Cortland County Criminal Records Search
Criminal records in Cortland County are managed by the County Clerk and the courts of the 6th Judicial District, all based in the city of Cortland. The County Clerk's office at 46 Greenbush Street handles criminal record searches, court filings, and public access to case documents. You can look at public records for free on computers in the office, though printing costs $0.65 per page. Online tools from the state court system also pull case data from Cortland County courts. The county has 16 town and village courts that handle local criminal matters in addition to County Court and Cortland City Court.
Cortland County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Cortland County Criminal Records
The Cortland County Clerk's Office handles criminal record searches. The office is at 46 Greenbush Street, Suite 301, Cortland, NY 13045. Call (607) 218-3320 for questions. Hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. on weekdays. The clerk is the county's records management officer and keeps all court filings in order. Public records are free to view at computers in the office. If you need a printout, the cost is $0.65 per page with a $1.30 minimum charge.
Local record checks are done by the County Clerk. The fee is $5.00 for a two-year search per name. If you mail your request, include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The clerk will mail back the results. They will not give results over the phone and will not take search requests by phone either. You must put it in writing or show up in person.
Cortland County Court sits at the same address, 46 Greenbush Street, Suite 301. Chief Clerk Emily Stith and Deputy Chief Clerk Tara Driscoll manage the court's case files. County Court Judge Hon. Julie A. Campbell and County Court Judge Hon. Randolph V. Kruman hear felony cases and appeals. All court papers are filed with the court clerk in Suite 301. For questions about pending criminal matters, call the court clerk at 607-218-3320. All visitors pass through a magnetometer when entering the courthouse.
Online Search Options
Free online tools from the state court system cover Cortland County cases. WebCrims shows pending criminal cases by name or case number. No account is needed. It covers courts in the 6th Judicial District, which includes Cortland County. The tool is good for checking on a case that is still going through court.
The eCourts portal gives wider access to records from many courts in Cortland County. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. It is free. Not all record types show up, and older files may not be in the system yet.
Cortland County offers public access to records through online search tools and in-office computers.
For a statewide search that covers all 62 counties, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and date of birth. Results arrive the next business day. This search is name-based and does not include sealed records. Town and village court records from before 2007 may be incomplete in the CHRS results.
Local Courts in Cortland County
Cortland County has 16 town and village courts that handle misdemeanor criminal records, violations, and traffic matters. Cortland City Court at 25 Court Street, Cortland, NY 13045 takes calls at 607-428-5420. City Court deals with misdemeanors and some preliminary felony hearings in the city of Cortland itself.
Town courts in places like Homer, Marathon, Cortlandville, and Virgil each maintain their own case files. These courts are not courts of record, so their records may not be fully available through online state tools. If you need a criminal record from one of these local courts, contact the court directly. Each court has its own phone number and schedule. The Cortlandville Town Court at 3577 Terrace Road handles a large share of the local caseload. Records from town and village courts eventually feed into the state system, but there can be delays with older cases.
Criminal History and DCJS Records
DCJS keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records. These are not the same as court records. They are not public. You cannot get another person's DCJS record through any public request method.
To get your own rap sheet, use the Record Review program. You submit prints at an approved site and pay about $77.75. Results come in 7 to 10 business days. Cortland County residents can find fingerprinting locations through DCJS or local law enforcement. This is the only path to an official New York State criminal history record.
Sealing Laws for Criminal Records
When a case in Cortland County ends in dismissal or acquittal, the records seal on their own under CPL 160.50. No one has to file a motion. Court and police files are sealed. The person can deny the arrest ever happened.
Convictions can sometimes be sealed too. Under CPL 160.59, a person may apply to seal up to two convictions after waiting 10 years from sentencing or release. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies do not qualify. The judge weighs all the facts. Youthful offender adjudications remain confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act started on November 16, 2024. It brings automatic sealing for some records. Misdemeanors seal 3 years after sentencing or release. Felonies seal after 8 years. Violent felonies, sex offenses, Class A felonies, and homicides are excluded. DCJS handles this for the entire state.
Fees and Costs
Searching criminal records in Cortland County has different costs based on the method. In-person inspection of public records is free at the clerk's office. Formal searches and copies come with fees.
- County Clerk name search: $5.00 per name per two-year period
- Printing from office computers: $0.65 per page ($1.30 minimum)
- CHRS statewide search: $95.00 per name
- DCJS personal record review: about $77.75
- Certified copies: varies by document type
WebCrims and eCourts are free. They show case data on screen but cannot produce certified copies. For a Certificate of Disposition from Cortland County Court, request one through the clerk's office at 46 Greenbush Street.
Public Access Rights
Criminal court records in Cortland County are mostly public. Public Officers Law Article 6 gives everyone the right to see government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255. You can ask the clerk for a search and copies without being part of the case.
Sealed records are off limits. Family Court files, juvenile matters, and youthful offender cases are confidential. Grand jury work is secret. The Cortland County Clerk is not the FOIL officer for the county, so police and agency records go through a separate FOIL process. If a request is turned down, the Committee on Open Government can advise you on appeals.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry lets you look up offenders in Cortland County for free. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show up in the online search. Level 1 offenders require a phone call to 1-800-262-3257. This is a separate system from the court records at the County Clerk's office.
The Cortland County Clerk's Office at 46 Greenbush Street handles criminal record searches and court filings.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has a free inmate lookup. Search by name or DIN number. This covers people sentenced in Cortland County who went to state prison. The county jail holds people who are awaiting trial or serving short sentences locally. For info on county jail inmates, reach out to the Cortland County Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
Cortland County is in central New York. Criminal records from surrounding counties are handled by their own clerks and courts.