Tompkins County Criminal Records
What Is Tompkins County Criminal Records
Criminal records in Tompkins County are official documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system within the county's jurisdiction. These records are maintained pursuant to New York State Public Officers Law § 87, which establishes the framework for public records maintenance and access throughout the state.
Criminal records encompass several distinct categories of documentation:
- Arrest Records: Documents created when law enforcement takes a person into custody on suspicion of criminal activity
- Court Records: Official documentation of criminal proceedings, including arraignments, hearings, and trials
- Conviction Records: Final judgments resulting in a guilty verdict or plea
- Incarceration Records: Documentation of time served in county jail facilities
The distinction between arrest and conviction records is significant. Arrest records merely indicate that an individual was taken into custody and charged with an offense, while conviction records confirm that the individual was found guilty of a criminal offense either through trial or plea agreement.
Criminal offenses in Tompkins County are categorized according to New York State Penal Law as follows:
- Felonies: Serious offenses punishable by more than one year in state prison
- Misdemeanors: Lesser offenses typically punishable by up to one year in county jail
- Violations: Minor infractions punishable by up to 15 days in jail
Juvenile records (those involving individuals under 18 years of age) are generally sealed and not accessible to the public under New York Family Court Act § 375.1, with limited exceptions for certain serious offenses.
Multiple agencies maintain criminal records in Tompkins County:
Tompkins County Sheriff's Office
779 Warren Road
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 257-1345
Tompkins County Sheriff's Office
Tompkins County Court
320 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 216-6600
Tompkins County Court
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
(518) 457-5837
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Are Criminal Records Public In Tompkins County
Criminal records in Tompkins County are generally considered public documents under the New York State Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, § 84-90. This statute establishes the presumption that government records, including criminal records, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by law.
Section 87 of the Public Officers Law states: "Each agency shall... make available for public inspection and copying all records..." This provision creates the legal foundation for public access to criminal records maintained by county agencies.
However, not all criminal records are publicly accessible. Several important exceptions exist:
- Ongoing Investigations: Records that would interfere with law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings if disclosed
- Sealed Records: Records legally sealed by court order, including certain drug offenses eligible for sealing under Criminal Procedure Law § 160.58
- Youthful Offender Records: Records of individuals adjudicated as youthful offenders
- Juvenile Records: Records pertaining to individuals under 18 years of age, with limited exceptions
- Expunged Records: Records legally expunged under the New York State Clean Slate Act
Adult conviction records are generally the most accessible form of criminal records. Court proceedings, unless specifically sealed by judicial order, are presumptively open to public inspection. This includes information about charges filed, court appearances, plea agreements, trial outcomes, and sentencing decisions.
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) maintains a statewide database of criminal case information that includes Tompkins County cases. This database is accessible to the public, though certain identifying information may be redacted in accordance with privacy protections.
How To Look Up Criminal Records In Tompkins County in 2026
Members of the public seeking criminal records in Tompkins County may utilize several methods to obtain this information. The county maintains multiple access points for criminal record retrieval, each providing different types of information.
For in-person requests at the Tompkins County Clerk's Office:
- Visit the County Clerk's Office during regular business hours (Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM)
- Complete a records request form, specifying the information sought
- Provide proper identification
- Pay applicable fees for copies or certified documents
- Allow processing time as required by law
Tompkins County Clerk's Office
320 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-5431
Tompkins County Clerk
For criminal case information from the courts:
- Contact the appropriate court where the case was heard (County, City, Town, or Village)
- Provide the case number if available, or the defendant's name and approximate date of the case
- Specify which documents are being requested
- Pay applicable fees for copies
Tompkins County Court
320 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 216-6600
Tompkins County Court
For comprehensive criminal history information:
- Submit a request to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
- Complete form DCJS-6, "Request for Criminal History Record Information"
- Provide fingerprints through an authorized vendor
- Pay the required fee ($65.00 for personal record review)
- Allow 7-10 business days for processing
Individuals may also request their own criminal history record directly from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services through the Record Review Program, which allows individuals to review and challenge inaccuracies in their criminal history records.
How To Find Criminal Records in Tompkins County Online?
Tompkins County provides several online resources for accessing criminal records information. These digital portals offer varying levels of detail and accessibility.
The New York State Unified Court System's WebCrims database provides public access to pending and closed criminal cases in Tompkins County. To use this resource:
- Visit the New York State Unified Court System website
- Select "Tompkins County" from the jurisdiction dropdown
- Search by defendant name, case number, or attorney
- Review case information including charges, appearances, and dispositions
The Tompkins County Sheriff's Office maintains an online Inmate Lookup System that provides:
- Current jail population information
- Booking photographs
- Charges
- Bond amounts
- Scheduled release dates
For sex offender information, the New York State Sex Offender Registry allows searches by:
- Name
- County
- Zip code
- Risk level
The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a statewide criminal history record search for a fee of $95.00 per name. This search provides:
- Criminal convictions
- Pending criminal cases
- Case dispositions
- Sentencing information
It should be noted that online record systems may not contain complete historical information. Records predating digital conversion may require in-person requests. Additionally, some online systems require user registration and may charge access fees.
