Monroe County Public Records /Monroe County Criminal Records

Monroe County Criminal Records

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Monroe County in 2026

Members of the public seeking criminal records in Monroe County, New York, may access publicly available information through official government repositories, court systems, and third-party aggregators such as MonroeNYRecords.us. Criminal records in Monroe County may include arrest logs, booking records, court case dispositions, conviction histories, and active warrant information. The availability and completeness of any given record depends on the originating agency, the nature of the offense, and whether the record has been sealed or expunged under applicable law.

Relevant record categories that members of the public may encounter include:

Arrest and booking records maintained by the Monroe County Sheriff's Office
Court case filings, dispositions, and sentencing records from the Monroe County Courts
State-level criminal history reports maintained by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Sex offender registry entries maintained under the New York Sex Offender Registration Act
Active warrant information from local law enforcement agencies

Records can be searched through official resources, clerk offices, public access terminals, and online tools. The following five methods outline the primary avenues available to the public.

1. County Court Records

The Monroe County Hall of Justice houses the Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, and Surrogate's Court. Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the County Clerk's office, where public access terminals are available during business hours. Requestors should bring a valid government-issued photo ID and, where possible, the full name of the subject and an approximate case filing date or case number.

Monroe County Clerk's Office
39 W. Main Street
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Monroe County Clerk

Hours: Monday–Friday, 8:00 AM–5:00 PM

2. Sheriff's Office

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest logs, inmate rosters, and booking records. The public may submit records requests directly to the Sheriff's Office. Fees may apply for copies of records. The current inmate lookup tool is accessible through the county's official web portal.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office
130 S. Plymouth Avenue
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-4178
Monroe County Sheriff's Office

3. Online Court Search

The New York State Unified Court System provides the eCourts Case Search portal, which allows members of the public to search civil and criminal case information by party name, attorney name, or index number. Users should enter the subject's full legal name and select Monroe County as the jurisdiction. Note that not all case types or historical records are available through this portal, and sealed records will not appear in search results.

4. State Criminal History Repository

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains the statewide criminal history repository. Individuals may request their own criminal history record through the DCJS Criminal History Search portal. Third-party requests for another individual's criminal history require fingerprinting and are subject to statutory authorization. Processing times and fees vary by request type.

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Alfred E. Smith Building, 80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
Phone: (518) 457-5837
DCJS Official Website

5. Written/Mail Requests

Members of the public may submit written requests for court records to the Monroe County Clerk's Office at 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614. Requests should include the subject's full name, date of birth, approximate case dates, and the requestor's contact information. Under New York Civil Rights Law § 50-a and the New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law § 84–90), agencies are required to respond to written requests within five business days of receipt.

What Is Monroe County Criminal Records

A criminal record in Monroe County is an official compilation of documented interactions between an individual and the criminal justice system, maintained by law enforcement agencies, courts, and state repositories. Under New York law, criminal records encompass a range of documents generated at each stage of the criminal justice process, from initial arrest through final disposition.

Key distinctions within criminal records include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that an individual was taken into custody; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by plea or verdict.
Felony vs. misdemeanor records: Felonies are the more serious classification under New York Penal Law, carrying potential sentences exceeding one year. Misdemeanors carry lesser penalties but are still part of the permanent record unless sealed.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Records involving individuals under age 16 (or under 18 for certain offenses) are classified as juvenile delinquency matters and are sealed by operation of law under New York Family Court Act § 375.1.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect outstanding judicial orders for arrest and are maintained in real time by law enforcement agencies.

The agencies responsible for maintaining criminal records in Monroe County include the Monroe County Sheriff's Office (arrest and jail records), the Monroe County Courts (case filings, dispositions, and sentencing), the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (statewide criminal history), and local municipal police departments such as the Rochester Police Department.

Records are created at the point of arrest and updated as the case progresses through arraignment, plea negotiations, trial, sentencing, and any subsequent appeals or supervision. A complete criminal record may include charges filed, arraignment dates, plea agreements, trial outcomes, sentencing details, fines, restitution orders, and probation or parole status.

Are Criminal Records Public In Monroe County

Criminal records in Monroe County are subject to public disclosure under the New York Freedom of Information Law, codified at Public Officers Law § 84. Under current law, adult conviction records and court proceedings are presumptively open to public inspection. As stated in the statute, "the people's right to know the process of governmental decision-making and to review the documents and statistics leading to determinations is basic to our society."

Records that are open to public inspection include adult conviction records, court case filings, sentencing records, and sex offender registry information. Records that are restricted or exempt from disclosure include:

Sealed records pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 (cases resulting in acquittal or dismissal)
Expunged records
Juvenile delinquency records
Ongoing investigation files
Victim and witness identifying information
Records subject to a court-issued protective order

The New York State Committee on Open Government provides guidance on the application of FOIL to criminal justice records and is accessible through the New York Department of State. Federal records maintained by agencies such as the FBI operate under separate federal disclosure frameworks and are not subject to New York's FOIL provisions.

How To Find Criminal Records in Monroe County Online

Official County Resources

The Monroe County government portal provides access to several online tools for locating criminal records:

The Monroe County Clerk's Office provides case search functionality for court records filed in Monroe County.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office website offers an inmate lookup tool for individuals currently held in county custody.
The New York State Unified Court System's eCourts Case Search allows searches by party name or case number across New York courts, including Monroe County.

