Search Amherst Criminal Records
Criminal records in Amherst are held by the Town Court and by Erie County offices in Buffalo. The town sits in the 8th Judicial District, and most local criminal matters go through the Amherst Town Court at 400 John James Audubon Parkway. Felony cases move up to Erie County Court. You can search these records in person, by mail, or through state online tools. The Town Clerk at 5583 Main Street in Williamsville also handles some public records requests. How you get records depends on the type of case and which court dealt with it.
Amherst Criminal Records Overview
Erie County Handles Amherst Criminal Cases
Amherst is part of Erie County, and the county court system plays a big role in how criminal records are stored and searched here. The Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street in Buffalo keeps records for felony cases tried in County Court and Supreme Court. For misdemeanors and lesser offenses, the Amherst Town Court is the place to look. Town courts in New York are called "courts not of record," which means they don't keep verbatim transcripts of every hearing the way higher courts do.
The Erie County Clerk can be reached at (716) 858-8866. You can search for felony records in person during business hours. The clerk also accepts mail requests if you fill out the right form and send a self-addressed stamped envelope with your payment.
Amherst Town Court
The Amherst Town Court sits at 400 John James Audubon Parkway, Buffalo, NY 14228. Call (716) 689-4200 for case inquiries. A second line at (716) 689-4201 may be used for scheduling. The fax number is (716) 689-4249. Court hours run Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:15 PM, though these times can shift.
This court handles misdemeanor criminal records, violations, infractions, and traffic offenses. It also does arraignments and preliminary hearings for felony charges. Town Justices Kara Buscaglia and Geoffrey Klein preside over cases. The court administrator is Maria Hughes, reachable at (716) 689-4240. If you need a Certificate of Disposition from a case heard here, you must request it from the court clerk directly.
The Amherst Town Clerk at 5583 Main Street, Williamsville, NY 14221 serves as the Records Access Officer for the town. Call (716) 631-7013 or email townclerk@amherst.ny.us for FOIL requests. The clerk keeps vital records, town board minutes, and administrative files. Criminal court records stay with the court itself, not the town clerk.
How to Search Criminal Records in Amherst
Start with the free state tools. WebCrims shows active and pending criminal cases by name or case number. It covers courts in the 8th Judicial District, which includes Amherst. The tool is free but only shows current cases. Old closed matters won't show up here.
The eCourts portal gives broader access. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. It pulls results from multiple courts in Erie County. Not all record types appear, and some older data may be missing from the system.
For a full statewide search that covers Amherst, use the Criminal History Record Search from the Office of Court Administration. It costs $95 per name and date of birth. Results come from every court level in all 62 counties. You get results the next business day. This is a name-based search, not fingerprint-based. Sealed records will not show up.
To get your own criminal history from the Division of Criminal Justice Services, use the Record Review program. You submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. The Amherst Police Department offers fingerprinting services. The total cost runs about $65 to $78. Results take 7 to 10 business days.
In-person searches at the Erie County Clerk's office are free to inspect. Copies cost $1.30 for the first two pages and $0.65 for each page after that. Certified copies start at $5.00 for the first four pages. A manual name search costs $10.00 per name for each two-year period. A digital search is $5.00 per name for the same span.
Record Sealing Laws
New York has several paths to seal criminal records. When a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, records seal on their own under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. The court and police seal their files, and the case drops out of public searches.
For convictions, CPL 160.59 lets a person apply to seal up to two convictions after 10 years. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies do not qualify. Youthful offender adjudications stay confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act took effect on November 16, 2024. It calls for automatic sealing of certain records without an application. Misdemeanor convictions seal 3 years after sentencing or release. Felony convictions seal after 8 years. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, violent felonies, and homicides are left out. DCJS handles this process statewide, which includes Amherst records.
Amherst Criminal Records Resources
Here are the main places to search or request criminal records tied to Amherst cases.
- NYS Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for statewide court records at $95 per name
- WebCrims for free lookup of active and pending cases
- eCourts Portal for broader court record searches across New York
- DCJS Record Review for your own fingerprint-based criminal history
- Sex Offender Registry to search registered offenders by name or zip code
- DOCCS Inmate Lookup for people in state prison or on parole
- Committee on Open Government for help with denied FOIL requests
The Amherst Police Department also provides fingerprinting for those who need to request their own DCJS record. Call the department for an appointment and bring a valid photo ID. Fingerprints get sent to DCJS or the FBI depending on the purpose of the check.
New York's Freedom of Information Law gives you a broad right to see government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255, which says any clerk must search and provide copies when asked and paid. You do not need to explain why you want the records. Sealed cases, juvenile files, and active investigations are off limits.
The Town of Amherst provides access to criminal records through its Town Court and Town Clerk offices.
Nearby Cities
These cities near Amherst also have criminal records pages with local court and records information.