Cortland County Arrest Records

Cortland County law enforcement agents are empowered by state law to arrest suspects when there is probable cause that the person committed a crime. The power to arrest is governed by New York State's Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) §140. These laws detail who can make arrests, how they make arrests, and when an arrest is required.

Offenders arrested in Cortland County are typically placed in the Cortland County Jail where they are processed. After processing, offenders will be arraigned before a judge in a preliminary hearing. At the hearing, the judge may set a court date and determine if the offender qualifies for bail or remains in custody till trial.

The arresting agency in Cortland County will usually be responsible for generating and maintaining arrest records. The public may access these records by contacting the custodians of these records in Cortland County or the New York State Police. Records seekers may also find arrest records for cases that went to trial as part of Cortland County Court Records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Cortland County?

Under New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Cortland County arrest records are generally considered public information. Basic arrest information is typically considered public and can be accessed by everyone, including the general public. However, some information may be classified as confidential by the law and restricted from public access. Examples of restricted information in New York may include the following.

• Any information restricted under federal or state laws
• Arrest records concerning ongoing criminal investigations and litigation may be restricted till the end of the case
• Arrest records about minors or juveniles are restricted from public access
• Records sealed by court order or other specific conditions, such as dismissed cases, are restricted from public access

Although these records are restricted, law enforcement agents and the subject of the record may still be able to access them.

Cortland County Arrest Statistics

The Cortland County Sheriff’s Office collects crime data and submits these statistics to the FBI’s national database. According to the available data, the sheriff’s office reported about 315 arrests in 2023. The total includes the following. 105 arrests for larceny, 71 arrests for drugs/narcotics offenses, 56 arrests for simple assaults, 41 arrests for driving under the influence, 19 arrests for vandalism, 11 arrests for burglary, nine arrests for weapons violations, five arrests for aggravated assaults, three arrests for robbery, two arrests for fraud, and one arrest each for embezzlement, forgery, homicide, and motor vehicle theft.

Find Cortland County Arrest Records

Cortland County arrest records are maintained by the Cortland County Sheriff’s Office who maintain the county jail through their Corrections Division. Arrest records and inmate information may be obtained by contacting the sheriff’s office via the following contact details.

Cortland County Sheriff’s Office
54 Greenbush Street,
Cortland, NY 13045
Office Phone: (607) 758-5599
Corrections Phone: (607) 756-4275
Corrections Fax: (607) 756-3405

Requests may be made in person at the office, while inquiries about obtaining records, including copy fees, can be made by phone. The sheriff’s office also provides access to an Inmate Search tool where visitors may look up inmate records online.

The Incarcerated Lookup page on the New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision website allows inmate searches for individuals housed in state-run correctional facilities.

Cortland County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest and criminal records record aspects of a person’s interactions with law enforcement agencies. Even though they are concerned with law enforcement, there are few distinctions between these records. Arrest records are not proof that a person committed a crime; rather, they merely show that one time, they were suspected of breaking the law. Conversely, a criminal record proves they broke the law because it is only generated when the suspect goes through the legal system after being found guilty of a crime.

Arrest records typically consist of details of an arrest, including the date, time, and location of the arrest, the arresting agency, and the charges brought. Criminal records are more comprehensive and include arrest records, court records, bail information, and prison records.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

The time an arrest stays on your record in Cortland County will usually depend on the outcome of the arrest. Results such as convictions and dismissed cases will determine if the case is sealed, qualifies for expungement, or remains on the record permanently.

Under Article 160 of the New York CPL, arrests resolved in the defendant’s favor are automatically sealed. This means that arrests where the defendant was acquitted or the case was dismissed will be sealed automatically after the case is concluded. On the other hand, arrests that ended in a misdemeanor or felony conviction will generally remain on the record unless they meet certain criteria and steps are taken to remove them.

For an arrest that led to a conviction in New York to be eligible for sealing, certain conditions must be met, including the following.

• The defendant must not have any subsequent criminal charges pending in the state.
• The defendant must not be under supervision, such as probation, for the conviction to be sealed.
• The conviction must not be for a Class A felony or a sexually violent offense.
• For a misdemeanor conviction, at least 3 years must have passed from sentencing if the sentence did not include jail time, or 3 years must have passed from the defendant's release.
• At least 8 years must have passed from release from jail for a felony conviction to be sealed or from sentencing if no jail time was given.

Cortland County Arrest Warrants

Arrest warrants in Cortland County are legal processes issued by a local criminal court directing law enforcement officers to arrest a suspect identified in the document and bring them before the issuing court. Arrest warrants serve as a method to ensure a defendant's appearance in court for their arraignment and trial. Article 120 under the Criminal Procedure Laws of New York handles arrest warrants.

In Cortland County, arrest warrants may be issued when law enforcement (police or prosecuting attorney) provides a local court with an affidavit containing facts about a crime and showing probable cause that the subject of the warrant committed it. The affidavit may be submitted to the local judge or magistrate, who will issue the warrant if the evidence provided is satisfactory.

Arrest warrants issued in New York must contain or state the following information.

• The name of the defendant to be arrested or any description which identifies them with a reasonable certainty
• The name or title of the offense they are accused of
• The name and location of the issuing court
• The law enforcement agencies authorized to make the arrest and instructions to bring the defendant to the issuing court.
• The date of issuance with the name and signature of the issuing judge

Do Cortland County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Cortland County and all of New York do not expire. They are only cleared when resolved and remain active until the subject of the warrant is arrested, surrenders, or dies. Under certain circumstances, the court where the warrant was issued may recall or cancel the warrant. This may be done after a petition from the subject of the warrant or their attorney showing the warrant was issued in error or illegally.