New York has two parallel criminal history systems that matter for the public: the DCJS RAP sheet, which is the official fingerprint-based criminal history maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services and not accessible to the general public; and the OCA Criminal History Record Search, run by the Office of Court Administration, which is available to anyone for $95 and returns name-based records of open and pending cases and convictions from all 62 counties' courts. Understanding which system you can actually access -- and what each returns -- is the starting point. New York also does not have general expungement; it has sealing, with marijuana convictions being the one category where true expungement is available under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act. This guide covers the full system.
What Makes New York Arrest Records Public
New York's public records framework is governed by the Freedom of Information Law, known as FOIL, at Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90. Arrest records and criminal history information are subject to FOIL, but access to the most comprehensive records is legally restricted.
The Division of Criminal Justice Services is New York's central repository for criminal history record information. Under Article 35 of the New York Executive Law, access to DCJS criminal history records is restricted -- they are not public records in the way most people understand the term. Only the subject of the record, law enforcement, and certain authorized employers (such as those conducting background checks for positions involving children or vulnerable adults) may access the full DCJS RAP sheet.
For the general public, the Office of Court Administration provides the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS), which returns name-based, non-certified court records of convictions and open cases for $95.
Basic arrest information -- arrest blotters, booking details, and court case filings -- is available through local police departments, county sheriff offices, and the New York State Unified Court System.
Exemptions from public access include full DCJS RAP sheets (restricted to subject and authorized parties), sealed and expunged records, juvenile records under Family Court Act 381.2, and records related to active investigations.
What a New York Arrest Record Contains
An arrest record is a booking document. It reflects the facts of an arrest at the time of booking and carries no presumption of guilt.
The DCJS RAP sheet -- available only to the subject and authorized parties -- contains the person's full criminal history: all arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, and supervision information. It includes both sealed and unsealed records. When accessed by law enforcement or authorized agencies, it provides a complete picture of all interactions with the criminal justice system.
The OCA CHRS search ($95, available to anyone) returns non-certified records of open and pending criminal cases and convictions from county, supreme, city, town, and village courts in New York's 62 counties. Sealed records and expunged marijuana records do not appear in this search. The results are name-based and are not considered certified or official for legal purposes.
Individual local agencies -- police departments and county sheriffs -- maintain their own booking records, which typically include name, date and time of arrest, location, charges, arresting agency, and booking photograph.
How to Search New York Arrest Records
The OCA Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) is the primary public tool for statewide court-based criminal history. Access online through the OCA's direct access system at the New York Courts website (nycourts.gov), or by mail using the CHRS Application Form sent to: Criminal History Record Search, NYS Office of Court Administration, 25 Beaver Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10004. Contact: CHRS@nycourts.gov. The fee is $95 per search. Name and date of birth are required; each alias or alternate date of birth counts as an additional search. Results are typically provided the following business day and are not certified.
The New York State Unified Court System also provides a free Criminal Case Lookup for cases with future court appearances. This is useful for checking the status of recent arrests that have not yet been resolved.
County sheriff offices and local police departments maintain booking records for recent arrests. New York has 62 counties and each maintains its own booking records. Most larger county sheriff offices and city police departments publish online inmate rosters or arrest blotters.
For broader multi-source searches that aggregate public record data across New York's 62 counties and other jurisdictions, TruthFinder is a practical option.
VINELink at vinelink.com connects to the New York DOC system and many county facilities and provides free real-time custody status and notification registration.
County Jail Records in New York
New York's 62 counties each operate local jails. County jails hold people recently arrested, those awaiting trial, and individuals serving sentences of one year or less. New York City operates its own separate jail system at Rikers Island and other borough facilities.
When someone is sentenced to more than one year in state prison, they enter the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) system. DOCCS provides a free online inmate lookup accessible through its website at doccs.ny.gov. You can search by name or DIN number to locate current state inmates and get facility, sentence, and parole information.
Federal Arrests in New York
Federal arrests in New York are made by agencies including the FBI, the DEA, U.S. Marshals, the ATF, and Homeland Security Investigations. New York is home to the U.S. District Courts for the Southern District of New York (Manhattan and White Plains) and the Eastern District of New York (Brooklyn, Queens, Staten Island, and Long Island).
The BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the official free tool for locating anyone serving a federal sentence. Search by name or BOP register number. Federal court records are available through the PACER system at pacer.gov.
Federal arrests and convictions are not part of the DCJS RAP sheet or OCA CHRS system.
Arrest Records Versus Conviction Records
An arrest record documents that law enforcement took someone into custody. A conviction record documents a court's finding of guilt. In New York, the FOIL framework makes basic arrest information accessible through local agencies, but the comprehensive DCJS criminal history is restricted.
Under Criminal Procedure Law 160.50, when a case is dismissed or results in acquittal, the court automatically seals the records. This means non-conviction arrests are automatically removed from the public-facing OCA CHRS system and from standard background checks without the person needing to take any action. The records remain in sealed status at the DCJS and courts, accessible to law enforcement for subsequent proceedings.
New York Record Sealing Under CPL Article 160
New York does not have a general expungement statute for conviction records. The state uses sealing, which means records are made confidential and removed from public background checks but the physical and electronic records continue to exist within the court system and DCJS databases. Courts, prosecutors, and certain fingerprint-based background check agencies for sensitive positions can still access sealed records.
