Orleans County Felony Records Search

Orleans County felony records are kept at the County Clerk's Office in Albion. This small western New York county is part of the 8th Judicial District. Felony cases go through Orleans County Court, and the Clerk's Office maintains all court files including indictments, sentencing orders, and judgments of conviction. The Sheriff's Office in Albion holds arrest records and jail data, while the District Attorney prosecutes all felony cases that arise in the county. State-level tools from OCA and DCJS also cover Orleans County records.

Orleans County Clerk and Felony Court Records

The Orleans County Clerk's Office is the official keeper of Supreme and County Court records. All felony case files sit in that office. This covers every step of a felony case, from the initial indictment through sentencing and any post-conviction motions. The courthouse is in Albion, and most felony record searches start there.

Felony files are kept forever under state retention rules. Misdemeanor case records stay on file for 25 years past the disposition date. To search for a specific file, bring the index number and year if you have it. Otherwise, the Clerk's staff can search by name and date of birth. Copy costs run $0.65 per page. Certified copies are $5.00 each. If the staff needs to dig through older records, a search fee of $5.00 for every two years searched may apply. These fees follow state guidelines and are consistent across New York.

Sealed records are off limits. CPL Section 160.50 seals dismissed cases automatically. CPL Section 160.59 lets eligible people apply to seal old convictions. Only the parties involved or their attorney can see sealed files unless a judge signs an order to unseal them.

Sheriff's Office Felony Records and Arrest Data

The Orleans County Sheriff's Office handles arrest records and runs the county jail. When a felony arrest takes place in Orleans County, the Sheriff creates and stores a record of that event. Arrest records include the date, the charges, and booking information. These records do not replace a full criminal history check. They cover only what the Sheriff's Office processed.

You can get arrest records through a FOIL request to the Sheriff's Records Access Officer. The office must reply within five business days per Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90. Copies under FOIL cost no more than 25 cents a page. The Sheriff's Office also works with the District Attorney on felony investigations and keeps data on active warrants in the county. For people serving time in state prison, the DOCCS Inmate Lookup covers all state facilities. The Sex Offender Registry is also searchable online statewide.

Orleans County is a smaller county, so in-person visits tend to be the most efficient way to get local records. Phone calls to the Clerk's or Sheriff's Office can give you a sense of what is available before you make the trip.

Statewide Search Tools for Felony Records

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the broadest tool for finding conviction records. It costs $95 per name and covers data from all 62 counties. The search matches on exact name and date of birth. Results arrive the next business day. Keep in mind, these results are not certified. A certified disposition can only be issued by the court that handled the case.

If you want to check your own record, the DCJS Record Review costs $63.50 and requires you to submit fingerprints. DCJS records are not public. They can't be released through FOIL or to third parties. You get either an unsuppressed version (which includes sealed records under CPL 160.50, 160.55, 160.58, 160.59, and 720.35) or a suppressed version that leaves those out. Turnaround is 7 to 10 business days.

The NYSCEF portal holds documents from electronically filed cases. You can search as a guest without creating an account. The NYS courts help page gives a good overview of what types of records exist and how to get them.

Orleans County Felony Record Sealing and New Laws

New York's Clean Slate Act went into effect on November 16, 2024. The law directs OCA to set up an automatic sealing process over three years. Misdemeanor convictions will seal 3 years after the sentence ends. Felonies will seal after 8 years. Sex offenses and non-drug Class A felonies, such as murder, are not eligible. Until the system is fully in place, records that qualify for sealing still appear in searches.

Other sealing laws also affect Orleans County felony records. CPL Section 160.58 covers certain drug convictions where the defendant completed a treatment program. CPL Section 720.35 shields youthful offender adjudications from public view. Correction Law Section 9 requires DOCCS to take down public information 3 years after someone finishes their sentence. All of these rules work the same in Orleans County as they do across the state.

To file a FOIL request for Orleans County felony records, send it to the Records Access Officer at whichever office holds the records you want. The County Clerk, Sheriff, and DA each process their own FOIL requests. They must confirm receipt within five business days.

How to Look Up Orleans County Felony Records

Several paths exist for searching felony records in Orleans County. Choose the one that fits your needs.

• Visit the Orleans County Clerk's Office in Albion for in-person record searches
• Run a CHRS search for $95 to check statewide conviction data
• Submit a FOIL request to the Sheriff's Office for arrest and booking records
• Search DOCCS Inmate Lookup for state prison inmates
• Use your own DCJS record review through the DCJS website

For older records that have not been digitized, an in-person visit may be your only option. Call the Clerk's Office ahead of time to confirm what is available and what you need to bring.

Cities in Orleans County

Orleans County has no cities that meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. The county includes the Village of Albion, the Village of Medina, and several rural towns. All felony cases from within Orleans County are processed through the County Court in Albion.

Nearby Counties

Neighboring counties have their own court systems and maintain separate felony records.