Jefferson County Arrest Records

Jefferson County arrest records are legal documents created by law enforcement agencies that contain information about an arrest, the arrestee, and the alleged crime. If there is probable cause that the person perpetrated a crime, an officer can arrest them with a warrant or take them into custody without one. According to federal and state legislation, these individuals may be detained with or without charges, released, or transported to court.

Apprehended suspects are often placed in the Jefferson County Jail. As a result, while the arresting body generates and files arrest records, relevant arrest information may be found in materials such as inmate or jail records, criminal records, and warrant details in Jefferson County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Jefferson County?

Article 6 (Sections 84-90)—the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL)—grants citizens access to arrest information created and maintained by law enforcement. As a result, the public has the right to file public record requests for all Jefferson County arrest records produced and held by local and state law enforcement. However, the law exempts certain arrest records from public availability.

• Jefferson County arrest records exempted from public disclosure include:
• Medical or personnel records that may result in an inappropriate breach of personal privacy.
• Records concerning ongoing law enforcement investigations or court proceedings.
• The public cannot access court-sealed or expunged records.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

According to the New York Freedom of Information Law, the following arrest information is available to the public:

• Personal Identification Information: This includes the arrested person's full name, date of birth, and any aliases.
• Arrest Details: Facts regarding the arrest, including the date, time, and place.

Jefferson County Crime Rate

According to the National Incident-Based Reporting System (NIBRS), the proportion of violent crimes reported by the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office between 2021 and 2022 remained the same. The Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported 13 violent crimes in 2021 and the same number of offenses in 2022.

A breakdown of the violent crimes subcategories showed that there were no homicides and robberies in 2022. The most prevalent violent crime was aggravated assault, with 11 offenses, accounting for 84.62% of all violent crimes, while rape (2 offenses) constituted 15.38% of total violent crimes.

Regarding all property crimes, the Sheriff's Office recorded 212 incidents in 2021 and 193 cases in 2022. This figure reveals an 8.96% decrease in all property crimes between 2021 and 2022. Further analysis of the type of property crimes showed that larceny-theft was the commonest type, accounting for 86.53% (167 offenses). Other property crimes include burglary and motor vehicle theft, with 10.88% (21 offenses) and 2.59% (5 offenses), respectively. There were no reports of arson during this period.

Jefferson County Arrest Statistics

According to the NIBRS statistics from the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office, 460 arrests were made in 2022. Of this figure, law enforcement officers arrested 272 (59.13%) for all other crimes besides traffic violations. Offenders arrested for larceny-theft accounted for 15.65% (72), while 10.00% (46), 4.35% (20), and 2.83% (13) were arrested for driving under the influence, simple assault, and vandalism, respectively. Persons arrested for aggravated assault, burglary, and drug abuse violations each constituted 1.52% (7) each. Other types of offenses people were arrested for were illegal possession of weapons, disorderly conduct, and motor vehicle theft, with 1.09% (5), 0.87% (4), and 0.65% (3), respectively.

Find Jefferson County Arrest Records

Individuals seeking Jefferson County arrest records may use the following resources at the state and federal levels:

New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) Incarcerated Lookup Tool: This online search tool allows users to look for inmates in New York State correctional facilities. Visitors can investigate using the inmate’s Department Identification Number (DIN), name, or New York State Identification Number (NYSID). However, The search tool only provides returns results on active offenders, including probationers, and does not provide information on released inmates.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) Inmate Locator: This search engine allows visitors to find federal inmates jailed from 1982 to the present by entering the inmate's BOP Register Number, DCDC Number, FBI Number, or INS Number.

Online Detainee Locator System: If details on an inmate arrested by US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) are available, the general public can search the Online Detainee Locator System or the specific ICE detention facility where the offender is being held.

Free Arrest Record Search in Jefferson County

Requesters can get free arrest records from the police department closest to the arrest scene, as bookings are often made at the nearest precinct. In Jefferson County, such police departments include the Adams, Alexandria Bay, Antwerp, and Cape Vincent Village Police Departments.

Searchers can also obtain detailed arrest records from the Jefferson County Sheriff's Office. To obtain copies of relevant arrest records, they must fill out a record request form, have a valid ID, and may be required to pay fees. The Jefferson County Sheriff's Office's contact information is as follows:

Jefferson County Sheriff's Office
753 Waterman Drive,
Watertown, NY 13601
Phone: (315) 786-2660

While official sources are the most trustworthy, there are third-party websites that compile public documents, including arrest records. These websites frequently offer free searches but may require payment for complete reports.

Get Jefferson County Criminal Records

New York State Unified Court System

The New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA) offers a state-level criminal history record search (CHRS). This search includes criminal cases from all 62 counties and costs $95.00. Payment can be made by cheque or money order, but cash is not accepted. Checks that are returned attract a $20.00 fee.

