Lewis County Felony Records Search

Lewis County felony records are maintained by the County Clerk at 7660 North State Street in Lowville and the 5th Judicial District court system. As a smaller, rural county in the Adirondack region, Lewis County provides direct, personalized assistance for record searches. The Clerk serves as the official keeper of Supreme Court and County Court records, and only felony convictions get filed in the County Clerk's Office. Lower-level offenses stay with the town and village courts where they were handled.

Lewis County Clerk Felony Records

The Lewis County Clerk at 7660 North State Street in Lowville serves as Clerk of the Supreme and County Courts. This office maintains court files for both civil and criminal cases. Criminal records here include indictments, plea agreements, sentencing orders, and post-conviction filings. The Clerk also serves as the official registrar for deeds, mortgages, judgments, and liens.

Only felony convictions are filed in the Lewis County Clerk's Office. This is an important point. If you are looking for misdemeanor or violation records, those are handled by the town and village courts where the case was heard. The Clerk's Office can point you to the right court, but they will not have those lower-level records on file.

Criminal files are organized by index number and year. If you know the index number, finding a record is quick. Without it, you can request a name search for $5.00 per two-year period. Copy fees are 65 cents per page with a $1.30 minimum. Certified copies cost $5.00 for the first four pages, then $1.25 for each additional page. The office takes cash, checks, Visa, and MasterCard for in-person requests. Mail requests need a check made out to Lewis County Clerk.

Lewis County Court and Felony Case Proceedings

Lewis County Court has jurisdiction over all felony criminal cases in the county. The court is part of the 5th Judicial District, which also includes Herkimer, Jefferson, Oneida, Onondaga, and Oswego counties. The courthouse is at 7660 North State Street in Lowville. Call 315-376-5380 for court information.

The court handles felony trials, sentencing hearings, and appeals from town and village courts. The Grand Jury meets regularly to consider felony indictments presented by the District Attorney. Court sessions run throughout the year for both criminal and civil matters. All proceedings are open to the public unless sealed by court order.

Case records maintained by the court include indictments, motions, orders, judgments, and sentencing documents. Some records may be available through the NYS Unified Court System's eCourts portal online, though access for criminal records can be limited. For a thorough search, visiting the courthouse in person is often the best option in a smaller county like Lewis.

The District Attorney's Office at 7660 North State Street (phone: 315-376-5365) prosecutes all felony cases and selected misdemeanors. The DA reviews arrests and investigations to decide on charges, then presents cases to the grand jury. Victim services and support are available through the DA's office for people affected by crime.

Sheriff's Office and Arrest Records

The Lewis County Sheriff's Office at 5254 Outer Stowe Street in Lowville (phone: 315-376-3511) provides primary law enforcement across the county. The office maintains incident reports, arrest records, and accident reports. As the main law enforcement agency for a large rural area, the Sheriff's Office handles most felony arrests outside of incorporated villages with their own police.

The Sheriff also operates the Lewis County Jail for pretrial detainees and sentenced inmates. Jail records include booking information, charges, bail status, and release dates. The civil division handles process service, evictions, and court order execution. FOIL requests are accepted for records held by the Sheriff's Office under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90.

Historical court records for Lewis County go back to 1801. The New York State Archives maintains criminal court indictment files and conviction records from 1801 through 1991. For very old records, the State Archives in Albany may be a better source than the local Clerk's Office.

Statewide Felony Record Searches

The OCA Criminal History Record Search covers all 62 counties for a $95 fee per name. It returns conviction data and open case information from courts statewide. The DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free and shows people currently or recently in state prison. Under Correction Law Section 9, certain non-violent offender data is removed three years after release.

Check WebCrims for pending criminal cases with future court dates. The Sex Offender Registry is searchable online for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders, or call 800-262-3257 for Level 1 information. The DCJS Record Review lets you check your own rap sheet for $63.50.

New York's Clean Slate Act (effective November 16, 2024) will auto-seal eligible misdemeanor convictions after 3 years and felony convictions after 8 years from release. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies are excluded. Records sealed under CPL 160.50, 160.59, or the Clean Slate Act remain available to law enforcement and certain licensing bodies. The court records help page has more details on what records are public.

Cities in Lewis County

Lewis County is a rural county with no cities that meet the population threshold for a separate page. All felony record searches for communities in Lewis County go through the County Clerk's Office and County Court in Lowville.

Nearby Counties

Surrounding counties have their own court systems and felony record offices.