Access Richmond County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Richmond County, which covers all of Staten Island, are managed through the 13th Judicial District's court system and the County Clerk's office. As one of New York City's five boroughs, Richmond County operates differently from upstate counties. The County Clerk at 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301 handles court filings for Supreme Court cases. Criminal Court at 60 Bay Street processes misdemeanor and lesser criminal matters. You can search Richmond County criminal records through local offices, state tools like WebCrims and eCourts, or through the statewide Criminal History Record Search.

Where to Search Richmond County Criminal Records

The Richmond County Clerk's Office at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor, Staten Island, NY 10301 is the main records office. County Clerk Hon. Stephen J. Fiala oversees the operation. Call (718) 675-7700. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk serves as Clerk of the Supreme Court, Commissioner of Jurors, Clerk of the County, and County Register. Court records maintained include Supreme Court cases, judgments, and other legal filings. You can inspect public records under Judiciary Law 255.

Richmond County Criminal Court sits at 60 Bay Street, Staten Island, NY 10301. The phone number is (718) 876-8500. This court handles misdemeanor criminal cases, violations, and preliminary felony hearings for all of Staten Island. If you need records from a criminal case that stayed at the misdemeanor level, Criminal Court is where those files live.

Supreme Court operates from two locations. The main civil courthouse is at 18 Richmond Terrace for matrimonial parts. Other proceedings run out of the 60 Bay Street building. Felony cases that go to trial are heard in Supreme Court, Criminal Term. Records from these cases end up with the County Clerk for long-term storage.

Online Criminal Records Search Options

WebCrims is the best free tool for active criminal cases in Richmond County. Search by defendant name or docket number. It covers the 13th Judicial District courts. No account is needed. Sealed and closed cases do not show up. This tool works well for checking on a case still going through the system.

The eCourts portal provides broader access to court records across Staten Island. You can search by name, case number, or attorney. It pulls results from multiple court types in Richmond County. The system is free to use. Some older records and certain case types may not appear.

Richmond County Supreme Court records can be searched through state online portals and the County Clerk's office.

For a statewide search covering all 62 counties, the Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and date of birth. Results come the next business day. This is name-based, not fingerprint-based. Sealed records will not appear. Town and village court data from before 2007 may be limited, though this matters less for NYC boroughs since Staten Island does not have separate town courts.

The County Clerk's website also offers online search features for land records and certain court documents. Users may need to create an account for full access to the electronic filing systems through NYSCEF.

Criminal History and DCJS Records

The Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps fingerprint-based criminal history records. These files are not public. You cannot request another person's DCJS record. For your own rap sheet, use the Record Review program. Get fingerprinted at an approved location and pay about $77.75. Results take 7 to 10 business days.

Staten Island residents can find fingerprinting sites through DCJS or at authorized locations on the island. This is the only way to get an official state criminal history. Court records and DCJS records are two separate systems that track different things.

Criminal Record Sealing Laws

Richmond County courts follow the same sealing rules as every other county in New York. Cases that end in dismissal or acquittal seal on their own under CPL 160.50. No motion is needed. Court and police records are sealed. The person can say the arrest never happened.

For convictions, CPL 160.59 allows a person to apply for sealing after 10 years from sentencing or release. Up to two convictions can be sealed, with only one being a felony. Sex offenses, Class A felonies, and violent felonies are excluded. The court looks at all the facts. Youthful offender adjudications are kept confidential under CPL 720.35.

The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Misdemeanor convictions seal automatically 3 years after sentencing or release. Felony convictions seal after 8 years. Sex offenses, violent felonies, Class A felonies, and homicides are left out. DCJS manages the sealing process across the state.

Fees for Criminal Records

Costs at the Richmond County Clerk follow state and city fee schedules. You can inspect public records for free in person. Copies and formal requests come with charges.

• Certified copies: $10.00 per document
• Copy fees: $0.25 per page
• Judgment search: $5.00 per name
• CHRS statewide search: $95.00
• DCJS personal record review: about $77.75

WebCrims and eCourts are free to use. They display case info on screen but do not produce certified copies. For official documents, visit the County Clerk's office or the court where the case was handled.

Public Access to Records

Most criminal court records in Richmond County are public. Public Officers Law Article 6 grants a right to access government records. Court records fall under Judiciary Law 255. You do not have to be involved in the case to request records.

Some files are off limits. Sealed cases under CPL 160.50 and CPL 160.59 cannot be viewed. Family Court records, juvenile proceedings, and youthful offender adjudications are confidential. Grand jury proceedings are secret. The Committee on Open Government can help if a request is denied.

Sex Offender Registry

The Sex Offender Registry lets you search for registered offenders on Staten Island at no cost. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show up online. Level 1 information is only available by calling 1-800-262-3257. This is a separate system from the criminal records held by the County Clerk or the courts.

The Richmond County Clerk's Office at 130 Stuyvesant Place handles court filings and record searches.

Corrections and Inmate Records

The DOCCS website has a free inmate lookup. Search by name or DIN. This covers people sentenced in Richmond County who are in state prison. For city jail information, contact the NYC Department of Correction. Staten Island does not have its own county jail since it is part of the city's corrections system.

Other Courts in Richmond County

Richmond County Surrogate's Court is at 18 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301. Call (718) 390-5400. It handles estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions. The court accepts electronic filings through NYSCEF. Probate records date back to colonial times.

Civil Court sits at 927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310. The phone is (718) 675-8458. This court handles small claims and civil cases up to $25,000. Records from Civil Court are separate from criminal records but may be useful for related searches.

Cities and Boroughs

Richmond County is part of New York City. As a borough, Staten Island's criminal records flow through the NYC court system.

• New York City - Richmond County (Staten Island) is one of the five boroughs of NYC.

Criminal cases from other NYC boroughs are handled through their own county court systems: Kings County (Brooklyn), Queens County, Bronx County, and New York County (Manhattan).

Nearby Counties

Richmond County is the southernmost borough of New York City. The closest counties outside NYC are across the water or through New Jersey.

• Kings County (Brooklyn)
• New York County (Manhattan)
• Queens County
• Bronx County