Find Criminal Records in Oswego County
Criminal records in Oswego County are held by courts and offices based in the city of Oswego, the county seat. Oswego County is part of the 5th Judicial District and sits along Lake Ontario in central New York. The County Clerk at 46 East Bridge Street maintains felony case files, while Oswego City Court and Fulton City Court each process misdemeanor criminal records in their cities. Town courts scattered across the county handle lower-level criminal matters in rural areas. You can search for criminal records in person at the courthouse or use state online tools to look up case data from home.
Oswego County Criminal Records Overview
Where to Search Oswego County Criminal Records
The Oswego County Clerk at 46 East Bridge Street, Oswego, NY 13126 is the primary office for criminal records from County Court and Supreme Court cases. The clerk stores documents for all felony matters. You can walk in and inspect public records for free under Judiciary Law 255. Copies cost a per-page fee. The phone number is (315) 349-8385.
Oswego City Court at 29 West Oneida Street handles misdemeanor criminal records and violations in the city of Oswego. Call (315) 343-6530 for case questions. Fulton City Court at 141 South First Street processes criminal cases in Fulton. Each city court keeps its own files.
Oswego County Court is in the courthouse complex in Oswego. Felony cases are tried here. Records include indictments, pleas, trial results, and sentencing details. The County Clerk acts as clerk for this court. Town courts in places like Scriba, Granby, Volney, Hannibal, and Mexico handle their own low-level criminal work.
Online Criminal Records Search Options
The quickest free tool is WebCrims. It shows active and pending criminal cases by name or case number. Coverage includes the 5th Judicial District. Sealed cases and old closed matters do not show up. This works best for tracking current cases.
The eCourts portal provides wider court record access. Search by name, case number, or attorney. The system pulls results from Oswego County courts. It is free. Not all record types appear, and older criminal records may not yet be in the database.
Search tools for Oswego County criminal court records.
The Criminal History Record Search from the Office of Court Administration costs $95 per name and date of birth. It covers every court level in all 62 counties. Results come the next business day. Sealed records will not appear. Town court data from before 2007 may be incomplete.
DCJS Criminal History Records
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records. These are not court records. DCJS files include arrest data, charges, and outcomes tied to fingerprints. They are not public. You cannot get someone else's DCJS record.
For your own record, use the Record Review program. Submit fingerprints through an approved vendor. The cost is about $77.75 and results take 7 to 10 business days. Oswego County residents can find fingerprinting sites in the Oswego and Syracuse areas. This is the only way to get an official rap sheet in New York.
Criminal Record Sealing Laws
Oswego County courts follow the same sealing rules as every other county in the state. These laws determine what shows up in a search.
Dismissed and acquitted cases seal automatically under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. The court and police seal their files. This covers all courts in Oswego County.
Under CPL 160.59, a person can apply to seal up to two convictions after 10 years. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies are not eligible. Youthful offender adjudications remain confidential under CPL 720.35.
The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, provides for automatic sealing. Misdemeanors seal 3 years after sentencing or release. Felonies seal after 8 years. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, violent felonies, and homicides are excluded. DCJS runs this process statewide.
Fees for Oswego County Criminal Records
The Oswego County Clerk uses standard state fees. You can look at records in person for free. Copies and certified documents come with charges.
- CHRS statewide search: $95.00 per name
- DCJS 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
WebCrims and eCourts are free. They show case data on screen but do not provide certified copies. For a Certificate of Disposition from Oswego County Court, go through the County Clerk's office.
Public Access to Records
Criminal court records in Oswego County are mostly public. Public Officers Law Article 6 gives broad access to government records. Court records are governed by Judiciary Law 255. You do not need to be a party to the case or provide a reason for looking.
Sealed cases, Family Court files, juvenile matters, youthful offender adjudications, and grand jury materials are not available to the public. The Oswego County Sheriff and District Attorney may hold back active investigation files under FOIL exemptions. The Committee on Open Government can help with denied requests.
Sex Offender Registry Search
The Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders in Oswego County by name, county, or zip code. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear online. Level 1 offenders require a call to 1-800-262-3257. This is a different system from the court records held by the county clerk.
Corrections and Inmate Records
The DOCCS website has an inmate lookup for people sentenced in Oswego County who are now in state prison. Search by name or DIN number. The Oswego County Correctional Facility holds people awaiting trial or serving short sentences. Contact the facility at (315) 349-3483 for current inmate information.
Cities in Oswego County
Oswego County has two small cities. Oswego City Court and Fulton City Court each handle local criminal matters. Towns like Scriba, Granby, Volney, Palermo, and Mexico have their own town courts for lower-level criminal cases. Records from all these courts can be searched through CHRS or eCourts.
Nearby Counties
Oswego County borders Lake Ontario in central New York. These nearby counties each have their own court system.