Search Livingston County Felony Records

Livingston County felony records are filed and kept at the County Clerk's Office in Geneseo, the county seat. The county sits in the Finger Lakes region of western New York and falls under the 7th Judicial District. Felony case files from both Supreme Court and County Court are stored by the Clerk. Access to these records is open to the public under New York's Freedom of Information Law, though sealed cases are off limits without a court order. You can search in person, by mail, or through state-run online tools. The County Court handles all felony trials, while the District Attorney's office brings charges and presents cases to the Grand Jury. Law enforcement records are kept by the Sheriff's Office.

Livingston County Clerk and Felony Case Files

The Livingston County Clerk serves as the Clerk of both Supreme and County Courts. This means felony records from both courts are kept in one place. The office is at 6 Court Street, Room 201, in Geneseo.

Only felony convictions are filed with the County Clerk. Misdemeanor cases are handled at the town and village court level and stored there. If you need a record from a lower court, you must contact that court on its own. The Clerk's office does not hold those files.

Criminal files are set up by index number and year. If you know the index number, that speeds up your search. If you don't, the staff can look it up, but there is a $5 fee for each two-year span they search. Copies cost 65 cents per page with a $1.30 floor. A certified copy runs $5 for up to four pages, then $1.25 for each page after that. The office takes cash, checks, Visa, and MasterCard.

Mail requests work too. Send a written request with a check made out to the Livingston County Clerk. Include whatever details you have: the index number, case type, date, and the names of the people involved. The more you give, the faster they can find what you need.

Felony Court Proceedings in Livingston County

Livingston County Court holds jurisdiction over all felony cases in the county. It is part of the 7th Judicial District, which also covers Monroe, Ontario, Seneca, Steuben, Wayne, and Yates counties. The court is at 2 Court Street in Geneseo.

The Grand Jury meets to decide on felony indictments. If the Grand Jury issues a true bill, the case moves to County Court for trial. Court sessions run throughout the year. All proceedings are open to the public unless a judge orders them sealed. The court also hears appeals from the town and village courts in the county, and it takes civil cases that go past the lower court limits.

Treatment courts may be available for some defendants. These focus on substance abuse or mental health and can lead to reduced charges or dismissal if the person finishes the program. Not every case qualifies. The judge and DA decide who gets in.

District Attorney and Felony Prosecution

The Livingston County District Attorney's office is at 2 Court Street in Geneseo. You can reach them at (585) 243-7030. The DA prosecutes all felony cases and some misdemeanors. Staff review each arrest to decide what charges to bring.

Felony cases go before the Grand Jury, where the DA presents evidence. The office also runs victim services for those affected by crime. Discovery materials are given to defense counsel per CPL Article 240, which sets strict rules on what must be shared and when. Some diversion programs may be offered as well, depending on the case.

Sheriff's Office Records

The Livingston County Sheriff's Office is at 4 Court Street in Geneseo. Call (585) 243-7100 for general questions. The office runs law enforcement across towns and villages that don't have their own police force. It also runs the county jail.

Arrest records and incident reports are kept by the Records Bureau. You can request these through a Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) request. Under Public Officers Law sections 84 through 90, most law enforcement records are public. But there are limits. Ongoing investigations and certain sensitive records may be held back or redacted. The office will tell you what they can and can't release.

Statewide Felony Record Tools

Several state-level databases let you look up felony records tied to Livingston County or any other county in New York.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and date of birth combination. It pulls results from all 62 counties. The search shows open cases and convictions from County, Supreme, City, Town, and Village courts. Sealed records are not shown. Results come back the next business day if you use the online system.

The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup is free and shows people currently in state prison or those released since the early 1970s. You can search by name and birth year. Under Correction Law section 9, some non-violent offenders are taken off the list three years after they finish their sentence. Violent felony offenders and sex offenders stay on the site for good.

WebCrims shows pending criminal cases with future court dates. It is free to use and does not need an account. Disposed cases drop off the system.

For personal criminal history, the DCJS Record Review process requires fingerprints and costs $62. This is the only way to get an official state rap sheet. Results come by mail in two to four weeks.

Sealed Records and the Clean Slate Act

New York law allows certain records to be sealed. Under CPL section 160.50, cases that end in dismissal or acquittal are sealed from public view. CPL section 160.59 lets people with older convictions ask a judge to seal up to two convictions. Sex offenses and Class A felonies like murder cannot be sealed under this section.

The Clean Slate Act, set to take effect in late 2024, will seal eligible conviction records on its own over a phase-in period of up to three years. The Office of Court Administration is building the systems to handle this. Records of sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies will not be sealed. Law enforcement, prosecutors, and courts keep full access to all records regardless of sealing status.

Youthful offender adjudications under CPL section 720.35 are confidential. They do not appear on public record searches. But they do show up on unsuppressed criminal history records that a person requests through DCJS.

How to Request a Certificate of Disposition

A Certificate of Disposition is an official court document showing the outcome of a case. It is not the same as a rap sheet. To get one for a Livingston County felony case, fill out a request form and submit it to the County Clerk's Office. The fee is $5. You can submit in person, by mail, or by fax.

The Clerk's Office sends the form to the court, which prints, stamps, and seals the certificate. If you are the defendant, you need to show proper ID. The court will let you know when the document is ready. Processing can take a few days to a couple of weeks, depending on how busy the office is.

Cities in Livingston County

Livingston County includes the towns of Geneseo, Dansville, Avon, Caledonia, Mount Morris, and several other small communities. None of these places meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. Felony cases from any town in Livingston County are tried in Livingston County Court in Geneseo.

Nearby Counties

Counties near Livingston share court systems and sometimes overlap in terms of law enforcement coverage. Each has its own County Court and Clerk for felony filings.