Access Albany County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Albany County are held by several courts and offices spread across the 3rd Judicial District. Albany serves as both the county seat and the state capital, which means local and state resources sit close to each other. You can search Albany County criminal records through the County Clerk at 16 Eagle Street, the Albany County Court at the Judicial Center on Lodge Street, or Albany City Court on Morton Avenue. The state also runs online tools that pull criminal case data from Albany County courts. How you search depends on the type of case and how far back you need to go.
Albany County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Albany County Criminal Records
The Albany County Clerk at 16 Eagle Street, Room 128, Albany, NY 12207 is the main place to look for criminal records tied to County Court and Supreme Court cases. The clerk files and stores case documents for felony matters. You can visit in person and inspect public records at no charge under Judiciary Law 255. Copies cost a small fee per page. The phone number is (518) 487-5100. Staff can tell you what records are on file and walk you through the search process if you show up at the office.
For misdemeanors and lesser offenses in the city of Albany, the Albany City Court Criminal Part handles those cases. The court is at 1 Morton Avenue, Albany, NY 12202. Call 518-453-5520 for case inquiries. City Court deals with misdemeanor criminal records, violations, and some preliminary felony hearings. Town and village courts in Albany County also handle low-level criminal matters in their own jurisdictions.
Albany County Court sits at the Albany County Judicial Center, 6 Lodge Street, Room 113, Albany, NY 12207. This is where felony cases are tried. The phone number is 518-285-8777. Criminal records from County Court include indictments, pleas, trial verdicts, and sentencing data. The County Clerk acts as clerk for this court, so records end up at Eagle Street for long-term storage.
Online Criminal Records Search Options
Several state-run tools let you search Albany County criminal records from a computer. The fastest free option is WebCrims. This tool shows active and pending criminal cases by name or case number. It covers courts in the 3rd Judicial District, which includes Albany County. WebCrims does not show sealed cases or old closed matters. It is best for checking on a case that is still moving through court.
The eCourts portal gives broader access to court records across New York. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. It pulls results from multiple courts in Albany County. The system is free to use. Keep in mind that not all record types show up here, and some older criminal records may not be in the database yet.
The eCourts portal provides access to court records across Albany County and other New York counties.
For a full statewide search that covers Albany County, 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. Town and village court data from before 2007 may be incomplete.
Criminal History and DCJS Records
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records. These are not the same as court records. DCJS records include arrest data, charges, and dispositions linked to a set of fingerprints. They are not public. You cannot request someone else's DCJS record through a FOIL request or any other method.
If you need your own criminal history from DCJS, use the Record Review program. You submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. The total cost runs about $77.75. Results take 7 to 10 business days. You can ask for a suppressed version that hides sealed records, or an unsuppressed version that shows everything. Albany County residents can find fingerprinting sites in the Capital District area. This is the only way to get an official rap sheet in New York.
Criminal Record Sealing Laws in Albany County
New York law provides several ways criminal records can be sealed. Albany County courts follow the same rules as every other county in the state. These laws affect what you can find when you search criminal records here.
When a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, the records seal on their own under CPL 160.50. No one has to file a motion. The court and police seal their files, and the case will not show up in a public search. The person can say they were never arrested for that charge. This happens in Albany County Court, City Court, and all town and village courts within the county.
For convictions, CPL 160.59 lets a person apply to seal up to two convictions after waiting 10 years. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies do not qualify. The court looks at the facts and decides whether to grant the request. Albany County Court handles these motions for felony cases heard in the county. Youthful offender adjudications are kept confidential under CPL 720.35 and will not appear in public criminal record searches.
The Clean Slate Act took effect on November 16, 2024. It calls for automatic sealing of certain criminal 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 excluded. DCJS handles the sealing process statewide, which includes Albany County records.
Fees for Criminal Records in Albany County
Costs vary depending on how you search and what you need. The Albany County Clerk charges standard fees set by state law for criminal record lookups and copies. You can inspect records in person for free, but you pay if you want copies made.
- CHRS statewide search: $95.00 per name
- DCJS personal record review: about $77.75
- County clerk name search: $5.00 per name (two-year period)
- Copy fees: $0.25 to $0.65 per page
- Certified copies: $5.00 to $10.00 per document
WebCrims and eCourts are free to use. They give you case info on screen but you cannot get certified copies through those tools. If you need a Certificate of Disposition from Albany County Court, you have to request one through the County Clerk's office. The clerk will charge a fee based on the number of pages and whether you need certification.
Public Access to Records
Most criminal court records in Albany County are public. New York's Freedom of Information Law, set out in Public Officers Law Article 6, grants a broad right to see government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255, which says any clerk must search their records and give copies when asked and paid. You do not need to be a party to the case. You do not need a reason for the request.
Some records are not available. Sealed cases under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 are off limits. Family Court records, juvenile cases, and youthful offender adjudications are confidential. Grand jury proceedings are secret. Active investigation files held by the Albany Police Department or Albany County District Attorney may also be withheld under FOIL exemptions. If you get turned down on a records request, the Committee on Open Government can help you figure out your options.
Sex Offender Registry Search
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 Albany County at no cost. The registry shows Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. Level 1 offenders are only available through a call to the registry hotline at 1-800-262-3257. This is a separate system from the criminal court records held by the Albany County Clerk or Albany County Court.
The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all courts in Albany County and across New York State.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision maintains records for people in state prison or on parole. The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup tool that lets you search by name or DIN number. This covers people sentenced in Albany County who are now in state custody. The Albany County Correctional Facility holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Contact the jail directly for information on current inmates there.
Cities in Albany County
Albany County has several cities and towns. Criminal records for each area go through the courts that serve that location. Here are the major cities with their own record pages.
- Albany - County seat and state capital. Albany City Court handles misdemeanor criminal records.
- Colonie - The town of Colonie has its own justice court for local criminal matters.
Other towns and villages in Albany County, like Guilderland, Bethlehem, and Cohoes, have their own town or village courts. Criminal records from those courts feed into the county system and can be searched through the CHRS or eCourts tools.
Nearby Counties
Albany County sits in the Capital District of New York. If you need criminal records from surrounding areas, these nearby counties each have their own court system and clerk's office.