Access Cattaraugus County Felony Records
Cattaraugus County felony records are processed through the County Court in Little Valley and the Sheriff's Office on Court Street. The county sits in the 8th Judicial District and was established in 1808. Criminal case files, arrest data, and conviction records can be searched through the court system or by contacting the Sheriff's Office. The County Clerk maintains civil court records but not criminal files, so felony record requests need to go to the courts or law enforcement directly.
Cattaraugus County Overview
Cattaraugus County Court and Felony Cases
Cattaraugus County Court is part of the 8th Judicial District. The court has jurisdiction over felony criminal cases and civil cases with claims up to $25,000. The Supreme Court in the county also handles felony cases and civil matters over $25,000. Town and Village Courts deal with misdemeanors, violations, and small claims under $3,000.
Court records in Cattaraugus County are public under the New York Freedom of Information Law. Exemptions exist for sealed records, juvenile matters, and sensitive information. The court maintains case files with docket sheets, pleadings, exhibits, warrants, filings, and sentencing details. Certificates of Disposition must come from the court where the case was heard.
The court participates in the NYSCEF e-filing system for certain case types. Public access terminals are available for searching case data during business hours. Court calendars listing scheduled appearances are publicly available. The Family Court handles juvenile matters with restricted access, and the Surrogate's Court deals with probate cases.
Historical court records in Cattaraugus County go back to 1808 when the county was formed. The court coordinates with the Sheriff's Office and District Attorney for case processing and records management.
Sheriff's Office Arrest Records and Felony Data
The Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office is at 301 Court Street, Little Valley, New York 14755-1090. The main administrative number is (716) 938-9191. The office is accredited by the New York State Law Enforcement Accreditation Program, meeting quality standards for law enforcement operations and record keeping.
Key contact extensions at the Sheriff's Office include: Detective Division (ext. 2225), Jail Division (ext. 2200), Patrol Division (ext. 2264), Warrants (ext. 2203), and Records Clerk (ext. 2399). The Cattaraugus County Jail can be reached at (716) 938-9194. Fax numbers include Communications at 716-938-6420 (24 hours) and Administration at 716-938-6552 during business hours.
The Sheriff's Office maintains an online Police Blotter with information about recent arrests and incidents. Records requests go through the Records Clerk at extension 2399 or by mail to the Records Access Officer. The Detective Division handles criminal investigations and keeps case files for active and closed cases. Warrant information is available by calling extension 2203.
| Office | Cattaraugus County Sheriff's Office |
|---|---|
| Address | 301 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755 |
| Phone | (716) 938-9191 |
| Records Clerk | Extension 2399 |
County Clerk's Office and Civil Records
The Cattaraugus County Clerk's Office is at 303 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755. Call 716-938-9111. County Clerk Alan Bernstein is a Constitutional Officer elected for a four-year term. The office maintains civil court records for Supreme Court and County Court, but does not keep criminal records. Those are maintained separately by the courts.
Copy fees at the Clerk's Office are $0.65 per page, with certified copies costing an extra $5.00. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Online records search is available through subscription-based services for real estate and land records. For criminal records, contact the County Court or Sheriff's Office directly.
Statewide Felony Record Search Tools
State-level tools can search for felony records that include Cattaraugus County. The OCA CHRS portal costs $95 per search and covers conviction records from all 62 New York counties. Results come back by the next business day. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free and searches for people in state prison. The Sex Offender Registry is also free to search.
Under CPL Section 160.59, people with eligible convictions can apply to have records sealed after 10 years. The applicant can have no more than two convictions total. The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, provides for automatic sealing of misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years from release. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies will not be sealed under this law.
CPL Section 160.50 automatically seals records when charges are dismissed or a person is acquitted. CPL Section 160.58 covers substance abuse conviction sealing. CPL Section 720.35 protects youthful offender records. For checking your own record, contact DCJS Record Review at 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. The court records information page explains how to request records from New York courts.
Cities in Cattaraugus County
Cattaraugus County does not have major cities with dedicated pages on this site. All felony cases in the county go through the Cattaraugus County Court.
Nearby Counties
These neighboring counties in western New York maintain their own felony records and court systems.