Court and Supreme Court handle other proceedings within their jurisdiction. The court locator lists each office’s current address and telephone number.
Local justice courts handle many misdemeanors, vehicle and traffic cases and initial criminal appearances. They are particularly important for older cases not included in OCA’s centralized historical data.
How to identify the court holding a particular criminal record
Open the New York Courts Court Locator
Visit nycourts.gov/court-locator.
Select Criminal under Case Type
Use the case-type filters to identify courts handling criminal matters.
Enter the county
Search for the filing county or the location of the original arrest when the court is not known.
Include Town and Village Courts when needed
The Court Locator offers a separate option to include these courts. This is useful for smaller municipalities.
Read each court’s details
Confirm its jurisdiction, telephone number, physical address, record-request procedures and hours.
Ask for the specific document
Provide the docket or indictment number when possible. If the case is old, ask whether it is archived or whether an additional records search is needed.
Verified court disposition
How to Get a New York Certificate of Disposition
A Certificate of Disposition is an official court document bearing the court seal that establishes what happened in a particular criminal case. It can identify charges, convictions and sentence information as applicable.
This is often the document needed when a job application, immigration process, licensing office or attorney requires proof of a case outcome rather than an online court-history summary.
Identify the criminal court that disposed of the case
Use WebCriminal, existing paperwork or the Court Locator. If a felony moved to a different court, identify the court issuing the final judgment.
Collect the case details
Prepare the case number, full name, approximate date of arrest or conviction and other details the clerk requires.
Contact the criminal clerk’s office
Ask whether the certificate can be requested by mail, in person or another approved method.
Provide required identification
Photo ID is commonly required. Sealed cases involve additional legal and authorization requirements.
Pay the fee and obtain the certificate
New York Courts lists a typical $5–$10 charge, depending on the court. Ask about fee-waiver eligibility if you receive public assistance and cannot afford the fee.
The person whose case was sealed may need photo ID or an additional notarized statement. An authorized representative may need a notarized permission letter from the person whose records are requested.
Budget before searching
New York Criminal Records Search Costs
| Search or service | Published cost | Useful detail |
|---|---|---|
| WebCriminal public pending-case search | Free | Only participating courts and selected pending information |
| OCA statewide public CHRS | $95 base fee | Exact name/DOB; online convenience fee may apply |
| DCJS fingerprint-based personal record review — in-state | $17.50 | Published February 2, 2026; fee-waiver application possible |
| DCJS out-of-state enrollment | $57.45 | Different Cardscan processing arrangements may apply |
| Certificate of Disposition | Generally $5–$10 | Fee depends on the original court |
| DOCCS incarcerated or parolee public lookup | Public online lookup | Not a full state criminal history |
| PACER federal records | $0.10 per billable page in 2026 | Charges of $30 or less in a quarter are waived; rates change January 2027 |
Prices are agency-published figures reviewed October 16, 2026. Confirm the live payment screen, especially for fingerprint provider charges, certified copies or federal court access.
When a record contains incorrect information
How to Correct Errors in New York Criminal Records
A name-based public report may reflect inaccurate identity information, a missing dismissal, an outdated sentence or a disposition that has not reached the statewide system.
If the error is in the court record or CHRS
- Identify the original court and case number.
- Request an official Certificate of Disposition or relevant court order.
- Ask the originating court about correcting its case information or transmitted disposition.
- Review OCA’s published Criminal Records Basics and correction guidance.
- If a commercial screening company used incorrect data, dispute the consumer report separately.
If the error is in your DCJS rap sheet
Request your own fingerprint-based DCJS record, identify the particular incident or court disposition that is wrong, and follow DCJS’s instructions for challenging accuracy. Include certified supporting court records where required.
OCA instructs users not to submit a duplicate paid request immediately after a system error. First check the Receipts area in Direct Access to see whether the request is processing, then contact the CHRS Unit if necessary.
Sealed records and New York Clean Slate
New York Clean Slate Act: How Criminal Record Access Is Changing
The New York Clean Slate Act became effective on November 16, 2024. New York’s Unified Court System has until November 16, 2027 to implement automatic sealing for qualifying convictions.
Qualifying misdemeanors
The general waiting period is three years after sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever occurs later, subject to the law’s other requirements.
Qualifying felonies
The general waiting period is eight years after sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever occurs later, again subject to statutory conditions.
Eligibility also depends on factors such as pending charges and probation, parole or post-release supervision. Subsequent convictions can restart the waiting period. Most Class A felonies, apart from specified drug offenses, and certain sex offenses are excluded.
New York is still within the implementation period. A conviction that may qualify under Clean Slate might remain visible while agencies complete the required processes. Certain authorized agencies may retain legal access after sealing.
Other reasons a case may not appear publicly
- Dismissed cases that have been sealed under applicable law.
- Eligible marijuana convictions subject to automatic sealing or expungement.
- Youthful offender records protected by confidentiality rules.
- Cases sealed under older record-sealing provisions.
- Records restricted through court order or another statutory protection.
Other useful official databases
New York Prison, Parole, Registry and Federal Criminal Records
DOCCS Incarcerated Individual Lookup
Search New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision data for currently incarcerated and qualifying formerly incarcerated individuals.
After opening: Enter the Department Identification Number (DIN) if known, or search by last name and year of birth. Confirm custody status and facility information.
Open DOCCS Lookup Instructions →DOCCS Parolee Lookup
Find public information about persons currently or formerly supervised by New York DOCCS, subject to availability and legal restrictions.
After opening: Use the NYSID, DIN, name or birth-year search fields. Read the agency’s disclaimer before relying on results.
