Access Yates County Criminal History
Yates County criminal history records are held by local offices in Penn Yan. The County Clerk keeps Supreme Court and County Court case files, including felony records. The Sheriff's Office handles arrest records, incident reports, and jail operations. You can look up pending criminal cases online through the state's WebCrims tool for free. For the full case file or a certified copy, visit the Yates County courthouse in person. This page covers how to find and get criminal history records in Yates County, what agencies hold them, and what options you have for searching online or in person.
Yates County Overview
Yates County Criminal History Records
The Yates County Clerk's Office keeps court case files. The Yates County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records. The County Clerk serves as clerk of the Supreme Court and County Court, which means felony case records, civil filings, and other court documents are on file at the Penn Yan courthouse. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. Certified copies have an additional fee. You can visit in person to view records at no charge during business hours.
The Sheriff's Office provides law enforcement services across Yates County. Services include patrol, criminal investigations, jail operations, civil process, and court security. Arrest records and incident reports can be requested through FOIL. The office processes requests through its records division.
| Sheriff's Office | 227 Main Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527 Phone: (315) 536-4438 |
|---|---|
| County Clerk | 415 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527 Phone: (315) 536-5650 |
| County Court | 415 Liberty Street, Penn Yan, NY 14527 Phone: (315) 536-5515 |
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains the statewide criminal history database that includes Yates County records.
DCJS is based in Albany but holds fingerprint-based records from all 62 counties including Yates.
Search Criminal History in Yates County
Several ways exist to search for criminal history in Yates County. Online tools give you basic case data at no cost. Visiting the courthouse lets you see the full file and get copies right away.
The eCourts portal runs WebCriminal for pending criminal cases. You can search by case number, name, or court calendar. It covers the 7th Judicial District, which includes Yates County. For a statewide search, the OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for $95. It checks court records using an exact name and date of birth match.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services holds the state's fingerprint-based criminal history database. You can only get your own record through IdentoGo. The cost is $14.25 for New York residents and $44.25 for out-of-state requesters. DCJS records are not public and cannot be obtained through FOIL or any other open records request.
The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is a free tool for checking state prison records from 1982 on. The Sex Offender Registry allows public searches of Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. For Level 1, call 800-262-3257 with a name and one identifier.
Note: Yates County is in the 7th Judicial District. The County Court handles felony cases while town and village courts take misdemeanors and traffic matters.
Yates County Records Access and Sealing
FOIL requests are the main way to get arrest records and incident reports from Yates County agencies. Under Public Officers Law Article 6, Sections 84 through 90, government agencies must make records available with some exceptions. Submit a written request to the records access officer at the relevant agency. They have 5 business days to acknowledge receipt and 20 business days to provide the records or explain delays. Paper copies cost $0.25 per page.
New York law allows certain criminal records to be sealed. CPL 160.50 provides full sealing when a case ends favorably for the defendant, including acquittals and dismissals. CPL 160.55 handles partial sealing when charges are reduced to a violation. CPL 720.35 seals youthful offender records automatically for people charged with crimes 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 automatic sealing for eligible convictions. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies are not eligible. Until those systems go live, DCJS records will still show convictions that may later qualify for sealing under this law.
Nearby Counties
These counties are near Yates County. Check where the arrest or case was filed to find the right office.