Can You Search Tompkins County Criminal Records for Free?
Tompkins County residents and members of the public have several options for accessing criminal records without charge, as provided under New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b)(iii), which states that agencies may not charge for "inspection and copying of records unless otherwise specifically prescribed by law."
Free in-person inspection is available at:
Tompkins County Clerk's Office
320 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 274-5431
Tompkins County Clerk
Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM-4:30 PM
Tompkins County Court
320 North Tioga Street
Ithaca, NY 14850
(607) 216-6600
Tompkins County Court
Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM-5:00 PM
While inspection is free, copying fees apply ($0.25 per page for standard copies).
Free online resources include:
- Tompkins County Sheriff's Inmate Lookup - Provides current jail population information without charge
- New York State Sex Offender Registry - Offers free searches for registered sex offenders in Tompkins County
- WebCrims - Provides basic case information for criminal matters in Tompkins County courts
It should be noted that while these resources are free to access, they may not provide comprehensive criminal history information. For complete criminal history reports, fees are typically required, as authorized under state law. Additionally, while the public may inspect records for free, certification of documents and extensive searches may incur administrative fees.
What's Included in a Tompkins County Criminal Record?
Criminal records in Tompkins County typically contain comprehensive information about an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system. The content of these records is standardized in accordance with New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.10, which establishes requirements for fingerprinting and processing of arrested persons.
Identifying Information:
- Full legal name and known aliases
- Date of birth
- Physical description (height, weight, eye color, hair color)
- Booking photograph ("mugshot")
- Last known address
- State Identification Number (SID)
- FBI number (if applicable)
- Fingerprint classification
Arrest Information:
- Date and time of arrest
- Arresting agency
- Booking number
- Initial charges filed
- Bail or bond amount
- Detention facility
Court Case Information:
- Case/docket number
- Court of jurisdiction
- Filing date
- Formal charges and corresponding statutes
- Classification of offenses (felony class A-E or misdemeanor class A-B)
- Attorney information
- Plea entered
- Trial information (if applicable)
Disposition Information:
- Final verdict or outcome
- Conviction date (if applicable)
- Sentencing details:
- Incarceration period
- Probation terms
- Fines and court costs
- Restitution ordered
- Special conditions (treatment programs, community service)
- Appeal information (if applicable)
- Probation/parole status and conditions
Additional Information:
- Active warrants
- Orders of protection
- Sex offender registration requirements
- DWI/DUI history
- Traffic violations (if criminally charged)
- Pending charges in other jurisdictions
The comprehensiveness of criminal records may vary depending on the source. Court records typically focus on case proceedings and outcomes, while law enforcement records may contain more detailed arrest information. Records maintained by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services provide the most complete criminal history information, including incidents from multiple jurisdictions throughout the state.
How Long Does Tompkins County Keep Criminal Records?
Tompkins County maintains criminal records in accordance with the New York State Records Retention and Disposition Schedule LGS-1, established under Arts and Cultural Affairs Law § 57.25. This schedule mandates minimum retention periods for various types of criminal records.
Key retention periods include:
- Arrest Records: Maintained permanently by law enforcement agencies
- Booking Information: Retained for 10 years after the arrest date
- Criminal Case Files (Felonies): Retained permanently by the courts
- Criminal Case Files (Misdemeanors): Retained for 10 years after case closure
- Criminal Case Files (Violations): Retained for 5 years after case closure
- Jail Records: Retained for 10 years after an inmate's discharge
- Fingerprint Cards: Maintained permanently by the Division of Criminal Justice Services
- Sex Offender Registration Records: Maintained for the duration of registration requirement
- Order of Protection Records: Retained permanently
It is important to note that while records may be retained according to these schedules, access to certain records may be restricted due to sealing or expungement orders. Under the New York State Clean Slate Act, certain criminal records become automatically sealed after specified waiting periods:
- Misdemeanor convictions: Automatically sealed 3 years after sentence completion
- Felony convictions: Automatically sealed 8 years after sentence completion
Exceptions to automatic sealing include sex offenses, certain violent felonies, and homicide-related offenses.
The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision maintains records of state prison incarcerations permanently, while the Tompkins County Sheriff's Office retains local incarceration records according to the retention schedule.
Lookup Criminal Records in Tompkins County
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