Clinton County Arrest Records

Clinton County arrest records refer to law enforcement documents detailing individuals taken into custody for various offenses, the reasons for their arrest, and the conditions for their release.

The Clinton County Sheriff's Office, New York State Police, Plattsburgh Police Department, and other law enforcement agencies create these documents when they arrest individuals within Clinton County.

Generally, arrest becomes necessary if:

• Law enforcement officers witness criminal activities
• The court issues arrest warrants
• There is a violation of probation or parole
• There are public safety concerns
• There is probable cause.

Law enforcement agencies may hold individuals in short-term detention at local police departments' holding cells. But after conviction, and depending on the type of offense, convicts may be incarcerated at the Clinton County Jail, New York, or correctional facilities.

Court records are crucial documents for criminal case prosecutions. A Clinton County arrest record will become part of Clinton County court records if the arrest leads to a conviction.

Are Arrest Records Public in Clinton County?

Yes, arrest records are public in Clinton County. Per Article 6, Section 84-90 of the New York Public Officers Law, the public has the right to be aware of government actions. Hence, custodians of government records must make them available on request for public inspection and copying unless existing laws state otherwise.

Notwithstanding the general access to government records, the public cannot access Clinton County arrest records relating to:

• Law enforcement investigations or judicial proceedings
• criminal investigative techniques or procedures (unless they are routine techniques or procedures)
• Juvenile offenses
• Sealed or expunged records
• Financial accounts, Social Security, or medical or mental health
• Classified law enforcement or national security information.

Inquirers seeking to access a restricted Clinton County arrest record must do so as the owner of the record, or have security clearance or a subpoena.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Clinton County arrest records provide details of arrests within the county. These documents contain:

• The name, aliases, gender, date of birth, ethnicity, and physical description of arrestees
• Date, time, and the location of the arrest
• Charges against the record owners
• Names of the arresting agencies
• Names and badge numbers of the arresting officers
• Booking numbers
• Mugshots
• Bail/Bond information or conditions for release.

Clinton County Arrest Statistics

Per the FBI crime data, the New York State Police, and other Uniform Crime Reporting (UCR) program participating agencies, 5,222 individuals were arrested for various crimes within Clinton County in 2020, 2022, and 2023 (there was no report for 2021). This figure comprises 1,882, 1,480, and 1,860 arrestees in 2020, 2022, and 2023.

Between 2020 and 2023, the most arrests in Clinton County were for drug/narcotics violations. Within this period, there were 1,881 drug/narcotics arrests within Clinton County. By comparison, law enforcement agencies reported 955 larceny-related arrests within this timeframe. The table below shows the number of arrests reported to the UCR by Clinton County law enforcement agencies between 2020 and 2023.

Data Source: FBI UCR Arrest Statistics.

Find Clinton County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking access to Clinton County arrest records should:

• Visit the New York State Police FOIL Records Access Center, create an account, log in, and request access to specific Clinton County arrest or incident reports.
• Log in to the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision Incarcerated Lookup Portal and use names, dates of birth, and ID numbers to search for Clinton County inmate records.
• Visit the New York Courts WebCriminal Portal, create accounts, log in, and access Clinton County arrest information through criminal case records.

Free Arrest Record Search in Clinton County

Per the New York Freedom of Information Law, access to Clinton County arrest records may include nominal charges (copy and search fees). Notwithstanding, records seekers can access Clinton County arrest information for free if their requests do not involve making copies of the documents. For free access to Clinton County arrest reports, log in to the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision's Incarcerated Lookup Portal and use the online search tools to look for inmates’ arrest information. Information about Clinton County arrest incidents may also be available online through third-party websites or media archives.

For in-person free access to Clinton County arrest information, visit the Clinton County Court Clerk's Office or the law enforcement agencies responsible for the specific arrests and request viewing access to the arrest reports.

Clinton County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

There are several dissimilarities between Clinton County arrests and criminal records. These differences range from their content, creation, and legal implications. The comparisons below outline some distinctions between Clinton County arrests and criminal records.

