Schenectady County Criminal History
Schenectady County criminal history records come from several offices spread across the county. The Sheriff's Office at 320 Veeder Avenue handles arrest records and runs the county jail. The County Clerk at 620 State Street keeps felony case files from the Supreme Court and County Court. You can search pending criminal cases online through the state's WebCrims system or visit the courthouse at 612 State Street in person. For a full statewide search, the Office of Court Administration offers a Criminal History Record Search covering all 62 counties for $95. This guide covers how to find and get criminal history records in Schenectady County, New York.
Schenectady County Overview
Schenectady County Criminal History Records
The Schenectady County Sheriff's Office is located at 320 Veeder Avenue in Schenectady. The main phone is (518) 388-4300. The Records Unit is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. You can email records requests to sheriffrecords@schenectadycounty.com or mail them to the Records Unit at 320 Veeder Ave, Schenectady, NY 12307. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and operates the county correctional facility. A certified arrest record copy costs $15.00. Standard photocopies run $0.25 per page.
The screenshot below shows the Schenectady County Sheriff's Office website, which is the starting point for FOIL requests related to arrest records and incident reports.
You can download the FOIL request form from the Sheriff's Office site and submit it by email or mail. Government agencies may submit requests on official letterhead.
The Schenectady County Clerk's Office is at 620 State Street, 3rd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305. County Clerk Cara M. Ackerley oversees the office. Call (518) 388-4220 or fax (518) 388-4224. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. The Clerk serves as clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court and keeps felony case records, civil filings, and official documents on file. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies carry an additional fee.
The County Clerk's Office provides public access to court records during regular business hours. You can inspect records at no charge in person.
| Sheriff's Office | 320 Veeder Avenue, Schenectady, NY 12307 Phone: (518) 388-4300 |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | 620 State Street, 3rd Floor, Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: (518) 388-4220 |
| County Court | 612 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: (518) 285-8445 |
| District Attorney | 612 State Street, Schenectady, NY 12305 Phone: (518) 388-4310 |
Search Criminal Records in Schenectady County
There are free and paid ways to search criminal history in Schenectady County. Each method gives you a different type of data depending on what you need.
The eCourts WebCriminal system, also called WebCrims, shows pending criminal cases with future court dates in Schenectady County courts. You can search by case number, defendant name, or court calendar. This tool is free and open to the public. Public computer terminals at the courthouse at 612 State Street also provide free access. For a broader statewide criminal history check, the OCA Criminal History Record Search covers records from all 62 New York counties for a fee of $95 per search. You search by name and date of birth, and the results cover open cases and convictions in county, city, town, and village courts. Sealed records are not included.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains the state's fingerprint-based criminal history database. DCJS records require fingerprints and a formal request. New York residents pay $14.25, and out-of-state requesters pay $44.25. Personal reviews through IdentoGo cost about $60.75. DCJS records are not public and cannot be obtained through FOIL. For people in state custody, the DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is free. It covers inmates from 1982 to the present and shows conviction charges, sentence data, and custody status.
Note: Schenectady County is part of the 4th Judicial District. The courthouse at 612 State Street handles both County Court and Supreme Court criminal matters.
Schenectady County Courts and Case Access
The Schenectady County Court at 612 State Street handles felony criminal cases. The Supreme Court takes on major civil and criminal matters. Both courts are in the same building. Town and village courts handle misdemeanors and lower-level cases across the county.
The Schenectady City Court handles criminal matters that begin in the city. The county court appellate number is (518) 285-8445. For certified copies of court documents, you go to the County Clerk's Office at 620 State Street. Search fees and copy fees apply depending on how you request the records. Public terminals at the courthouse give free access to WebCrims for pending case lookups.
The state's Sex Offender Registry, run by DCJS under the Sex Offender Registration Act (SORA), is another source of criminal data. SORA 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.
FOIL Requests in Schenectady County
Schenectady County residents can submit Freedom of Information Law requests to the Sheriff's Office by downloading the FOIL form from the county website. Government agency requests go by email to sheriffrecords@schenectadycounty.com or by mail to the Records Unit at 320 Veeder Avenue. Public requests need a completed FOIL form. Fees are $15.00 for a certified arrest record copy and $0.25 per page for photocopies.
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 certain exceptions. Agencies have 5 business days to acknowledge your request and 20 business days to provide records or give a written explanation for any delay. Keep in mind that criminal history records held by DCJS cannot be obtained through FOIL. You need the DCJS record review process for those. The NYS Committee on Open Government can answer questions about your rights under FOIL.
Note: The FOIL response timeline starts when the agency receives your request, not when you send it. Always keep a copy of what you submitted.
Sealing Records and Clean Slate in Schenectady County
New York law lets certain criminal records be sealed. Under CPL 160.50, records are fully sealed when a case ends in the defendant's favor. 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, meaning people charged with crimes they 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 build the systems needed for 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 be sealed under Clean Slate. The state DCJS portal shown below is also the starting point for statewide criminal history record requests.
DCJS is based at 80 South Swan Street in Albany and is the state's official source for certified rap sheets. Schenectady County residents can call (518) 457-9847 for record review questions.
Cities in Schenectady County
Schenectady County includes the City of Schenectady and several surrounding towns. Criminal history records for all locations in the county go through the Schenectady County courts and Sheriff's Office.
Nearby Counties
These counties border Schenectady County. If you are not sure which county handled a case, check where the arrest or filing took place.