Search Cayuga County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Cayuga County are held by the County Clerk's Office, the County Court, and local courts in the Auburn area. Cayuga County sits in the Finger Lakes region and falls under the 7th Judicial District. The County Clerk at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts and is the main record keeper for the county. You can search Cayuga County criminal records online through the SearchIQS portal, through state tools like WebCrims and eCourts, or by visiting the clerk's office in person. Felony cases go through Cayuga County Court at 152 Genesee Street, while Auburn City Court handles misdemeanors within the city. The clerk also offers a free Fraud Alert tool for property owners, though that relates to land records rather than criminal matters.
Cayuga County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Cayuga County Criminal Records
The Cayuga County Clerk's Office at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021 is the primary record keeper. Phone: 315-253-1271. Email: countyclerk@cayugacounty.us. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. You may also drop off documents at the temporary office at Cayuga Community College, 199 Franklin St. in Auburn, if the main County Office Building is closed.
To search criminal records in person, visit the clerk's office and fill out a records request form. Give the subject's full name and date of birth if you have it. Show a valid photo ID. The search fee is $5.00 per name. If you want copies, they cost $0.25 per page. Staff will search and provide what is available.
Cayuga County Court at 152 Genesee Street, Auburn handles serious criminal matters. Auburn City Court deals with misdemeanors, traffic offenses, and small claims. Town and village courts across the county handle local violations. Criminal records from all these courts can be searched through the CHRS or state online tools.
Online Criminal Records Search
Property and court records can be viewed online at SearchIQS. The portal covers Cayuga County records filed with the clerk. Access is available for some criminal case information depending on the filing date.
WebCrims is a free tool that shows active and pending criminal cases. Search by defendant name or case number. Since February 2021, Cayuga County Supreme Court cases are required to be filed on NYSCEF for most case types. You can search NYSCEF as a guest for e-filed cases. Cases on NYSCEF will not show up in the older SearchIQS system.
The Cayuga County Clerk's Office provides access to court records online and in person at 160 Genesee Street in Auburn.
The eCourts portal gives access to court records across the state. For a full statewide search, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name. Results come the next business day and cover all 62 counties.
Criminal History and DCJS Records
DCJS keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records. These are not public records. Nobody can get someone else's DCJS file through any public records request.
For your own rap sheet, use the Record Review program. Get fingerprinted at an approved location. The cost is about $65 to $77.75 depending on the service. Results take 3 to 5 weeks in some cases. Cayuga County residents can look for fingerprinting sites in the Auburn area or nearby cities. This is the only official way to verify your own criminal history in New York.
Criminal Record Sealing in Cayuga County
Dismissed and acquitted cases seal automatically under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. The court seals its files and the case leaves public view.
For convictions, CPL 160.59 allows sealing of up to two convictions after 10 years. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies are excluded. Cayuga County Court handles these motions for felony cases heard in the county. Youthful offender adjudications are confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Misdemeanor convictions seal 3 years after sentencing or release. Felony convictions seal after 8 years. Serious offenses are excluded from this automatic process.
Fees for Cayuga County Criminal Records
Costs vary based on how and what you search. In-person inspection is free under Judiciary Law 255.
- Name search: $5.00 per name
- Standard copies: $0.25 per page
- Certified copies: $10.00 per document
- CHRS statewide search: $95.00 per name
- DCJS personal record review: $65.00 to $77.75
- Large format documents: $5.00 per page
The Cayuga County Clerk accepts cash, checks, money orders, and credit cards (some departments). Checks should be made to "Cayuga County Clerk." Fee waivers may be available if the records mainly benefit the public.
Public Access to Records
Most criminal court records in Cayuga County are public. Public Officers Law Article 6 provides broad access rights. Judiciary Law 255 requires clerks to search and copy records when asked and paid. You can submit FOIL requests to the Cayuga County Clerk at 160 Genesee Street, Auburn, NY 13021, or call (315) 253-1271.
Sealed records, Family Court files, juvenile cases, and youthful offender adjudications are not public. The Committee on Open Government can assist with denied requests.
Cayuga County provides multiple options for accessing criminal records through online and in-person channels.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry lets you search for offenders in Cayuga County. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear online. Call 1-800-262-3257 for Level 1 info. This is a DCJS system, separate from court records.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup for state prison inmates and parolees. This covers people sentenced in Cayuga County who are in state custody. For the Cayuga County Jail, contact the Sheriff's Office directly.
Towns in Cayuga County
Cayuga County does not have any cities with their own records pages on this site. Auburn is the county seat and largest city. Auburn City Court handles misdemeanors, traffic cases, and small claims within the city limits. Other towns like Brutus, Sennett, Aurelius, and Owasco have town courts for local matters. Records from all these courts feed into the state system and can be searched through CHRS or eCourts.
Nearby Counties
Cayuga County is in the Finger Lakes region of central New York. These neighboring counties have their own court systems and record offices.