State-Level Resources

The New York State Courts Electronic Filing System (NYSCEF) provides access to electronically filed court documents.
The DCJS Criminal History Search portal allows individuals to request their own criminal history record.
The New York State Sex Offender Registry is publicly searchable by name or geographic area.

Search Tips

Search using the subject's full legal name as well as known aliases or name variations.
Searching by case number yields the most precise results and eliminates false matches.
Cross-reference multiple databases, as no single portal contains all records.
Be aware that records predating digital filing systems may not appear in online searches.
Sealed and expunged records will not appear in any public-facing database.

Limitations

Online databases may reflect a data lag of several days to weeks following a court event. Historical records predating electronic filing are not fully digitized and may require in-person requests. Online searches do not constitute an official background check and are not suitable for employment screening purposes under the Fair Credit Reporting Act.

Can You Search Monroe County Criminal Records for Free?

Free Options

1. In-Person Inspection

New York's Freedom of Information Law mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect public records at no charge. Copying fees may apply for reproductions. Public access terminals are available at the Monroe County Clerk's Office, located at 39 W. Main Street, Rochester, NY 14614, during regular business hours.

2. Free Online Databases

The following portals are available at no cost:

Resource	What's Available	Link
eCourts Case Search	Court case index, party names, case status	eCourts
Monroe County Clerk	County court records	Monroe County Clerk
NY Sex Offender Registry	Registered sex offenders	NSOR
Monroe County Sheriff	Current inmate roster	Sheriff's Office

3. Sheriff's Logs

Daily arrest and booking reports are available through the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and may be requested under FOIL at no charge for inspection.

What Costs Money

Certified copies of court records: $5.00 per document (Monroe County Clerk standard fee)
Official state criminal history background checks through DCJS: fees vary by request type
Staff-assisted record searches beyond standard FOIL requests
Expedited processing requests

State Fee Law

Under Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), agencies may charge up to $0.25 per page for photocopies. Fee waivers may be available for indigent requestors upon written application to the relevant agency.

What's Included in a Monroe County Criminal Record

Identifying Information

A Monroe County criminal record includes the subject's full legal name and known aliases, date of birth, physical description, photograph (mugshot), last known address, New York State Identification (NYSID) number, and FBI number where applicable.

Arrest Information

Arrest records document the date and time of arrest, the arresting agency, booking number, charges filed at the time of arrest, bail or bond information, and the facility where the individual was held.

Court Case Information

Court records include the case number, court and jurisdiction, filing date, charges as formally filed (including felony or misdemeanor classification and applicable statute), plea entered, and attorney of record.

Disposition

Disposition records reflect the verdict or outcome, conviction date where applicable, sentencing details (type, length, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision), any appeals filed, and probation or parole status.

Additional Record Elements

Outstanding warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI/DWI adjudications
Pending charges

NOT Included in Public Records

Juvenile delinquency records (sealed under New York Family Court Act)
Expunged or sealed records
Records from other states or federal jurisdictions
Records from completed diversion programs where sealing has been granted

Accuracy Note

Criminal records may contain clerical errors or outdated information. Individuals who identify inaccuracies in their New York State criminal history record may submit a correction request through the DCJS Criminal History Review Unit. Maintaining accurate records is essential for employment, licensing, and housing purposes.

How Long Does Monroe County Keep Criminal Records

Legal Requirements

New York State establishes records retention schedules for court and law enforcement records through the New York State Archives. The applicable schedule for court records is governed by the New York State Court Records Retention and Disposition Schedule.

Retention by Record Type

Felony convictions: Retained permanently by both the courts and the state repository
Misdemeanor convictions: Retained permanently unless sealed pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 160.55
Arrest records with no conviction: Retained for a minimum period; subject to sealing upon application under CPL § 160.50
Dismissed or acquitted cases: Records of disposition are retained permanently to reflect the outcome, though the underlying record is sealed
Juvenile records: Sealed at the conclusion of proceedings; subject to destruction after a defined period under the Family Court Act
Pending cases: Retained until final resolution

Agency Differences

Monroe County Courts retain case records permanently in accordance with state court retention rules.
The Monroe County Sheriff's Office retains jail and booking records for a period consistent with state law enforcement retention schedules.
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services retains conviction records permanently in the statewide repository.

Physical vs. Electronic Records

Electronic records are retained for longer periods than paper records. Paper documents may be destroyed following scanning and digital preservation, provided the electronic copy meets archival standards.

Destruction vs. Sealing vs. Expungement

Sealing restricts public access to a record but does not destroy it; law enforcement and certain authorized agencies retain access. Expungement, where available under New York law, results in the removal of the record from public databases. Destruction refers to the physical or electronic elimination of the record in accordance with a retention schedule.

Expungement

New York's Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act provides for the automatic expungement of certain prior marijuana convictions. For other offenses, sealing under CPL § 160.55 or § 160.50 is the primary mechanism for restricting public access. Eligible individuals may obtain sealing application forms through the New York State Unified Court System. Even following sealing, records may remain accessible to law enforcement agencies for authorized purposes.

Federal Records

Criminal records maintained by the Federal Bureau of Investigation in the Interstate Identification Index are subject to federal retention rules and are maintained separately from state and county records.

Practical Implications

Prior convictions, including older offenses, may appear on background checks conducted for employment or licensing purposes. Consumer reporting agencies conducting employment background checks are subject to the seven-year reporting limitation under the Fair Credit Reporting Act for certain non-conviction records, though convictions may be reported without a time limit. Professional licensing boards in New York may require full disclosure of criminal history regardless of the age of the offense.