Search Tompkins County Felony Records

Tompkins County felony records are filed at the County Clerk's Office at 320 N. Tioga Street in Ithaca. County Clerk Maureen Reynolds oversees a digitized record system that goes back to 1817. The county sits in the 6th Judicial District, and the County Court has exclusive authority to handle felony trials. About 4,500 criminal cases pass through the Clerk's Office each year. The Sheriff's Office at 779 Warren Road keeps arrest logs, booking data, and jail records separately.

Tompkins County Clerk and Felony Case Records

The Tompkins County Clerk's Office is at 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Call (607) 274-5431 or email mreynolds@tompkins-co.org. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM. This office handles about 1,400 civil cases and 4,500 criminal cases per year. All civil and criminal cases from 1817 through 2009 have been digitized using Laserfiche's self-serve document portal.

The Clerk's Office has gone completely paperless for court records. Documents get processed the day they come in. They are scanned and linked to the land management system right away. Judges can view archived case files on laptops and mobile devices, which is especially useful when reviewing cases tied to repeat offenders. The public access portal lets you search closed cases online around the clock.

Day-forward scanning means all new court paperwork gets digitized on arrival. Every document is time- and date-stamped. The digital system also provides disaster recovery benefits. For older records that were part of the back-scanning project, the full archive is now available through the online portal. Copy fees are $0.65 per page, and certified copies cost an extra $5.00.

District Attorney and Felony Prosecution Records

District Attorney Matthew Van Houten heads the office at 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. The DA's office handles all felony prosecutions in the county. The office is moving to a paperless system, migrating from a legacy case management system to NYPTI, which was developed by the New York State Prosecutors Training Institution.

The transition means that prosecution files will be born digital going forward. No more paper records to scan. The office runs projects through its "Smart Office Initiative" and works with Tompkins Cortland Community College to analyze internal processes. ADAs will be able to pull up case files on mobile devices in the courtroom. Oneida County already uses a similar setup, and Tompkins has learned from their rollout.

Prosecution records are available through FOIL requests. The DA handles all felony cases from local police departments and works with the Sheriff's Office on investigations. Under CPL Section 160.59, people can apply to seal eligible felony convictions after 10 years. The DA has 45 days to file an objection once served with a sealing application.

Sheriff's Office Felony Records and Jail Data

The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office is at 779 Warren Road, Ithaca, NY 14850. Call (607) 257-1345. The office maintains arrest records, booking information, and jail records. An Online Inmate Lookup System shows current jail population data, including booking photos, charges, bond amounts, and scheduled release dates.

Records are available through FOIL requests under Public Officers Law Section 89(3). The Sheriff must respond within five business days. Arrest records are kept permanently by law enforcement. Booking information stays on file for 10 years after the arrest date. Fingerprints are maintained permanently by DCJS. The county jail is run by the Sheriff's Office. For inmates in state prison, the DOCCS Inmate Lookup tool is free.

Tompkins County Court System

The main courthouse is at 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca, NY 14850. Email TPKSC@nycourts.gov for questions. Chief Clerk Kimberly Record can be reached at 607-216-6610. County Court Judges include Hon. Joseph R. Cassidy, Hon. Maura Kennedy-Smith, and Hon. Scott A. Miller. All visitors must pass through a magnetometer when entering.

The County Court has exclusive authority to handle trials in felony matters. It shares jurisdiction with local courts for misdemeanor cases and has limited authority to hear civil cases up to $25,000. The WebCrims database provides public access to pending and closed criminal cases. Records include case status, charges, court appearances, and disposition. The database is updated daily but does not include sealed cases or youthful offender adjudications under CPL Section 720.35.

The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name for statewide results. WebCrims is free for pending case lookups. The Sex Offender Registry covers registered offenders statewide. The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, will auto-seal eligible misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years. CPL Section 160.50 seals dismissed cases. Correction Law Section 9 governs DOCCS data retention.

How to Search Tompkins County Felony Records

• Use the Clerk's online portal for digitized court records going back to 1817
• Visit 320 N. Tioga Street, Ithaca for in-person access during business hours
• File a FOIL request with the Sheriff at (607) 257-1345 for arrest data
• Run a CHRS search for $95 statewide conviction records
• Check WebCrims for pending criminal case info

The DCJS Record Review costs $63.50 and lets you check your own rap sheet. The NYSCEF portal has electronically filed documents. Visit the NYS court records guide for step-by-step instructions on getting records from any court. State Police FOIL requests cover records they maintain.

Cities in Tompkins County

Tompkins County includes the City of Ithaca and surrounding towns like Dryden, Lansing, and Groton. None of these areas meet the population threshold for a dedicated page. All felony records in the county go through the same Clerk's Office and County Court in Ithaca. The Ithaca City Court handles local criminal proceedings but felonies move to County Court.

Nearby Counties

These neighboring counties each maintain separate felony record systems through their own clerk offices and court systems.