Search New York City Criminal Records

Criminal records in New York City span five boroughs and five separate county court systems. NYC handles more criminal cases each year than most states do in total. The city runs its own Criminal Court for misdemeanors and violations, while the Supreme Court Criminal Term in each borough takes on felony cases. New York City criminal records can be searched through the New York County Clerk, Kings County Clerk, Queens County Clerk, Bronx County Clerk, or Richmond County Clerk. Each borough keeps its own set of court files. State tools like WebCrims, eCourts, and the CHRS also pull criminal case data from all five boroughs.

Which Courts Handle NYC Criminal Records

New York City is split into five boroughs. Each one has its own county court system. Criminal records end up in the county where the case was filed. If you are not sure which borough handled a case, you may need to check more than one county or use a statewide search tool.

Manhattan cases go through New York County. The Supreme Court Criminal Term sits at 100 Centre Street. The New York County Clerk at 60 Centre Street keeps court files for felony cases. Manhattan is part of the 1st Judicial District. The Criminal Court of the City of New York at 100 Centre Street handles misdemeanors and violations for the borough. This is one of the busiest courthouses in the state.

Kings County covers Brooklyn. The Supreme Court Criminal Term is at 320 Jay Street. The Kings County Clerk files criminal records at the same location. Brooklyn falls in the 2nd Judicial District. Kings County handles a very large criminal docket each year.

Queens County runs its court system from the Queens County Criminal Court at 125-01 Queens Boulevard in Kew Gardens. The Queens County Clerk is at 88-11 Sutphin Boulevard in Jamaica. Queens is part of the 11th Judicial District. The county covers a wide area with a diverse population.

The Bronx is Bronx County. The Supreme Court Criminal Term is at 265 East 161st Street. The Bronx County Clerk is at 851 Grand Concourse. Bronx County sits in the 12th Judicial District. Criminal case volume here is high, and the courthouse complex handles both criminal and civil matters.

Staten Island is Richmond County. The Supreme Court Criminal Term operates at 18 Richmond Terrace in St. George. The Richmond County Clerk is at 130 Stuyvesant Place. Richmond County is part of the 13th Judicial District. This borough has a lower case volume than the other four but still manages a full range of criminal matters.

How to Search NYC Criminal Records Online

The fastest free tool for New York City criminal records is WebCrims. It shows pending and active criminal cases in all five boroughs. You can search by name or case number. WebCrims does not show sealed or old closed cases. It works best for checking on a case that is still open.

The eCourts portal gives broader access. You can pull case data from multiple court types across all five NYC counties. It is free. Not all old criminal records appear in the system, but it covers a wide range of case types and dates.

For a full criminal history search, use the Criminal History Record Search from the Office of Court Administration. This costs $95 per name and date of birth. The CHRS pulls records from every court in all 62 counties, including all five NYC boroughs. Results come back the next business day. Sealed records do not show up. This is a name-based search, not a fingerprint check.

The NYPD also maintains arrest records. You can submit a Freedom of Information Law request to the NYPD Records Access Office for arrest reports and other police documents. FOIL requests go through the NYPD Legal Bureau. The process can take several weeks. Court records and police records are two separate things in New York City.

DCJS and Fingerprint-Based Records

The Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records for the whole state. These are not the same as court records. DCJS records include arrest data, charges, and dispositions tied to a set of fingerprints. They are not public. You cannot get someone else's DCJS record.

To get your own criminal history from DCJS, use the Record Review program. You submit fingerprints at an approved site. The cost runs about $77.75 total. Results take 7 to 10 business days. NYC has many fingerprinting locations. This is the only way to get an official rap sheet in New York.

Criminal Record Sealing in New York City

Sealing laws apply the same way across all five NYC boroughs. When a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, records seal on their own under CPL 160.50. The court and police seal their files. The person can say they were never arrested for that charge. No motion is needed.

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 and Class A felonies do not qualify. The court reviews the facts and decides. Each borough's Supreme Court handles these motions for felony cases. 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. 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 excluded. DCJS handles the sealing process statewide, and that includes all New York City criminal records.

Fees for Criminal Records in NYC

Costs depend on which method you use. Each borough clerk charges state-set fees for copies and searches. You can look at records in person for free at any county clerk office. Copies cost extra.

• CHRS statewide search: $95.00 per name
• DCJS personal record review: about $77.75
• County clerk name search: $5.00 per name (two-year block)
• Copy fees: $0.25 to $0.65 per page
• Certified copies: $5.00 to $10.00 per document

WebCrims and eCourts cost nothing. They give you case info on screen but do not provide certified copies. If you need a Certificate of Disposition from a New York City court, request one through the clerk of the court where the case was handled. Each borough clerk has its own office and process for this.

Sex Offender Registry

New York runs a public sex offender registry through DCJS. The Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name, county, or zip code. You can look up registered offenders in any of the five NYC boroughs at no cost. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show up in the online search. For Level 1 offenders, call the registry hotline at 1-800-262-3257.

Corrections and Inmate Records

The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup tool for people in state prison or on parole. This covers anyone sentenced in New York City who is now in state custody. For people held at Rikers Island or other NYC Department of Correction facilities, use the NYC DOC Inmate Lookup tool on the city's website. The city jail system is separate from the state prison system.

NYC criminal records can also show up in federal databases if federal charges were involved. The U.S. District Courts for the Southern and Eastern Districts of New York handle federal criminal cases in the city. Those records are searched through PACER, the federal court records system.

Nearby Cities

Several major cities and towns sit close to New York City. If you need criminal records from areas just outside the five boroughs, these nearby cities each have their own court resources and county connections.

• Yonkers - Just north of the Bronx in Westchester County
• Hempstead - On Long Island in Nassau County
• North Hempstead - Northern Nassau County
• Oyster Bay - Eastern Nassau County
• Mount Vernon - Southern Westchester County
• New Rochelle - Westchester County along the Sound