Creation & Content

Clinton County arrest records are law enforcement documents detailing the apprehending of individuals who commit arrestable offenses. Law enforcement agencies create these documents to explain the reasons for arrests and the conditions for the release of arrestees.

Criminal records are court documents relating to the prosecutions, convictions, and incarceration of individuals for criminal offenses. The courts generate criminal records during criminal trials.

Legal Implications

Arrest records are not evidence of guilt or innocence. An arrestee remains innocent of a crime unless the court states otherwise. A criminal record is an evidential document; it confirms that the owner is legally guilty of the crime.

Significance

A Clinton County arrest record does not have much impact on reputation or status unless the court convicts the arrestee for the crime resulting from the arrest. Contrariwise, a Clinton County criminal record may affect the owner's social status, housing, or employment opportunities.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Arrest information may remain on a record indefinitely. However, in Clinton and other New York counties, if they are eligible, owners of arrest records can petition the courts to seal them from public access.

Expunge Clinton County Arrest Records

In Clinton County and the rest of New York, juvenile arrest information may be sealed automatically under the Youthful Offender Status if their owners complete the punishment for their offenses, attain the age of 18 years, and have no subsequent convictions. In contrast, there is no automatic sealing of arrest information for adults unless the arrest does not lead to a conviction (automatic sealing after dismissal) or is for a non-criminal traffic violation/infraction (automatic sealing after one year).

Per New York State laws, arrest records may be eligible for sealing after a waiting period of 10 years if the records relate to misdemeanors or Class D or E felonies. Also, the owners of the arrest records must complete the sentences for their crimes and have no new convictions or pending criminal trials. Individuals seeking to seal non-automatic sealing arrest information in Clinton County or other parts of New York should apply the following steps:

• Download a Criminal Certificate of Disposition Request Form, complete and mail it to the specific Clinton County court that handled the case resulting from the arrest
• Download a Sealing Application Form (Affidavit Support Form):
  • Fill out pages 1 and 2 of the sealing form and serve them to the Clinton County District Attorney at:
    137 Margaret Street,
    Plattsburgh,
    NY 12901
• Complete the rest of the Sealing Application Form, attach any supporting documents (these may include disposition documents, proof of rehabilitation, employment records, or documents on community involvement), and file a request for sealing of the arrest record at the Clinton County Clerk of Courts Office at:

The Clinton County Government Center

137 Margaret Street
Plattsburgh,
NY 12901

• Attend any court hearing relating to the request to answer questions and counter objections.
• If the request is successful, the court will issue orders to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and the agency responsible for the arrest to seal the arrest information and make it inaccessible to the public.

Clinton County Arrest Warrants

Clinton arrest warrants refer to official documents issued by judges or magistrates of any Clinton County court authorizing law enforcement to take individuals into custody. Prosecutors or law enforcement officers seeking arrest warrants must approach the court with probable cause. A Clinton County judge/magistrate may issue an arrest warrant to a prosecutor or law enforcement officers if there is evidence of a crime or if a person:

• Is a public risk
• Flouts court orders
• Engage in domestic violence
• Fails to appear for a case hearing to provide answers to charges against them
• Intends to flee the jurisdiction to avoid prosecution for a crime.

In New York and the rest of the United States, a valid arrest warrant may contain:

• The full name and physical description of the subject
• Charges and sections of the laws allegedly violated
• Statement of facts or evidence against the subject/defendant (probable cause)
• Name and signature of the issuing judge/magistrate
• Date and location of issuance of the warrant
• Name and jurisdiction of the issuing authority
• Directives to law enforcement to take the subject into custody
• Instructions to law enforcement on how to execute the warrant.

Do Clinton County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, Clinton County arrest warrants do not expire once issued. They will remain active until the law enforcement arrests the subject. Nevertheless, a Clinton County arrest warrant will become inactive if the subject dies or the court recalls it.