Westchester County Felony Records Search

Westchester County felony records are managed through the County Clerk's Office in White Plains. As one of New York's most populous counties, Westchester has robust court and records systems. The county is part of the 9th Judicial District. Felony cases are heard in Westchester County Court, and the Clerk's Office keeps all court files. The District Attorney at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. prosecutes criminal cases, while the Department of Correction at 10 Woods Road in Valhalla maintains jail records. WebCrims covers Westchester County for pending case lookups online.

Westchester County Clerk and Felony Case Records

The Westchester County Clerk's Office at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601, maintains criminal records for Supreme and County Courts. Records include both felony and misdemeanor case files. These are classified as public records under New York Public Officers Law Section 86, with certain restrictions on what can be disclosed. Adult conviction records are generally open to the public. Ongoing investigations, sealed records, juvenile records, and matrimonial files are restricted.

The County Clerk offers online searching through its records portal. Criminal court records are searchable by name or case number. The online search fee is $5.00 per name. Certified copies are available for an additional charge. In-person requests can be made Monday through Friday, 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Written requests work too if you include a self-addressed stamped envelope. The online database covers criminal cases from 1978 to the present. Cases older than that may require an in-person visit or a request to the County Archives.

Felony case files are kept permanently. Misdemeanor files stay on record for 25 years after disposition. Historical records from 10 to 15 or more years ago may not have been digitized yet. For those, you may need to go through the Archives Reference Desk at 2199 Saw Mill River Road, Elmsford, NY 10523. The fee for individual archive records is $15.

Westchester County Sheriff and Felony Arrest Records

The Westchester County Department of Correction at 10 Woods Road, Valhalla, NY 10595 maintains incarceration records. Phone: (914) 231-1000. An inmate lookup system shows custody status and can be searched by name or booking number. The lookup includes booking date and housing location. No fee or registration is needed to use the inmate search. County jail inmate records are kept for 10 years after release. Visitor logs are held for 3 years, and inmate disciplinary records for 3 years past release.

The District Attorney's Office at 111 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., White Plains, NY 10601 prosecutes all crimes in the county. Phone: (914) 995-3414. The office maintains prosecution records and provides victim assistance. Specialized units handle different types of crime. For FOIL requests, the Records Access Officer is at 148 Martine Avenue, White Plains, NY 10601. Phone: (914) 995-2000. FOIL requests are acknowledged within 5 business days and records are provided within 20 business days.

For state prison searches, the DOCCS Inmate Lookup is free and available around the clock. The Sex Offender Registry is searchable online by name, county, or zip code.

Statewide Felony Record Search Tools

The OCA Criminal History Record Search is the broadest statewide tool at $95 per name. It covers conviction records from all 62 counties. Westchester County is also covered by WebCrims, the online criminal court case search system. WebCrims shows pending criminal cases and some recent dispositions from Westchester County Court.

DCJS maintains fingerprint-based criminal history records that are not public. The DCJS Record Review costs $63.50 and lets you check your own record. You must submit fingerprints. The unsuppressed version includes sealed records under CPL 160.50, 160.55, 160.58, 160.59, and 720.35. The suppressed version omits them. Processing takes 7 to 10 business days. These records cannot be requested for another person.

Westchester County court records can also be searched through the NYSCEF portal for e-filed cases. The NYS court records help page explains the different ways to get court records from any New York court. Copy fees from the County Clerk run $5.00 for up to 5 pages, then $1.00 for each additional page. Non-certified copies are $1.30 for 2 pages, then $0.65 per page. Mail requests carry an extra $5.00 search fee. Checks or money orders must be payable to Westchester County Archives. Credit cards are not accepted for record requests.

Sealed Records and Westchester County Felony Cases

Several New York laws control when criminal records get sealed. CPL Section 160.50 seals records automatically when charges are dismissed or a person is acquitted. CPL Section 160.59 allows people to petition for sealing of eligible convictions after 10 years. The person cannot have more than two misdemeanor convictions or one felony and one misdemeanor conviction. No pending charges can be open when the petition is filed. The DA has 45 days to object.

The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Under it, OCA has up to three years to set up automatic sealing. Misdemeanor convictions will seal 3 years after the sentence is done. Felonies seal after 8 years. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies like murder are excluded from sealing. Until the system is fully running, records that will eventually be sealed still show up in search results. This affects both county-level and statewide searches.

CPL Section 160.58 allows sealing of certain drug convictions after treatment program completion. CPL Section 720.35 protects youthful offender records. Correction Law Section 9 directs DOCCS to remove public information 3 years after a person finishes their sentence. Sealed records remain accessible to law enforcement, prosecutors, courts, and certain licensing boards authorized by law.

How to Search Westchester County Felony Records

Westchester County offers more access options than most New York counties because of its size and resources.

• Search online at the Westchester County Clerk's records portal for $5 per name search
• Visit the Clerk's Office at 110 Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd. in White Plains during business hours
• Use WebCrims for pending Westchester criminal cases
• Run a CHRS search for $95 covering all 62 counties
• File a FOIL request with the Records Access Officer at (914) 995-2000
• Search DOCCS Inmate Lookup for state prison inmates

For archived records, contact the Archives Reference Desk at 2199 Saw Mill River Road in Elmsford. The fee is $15 per record. You can also submit FOIL requests to the State Police for records in their files.

Cities in Westchester County

Westchester County has several cities and towns with dedicated felony records pages. All felony cases from these cities are processed through the Westchester County Court system in White Plains.

Nearby Counties

Counties bordering Westchester maintain their own separate felony records and court systems.