Ontario County Criminal History Records

Ontario County criminal history records are held by several offices in and around Canandaigua. The County Clerk stores felony case files from the Supreme Court and County Court. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and operates the county jail. You can search pending criminal cases online through the state's WebCrims system or go to the courthouse on North Main Street in Canandaigua to look at records in person. For a full statewide search that covers all 62 counties, the Office of Court Administration offers a Criminal History Record Search for a fee. This page explains how to find and get criminal history records in Ontario County.

Ontario County Criminal History Records Offices

The Ontario County Sheriff's Office is located at 3045 County Complex Drive in Canandaigua. The office provides law enforcement across Ontario County, manages the county jail, and handles requests for arrest records and incident reports. You can reach the Sheriff's Office by phone at (585) 396-1800. Records requests are handled through a FOIL process. Arrest records, booking information, and incident reports are available once the request is reviewed and approved.

The Sheriff's Office screenshot below shows the official web portal for Ontario County law enforcement services.

You can visit the Sheriff's Office in person or submit a written FOIL request to get copies of arrest records and incident reports.

The Ontario County Clerk's Office is at 27 North Main Street in Canandaigua, phone (585) 396-4200. The Clerk acts as clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court. Felony case records, civil filings, and other court documents are on file here. You can visit in person to look at case files at no cost. Copies have a per-page fee. Certified copies cost more. The Clerk's staff can help you find records by name or index number.

The Ontario County Clerk's Office screenshot below shows the clerk's web portal for records access.

All in-person searches at the Clerk's office are free. Copies cost extra and must be paid at the time of the request.

Search Criminal Records in Ontario County

There are a few ways to search criminal history records in Ontario County. Some are free. Others cost money. The right method depends on what you need and how much detail is required.

The eCourts system runs WebCriminal, sometimes called WebCrims. It shows pending criminal cases with future court dates in Ontario County courts. You can search by case number, defendant name, or court calendar. This tool is free and open to the public. Public terminals at the courthouse in Canandaigua also give you free access to case search tools. For a broader search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search checks court records across all 62 New York counties for $95. Results come back faster when there is no match. Cases with records are held for review.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services keeps the state's fingerprint-based criminal history database. DCJS records require a formal record review process with fingerprints. New York State residents pay $14.25. Out-of-state requesters pay $44.25. A personal review through IdentoGo costs around $60.75. DCJS records are not public and cannot be obtained through FOIL.

To find someone held in a state prison, the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is free. It covers inmates from 1982 to now. Search by name or Department Identification Number to see conviction data, sentence info, and custody status.

Ontario County Courts and Case Access

Ontario County courts sit under the 7th Judicial District. The County Court at 27 North Main Street handles felony criminal cases. The Supreme Court handles major civil and criminal matters. Town and village courts spread across the county deal with misdemeanors and traffic violations. Call (585) 396-4400 to reach the County Court clerk.

For certified copies of court documents, go to the County Clerk's Office. A name search costs $5.00 if you do not have an index number. Standard copies run $0.25 per page. Certified copies cost more. All written search requests must include the full name of the person you are searching for. The Clerk's staff can tell you whether a case is on file and what documents are available.

The state's Sex Offender Registry is another source of criminal history information. 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 identifying piece of information.

FOIL Requests and Record Sealing in Ontario County

New York's Freedom of Information Law, found in Public Officers Law Article 6, gives the public the right to access records from government agencies. Agencies must respond within 5 business days. They have 20 business days to provide records or give a written reason for any delay. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page. You can submit FOIL requests to the Ontario County Sheriff's Office or County Clerk in writing. Include as much detail as you can about the records you need.

Criminal history records held by DCJS cannot be obtained through FOIL. You must use the DCJS Record Review process for those. DCJS will only release a person's own criminal history record to that person, not to third parties.

Under CPL 160.50, records are fully sealed when a case ends in the defendant's favor. That covers acquittals, dismissals, and adjournments in contemplation of dismissal under CPL 170.55. CPL 160.55 covers partial sealing when charges drop to a violation. CPL 720.35 seals records for youthful offenders, which covers people charged with crimes committed between ages 16 and 18.

New York's Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. It directs the Office of Court Administration to set up automatic sealing of certain conviction records. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies will not be sealed. The system is being built now and may take up to three years to go fully live. Until then, DCJS records will still show convictions that may later qualify for sealing under the new law.

The screenshot below shows the New York DCJS main portal, which is the statewide source for criminal history record requests.

DCJS is based in Albany and serves all 62 counties. Ontario County residents can use the DCJS record review process to get a copy of their own state criminal history.

Nearby Counties

These counties border Ontario County. If you are not sure which county handles a case, check the address where the arrest or filing took place.