Search Monroe County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Monroe County are maintained by the County Clerk, Monroe County Court, Rochester City Court, and town courts across the 7th Judicial District. Rochester is the county seat and the third-largest city in New York State. The county processes a high volume of criminal cases each year, with records spread across multiple courts and offices. You can search Monroe County criminal records through state online tools, visit the clerk at the Hall of Justice on West Main Street, or submit a FOIL request. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office also provides public access to inmate and warrant data through its website.
Monroe County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Monroe County Criminal Records
The Monroe County Clerk at the Hall of Justice, 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614 is the main office for criminal records from County Court and Supreme Court cases. The clerk files and stores felony case documents. You can visit and inspect public records for free under Judiciary Law 255. The office has electronic search terminals for public use. Records from the 1980s to present are readily available in digital form. Phone is (585) 753-1600. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
Rochester City Court at 1 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614 handles misdemeanors and violations for cases in the city. This is a busy court. It processes arraignments, bench trials, and plea deals for lower-level offenses. Preliminary felony hearings also start here before cases move to County Court. The criminal records from City Court cover a large portion of the county's misdemeanor case load.
Monroe County Court at the Hall of Justice handles felony cases. The County Court Clerk can be reached at (585) 371-3260. Criminal records from this court include grand jury indictments, trial outcomes, plea agreements, and sentencing orders. The County Clerk stores these records long-term.
Town courts across Monroe County handle misdemeanors and violations in their areas. That includes courts in Greece, Irondequoit, Brighton, Henrietta, Penfield, Webster, and Gates. Each town court has its own clerk. Records from those courts feed into state systems over time.
Online Criminal Records Search Options
The eCourts portal is a free tool for searching Monroe County criminal records online. Search by name, case number, or attorney. It pulls results from courts across the 7th Judicial District. Coverage is solid for recent cases. Older records may have gaps.
The Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and date of birth. It pulls data from every court level in all 62 counties. Results come the next business day. This is the most thorough court record search the state offers. Town court data before 2007 may be incomplete.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office runs a free inmate lookup tool online. You can search current inmates by name and see charges, bond info, and court dates. The sheriff also maintains an active warrants database that is searchable by name with photos available.
The Monroe County Clerk at the Hall of Justice handles criminal record requests and has electronic search terminals.
WebCrims shows active criminal cases. Coverage for Monroe County courts varies. Check to see what is currently available. It is free. The Rochester Police Department Open Data Portal also provides crime incident data and historical statistics that are free to access.
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 linked to fingerprints. They are not public.
For your own record, use the Record Review program. Submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. Cost is about $77.75. Results take 7 to 10 business days. Monroe County has multiple fingerprinting locations in the Rochester area. The Monroe County Sheriff's Office incident reports cost $20.00 each and are available through a separate request process.
Criminal Record Sealing in Monroe County
Monroe County courts follow the same sealing laws as every other county in New York.
Dismissals and acquittals seal automatically under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. The court and police seal their files. This applies in Monroe County Court, Rochester City Court, and all town courts.
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 do not qualify. Monroe County Court handles these motions for felonies. Rochester City Court handles them for misdemeanors. Youthful offender adjudications stay confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Misdemeanor convictions seal 3 years after sentencing or release. Felonies seal after 8 years. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, violent felonies, and homicides are excluded.
Fees for Monroe County Criminal Records
The Monroe County Clerk charges standard state fees. In-person inspection of records is free. Copies cost money. Here is what to expect.
- 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
- Sheriff's incident reports: $20.00 each
eCourts and the sheriff's inmate lookup are free. They show case data on screen but do not produce certified copies. For a Certificate of Disposition from Monroe County Court, request it through the clerk's office at the Hall of Justice.
Public Access to Criminal Records
Most criminal court records in Monroe County are public. New York's FOIL law, under Public Officers Law Article 6, gives broad access to government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255. The clerk must search and provide copies when asked and paid. You do not need to state a reason for your request.
Sealed cases are off limits. Family Court records, juvenile cases, and youthful offender adjudications stay confidential. Grand jury proceedings are secret. Investigation files from the Monroe County Sheriff or Rochester Police Department may be withheld under FOIL exemptions. The Monroe County District Attorney's office at (585) 753-4500 handles victim assistance and can answer questions about case status.
Multiple tools are available for searching Monroe County criminal records online and in person.
Sex Offender Registry
The Sex Offender Registry lets you search by name, county, or zip code. Look up registered offenders in Monroe County at no cost. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show online. Level 1 offenders require a call to 1-800-262-3257. This is separate from court records at the Monroe County Clerk.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup tool for people in state prison or on parole. The Monroe County Jail holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Use the sheriff's online inmate lookup for current jail population data. Monroe County also operates drug court and mental health court diversion programs through the District Attorney's office at the Hall of Justice.
Cities in Monroe County
Monroe County includes Rochester and several large suburban towns. Criminal records for each area go through the courts that serve that location.
- Rochester - County seat. Rochester City Court handles misdemeanor criminal records.
- Greece - Greece Town Court handles local misdemeanors and violations.
- Irondequoit - Irondequoit Town Court handles local criminal matters.
Other towns like Brighton, Henrietta, Penfield, Webster, and Gates have their own town courts for misdemeanor and violation cases. Records from those courts feed into the county and state systems.
Nearby Counties
Monroe County sits on Lake Ontario in western New York. These neighboring counties have their own court systems and clerk offices.