Open Parolee Lookup →NY State Sex Offender Registry
The DCJS public online directory includes Level 2 and Level 3 registrants. Level 1 information uses a separate telephone inquiry process.
Registry telephone: 800-262-3257. Callers need a name and an additional qualifying identifier for Level 1 inquiries.
Open Official Registry →PACER Federal Court Search
Use PACER for cases in the federal Southern, Eastern, Northern or Western Districts of New York, or their applicable appellate courts.
After opening: Search the court directly when known, or use PACER Case Locator if you do not know the federal district.
Find Federal Cases →DOCCS excludes certain legally protected records from online lookup, including qualifying youthful offender information. People detained in county jails may not appear in state prison searches, and registry databases cover only offenses and individuals subject to registration rules.
When the search does not work
Why a New York State Criminal Record May Be Missing Online
| Search problem | Likely explanation | Next step |
|---|---|---|
| No WebCriminal result | Unsupported court, finished case, no future appearance, or protected record | Contact the originating court and request available case information |
| OCA CHRS shows no results | Exact-match issue, sealing, reporting gap or excluded case category | Check identity details and coverage limitations before ordering another paid search |
| Old Town Court case missing | Historical Town/Village reporting gaps, especially 1991–2002 | Contact the original Town or Village Court |
| Court result lists a charge but no outcome | Disposition may be missing or not transmitted | Request the court’s certified disposition |
| Commercial background report is inaccurate | Stale information, similar name, missing dismissal or sealing update | Dispute with reporting company and obtain court documentation |
| State prisoner not listed | County jail only, protected case, removal rule or different correctional system | Check the proper county corrections office and case court |
| Federal conviction missing | OCA state court search excludes federal proceedings | Search PACER |
Legal and responsible use
Using New York Criminal Records for Employment or Housing
Public criminal court records can help people understand a case, but they are not automatically suitable as employment, tenant-screening, licensing or other eligibility reports.
Employers using consumer reports must consider their responsibilities under the federal Fair Credit Reporting Act. New York law also limits when and how criminal convictions may be considered in employment and licensing decisions. Certain New York City employers face additional fair-chance requirements.
- Confirm identity before linking a record to a person.
- Distinguish pending charges, arrests, dismissals, convictions and sentences.
- Check whether a record has been sealed, expunged or corrected.
- Use lawfully authorized fingerprint checks when required.
- Follow applicable consent, notice, individualized assessment and dispute requirements.
An arrest is not proof of guilt. An OCA name match is not fingerprint confirmation. A public court-history report is not a complete nationwide background check, and an empty result is not a guarantee that a criminal record does not exist.
Frequently asked questions
New York State Criminal Records FAQs
1. How can I search New York State criminal records online?
Use New York eCourts and WebCriminal for selected pending criminal cases, or OCA’s paid statewide Criminal History Record Search for qualifying public convictions and pending cases. Your own official fingerprint-based record must be requested from DCJS.
2. Are New York State criminal records public?
Many criminal court records are public, subject to sealing and other access restrictions. The official fingerprint-based criminal histories maintained by DCJS are not unrestricted public records.
3. Is there a free New York criminal records search?
WebCriminal provides free access to available pending-case information from participating courts. Direct requests to a court clerk may also provide public information, but statewide OCA CHRS and certified records have separate fees.
4. How much does a statewide New York criminal history search cost?
The New York Office of Court Administration charges $95 for its statewide CHRS. Online payment can involve a separate convenience fee. The CHRS result is not certified.
5. Can I search another person’s New York criminal history?
You can use lawfully available public court records or the OCA statewide court-history service. You cannot obtain another person’s confidential DCJS fingerprint-based rap sheet through Personal Record Review without specific legal authorization.
6. How do I request my own New York State rap sheet?
Use DCJS Personal Record Review. Select a suppressed or unsuppressed response, schedule IdentoGO fingerprinting with the correct service code and follow the identification and payment instructions.
7. Where can I get certified New York criminal court records?
Contact the court where the case was decided and request a Certificate of Disposition. The courts generally charge $5–$10 depending on the court. Sealed cases may require identity or notarized authorization documents.
8. Why is an old Town or Village Court conviction not in CHRS?
OCA has documented historical reporting gaps. Town and Village Court criminal disposition data for 1991–2002 is unavailable in its centralized database, with additional limitations for later years. Contact the original local court for record-specific research.
9. Will New York Clean Slate automatically seal criminal convictions?
Qualifying records may be sealed after statutory waiting periods and other conditions are met. New York’s Unified Court System has until November 16, 2027 to implement the required automatic sealing process. Certain convictions are excluded.
10. How do I correct an inaccurate New York criminal record?
Identify the wrong entry, obtain certified court documents and follow the original court’s correction process or DCJS record challenge instructions. If a consumer background report is inaccurate, dispute that report separately with the reporting company.
Primary government resources
Official New York State Criminal Records Websites
- New York Courts — eCourts and WebCriminal Case Search
- Office of Court Administration — Statewide CHRS
- OCA — Online Direct Access
- OCA — Criminal History Search FAQs and Data Limitations
- NY DCJS — Personal Criminal History Record Review
- New York Courts — County, City, Town and Village Court Locator
- New York Courts — Certificate of Disposition Instructions
- New York Courts — Criminal Records Basics
- New York Courts — Clean Slate Act
- NY DOCCS — Incarcerated Individual Lookup
- NY DOCCS — Parolee Lookup
- NY DCJS — Sex Offender Registry
- PACER — Federal Criminal Court Records