Clinton County, New York Arrest Records
Arrest documents for Clinton County include an individual's booking report, which describes the arrest and booking, but is not evidence of a crime. Arrest records reflect the perspectives of officers, booking staff, and other criminal justice organizations. The reports provide information on who was arrested, what crimes were allegedly committed, when the arrest occurred, and where it happened. These reports help individuals identify those placed in jail custody, assess local police agencies' actions, and support accountability and public safety.
New York State laws governing access to agency records are outlined in Public Officers Law §§84 - 90. Pursuant to this statute, all government agency records are considered to be open to the public with certain exceptions provided at §87(2). County or city police departments, such as the Plattsburgh City Police Department and SUNY PlattsburghUniversity Police Department, may maintain records. The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) develops and maintains documentation for criminal history record information.
Are Arrest Records Public Information in Clinton, New York?
Yes, generally, you can access all information in a publicly available Clinton County arrest record after the courts release it from seal and if no applicable exemption applies. New York State's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law §§87 and 89, governs access to criminal history records. Pursuant to section 87(2) of the law, an agency can refuse or redact information where release of such information could cause harm through invasion of personal privacy and interference with an ongoing investigation. Other reasons for denying access include legal proceedings, denial of a fair trial, revealing a confidential informant, disclosing non-routine investigative methods, or danger to a person.
Requesters must submit a written request to the Records Access Officer of the agency that holds the requested documents. The request should include a reasonable description of the document requested. Using as many specific details as possible, such as names, dates, incident numbers, or locations, helps with the search. A requester submits their request on the Clinton County Sheriff's Office FOIL form. This includes the applicant's name, date of birth, address, telephone number, signature, and a detailed description of the requested record. The form does not require a government-issued photo ID. Non-residents have equal rights under FOIL to access Clinton County arrest records.
What Do Public Clinton County Arrest Records Contain?
Clinton County public arrest reports typically include only the factual aspects of the event, not a comprehensive criminal file. The most common items that can be found in a report include:
- Name and identifying characteristics
- Arrest date, time, and location
- Agency/officer who made the arrest
- Statutory crime or alleged violation committed
- Booking or case number
- Custody, bail, or release status
- Court appearance data
New York FOIL allows redactions for specific reasons. Booking photos will typically be withheld from public view unless the arresting agency has a legitimate need. In addition to FOIL, other statutes or court orders may limit your ability to obtain information, including:
- Protected health information related to individuals' personal issues
- Juvenile, medical, victim, witness identification information protected by state or local privacy laws
- Materials which have been sealed or expunged pursuant to court order
Clinton County, New York Arrest Search
The state of New York, as well as all Federal agencies, provide arrest records access services. Interested parties can use a FOIL (Freedom of Information Law) request to obtain an arrest record from the New York State Police. Some arrests made by the NYSP will also appear in the State Police news releases. Searchers can also find information about felony- or misdemeanor-related arrests through the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) website by filling out a Record Review form. However, this is a fingerprint-based system, not a public search of someone else's record.
Interested persons can obtain their own FBI Identity History Summary by sending fingerprints along with their application. The FBI does not release another person's IDHS to anyone. Public Access to Court Electronic Records (PACER) provides access to federal court cases and lets users review many details about their case, including when they were charged and what happened during the arrest. Users can create an account and search by case number. Document costs depend on which documents the interested parties want to view or download.
Clinton County Inmate Locator
The Clinton County Sheriff's Department has an Inmate Locator tool located on its Corrections Division Page. The Inmate Locator Tool takes users to the Victim Information and Notification Everyday (New York VINE), a statewide custody-information service. Once on the site, users can select New York from the drop-down menu. Search using either the offender's full name or offender identification number. If there is a match, it may include custody status, facility, booking information, including charges, case information, and release or transfer updates. Users can also sign up for notifications when custody status changes.
