Access Montgomery County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Montgomery County are held by the County Clerk, County Court, and town courts within the 4th Judicial District. Fonda is the county seat. The county sits in the Mohawk Valley between Albany and Utica, with Amsterdam being the largest city. Criminal case volume is moderate. You can search Montgomery County criminal records through state online tools, visit the clerk's office at the county courthouse, or file a FOIL request. Amsterdam City Court handles a significant share of the county's misdemeanor cases, while County Court deals with felonies.
Montgomery County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Find Montgomery County Criminal Records
The Montgomery County Clerk at the Montgomery County Courthouse, 58 Broadway, Fonda, NY 12068 is the main office for criminal records from County Court and Supreme Court cases. The clerk stores felony case documents. You can visit and look at public records for free under Judiciary Law 255. Copies have a per-page fee. Phone is (518) 853-8115.
Montgomery County Court is at the courthouse in Fonda. Felony cases are tried here. The County Clerk acts as clerk for this court. Criminal records include indictments, pleas, trial verdicts, and sentencing data. The clerk stores these long-term.
Amsterdam City Court at 1 Guy Park Avenue Extension, Amsterdam, NY 12010 handles misdemeanors and violations in the city. Phone is (518) 842-9510. Amsterdam is the largest city in the county, so this court sees the most misdemeanor traffic. Other town courts in places like Canajoharie, Fort Plain, and St. Johnsville handle cases in their areas. Each town court clerk keeps local records.
Online Criminal Records Search
The eCourts portal offers free online searching of Montgomery County criminal records. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. The system covers courts in the 4th Judicial District and across the state. Not every old record is loaded yet, but coverage keeps getting better.
The Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name. Results come from every court in all 62 counties. You get results the next business day. Town court data from before 2007 may be incomplete. Sealed records do not show up.
Montgomery County court records can be searched through the clerk's office in Fonda and state online tools.
WebCrims covers active criminal cases in some courts. Coverage for Montgomery County is limited. Check the site to see current availability. It is free and does not need a login.
DCJS Criminal History Records
The Division of Criminal Justice Services holds fingerprint-based criminal histories. These differ from court records. DCJS records tie arrest data, charges, and outcomes to fingerprints. They are not public. You cannot get someone else's DCJS record through any request method.
For your own record, use the Record Review program. Submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. The cost is about $77.75. Results take 7 to 10 business days. Montgomery County residents can find fingerprinting services through local police or travel to Albany or Schenectady for more options.
Criminal Record Sealing Laws
Montgomery County courts follow the same sealing rules as every county in New York.
Dismissals and acquittals seal automatically under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. Under CPL 160.59, a person can apply to seal up to two convictions after a 10-year wait. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies are excluded. Montgomery County Court handles these motions for local felony cases.
The Clean Slate Act started 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 do not qualify for automatic sealing. DCJS runs the process statewide.
Fees for Criminal Records
Standard state fees apply at the Montgomery County Clerk. In-person inspection is free. Copies cost money.
- 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
eCourts and WebCrims are free online tools. They show case info on screen but cannot give you certified copies. For a Certificate of Disposition from Montgomery County Court, contact the County Clerk in Fonda.
Public Access to Criminal Records
Most criminal court records in Montgomery County are public. New York's FOIL law, under Public Officers Law Article 6, gives broad access. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255. The clerk must search and provide copies when asked and paid. No reason is required.
Sealed cases under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 are off limits. Family Court records, juvenile cases, and youthful offender adjudications under CPL 720.35 stay confidential. Grand jury proceedings are secret. Investigation files from the Montgomery County Sheriff or Amsterdam Police may be withheld under FOIL exemptions.
Multiple options exist for searching Montgomery County criminal records both 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 Montgomery County for free. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show online. Level 1 offenders require a call to 1-800-262-3257.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup for people in state prison or on parole. The Montgomery County Jail holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Contact the Montgomery County Sheriff's Office at (518) 853-5500 for jail inquiries.
Nearby Counties
Montgomery County sits in the Mohawk Valley. These neighboring counties each have their own courts and clerk offices.