Bronx County Criminal History
Bronx County criminal history records are held at the county courthouse and through the New York City court system. The Bronx County Clerk keeps Supreme Court and County Court case files at 851 Grand Concourse. The Supreme Court Criminal Term at 265 East 161st Street handles all felony cases in the Bronx. You can search for pending criminal cases online through WebCrims at no cost. For copies of court documents, all search requests to the Clerk must be in writing. This page covers the offices that hold criminal history records in Bronx County and how to search or get copies of those records.
Bronx County Overview
Bronx County Criminal History Records
The Bronx County Clerk's Office maintains records for the Supreme Court and County Court. The office is at 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118. All search requests must be in writing. You need to include a self-addressed stamped envelope for the return of results. Case index numbers from before 1992 are stored on microfiche and need special handling. The Records Search Department can be reached at (718) 618-3377.
Fees at the Bronx County Clerk are higher than in many other New York counties. A search certificate costs $10.00 and covers a two-year period. Each additional two years or part thereof adds $5.00. Certified copies run $8.00 per document. The exemplification fee is $25.00, plus certification and copying costs. Regular copies cost 65 cents per page with a $1.50 minimum. The office takes U.S. postal money orders, certified checks, or NYS attorney's checks. Personal checks are not accepted.
The Bronx County Clerk's Office handles written requests for criminal history court records from the Supreme Court and County Court.
Staff process search requests during regular business hours, Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
| County Clerk | 851 Grand Concourse, Room 118, Bronx, NY 10451 Phone: (718) 618-3300 / (718) 618-3377 |
|---|---|
| Supreme Court Criminal | 265 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 Phone: (718) 618-3000 |
| Criminal Court | 215 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 Phone: (646) 386-4500 |
| District Attorney | 198 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451 Phone: (718) 590-2000 |
Bronx Criminal History Court System
The Bronx County Supreme Court Criminal Term handles all felony criminal cases. The Chief Clerk is Michelle Foggie, reachable at (718) 618-3000. Criminal Court Information is available at (718) 618-2460. The Summons Clerk's Office can be reached at (718) 618-2480 or (646) 386-4950. Arraignments run seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM.
The Bronx Criminal Court at 215 East 161st Street is where most criminal cases start. It handles arraignments, misdemeanors, and preliminary matters for felony cases. The court operates every day for arraignments, with regular business hours Monday through Friday. If a case involves a felony, it moves from Criminal Court to the Supreme Court Criminal Term after indictment.
The Bronx is one of five boroughs in New York City. Unlike counties outside the city, the NYC Sheriff's Office in the Bronx focuses on civil law enforcement, not criminal records. The NYPD handles criminal law enforcement in the Bronx. The Bronx Division of the NYC Sheriff is at 3030 Third Avenue, 2nd Floor, and can be called at (718) 993-3880. For arrest records or incident reports from police, you would go through the NYPD, not the Sheriff.
The District Attorney's Office at 198 East 161st Street prosecutes all criminal cases in Bronx County. The office has specialized bureaus for homicide, domestic violence, sex crimes, and other major crimes. Active investigation records are generally exempt from FOIL disclosure, but you can still submit requests for non-exempt records.
How to Search Bronx County Criminal History
Online searches are the quickest way to find basic criminal case data in Bronx County. The state's eCourts system provides WebCriminal, which shows pending cases with future court dates. You can search by case number, defendant name, or court calendar. The mobile version works on phones and tablets. This is a free service.
For a full statewide criminal history search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 New York counties. The fee is $95 per search. You need the person's exact name and date of birth. Results show open, pending, and conviction data from all court levels. Sealed records do not appear. Cases that only involve violations or infractions are not included either.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services holds the state's fingerprint-based criminal history database. You need to submit fingerprints through IdentoGo to get your own record. The cost is $14.25 for New York residents. DCJS records are not available through FOIL. They are only released through the formal record review process.
The state's DCJS portal is the central hub for all fingerprint-based criminal history searches in New York.
DCJS headquarters is in Albany, but their records cover arrests from every county including the Bronx.
Note: The Bronx County Clerk requires all search requests in writing. Phone and email requests for record searches are not accepted.
Record Sealing and Public Access in the Bronx
Criminal records in Bronx County can be sealed under several New York laws. CPL 160.50 provides complete sealing when a case ends in the defendant's favor, including acquittals and outright dismissals. Fingerprints, photos, and all related records are destroyed. CPL 160.55 covers partial sealing when charges get reduced to a violation. The arrest information is sealed, but court records stay available. Under CPL 720.35, youthful offender adjudications are automatically sealed.
The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024, and gives the Office of Court Administration three years to build automatic sealing processes. Once those systems are running, eligible convictions will be sealed. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies will not qualify. Until the rollout is complete, DCJS records will still include convictions that may later be sealed.
For FOIL requests in Bronx County, you can submit written requests to individual agencies. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, agencies must acknowledge your request within 5 business days. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page for most agencies. Keep in mind that DCJS criminal history records cannot be obtained through FOIL. The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is a free tool for checking if someone is in state prison.
Cities in Bronx County
Bronx County is one of five counties that make up New York City. Criminal history records for the Bronx go through the Bronx County courts and the NYPD.
Nearby Counties
These counties border or are close to Bronx County. Cases are filed in the county where the arrest or court action took place.