Chemung County Arrest Records

Chemung County arrest records are official documents about arrest events that occurred in the county. Such records may include information about the arrestee, arrest charges, and bond information.

Arrests become necessary when there’s enough evidence that an individual violated state or federal statutes. In Chemung County, law enforcement officers may also conduct arrests to prevent potential crimes from occurring. In such situations, officers may need arrest warrants since it protects them from liabilities that may occur as a result of the arrest. Arrested persons are temporarily detained at the county jail, pending further investigations.

Local law enforcement entities are mostly responsible for generating arrest records. The agencies may also serve as record custodians and release the records to interested parties. Arrest records are also available in other public documents, such as Chemung County court records and criminal background information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Chemung County?

Yes, most arrest records generated in Chemung County are accessible to the public. Under the New York Freedom of Information Laws, the general public can inspect or obtain copies of the records from public entities. The entities function as record custodians and are legally required to release arrest records to interested parties. Record custodians may require certain information or fees before releasing the records. For instance, you must provide information about an arrest event before accessing the record from the custodian.

New York state laws prevent the disclosure of certain arrest information. Furthermore, the laws require record custodians to redact or withhold such data from the general public. Exempt arrest data include information that may jeopardize the safety or privacy of concerned parties. Other examples of exempt arrest records include:

• Information that will interfere with ongoing law enforcement investigations;
• Arrest data that will reveal identities of confidential sources in criminal investigations or
• Documents that will deprive concerned parties of a right to a fair adjudication or trial;
• Files that may disclose techniques or procedures utilized in criminal investigations.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records in Chemung County may include information on the following:

• Arrestee's name, aliases, physical features, and address
• Arresting agency’s name
• Arrest number, time/date, and location.
• Offense date and description
• Booking number

Chemung County Arrest Statistics

Per the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services’s arrest report, Chemung County law enforcement agencies conducted 1,954 arrests in 2023. The DCJS also provides access to inmate population data. According to the agency, Chemung County Jail housed 67 inmates as of September 2024.

Find Chemung County Arrest Records

In Chemung County, interested persons or entities can find arrest information through inmate records. The records may feature arrest information, such as the arrestee’s name, aliases, mugshot, charges, booking number, bond amount, and arresting agency name.

Interested parties can access inmate records by using online resources provided by state or federal agencies. For example, the New York Department of Corrections hosts a searchable portal for inmates incarcerated in county and state correctional facilities. To lookup inmate records on the portal, users must input the inmate’s name, department ID number, or New York state number.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator is also a repository for finding arrest information. The portal features information on inmates incarcerated in federal correctional facilities. To find records on the portal, users must type in the inmate’s name or prison identification number.

Likewise, the Chemung County Sheriff’s Records Division allows access to arrest records generated within the county. To get arrest records from the agency, interested parties must fill out a request form and send it via mail or in-person to:

Chemung County Sheriff’s Office

203 William Street
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY14902
Phone: (607) 737-2987, ext. 104
Fax: (607) 737-2930

Requesters must also include the required copy fee along with the request form. The county sheriff charges $0.25 per copy. Mail-based payments must be in the form of money orders or checks made payable to the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office.

Free Arrest Record Search in Chemung County

Citizens can conduct free searches for arrest records via these government-owned search sites:

• The NY Department of Corrections’ Incarcerated Lookup.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

The county sheriff’s office may allow free in-person viewing of arrest records in their custody. Interested parties must make requests during open hours at the county sheriff’s office.

Third-party search sites are an alternative means of finding arrest records for free. These sites typically have user-friendly interfaces that enable users to conveniently find arrest information. In addition, some third-party sites may allow free download options for different file formats. Despite the perks of using such sites, they are not reliable sources for obtaining arrest records in Chemung County.

Chemung County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

In Chemung County, arrest and criminal records generally provide information on crime-related events. However, the records are quite different based on their content, custodian agency, and social implications.

Arrest records mostly contain information received or stored in relation to an arrest event. Thus, the records will include details, such as the arrestee’s name, aliases, mugshots, charges, arrest location, and the arresting agency’s information. On the other hand, criminal records contain an offender’s full criminal history, including arrest information, court disposition, and inmate data.

Citizens can find these records under the purview of different record custodians. For instance, law enforcement agencies oversee the creation and storage of arrest records. However, criminal records are under the purview of the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS).

Based on social implications, arrest records do not indicate if the offender is guilty of the arrest charges. However, criminal records show that the court tried and convicted the offender. For this reason, offenders may face negative social impacts, such as employment discrimination.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Chemung County arrest records do not have an expiration date. The record will remain publicly visible until it is expunged or sealed by the state or the record subject. Persons seeking to seal arrest records must use the state guidelines for such processes.

Expunge Chemung County Arrest Records

In Chemung County, arrestees can expunge their arrest record by filing a petition with a court that has jurisdiction over such cases. The court will schedule a hearing date to determine whether to grant or deny the petition. Note that New York’s Clean Slate Act also expunges arrest records that meet the legal requirements.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Chemung County?

Chemung County residents can expunge arrest records under these conditions:

• You were not convicted in the last ten years.
• You were convicted of not more than two misdemeanors or one felony.
• You completed a drug treatment program for convictions listed under the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform.

How to expunge arrest records in Chemung County?

Past offenders can expunge Chemung County arrest records via these steps:

1. Print and fill out a Criminal Certificate of Disposition. Complete a separate form for each conviction you want to seal.
2. Send the form to a court of competent jurisdiction. The court will charge $5 to print out the requested document.
3. Next, print, fill, and notarize an Application to Seal form. Include additional documents that contain evidence of rehabilitation. Examples of such documents are employment letters, community service certificates, and educational transcripts.
4. Make a copy of the aforementioned documents and serve them via mail or in-person to the Chemung County district attorney’s office at:
   226 Lake Street
   P.O. Box 588
   Elmira, NY 14902-0588
5. Next, fill out and notarize an Affidavit of Service form.
6. File the original copy of the forms and send them to a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court will review the petition and make appropriate decisions. If the petition is granted, the court will issue a sealing order to all agencies holding the records.

Chemung County Arrest Warrants

Chemung County arrest warrants are court orders that authorize the arrest of suspected lawbreakers. County courts may issue warrants after receiving a complaint from an arresting agency. Arrest warrants issued in Chemung County must include the following details:

• The defendant’s name, aliases, and identifying features like height, age, and race.
• The court that issued the warrant and the issuance date.
• Arrest charges and description
• A statement that the arresting officer must bring the defendant before the court.

Do Chemung County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Chemung County arrest warrants do not expire until the defendant is arrested or the court recalls them. Note that the warrant remains valid even after the statute of limitation for the offense has elapsed.