Broome County Arrest Records

Per Criminal Procedure Law § 140.10, a law enforcement officer may carry out an arrest when they have probable cause and admissible evidence to believe that a person has violated the criminal justice system. These actions elevate the influence of the law and public trust in the efficiency of the legislature. It also ensures that justice is appropriately served.

A suspect may be arrested based on varying circumstances, such as a pending warrant, infractions, violations, felonies, misdemeanors, or serious illegal involvements. On arrest, the officer must process the defendant at the nearest Broome County Sheriff's Corrections Division, in the Town of Dickson. This facility is the county’s primary 536-bed direct supervision correctional facility housing detainees awaiting court trial, or waiting to be moved to different correctional locations.

The Broome County Sheriff's Office manages booking, jail operations, and arrest records. Arrest records bear the details of a suspect's biometrics and offense(s) for which the suspect was arrested, among other relevant personal data. In addition, as part of a broader system of public records, disclosure of arrest information improves transparency and proper public education of the judicial system.

The county court clerk may also disseminate Broome County Court Records to persons desiring to follow up on the outcome of an arrest and legal proceeding.

Are Arrest Records Public in Broome County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Broome County. According to the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), government-owned establishments, and criminal justice agencies must disseminate arrest information to requesting parties, following the statutory guidelines, court rules, or local ordinances. However, specific arrest records are not publicly disclosable.

Per Section 87 of the FOIL, non-public information includes records compiled for law enforcement purposes where disclosure would:

• Interfere with ongoing criminal investigations or judicial proceedings
• Deprive an individual’s right to a fair trial or impartial adjudication
• Disclose a confidential informant or detail concerning an ongoing criminal investigation
• Reveal investigative techniques or procedures applied in an active criminal proceeding
• May threaten a person’s life or safety

Other records exempt from pubic perusal include:

• Juvenile arrest information
• Records specifically exempted by state or federal decree
• Sensitive evidentiary information admissible in an ongoing legal proceeding
• Sealed or expunged arrest records
• A person's criminal history records maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

The New York FOIL authorizes law enforcement to disclose the following vital information in a Broome County arrest record. This includes:

• The arrestee's legal names/aliases
• Physical descriptors, such as sex, weight, race, height, eyes, and hair color
• Birth date
• Social Security Number
• Address
• Details of the arrest, such as date, time, location, and charge
• Mugshot and date of photograph
• Booking information, including booking number, time, date
• Release schedule
• Arrest type
• Arrest number
• Warrant information
• Arresting agency
• Arresting officer ID

Broome County Crime Rate

The Annual Criminal Justice Statistics released by the Division of Criminal Justice Services on its Index Crime Dashboard reveals index crime summary rate by county based on data collected from local law enforcement.

Per the report, committed crimes amounted to 5,148 in 2022, signifying an 11% increase from 2021 (4,648). Violent crimes constituted 639, a -2% decrease from 2021 (651). On the other hand, property crimes accounted for 4,509, a 13% increase from 2021 (3,997).

The most notable crimes in the violent crime categories were aggravated assault constituting 441 offenses (3%), rape accounting for 122 offenses (-8%), and robbery totaling 72 offenses (-14%).

Meanwhile, property crimes reported larceny as its’ most reputable violation amounting to 3,648 offenses (15%), followed closely by burglary constituting 629 offenses (0%), and motor vehicle theft accounting for 232 offenses (26%).

Broome County Arrest Statistics

According to the arrest data for Broome County published in the NY Open Justice Portal, law enforcement agencies documented 4497 arrests in 2022. Felonies constituted 1507 arrests, while misdemeanors made up 2990 arrests.

Felony arrests include the following:

• Violent felony arrests (389)
• Drug felony arrests (152)
• DWI felony arrests (45)
• Other felonies arrests (921)

Misdemeanor arrests include:

• Property misdemeanor arrests (1294)
• Drug misdemeanor arrests (386)
• DWI misdemeanor arrests (313)
• Other misdemeanor arrests (997)

Find Broome County Arrest Records

Local law enforcement provides several online and offline tools for finding Broome County arrest records. As the county’s primary repository for public records, the Records Division of the Broome County Sheriff's Office researches and responds to arrest information requests from members of the public under the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) procedure.