Requesters can submit criminal record requests electronically through the OCA's online Direct Access tool. Requests received through the Direct Access application that show 'No Results Found' are obtained in real time.

Applicants may also complete the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) Application Form. The form must indicate the name, address, phone number, and any additional pertinent details of the individual or company submitting it.

Jefferson County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Even though record seekers often interpret "criminal records" and "arrest records" to mean the same thing, they serve distinct functions. Arrest records document instances where law enforcement officers detain an individual. Typically, these records comprise information such as the arrest's date, time, and cause but do not express guilt or conviction.

Conversely, criminal records provide a comprehensive account of someone's relationship with the criminal justice system. These records include convictions, punishments, and any ongoing court proceedings.

When a requester seeks arrest records, they receive information on specific arrests. When an applicant requests criminal records, they receive a more comprehensive picture of the individual's criminal history.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In New York, arrest records remain public indefinitely unless sealed. As of 2024, New York only permits expungements for specific marijuana offenses. When sealed, some arrest information such as fingerprints, palmprint cards, booking photos, and DNA samples may be destroyed. However, the general record remains and can still be accessed by specific authorized persons and agencies.

Expunge Jefferson County Arrest Records

Except for specific marijuana offenses, Jefferson County residents, like those throughout New York, cannot have their arrest records expunged. Instead, the state employs a process known as sealing. Sealing means the record is still present, but associated fingerprint and palmprint cards, booking photographs, and DNA samples may be returned or destroyed. However, digital fingerprints are not deleted if there are additional unsealed cases.

If the applicant meets particular conditions, they may request that certain felony and misdemeanor convictions be sealed. Such a person must have no more than two misdemeanors or one felony and one misdemeanor conviction and have been crime-free for ten years. Additionally, the successful conclusion of a drug treatment program may result in conditional sealing under the Rockefeller Drug Law Reform.

Sealed records can be accessed by the applicant, authorized persons, employers for specific jobs, parole officers, prosecutors for specific crimes, and law enforcement authorities upon court request.

New York's sealing restrictions do not affect arrests and convictions made outside of the state or federal jurisdiction. If a record that should be sealed appears in a criminal records search, the applicant may request that it be sealed.

Procedure for Sealing Records

The procedure of sealing arrest records generally consists of multiple steps:

1. Requesters must apply for a Criminal Certificate of Disposition from the court where they were found guilty.
2. Next, they must complete the Sealing Application, the Notice of Motion, and the Affidavit of Support.
3. Subsequently, applicants must put together proof of rehabilitation, including certificates of release from civil disabilities, employment verification, community service records, educational transcripts, and recommendations.
4. The Sealing Application must be endorsed in the presence of a notary public.
5. Next, applicants must inform the District Attorney's office about their application, after which the completed application, Criminal Certificate of Disposition, and any supporting documents are submitted to the court.
6. The court will consider applications and may convene a hearing to decide whether to grant a sealing request. If the court grants an application, the records must be sealed and no longer publicly available.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrants

Jefferson County arrest warrants are official documents issued by a court authorizing law enforcement agents to take a particular person into custody. These warrants provide that arrests are carried out with probable cause and protect persons' constitutional rights against unreasonable searches and seizures.

A judge or magistrate grants Jefferson County arrest warrants, and the process usually includes the following steps:

1. Law enforcement officers submit a criminal complaint or indictment. This document details the specific crime and the reason(s) why the agents are accusing the suspect.
2. Law enforcement agents must present evidence of probable cause, which means there are plausible reasons for believing the accused committed the crime.
3. Suppose the judge or magistrate agrees that probable cause exists. In that case, they will sign the warrant, making it an active arrest warrant.
4. The court may grant an arrest warrant when an individual is suspected of committing a felony or a major misdemeanor. It may also be issued if someone fails to appear in court as scheduled or for probation violations.

An arrest warrant in Jefferson County usually includes the following information:

• Name of the court issuing the warrant.
• Date of warrant issuance.
• Charges against the alleged offender.
• The name or description of the person to be arrested.
• The names or classifications of the police personnel authorized to carry out the warrant.
• An instruction to police officers to arrest the person and bring them to court.

Jefferson County Arrest Warrant Search

Requesters seeking active warrants in Jefferson County may visit the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office at 753 Waterman Drive, Watertown, NY 13601, or call (315) 786-2660.

In addition, the New York State Police website provides information on wanted individuals and active warrants. Interested parties should visit the Wanted and Missing page of the agency’s site to search for active warrants.

Do Jefferson County Arrest Warrants Expire?

An arrest warrant or bench warrant issued in New York State cannot expire after a specified time, regardless of how long the warrant was issued. It can only expire if the defendant passes away or appears before the judge in the court where the warrant was issued.

Discuss the expiration of arrest warrants and factors that might affect it.