Using an inmate locator helps verify whether a person has been booked after being arrested. However, it does not perform a complete Arrest Record Search. Generally, an inmate locator searches for people who are in custody or have active custody data and typically excludes officer narratives, evidence, every charge filed against them, and final court dispositions. To obtain specific booking details, contact the Sheriff's Booking Office.
Clinton County Sheriff's Office
25 McCarthy Drive
Plattsburgh, New York 12901
Main telephone: 518-565-4300
Booking office: 518-565-4351
How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Clinton County
Clinton County offers several ways to obtain arrest-related information at no cost. The Sheriff's Corrections Division links to New York VINE for access to custody information about an inmate by name or offender ID. Users can search by name or ID number and are not required to provide identification. Results include the inmate's status, confinement location, and limited case details. In addition, the Sheriff's Office provides a list of recent arrests on its press release page, including each arrestee's name, charges, arrest date, and disposition.
The Plattsburgh Police Department maintains a news page with some current activity. But this is not an exhaustive arrest log. Users can make a FOIL request through either the Sheriff's Office or the arresting agency. Inspection and electronic delivery may be free, while paper copies or reproductions of documents may have associated costs.
Free resources may exclude older arrests, arrestees released from jail, and unpublished incidents. Having the first name, last name, birthdate, and incident number can help with locating records. Any sealed, expunged, juvenile, investigative, or privacy-protected records may be withheld or redacted. A completed county FOIL application in Clinton County requires contact information but does not require identification with a government-issued ID.
Clinton County Arrest Report
A Clinton County Arrest Record is an arrest summary that contains basic information about the arrested individual, including name, date of arrest, charges, the arresting agency, booking number, and custody status. These records can be found in jail, booking, criminal history or case management systems.
The arrest report, also called the officer's report, is the officer's written statement about the events surrounding the arrest. This report details the individual's behavior, probable cause for the arrest, officer observations and notes, witness statements and other evidence gathered at the scene, and searches conducted on the suspect. The arrest report also includes a record of any physical force used during arrest and detention, as well as specific detainment conditions. Each law enforcement agency maintains its own reports, and no single central or county-wide report covers all arrests in Clinton County.
How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Clinton County
Clinton County follows the State of New York for guidance on expunging criminal arrest history. As such, it uses sealing the same way the State of New York does. When records are sealed, courts and law enforcement agencies can access them, but the general public cannot. Pursuant to CPL 160.50, all cases which end in the defendant's favor are automatically sealed. CPL 160.55 provides guidance for sealing various traffic and violations. If sealing is unsuccessful, a petitioner may petition the court that heard the case to correct it.
Pursuant to CPL 160.59, applicants can file petitions to seal up to two convictions, ten years post-conviction, if no more than one conviction is a felony. Pursuant to CPL 160.58, there exist conditional sealing provisions applicable to certain drug-related offenses upon completion of treatment. The Clean Slate Act, CPL 160.57, provides for automatic sealing of misdemeanors after three years and felonies after eight. However, by November 16, 2027, courts must finalize their implementation plans, and serious crimes remain exempt.
True expungement is primarily available in New York through CPL 160.50 qualified cannabis offenses. Petitioners can submit their applications to the sentencing court and also serve the Clinton County District Attorney with copies.
How Do You Remove Clinton County Arrest Records From the Internet?
Petitioners seeking to get an online Clinton County arrest record removed should start by finding out who maintains it. To remove information from a court, a sheriff's department, police department, or state agency website, applicants need a legal basis for removal. This includes a sealing order, cannabis expungement, dismissal resulting in automatic sealing, and documentation demonstrating that the information is inaccurate. Petitioners are to provide a certified copy of their sealing order or disposition to the court or agency that posted the Information. Petitioners should also provide identifying information, including the case number and the website URL. After submission, petitioners should allow for time for the Courts and the DCJS systems to update.
A sealing or expungement order will not delete copies of the records that were maintained by third parties. The individual whose record was sealed or expunged must follow the third party's removal procedures.