Automatic sealing (CPL 160.50): Upon acquittal, dismissal, or termination of a case in favor of the accused, court records are automatically sealed. Fingerprint cards, booking photos, and related materials may be returned to the defendant on application.
Conviction sealing after 10 years (CPL 160.59): Persons with no more than two criminal convictions in their lifetime (of which no more than one is a felony), who have been crime-free for at least 10 years since their conviction or release from incarceration, may apply to the sentencing court to have their records sealed. The application requires filing a motion with the court; fees of $5 (outside NYC) or $10 (within NYC five boroughs) apply for the Certificate of Disposition. Sex offenses, violent felonies, Class A felonies, and certain other serious offenses are ineligible for sealing. Expunged marijuana convictions do not count toward the two-conviction limit.
Drug conviction sealing (CPL 160.58): Persons convicted of certain drug-related offenses who have successfully completed a court-approved substance abuse treatment program may apply to seal up to four convictions, including one felony.
Marijuana expungement (under the MRTA): Certain marijuana convictions -- primarily possession offenses that are no longer criminal under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act -- were subject to automatic expungement. True expungement in these cases means the record is erased, not just sealed. Courts were given up to two years from the MRTA's enactment to process these expungements automatically.
InmateAid's guides on record sealing cover New York's framework in more detail. Mugshot removal from third-party sites after sealing is addressed in InmateAid's resources on that topic.
Frequently asked questions
Are New York arrest records public?
Basic arrest information is public under FOIL (Public Officers Law 84-90). However, the full DCJS RAP sheet is restricted -- available only to the subject, law enforcement, and certain authorized employers, not the general public. The OCA CHRS returns court-based conviction and open case records for $95 and is available to anyone. Sealed, expunged, and juvenile records are not accessible to the public.
How do I search New York arrest records?
The OCA CHRS at nycourts.gov or by mail to 25 Beaver Street, 9th Floor, New York, NY 10004 (CHRS@nycourts.gov) provides statewide name-based court records for $95. The free NY Courts Criminal Case Lookup shows cases with future appearances. For recent arrests, check the county sheriff's or police department's online roster. For multi-source results, TruthFinder aggregates public record data. For VINELink custody notifications, visit vinelink.com. For DOCCS state prison inmates, search at doccs.ny.gov.
What does a New York arrest record contain?
The DCJS RAP sheet (restricted to subject and authorized parties) contains the full criminal history: all arrests, charges, convictions, sentences, and supervision data including sealed records. The OCA CHRS ($95, publicly available) contains non-certified court records of open and pending cases and convictions from all 62 counties -- sealed and expunged records do not appear.
Is an arrest the same as a conviction in New York?
No. An arrest documents that someone was taken into custody. A conviction reflects a court's finding of guilt. Under CPL 160.50, when a case ends in dismissal or acquittal, records are automatically sealed -- meaning non-conviction arrests disappear from the public CHRS without any action from the individual. Law enforcement retains access to sealed records.
How do I find someone in a New York county jail?
Check the county sheriff's or jail website where the arrest occurred. New York City's jail lookup is available through the NYC Board of Correction system. VINELink at vinelink.com connects to many NY facilities statewide. For someone sentenced to more than one year in state prison, use the DOCCS inmate lookup at doccs.ny.gov.
Can I search federal arrest records in New York?
Federal court records are available through PACER at pacer.gov. For someone serving a federal sentence, the BOP Inmate Locator at bop.gov/inmateloc is the free official tool. Federal arrests are not part of the DCJS or OCA CHRS system.
How long does an arrest stay on record in New York?
Non-conviction arrests are automatically sealed under CPL 160.50 upon dismissal or acquittal. Conviction records remain in the DCJS and court systems indefinitely unless sealed under CPL 160.59 (after 10 years, limited eligibility) or CPL 160.58 (drug offenses after treatment completion), or expunged (marijuana convictions under the MRTA only).
Who qualifies for record sealing in New York?
Under CPL 160.59: crime-free for 10 years since conviction or release, maximum 2 total convictions (max 1 felony), no sex offenses, violent felonies, or Class A felonies. The application is filed with the sentencing court. Fees of $5-10 apply. Under CPL 160.58: drug convictions after completing a court-approved substance abuse treatment program, up to 4 convictions including one felony.
Does New York have expungement?
Not in the traditional sense for most convictions. New York uses sealing, which makes records confidential but does not destroy them. The exception is marijuana convictions -- certain marijuana possession offenses that are no longer criminal under the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act were subject to automatic expungement, meaning true erasure of the record. For all other convictions, sealing under CPL 160.59 or 160.58 is the available remedy.
Why does my record show an arrest but no conviction?
Non-conviction arrests in New York are automatically sealed under CPL 160.50 when the case ends in dismissal or acquittal. If a non-conviction arrest is appearing on a background check, the record may be sourced from a local police booking log, a court filing from before sealing was processed, or a third-party aggregator that captured the record before sealing. Official DCJS and OCA CHRS records should not show automatically-sealed non-conviction entries. ---
Discovery Offer - Silos 1-2
Search arrest records and find out where they are
If you're trying to locate someone who was arrested or find out where they are being held, TruthFinder searches arrest records, court records, and custody status across all 50 states.