Lewis County Arrest Records

An arrest in Lewis County, New York, occurs when a law-enforcement officer lawfully restrains an individual’s liberty based on probable cause—with or without a warrant, as outlined in the New York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL § 140.10). Immediately after the arrest, officers record the circumstances, charges, and personal identifiers; these entries form the individual’s arrest record (often called a "rap sheet"). Arrest records become part of the broader criminal-history file and may later appear in related Lewis County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Lewis County?

Under Article 6 of the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), most arrest records are subject to public inspection. Any person may submit a FOIL request—by mail, email, or in person—to the custodial agency (typically the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office or municipal police department). Agencies must respond within statutory timelines, either providing the record, denying access with a written explanation, or granting partial access after redacting exempt material.

Specific arrest-record details are withheld to protect the justice system's privacy, safety, or integrity (FOIL § 87(2); CPL §§ 160.50–160.55). Frequently exempt items include:

• Juvenile records (Family Court Act § 381.3)
• Victim or witness identifying information
• Medical or mental-health details protected by HIPAA or state law
• Records from sealed or expunged cases
• Information that would endanger life, impede an investigation, or reveal confidential law-enforcement techniques

The records officer must segregate and redact these portions before releasing the rest of the file.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest information created by Lewis law enforcement agencies typically contain the following:

• Date of arrest
• Name under which an individual was arrested
• A description of the detained person
• The address that was provided at the time of the arrest.
• Location of crime
• Date of crime
• Arrest precinct

Arrest number (booking number):

• Arrest charges
• FBI number (a unique number that the FBI assigns to a record)
• Docket number: If the case proceeded to trial, this is the number the court assigned to the case.
• Prosecution charges
• Warrants issued
• Case disposition (the court's ultimate decision), which includes the charge's name, the Penal Code, and the crime level (for instance, felony, misdemeanor, or violation)
• Information on incarceration, probation, and/or parole

Lewis County Arrest Statistics

The latest arrest statistics from the New York Division of Criminal Justice Services show that 276 arrests were made by law enforcement in Lewis County in 2023. Most arrests were for misdemeanors (162), such as assault, disorderly conduct, and petty theft, which made up 58% of the total arrests. The second most common crime that led to an arrest were driving-related offenses such as driving under the influence (82), which contributed 30% of all arrests.

Offenses such as drug-related offenses (30) and violent robberies (5) made up 12% and 1% of arrests, respectively.

Find Lewis County Arrest Records

Interested members of the public may find Lewis County arrest records by making Freedom of Information requests at the Lewis County Sheriff's Department or any police department within the Lewis County jurisdiction. The Lewis County Sheriff's Department maintains arrest records, local criminal records, incident reports, and arrest statistical data within its records management division. To make a request, individuals are typically required to write a FOIL letter describing the arrest records they want. The description should be sufficient so that the records staff may use the information to search for records. The letter may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email.

Requesting Lewis's arrest records as part of a local background check is also possible. A background check on an individual can be requested by providing their fingerprints and biographical details to the Lewis County Sheriff's office. Regardless of how a request for arrest records is made, applicants are generally required to provide the following information:

• The name of the subject of the record
• The name of the arresting agency
• Date and time of the arrest

Arrested individuals are usually held at the Lewis County Jail for pre-sentencing. Individuals who want to make any inquiries concerning inmates held at the county jail may contact the jail administrator at (315) 376-3511

Free Arrest Record Search in Lewis County

A quick—but unofficial—way to locate Lewis County arrest information is to use third-party record aggregators. These privately run websites pull public-record data from numerous jurisdictions and make it keyword-searchable at no cost. To run a search, record seekers are typically required to enter any combination of:

• The subject’s full name (or partial name)
• The arrest date or year
• The arresting agency (e.g., Lewis County Sheriff’s Office)
• The location of the incident

Basic search results usually appear on-screen and can be downloaded or emailed as PDF files. Some sites will mail printed copies for a shipping fee. Be aware that free tiers often display only summary information; detailed reports, additional identifiers, or multi-state searches generally require a paid upgrade.

Important: Third-party databases are convenient but may contain outdated or incomplete data. Users are advised to verify critical details with the Lewis County Sheriff’s Office, the arresting municipal police department, or the Lewis County court clerk.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely—unless the record is sealed or expunged.
In New York, an arrest entry remains in the statewide criminal-history repository and in local Lewis County files for life. Access, however, changes over time:

Employers and landlords cannot view a sealed record, but law-enforcement and some government agencies still can.

Expunge Lewis County Arrest Records

In New York, the primary post-conviction remedy is record sealing—true expungement (physical destruction) is generally limited to certain marijuana offenses. Once sealed, a file is removed from public access but remains visible to law enforcement and select licensing authorities:

Eligibility Review:

• Wrongful or non-conviction arrests
  Cases ending in dismissal, declination, acquittal, or "no true bill" seal automatically under CPL §§ 160.50–160.55; no motion is required.

• Convictions (CPL § 160.59):

  • A petitioner may request sealing for up to two convictions total—only one may be a felony.
  • Eligible convictions include most misdemeanors and non-violent, non-sex-offense felonies.
  • Ineligible convictions: violent felonies (Penal Law art. 70), sex offenses, Class A felonies, and crimes requiring SORA registration.
  • A minimum of ten years must elapse after the most recent conviction or release from custody, whichever is later, with no pending criminal charges.

Document Preparation:

• Obtain the "Notice of Motion and Affidavit in Support of Sealing under CPL § 160.59" from the Lewis County Clerk or the New York Courts website.
• Secure certified dispositions and, if available, a current Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) "rap sheet".

Service and Filing:

• Deliver motion papers to the Lewis County District Attorney at least 45 days before the scheduled hearing.
• File originals—motion, affidavit, proof of service, and supporting exhibits—with Lewis County Court.
• Pay the statutory filing fee (currently $65). A fee-waiver application is available for indigent applicants.

Judicial Hearing:

During the hearing, the court considers:

• The nature and circumstances of each offense
• Evidence of rehabilitation and character,
• Any statement from a victim or the District Attorney, and
• Broader public-safety concerns.

If sealing is granted, the clerk issues an order and transmits it to DCJS and all record-holding agencies, rendering the case invisible to routine background checks.

It is worth noting that CPL § 160.59 permits only one sealing application per lifetime; including every eligible conviction. Beginning November 16, 2024, most misdemeanor convictions (three years) and non-violent felonies (eight years) will seal automatically, subject to statutory exclusions. Detailed guidance is available through the Lewis County Public Defender’s Office (315) 376-5281 or qualified private counsel.

Lewis County Arrest Warrants

Lewis County arrest warrants are official documents that provide local law enforcement with the right to detain people.

In New York, a warrant is usually granted based on the prosecutor's or police's evidence proving probable cause. To acquire a warrant, a law enforcement official provides a judge with an affidavit detailing the supporting documentation and evidence. Arrest warrants issued at the Lewis County court contain the following information:

• The name of the person to be arrested.
• The charges against the suspect.
• An order was made to law enforcement to arrest the suspect.
• The name of the issuing court
• The name and title of the issuing magistrate.

Lewis County arrest warrants are public records that can be requested from the Lewis County Sheriff's Department. Anyone interested in these records can visit the sheriff's office and request an up-to-date active warrants list.

Do Lewis County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, A Lewis County warrant does not expire. Arrest warrants issued by Lewis County courts stay active until the court executes or recalls them.