Requesters can access any information by filling and submitting a FOIL request form in person at the Broome County Sheriff's Office located at the Public Safety Facility, 155 Lieutenant VanWinkle Drive Binghamton, NY 13905. They may opt to submit requests directly to the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature, who will in turn forward the request to the sheriff’s office for processing and return. Additionally, one may complete and submit an online FOIL request form.

To process the request faster, the office may require the subject’s date of birth, and a time frame (for example, 2015-Present). Once the form is completed, it should be faxed to mailed to the Office of the Clerk of the Legislature at (607) 778-8869 or emailed to:

60 Hawley Street
Sixth Floor
P.O. Box 1766
Binghamton NY 13902-1766

Or

To the sheriff's office record division at the address below:

Broome County Sheriff's Office
Attn: Records
155 Lieutenant VanWinkle Drive
Binghamton, NY 13905

Once the record is ready, it will be emailed to the inquirer in an electronic form free of charge. However, if the requested information is too large to be emailed, it may attract a service fee of $2 for a CD copy format, or 25 cents for a paper record exceeding 5 pages.

Supposing that the arrest happened in other cities within the county, requests for such arrest information are generally received and processed by the police department. The best approach is to contact the department directly. Below are a few contact information for local municipal police agencies:

• City of Binghamton Police Department - (607) 772-7094
• Town of Vestal Police Department - (607) 754-2386
• Village of Deposit Police Department - (607) 467-5188
• Village of Endicott Police Department - (607) 757-2414
• Village of Port Dickinson Police Department - (607) 722-1255

The following resources are useful for looking up inmates arrested in Broome County, but incarcerated at a state or federal holding facility:

• The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains a statewide registry that provides adequate information on registered sex offenders incarcerated and in custody at the state prisons. The NYDCJ website is searchable by name and county.
• The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) maintains an online Federal Inmate Locator, for interested persons to retrieve basic arrest information of federal inmates by name or BOP number.

Finally, individuals can contact the Records Access Office by phone at (607) 778-2287 or email foil.broome@broomecountyny.gov for more information.

Free Arrest Record Search in Broome County

People conducting public records searches in Broome County can utilize the above-mentioned resources. This may require filling out the online FOIL request form, visiting the County Sheriff's Office or local police departments in person, or contacting them via phone, or email. The record divisions of these agencies respond to FOIL requests, including arrest records, provided the requestor provides enough information to aid the search process.

Additionally, the Broome County Sheriff’s Office provides an online Warrant Search tool primarily for looking up active arrest warrants within the county. However, the database provides a list of recently featured, and executed arrests. One may rightly find important details such as the arrestee’s name, offense(s), booking date, and mugshot.

Finally, third-party websites provide ideal alternative options for searching arrest records. However, one is limited to a few free searches. To access a comprehensive record, the website may charge a nominal fee. Users can typically retrieve information by searching the database using the arrestee’s name, and location.

Get Broome County Criminal Records

A person’s criminal history record, also called a “rap sheet” reveals their run-in and activities within the criminal justice system. It generally contains details of arrests, indictments, proceedings, convictions, sentencing, corrections, and parole or probation documented and reported by the sheriff’s office, police departments, district attorneys’ offices, the courts, and other criminal justice agencies.

Per the New York Freedom of Information Law, criminal history information is not considered public records. Only subjects of the record may request them for employment background checks, licensing, police certifications, and other official purposes (such as adoptions).

Subjects desiring to retrieve a copy of their comprehensive Broome County criminal records must submit fingerprints to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). Once submitted, the DCJS will then match the fingerprints to available fingerprint-based records maintained in the agency’ database by law.

When the processing is completed, the person may get either

• A copy of their New York State criminal history record
• Or a “No Record” response, meaning that the subject does not have a New York State criminal history record

Applicants can either request an unsuppressed or a suppressed criminal history record response. Requests for both responses must be submitted separately.

