Columbia County Felony Records
Columbia County felony records are maintained by the County Court, County Clerk, and Sheriff's Office in Hudson. The county falls within the 3rd Judicial District and is located in the Hudson Valley region. Felony cases are prosecuted through the County Court at 401 Union Street. The County Clerk at 560 Warren Street keeps felony conviction records dating back to 1922 and provides online search through the IQS system. The Sheriff's Office at 85 Industrial Tract maintains arrest records and warrant information.
Columbia County Overview
Columbia County Court and Felony Cases
The Columbia County Courthouse is at 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534. The court can be reached at (518) 267-3150, fax (518) 267-3126. The Criminal Court Clerk email is columbiamultibench@nycourts.gov. Hours are 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday, with Chamber's Office hours of 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM.
The County Court Judge is Hon. Brian J. Herman. The court handles major criminal cases including felonies, along with limited civil cases up to $25,000. The criminal court operates under specific part rules that emphasize equity, fairness, timely proceedings, and transparency. All visitors must pass through a magnetometer at the entrance.
Case status tracking, future appearance dates, and disposition information are available through the Clerk's Office. Public access terminals allow case searches during business hours. Columbia County is part of the 3rd Judicial District, with appeals directed to the Appellate Division, Third Department. Town and Village Courts handle preliminary felony proceedings and maintain records for misdemeanor and violation cases.
| Court | Columbia County Court |
|---|---|
| Address | 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534 |
| Phone | (518) 267-3150 |
| columbiamultibench@nycourts.gov |
County Clerk's Office and Record Searches
The Columbia County Clerk's Office is at 560 Warren Street, Hudson, NY 12534. County Clerk Holly C. Tanner can be reached at (518) 828-3339, fax (518) 828-5299, email holly.tanner@columbiacountyny.com. Deputy County Clerk is Patrizia Gallo. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM.
The office provides online records access through the SearchIQS system. Records available include civil Supreme Court actions, County Court criminal records (felonies), land records, deeds, and mortgages. Free searches are available online, but document copies require fees. Record check fees are $5.00 for a two-year search per name. Copy fees are $0.65 per page ($1.30 minimum) for public computer prints. Certified copies are available with additional fees.
Felony case files are indexed by both name and Indictment Number. Birth date is required when requesting files by defendant name. Records sealed by court order or New York law are restricted. Juvenile records are not publicly accessible. Family Court records are confidential. Files are automatically sealed when charges are dismissed or defendants are acquitted, protecting individuals under CPL Section 160.50.
The County Clerk maintains felony conviction records dating back to 1922. Records exist in both physical and digital formats, with microfilm archives going back to the early 20th century. Attorneys must electronically file Supreme Court cases through NYSCEF, while County Court criminal cases follow traditional filing.
Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is at 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, NY 12534. The office maintains arrest records, active warrant information, and incident reports. Records requests can be submitted through FOIL procedures. The office coordinates with state and local agencies for law enforcement in the county.
Under Public Officers Law Section 89(3), agencies must respond to FOIL requests within five business days. Fees for copies cannot exceed 25 cents per page. Juvenile arrest records are maintained separately and are not public. The Sheriff's Office reports arrest data to the Division of Criminal Justice Services as part of the statewide criminal history repository.
Statewide Tools and Record Sealing
State-level tools help find felony records connected to Columbia County. The OCA CHRS costs $95 per statewide conviction search. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free. The Sex Offender Registry and WebCrims are also free to use.
CPL Section 160.50 seals records on dismissal or acquittal. CPL Section 160.59 allows sealing after 10 years for up to two eligible convictions. The Clean Slate Act auto-seals misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years from release. Sex crimes and Class A felonies are excluded. CPL Section 160.58 covers substance abuse conviction sealing. CPL Section 720.35 protects youthful offender records.
The DCJS Record Review lets you check your own criminal history. Contact 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. The court records information page explains how to get records from New York courts. Historical court records are archived at the New York State Archives, with microfilm copies available for research. You can also file FOIL requests with the State Police.
Cities in Columbia County
Columbia County does not have major cities with dedicated pages on this site. All felony cases in the county go through the Columbia County Court.
Nearby Counties
Neighboring counties in the Hudson Valley region maintain their own court systems and felony records.