Herkimer County Arrest Records

Herkimer County arrest records generally refer to information created or received in relation to arrest events. Such records come into existence after law enforcement officers apprehend suspected offenders. Officers may also conduct arrests to prevent a potential crime from occurring. In Herkimer County, arrested persons are detained at the county jail.

Citizens can find arrest records through the local law enforcement agencies that conducted the arrest. In addition, Herkimer County court records, such as arrest warrants and case files, may also contain arrest information.

Are Arrest Records Public in Herkimer County?

Under the New York Freedom of Information law, most arrest records are accessible to the general public. Public arrest records are obtainable through designated record custodian agencies, which are legally required to provide options for the public to access arrest records. For instance, the Herkimer County sheriff’s office allows in-person inquiries for arrest and incident reports.

However, state laws prevent public disclosure of certain records. Excluded records mostly contain information that, if revealed, will violate the privacy and safety of concerned parties. Examples of such records include:

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

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In Herkimer County, public arrest records may provide information on the following:

• The arrestee’s name and address
• Arrest number, time/date, and location.
• Offense date and description
• Booking number
• Arresting agency’s name

Herkimer County Arrest Statistics

According to the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services, Herkimer County’s law enforcement agencies conducted 1,109 arrests in 2023. The report covers arrests for crime categories, such as felonies and misdemeanors. In contrast, the county jail documented a daily average of 64 inmates in August 2024.

Find Herkimer County Arrest Records

Interested parties can find Herkimer County arrest records at the county sheriff’s office. To obtain arrest reports, inquirers must submit a request in person to the county sheriff’s office at:

320 North Main Street
#2900
Herkimer, NY 13350
Phone: (315) 867-1167

Inmate records are an alternative option for finding arrest information in Herkimer County. Inquirers can access such records by using online resources provided by custodian agencies. For instance, the New York Department of Corrections maintains an online repository of inmate information. To view records on the portal, inquirers must input the inmate’s name or prison-identifying character.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator is another option for viewing inmate records. To use the portal, inquirers may use any of these search options:

• Search by inmate name
• Search by inmate number.

Herkimer County criminal records also contain arrest information. To obtain criminal records, inquirers must submit a fingerprint-based request to the New York Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). The state-level agency offers fingerprint service through a licensed third-party vendor.

Free Arrest Record Search in Herkimer County

Government-owned search sites allow free searches for Herkimer County arrest records. Thus, record seekers only need to provide relevant search information to view records on such sites.

The following search sites provide free access to arrest records:

• The California Department of Corrections’ inmate search database.
• The Federal Bureau of Prisons’ inmate locator.

The Herkimer County sheriff’s office may allow free viewing of arrest records at their physical location. Note that the agency may charge fees for producing copies of the records.

On the other hand, inquirers can access arrest records for free via third-party search sites. These sites may feature one or more public records that contain arrest information. Users typically need to provide relevant search details to access records on third-party sites, such as the record subject’s name, inmate number, and other identifying information. That being said, third-party sites are unregulated and may not feature accurate arrest information.

Herkimer County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Herkimer County arrests are different from criminal records in the following ways:

The record creation process

Law enforcement officers generate arrest records after conducting an arrest. Such records contain information on arrest warrants, charges, location, booking number, and the arresting agency’s name. In contrast, government entities create criminal records after an arrest, which leads to a court conviction. Criminal records may contain more than arrest records; they include court indictment and disposition data.

Record custodian agencies

Law enforcement agencies are the primary custodians of arrest records. For instance, inquirers can find arrest information through the county sheriff’s office. In contrast, the New York State Department of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) maintains access to Herkimer's criminal records.

Social implications

An arrest record does not indicate if the record subject is guilty of the offense. However, criminal records reveal conviction details and court disposition.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Herkimer County, arrest records remain publicly visible until the record subject or the state seals them. Note that there are set requirements and procedures for sealing arrest records. For instance, offenders must wait for a certain period before they are eligible to seal the record.

Expunge Herkimer County Arrest Records

To expunge Herkimer County arrest records, interested parties must petition a court of competent jurisdiction. After considering several factors, the court will review the petition and may grant or deny the request. On the other hand, the state’s Clean Clean Slate Act will automatically seal arrest records that fulfill the legal requirements.

Who is eligible to seal arrest records in Herkimer County?

You are generally eligible to seal arrest records if there are no pending convictions or court-mandated supervision programs. However, there are additional requirements for sealing different offenses. For example, you can expunge misdemeanors and felonies under these conditions:

• It is more than three years since you were convicted of a misdemeanor charge.
• It is more than eight years since you were convicted of a felony charge.

How to seal or expunge Herkimer County arrest records?

Eligible persons may be able to expunge arrest records in Herkimer County with the following general steps:

1. Fill out and submit a Request for Criminal Disposition Record to a court of competent jurisdiction. Herkimer County courts will charge $5 to search and produce the document.
2. Next, fill out, print, and notarize an Application to Seal form.
3. Send these documents and other supporting files in person or via mail to the Herkimer County District Attorney's Office at:
   301 North Washington Street
   Suite 2401
   Herkimer NY 13350-1299
4. Petitioners must fill out, print, and notarize an Affidavit of Service form.
5. Make a copy of these documents and file the original with a court of competent jurisdiction.

The court will review the submission and issue a sealing order if the petition is granted.

Herkimer County Arrest Warrants

In Herkimer County, an arrest warrant is a court order that directs the arrest of defendants named in a complaint. The county courts may issue warrants after receiving complaints or accusatory instruments from law enforcement entities.

Under the New York Criminal Procedure Laws (CPL), arrest warrants must provide information on the following:

• The defendant’s name and other identifying features, such as age, height, and ethnicity.
• The court that issued the warrant
• Arrest warrant issuance date
• Arrest charges and description
• The arresting officer’s names
• A statement that the officer must arrest the defendant and bring them before the court.

Do Herkimer County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants issued in Herkimer County do not expire. They remain valid until the defendant is arrested or the court clears them. Note that the statute of limitation does not affect the lifespan of an arrest warrant.