Unsuppressed criminal history record: This provides all criminal history information including suppressed (hidden) or sealed (per court order) records per New York State Criminal Procedure Law (CPL), such as:

• Arrest and criminal charges that were dismissed in court on or after Nov. 1, 1991
• CPL 160.50: dismissed cases
• CPL 160.55: violation/infraction convictions
• CPL 160.58: eligible substance abuse and related convictions
• CPL 160.59: eligible convictions granted by the court
• CPL 720.35: youthful offender adjudications

Suppressed criminal history record: This kind of record does not contain any sealed or suppressed information.

The following are noteworthy:

• Any potential employer or licensing agency requiring potential employees to submit their fingerprints to the DCJS to be considered for a job or professional license must provide an applicable state, or federal law supporting the claim per the Federal Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).
• Applicants cannot request another person’s criminal history information.
• Requesting a copy of the criminal history record allows the subject or their attorney to review the available information for accuracy and/or completeness.

Aside from the DCJS, public members can perform a New York Statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) through the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). This may attract a fee of $95. CHRS requests are generally received via the online Direct Access program by creating a user account.

However, one can also complete and mail in a CHRS application form to the OCA at the address below:

Criminal History Record Search
NYS Office of Court Administration
Office of Administrative Services
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street
9th Floor
New York, NY 10004

A typical CHRS request requires basic information about the person whose name is on the record, such as their name and date of birth. However, copies of criminal records obtained through the NYS Office of Court Administration are not certified. Confidential or sealed records are publicly available.

Per 160.59 of the NY senate law, only the subject of the record, designated representatives, and official personnel may access nonpublic criminal records provided they have a means of identification. Other interested parties must query the court for permission, or apply for a subpoena following Civil Practice Law and Rules § 2307. One can follow these guidelines to learn how to request subpoenas in New York.

More information regarding criminal history record requests can be obtained by emailing the DCJ at RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov or calling (518) 457-9847 or (518) 485-7675

Broome County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

People often misuse the terms "arrest records" and "criminal records" in daily speech, when referring to a person’s involvement with the criminal justice system leading to criminal convictions. However, they are remarkably dissimilar.

As explained in previous sections, arrest records only detail a defendant’s initial arrest, offenses, and arraignment. The existence of such information on a person’s record does not mean that they are guilty or were charged for active participation in a crime.

On the other hand, criminal records provide information regarding someone’s criminal history, from arrests to prosecution, and incarceration. By reviewing such files, one can determine the crimes a subject has been charged with, their guilt statements, and post-conviction assignments.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Permanently. Arrests in Broome County stay on a person's record until they are deceased unless sealed or expunged per state statute. However, certain law enforcement agencies provide retention and disposition schedules for records that are less than a year to permanency. In this regard, the arrest information may be eradicated when the statute of limitation passes.

Expunge Broome County Arrest Records

There is no law in New York supporting the expungement of arrest records. The state only recognizes a process called sealing for certain eligible cases. Expungement of arrest records in Broome County, New York are only limited to certain marijuana/cannabis offenses under (Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 (5)(a)). If the expungement is granted, a person’s arrest history, criminal proceedings, and conviction will be acknowledged like it never happened, especially on a job or school application.

In this regard, the record will not be releasable during background checks, or even accessible by criminal justice agencies unless the purpose of retrivial concerns a gun license application or law enforcement employment. Also, expunged charges are not admissible against anyone applying for housing, student loans, or a job.

Specific convictions for marijuana/cannabis arrests are eligible for automatic expungement. This includes the following:

• Possession of or Selling more than 16 Ounces or 25 Grams of Marijuana/Cannabis
• PL 221.05, PL 221.10: Illegal Possession of Marijuana in the First and Second Degrees
• PL 222.10: Constraints on the Use of Cannabis
• PL 221.15, PL 221.20: Unlawful Possession of Marijuana in the Third and Fourth Degrees
• PL 222.15: Personal Cultivation and Ilegal Home Possession of Cannabis
• PL 222.25: Prohibited Possession of Cannabis
• PL 221.35, PL 221.40, PL 222.45: Illegal Commercialization of Marijuana and Cannabis in the Fourth and Fifth Degrees
• PL 220.03, PL 220.06, PL 240.36: Loitering, and Illegal Possession of Controlled Substances in the Fifth and Seventh Degrees (If the substance was cannabis or hashish)

If a person’s record is expunged, the court will typically send out notifications to the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), the sheriff’s office, police departments, District Attorneys, and relevant law enforcement agencies. Anyone who wishes to verify the status of their marijuana-related conviction can request a certification of disposition from the Broome County Court.

