New York Criminal Records

New York keeps criminal records at the state level through the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the court system through the Office of Court Administration (OCA), with case files also held by the clerk in each of the state's 62 counties. This guide explains what is public, how to look up your own record or a court case, how sealing works (including the new Clean Slate Act), and which official New York sources to use. It was last reviewed in June 2026.

Are criminal records public in New York?

Most open criminal court cases and convictions are public under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). There are important exceptions. Cases that ended in a dismissal, acquittal, or other favorable outcome are automatically sealed under Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) 160.50, and certain violations are sealed under CPL 160.55, so they generally do not appear in a public search. Records sealed by a court (including under the Clean Slate Act and CPL 160.59, both explained below) are also withheld from the public. In short: convictions are usually public, but non-convictions and sealed cases are not.

How can I check my own criminal record in New York?

There are two official ways to get your New York record:

• Office of Court Administration (OCA) Criminal History Record Search (CHRS). A name and date-of-birth search of statewide court records. The fee is $95 per search (plus a card-processing fee if you pay online). It returns open cases and convictions, but only for an exact name and date-of-birth match. Order it at nycourts.gov/criminal-history-record-search.
• DCJS Personal Record Review (fingerprint-based). This is your official New York "rap sheet," based on fingerprints rather than your name, so it is the most accurate. As of early 2026 the fingerprint fee is about $17.50 for New York residents (around $47.50 if you live out of state), and DCJS mails the result in roughly three to four weeks. Start at criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm.

Fees change from time to time, so confirm the current amount on the official page before you pay.

How do I look up a criminal court case in New York?

You can search many criminal cases that have a scheduled court date through the court system's free eCourts WebCriminal tool at iapps.courts.state.ny.us. For older or closed cases, contact the clerk of the county where the case was heard. Keep in mind that New York City is made up of five counties: New York County (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, and Richmond (Staten Island), so a citywide search may mean checking more than one clerk. You can also start a name-based search using the people-search tool on this page (see the disclosure at the bottom).

How do I find an inmate in New York?

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) runs a free Incarcerated Individual Lookup where you can search by name or department identification number (DIN) for people in state prison. Use it at nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov. For people held in a local jail, contact that county sheriff's office. Records for youth treated as youthful offenders are confidential and will not appear.

How do I look up sex offenders in New York?

New York's Sex Offender Registry is maintained by DCJS. The public online directory lists Level 2 and Level 3 offenders and is available any time at criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor. To ask about a Level 1 offender or someone not yet classified, call the registry information line at 1-800-262-3257 (Monday to Friday); you will need a name plus one other identifier. The registry exists under Megan's Law to inform the public, and the information may not be used to harass or commit a crime against any listed person.

Can you expunge or seal a criminal record in New York?

New York generally does not offer expungement (permanently destroying a record). Instead it uses sealing, which restricts who can see the record while the record itself continues to exist. The main routes are:

• Non-convictions (CPL 160.50 / 160.55): cases that ended in your favor, and certain violations, are sealed automatically.
• Discretionary sealing (CPL 160.59): after at least 10 years, you may ask the sentencing court to seal up to two eligible convictions, with no more than one of them a felony. A judge decides, and the district attorney can object. Learn more at nycourts.gov.
• Marijuana convictions: the 2021 Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act created automatic expungement of many older marijuana convictions, with no application or fee. Details at nycourts.gov.

Serious and violent offenses, and most sex offenses, are not eligible for discretionary sealing.

What is New York's Clean Slate Act?

The Clean Slate Act, signed in November 2023 and effective November 16, 2024, provides for automatic sealing of many criminal convictions after a waiting period, with no application or fee. Misdemeanors are eligible three years after sentencing, and felonies eight years after sentencing or release from prison. To qualify you must stay free of new convictions, finish any parole or probation, and have no pending charges; a new conviction restarts the clock. Murder, most non-drug Class A felonies, and sex offenses are excluded. The courts have up to three years (into roughly 2027) to seal all eligible records, so this is rolling out gradually. Even after sealing, law enforcement, the courts, and certain fingerprint-required or vulnerable-population jobs can still see these records. Official overview: nycourts.gov Clean Slate Act.

How far back does a background check go in New York?

Under New York General Business Law 380-j, a consumer reporting agency generally cannot report convictions that are more than seven years old. However, that seven-year limit does not apply when the job pays, or is expected to pay, $25,000 or more a year, so older convictions can appear for most full-time roles. Background reports also generally may not include arrests that did not lead to a conviction. Separately, New York's Correction Law Article 23-A and New York City's Fair Chance Act ("ban the box") limit how employers can use criminal history: in most cases an employer must wait until after a conditional job offer and must weigh whether the offense is directly related to the job or poses an unreasonable risk before turning someone down.

What are the felony classes in New York?

New York Penal Law sets six felony classes, ordered from most to least serious: Class A-I, A-II, B, C, D, and E. (An older version of this page mistakenly said five.) General maximum terms are:

• Class A-I and A-II: up to life in prison
• Class B: up to 25 years
• Class C: up to 15 years
• Class D: up to 7 years
• Class E: up to 4 years

These are general ranges. Actual sentences depend on whether the offense is classified as violent, and on any prior felony convictions. For the exact rules see Penal Law 70.00, or speak with an attorney.

What are the misdemeanor classes in New York?

New York has Class A and Class B misdemeanors. A Class A misdemeanor carries up to 364 days in jail; a Class B carries up to 3 months. The 364-day cap (rather than a full year) was set by a 2019 law so that a misdemeanor sentence does not automatically trigger federal immigration consequences. Offenses punishable by 15 days or less are violations, which are not classified as crimes. See Penal Law 70.15.

Are juvenile records public in New York?

No. Juvenile delinquency cases are handled in Family Court and are confidential, and a youth found to be a juvenile delinquent does not have an adult criminal record. New York's Raise the Age law moved most 16- and 17-year-olds out of the adult system, and youthful offender adjudications are sealed under CPL 720.35. The goal is to keep an early mistake from following someone into adulthood.

Official New York criminal record sources

• Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS): criminaljustice.ny.gov
• OCA Criminal History Record Search (your own record, $95): nycourts.gov/criminal-history-record-search
• DCJS Personal Record Review (fingerprint rap sheet): criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm
• eCourts WebCriminal case lookup: iapps.courts.state.ny.us
• DOCCS Incarcerated Individual Lookup: nysdoccslookup.doccs.ny.gov
• New York State Sex Offender Registry: criminaljustice.ny.gov/nsor (info line 1-800-262-3257)

Disclosure: criminal.com may earn a commission when you use the people-search tool on this page, which is powered by a third-party background-check service. Results from such tools are for your personal knowledge only and may not be used to make decisions about employment, housing, credit, tenant screening, or any other purpose covered by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA). This page is general information about New York public records, not legal advice; for advice about your situation, consult an attorney. Information was last reviewed in June 2026 and laws may change.