Albany County Criminal History
Albany County criminal history records are held by several local offices in and around the city of Albany. The County Clerk keeps court case files from the Supreme Court and County Court. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and runs one of the largest county jails in New York. You can search for pending criminal cases online through WebCrims or visit the courthouse at 16 Eagle Street to view records in person. For a statewide search, the Office of Court Administration offers a Criminal History Record Search that covers all 62 counties. This guide walks through how to find and get criminal history records in Albany County.
Albany County Overview
Albany County Criminal History Records
The Albany County Sheriff's Office is a full-service law enforcement agency with over 700 employees. It runs the Albany County Correctional Facility, which holds up to 1,043 inmates and processed over 7,000 admissions in the past year. The average daily population has been above 600. The Sheriff's Office provides patrol, criminal investigations, court security, and inmate transport. You can request arrest records and incident reports through FOIL. The office also has an online inmate lookup tool for checking current custody status.
The Albany County Clerk's Office sits in the Albany County Courthouse at 16 Eagle Street, Room 128. The Clerk serves as clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court. That means felony case records, civil filings, and other court documents are all on file here. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies have an additional fee. You can visit in person to inspect records at no charge.
| Sheriff's Office | 16 Eagle Street, Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 487-5400 |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | 16 Eagle Street, Room 128, Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 487-5100 |
| District Attorney | 6 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 487-5460 |
| Public Defender | County Courthouse, Room 513, Albany, NY 12207 Phone: (518) 447-7100 |
The Albany County FOIL portal is available online for submitting open records requests to county offices.
You can track your FOIL request status through this system. Agencies must respond within 5 business days under Public Officers Law Section 89(3).
Search Criminal Records in Albany County
There are several ways to search for criminal history in Albany County. Online tools give you basic case info at no cost. Visiting the courthouse lets you see full case files and get copies on the spot.
The eCourts system runs WebCriminal, also called WebCrims. It shows pending criminal cases with future court dates in Albany County courts. You can search by case number, defendant name, or court calendar. This service is free and available to the public. Public terminals at the courthouse also provide free access to case search tools. For a broader statewide search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search checks court records from all 62 counties for $95.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services holds the state's fingerprint-based criminal history database. DCJS records require a formal record review with fingerprints. New York residents pay $14.25, while out-of-state requesters pay $44.25. The personal review through IdentoGo costs about $60.75. DCJS records are not public and cannot be obtained through FOIL.
For people in state custody, the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is a free online tool. It covers inmates from 1982 to the present. You can search by name or Department Identification Number and see conviction charges, sentence data, and release status.
Note: Albany County is the state capital and home to DCJS headquarters at 80 South Swan Street, making it a key location for criminal history record processing in New York.
Albany County Courts and Case Access
The Albany County court system falls under the 3rd Judicial District. The County Court handles felony criminal cases and some civil matters. The Supreme Court takes on major civil and criminal cases. Both are at the courthouse at 16 Eagle Street. Town and village courts spread across the county deal with misdemeanors, traffic tickets, and small claims.
Albany City Court at 1 Morton Avenue handles criminal cases that start in the city of Albany. Call (518) 453-4640 for info on cases there. The Supreme and County Court can be reached at (518) 285-8989. For certified copies of court documents, you go through the County Clerk's Office. Search fees are $5.00 per name if you do not have an index number. Standard copies run $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first four pages plus $1.25 for each page after that.
The state's Sex Offender Registry is another source of criminal history data. DCJS runs the registry under the Sex Offender Registration Act, which took effect January 21, 1996. You can search Level 2 and Level 3 offenders online. For Level 1 offenders, call 800-262-3257 with the person's name and one identifier.
The Albany County District Attorney's Office at 6 Lodge Street prosecutes criminal cases ranging from misdemeanors to serious felonies. Active investigation files are generally exempt from FOIL disclosure. The DA's office also runs victim assistance programs for people affected by crime in Albany County.
FOIL Requests in Albany County
Albany County uses an online FOIL portal through NextRequest. You can submit and track records requests electronically. This covers the Sheriff's Office, County Clerk, and other county agencies. The public information officer can be reached at (518) 487-5110.
Under New York's Freedom of Information Law, found in Public Officers Law Article 6, government agencies must make records available to the public with some exceptions. Agencies have 5 business days to acknowledge your request. They then have 20 business days to provide records or give a written explanation for any delay. Electronic records are sent by email when possible. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. Keep in mind that criminal history records held by DCJS are not available through FOIL. You need to go through the DCJS record review process for those.
Criminal Record Sealing and Clean Slate
New York law allows certain criminal records to be sealed. Under CPL 160.50, records are fully sealed when a case ends favorably for the defendant. That includes acquittals, dismissals, and adjournments in contemplation of dismissal under CPL 170.55. CPL 160.55 covers partial sealing when charges are reduced to a violation. CPL 720.35 seals records for youthful offenders, which are people charged with crimes committed between ages 16 and 18.
The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. It gives the Office of Court Administration up to three years to set up automatic sealing of eligible convictions. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies will not be sealed. Until that system is live, DCJS records will still show convictions that may later qualify. Albany County residents can contact the Public Defender's Office at (518) 447-7100 for help understanding whether their records may be eligible for sealing.
The state screenshot below shows the DCJS main portal, which is also the source for statewide criminal history record requests.
DCJS headquarters is right in Albany at 80 South Swan Street, just a short walk from the County Courthouse.
Cities in Albany County
Albany County includes the state capital and several surrounding towns. Criminal history records for all locations in the county go through the Albany County courts and Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Albany County. If you are not sure which county handles a case, check the address where the arrest or filing took place.