Nonetheless, where an applicant's convictions do not qualify for expungement, they may apply for:

• Vacation of conviction
• Dismissal or reduction of charges
• Reduction of the sentence

The motion process involves submitting Form CPL 440.46 to the court where the case was decided. Additionally, anyone previously arrested for criminal and fifth-degree criminal marijuana possession of marijuana can submit an Application to Destroy Expunged Marihuana Conviction Record to the OCA. This eliminates all histories of arrest, charges, and criminal history information.

Aside from the above-mentioned process, eligible persons may file a motion to seal an arrest record. This instantly removes all notations of a person's apprehension, case proceeding, and prosecution from public view.

If granted, only a few authorized persons may access the record including the arrestee, a designated representative appointed by the subject, employers, the defendant’s parole officer, a law enforcement agency per court order, and a prosecutor.

Regardless, the following arrest records are automatically sealed:

• Crimes committed by children and youthful offenders
• Traffic infractions and violations
• Criminal cases where the defendant received a good result

Where the record does not qualify for automatic sealing, the applicant must file a petition with the court after 10 years by following these instructions:

• Fill out and submit a Criminal Disposition Certificate form to the presiding court. If one is applying for separate cases, they must file separate petitions for each. The Certificate of Disposition costs $5 for citizens outside NYC; and $10 for those within NYC.
• Submit a Sealing Petition Form (Notice of Motion and Affidavit of Support), signed and notarized.
• Attach relevant documents that provide proof of rehabilitation, for example, recommendation letters or educational transcripts.
• Forward all the relevant forms and supporting documentation to the Broome County District Attorney’s Office by hand or mail delivery. The office has 5 days to respond to the court approving or disapproving the petition.

However, eligible petitioners include:

• Defendants with no more than 2 misdemeanors and 1 felony conviction
• Subjects who have been crime-free for 10 years
• Those who do not have sex offenses or serious and violent felony convictions
• Applicants who have completed a court-ordered drug treatment program. In this case, they may apply for conditional sealing.

Further instructions regarding the arrest record sealing process are publicly accessible via the state judiciary's Criminal Records & Sealing webpage.

Broome County Arrest Warrants

Broome County arrest warrants are official documents issued by a presiding judge ordering peace officers to apprehend and present a named subject in court for violating local, state, or federal law. This may apply when someone violates the terms of their probation or parole and disobeys court orders.

Per the US Fourth Amendment Law, law enforcement officers must provide probable cause and affidavits to convince the issuing officer judge that someone is guilty of a named offense and should be apprehended or remanded in custody.

Warrants issued for a person’s denial of freedom must bear descriptive details of the suspect, including their name, date and time of warrant issuance, the agency of issuance, alleged offense, issuing court, the name and signature of the issuing judge, and the bail amount, if relevant.

Broome County Arrest Warrant Search

Interested parties can query the Broome County Sherriff’s Office for details of existing or pending arrest warrants. Individuals can contact the warrant division at (607)778-2933 or (607) 778-2923.

Also, the warrant division provides a daily list of the Most Wanted Persons on their webpage for people with arrest warrants for serious crimes. The database contains the subject’s name, physical descriptors, alleged offense, and warrant description.

People who believe they may have an active arrest warrant are advised to contact the sheriff’s office or visit the office at Public Safety Facility, 155 Lieutenant VanWinkle Drive to turn themselves in.

Do Broome County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Broome County arrest warrants never expire until law enforcement fully executes it by apprehending the individual. In some cases, the court may quash the order.