Chemung County Criminal History Search

Chemung County criminal history records are kept at offices in and around Elmira. The County Clerk at 210 Lake Street maintains Supreme Court and County Court case files. The Sheriff's Office at 211 William Street handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail operations. You can look up pending criminal cases online through the state's WebCrims tool at no cost. For full case files or certified copies, visit the courthouse in person. This page covers the main sources for criminal history records in Chemung County and explains how to search them or get copies.

Chemung County Criminal History Records

The Chemung County Sheriff's Office at 211 William Street in Elmira provides law enforcement services across the county. The office runs the county jail and handles patrol, investigations, and civil process. Call (607) 737-2920 for the main line. Arrest records and incident reports can be requested through FOIL. The Sheriff's Office processes these requests through its records division.

The Chemung County Clerk's Office at 210 Lake Street maintains court records from the Supreme Court and County Court. The Clerk serves as clerk of these courts and keeps felony case files, civil filings, and other official documents. You can visit during business hours to view records or request copies. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies are available for an additional fee.

The state's DCJS portal handles all fingerprint-based criminal history searches across New York, including Chemung County records.

DCJS is based in Albany but maintains records from every county. The fingerprint-based review costs $14.25 for New York residents.

How to Search Chemung County Criminal History

Several tools let you search for criminal history in Chemung County. Online options are fast and free for basic case data. The courthouse gives you full file access.

The eCourts system provides WebCriminal for pending criminal cases with future court dates. You can search by case number, name, or court calendar. It covers the 6th Judicial District, which includes Chemung County. The Chemung County Court at 224 Lake Street handles felony cases. Call (607) 737-2081 for court info.

For a statewide check, the OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95. It needs an exact name and date of birth. The Division of Criminal Justice Services runs the state's fingerprint-based database. You can only get your own record through IdentoGo. DCJS records are not public and cannot be obtained through FOIL.

The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is free and covers state prison inmates from 1982 on. The Sex Offender Registry lets you search Level 2 and Level 3 offenders online or call 800-262-3257 for Level 1 searches.

Criminal Records Access and Sealing

FOIL requests are how you get arrest records and incident reports from Chemung County agencies. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, you submit a written request to the records access officer at the relevant agency. They have 5 business days to acknowledge it and 20 days to provide the records or explain any delay. Copies run $0.25 per page.

New York's sealing laws apply to Chemung County criminal records. CPL 160.50 provides full sealing when a case ends in the defendant's favor. CPL 160.55 covers partial sealing when charges drop to a violation. CPL 720.35 seals youthful offender records automatically. The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, directs OCA to build automatic sealing for eligible convictions over the next three years. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies are excluded from the Clean Slate Act.

Nearby Counties

These counties are near Chemung County. Check where the case was filed to find the right office.