Find Criminal Records in Erie County
Criminal records in Erie County are managed by the County Clerk, County Court, and Buffalo City Court, all within the 8th Judicial District. Erie County is the most populous county in Western New York, and Buffalo serves as the county seat. You can search Erie County criminal records through the clerk's office at 92 Franklin Street, at the courthouse at 25 Delaware Avenue, or through state online tools. The clerk maintains civil and criminal court records, judgments, and liens. Closed criminal records require a special request process, and some records can only be obtained in person or by mail.
Erie County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Erie County Criminal Records
The Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 is the main office for criminal records. The phone number is (716) 858-8785. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM. The clerk's office maintains civil and criminal court records, judgments, and liens. You can view document images at publicly accessible computer terminals in the office. Under Judiciary Law 255, you can inspect records in person at no charge.
For closed criminal records, go to the Actions and Proceedings Office at the same address. Criminal records are not available through the online request form. You must visit in person or mail a Closed Criminal Record Request Form. The form has to be printed, notarized, and mailed with the proper fees. A Local Criminal Searches Form is also available for certain types of record checks.
Erie County Supreme and County Court sits at 25 Delaware Avenue, Ground Floor, Buffalo, NY 14202. Call 716-845-9301 for inquiries. County Court handles felony criminal cases, grand jury indictments, criminal trials, and sentencing. The clerk files and stores case documents. Criminal records from this court include all felony matter filings.
The Erie County Clerk Public Search system lets you search thousands of records using Advanced Search. When searching online, actual document images are not viewable, but you can get key information about documents. The clerk's office does not index records by address, so you need a name to search.
Online Criminal Records Search Options
The fastest free way to check Erie County criminal records online is WebCrims. It shows active and pending criminal cases in the 8th Judicial District. Search by name or case number. It does not include sealed cases or old closed matters. It is best for tracking a case that is still going through court.
The Erie County Clerk's public search system covers thousands of records including criminal case documents.
The eCourts portal gives broader access to court records across New York. Search by name, case number, or attorney. The system is free. Keep in mind that not all record types appear, and some older criminal records may not have been entered into the database. Buffalo City Court cases and Erie County Court cases both feed into this system.
For a complete statewide search covering Erie 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 in all 62 counties the next business day. Sealed records will not show. Town and village court data from before 2007 may have gaps.
Fees for Criminal Records in Erie County
Erie County has a detailed fee schedule for records. Costs depend on the type of copy and how you request it. In-person inspection is free. Here are the standard charges:
- Copies (first 2 pages): $1.30
- Copies (each additional page): $0.65
- Certified copies (first 4 pages): $5.00
- Certified copies (each additional page): $1.25
- Manual search (per 2-year period): $10.00 per name
- Digital search (per 2-year period): $5.00 per name
The maximum charge for copies or certified copies of a single document is $40.00. Make checks or money orders payable to the Erie County Clerk. If you mail a request, include a postage-paid, self-addressed envelope. If you pay by check and forget the envelope, your request will be held until one arrives. CHRS statewide searches cost $95.00. DCJS personal record review runs about $77.75.
Criminal History and DCJS Records
The Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records. These are separate from court records. DCJS records include arrest data, charges, and dispositions tied to a set of fingerprints. They are not public. You cannot request someone else's DCJS record.
To get your own criminal history, use the Record Review program. Submit fingerprints at an approved vendor. The fee is about $77.75. Results take 7 to 10 business days. You can request a suppressed or unsuppressed version. Erie County residents in the Buffalo area have several fingerprinting sites available. This is the only way to get an official rap sheet in New York.
Criminal Record Sealing Laws in Erie County
Erie County courts follow the same sealing rules as every county in the state. When a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, records seal automatically under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. The case will not show up in a public search.
Under CPL 160.59, a person can 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 are not eligible. Youthful offender adjudications are confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, provides 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 from this process.
Public Access and FOIL Requests
Most criminal court records in Erie County are public. New York's Freedom of Information Law, found in Public Officers Law Article 6, grants a broad right to government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255. You do not need to be a party to the case or provide a reason for your request.
Because most records at the Erie County Clerk's office are already public and accessible through the Public Search Site or public computers, FOIL requests are usually not needed for particular documents. However, for records not in easily accessible format, you can submit a request to the Clerk's FOIL Officer. If a request gets denied, the Committee on Open Government can advise you.
Erie County Supreme and County Court at 25 Delaware Avenue in Buffalo handles felony criminal cases.
Sex Offender Registry Search
The Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name, county, or zip code. Look up registered offenders in Erie County at no cost. The registry shows Level 2 and Level 3 offenders online. Level 1 offenders are only available by calling the hotline at 1-800-262-3257. This is a separate system from the criminal court records held by the Erie County Clerk.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup tool for people in state prison or on parole. Search by name or DIN number. This covers people sentenced in Erie County now in state custody. The Erie County Holding Center and Erie County Correctional Facility hold people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Contact those facilities directly for current inmate information.
Cities in Erie County
Erie County has several large cities and towns. Criminal records for each area go through the courts that serve that location. Here are the major places with their own record pages.
- Buffalo - County seat. Buffalo City Court handles misdemeanor criminal records for the city.
- Amherst - The town of Amherst has its own justice court for local criminal matters.
- Cheektowaga - Cheektowaga Town Court handles local criminal cases.
- Tonawanda - Town of Tonawanda has its own court for local offenses.
- Hamburg - Hamburg Town Court processes local criminal matters.
Other towns like Orchard Park, West Seneca, and Clarence have their own town courts. Criminal records from those courts feed into the county system and can be searched through CHRS or eCourts.
Nearby Counties
Erie County sits in Western New York along the Lake Erie shore. These neighboring counties each have their own court system and clerk's office.