Rochester Arrest Records

Rochester arrest records are official documents created by law enforcement in Rochester, New York. They detail arrests and detentions for crimes committed within the city. These records are created when law enforcement officers make an arrest. They typically contain personal information about the arrested individual, their offense, charges, and other relevant details such as the arrestee's photographs and fingerprints. These arrest records are primarily in the custody of the Rochester Police Department (RPD), which maintains records of arrests carried out by its officers.

Additionally, local collaborating law enforcement departments maintain Monroe County arrest records within their jurisdictions. Interested individuals may access these records under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL).

Are Arrest Records Public in Rochester?

Yes. Per the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), arrest records in Rochester are deemed public. The statute grants the public access to government records, including arrest records, provided they do not fall under the records explicitly exempted by other laws.

While most arrest records are generally available for public access, specific categories of records are confidential and exempt from public disclosure. Section 87(2) outlines arrest records exempt from public disclosure. They include:

• Records involving minors
• Sealed or expunged records
• Records tied to ongoing investigations that could hinder law enforcement
• Records with sensitive information, such as victim details, informant identities, or Social Security numbers, that would violate privacy laws
• Medical records

Rochester Arrest Statistics

The Rochester Police Department maintains an annual arrest statistics report for Rochester. The primary detention center in Rochester is Monroe County Jail. Per the agency's 2023 report, Rochester recorded 9,982 arrests. This included 2,567 simple assaults and 1,544 property crimes. The detention centre held an average of 760 inmates daily.

Interested parties may find out information about inmates incarcerated in the detention centre by calling (585) 753-4000 or scheduling a visit. Visitors must present valid government identification. The detention center is located at:

130 Plymouth Avenue South,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-4000

Find Rochester Arrest Records

Interested parties may contact the Records Division of the Rochester Police Department or other local law enforcement agencies to get arrest records in the city. Typically, this involves filling out the FOIL request form and submitting it online or mailing in a request to:

Rochester Police Department
185 Exchange Boulevard,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 428-7033

Arrest records can be requested from law enforcement under FOIL, either online or by mail. Interested parties must provide the individual's full name, date of arrest, and the charges involved.

Rochester Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Arrest records show when an individual was taken into custody by law enforcement. They include the arrest date, charges, and arresting agency. However, arrest records do not indicate guilt or conviction. These records are available in Rochester from arresting law enforcement agencies, such as the Rochester Police Department.

Criminal records give a complete account of an individual's history with the justice system, including arrests, charges, convictions, and sentences. These records are maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). They are only available to the individual or authorized agencies. They cover criminal activity across New York, not only incidents in Rochester.

To access arrest records, interested parties may go through the law enforcement agency, while access to criminal records must be obtained through the DCJS. This ensures uniformity in maintaining criminal histories throughout the state.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record in Rochester?

In Rochester, arrests remain indefinitely on an individual's record except they are sealed or expunged. Rochester allows eligible individuals to have their arrest records sealed. How long an arrest stays public depends on the type of offense and other factors:

• Misdemeanour arrests stay public until they are sealed. Some may be sealed after ten years.
• Felony arrests may be sealed after ten years, depending on certain conditions.
• Arrests without convictions are often sealed automatically. However, some may require a formal request.
• Arrests involving minors are automatically sealed.

Rochester Arrest Warrants

In Rochester, an arrest warrant is a legal document issued by a judge authorizing law enforcement officers to arrest an individual. A judge typically issues a warrant when a law enforcement officer or the court believes an individual committed a crime, disobeyed a court injunction, or failed to attend court.

Article 120 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) governs how arrest warrants are issued and carried out. A warrant may be issued when:

• A criminal case has started in a local court
• There is reasonable cause to believe the individual committed a crime
• A summons is not enough to ensure the individual appears in court

An arrest warrant usually includes the individual's name or description, the charge, the issuing court, the date, and the judge's signature. Once issued, law enforcement is authorized to execute the warrant at any time.

Do Rochester Arrest Warrants Expire?

Rochester arrest warrants do not expire. They remain active until the individual named in the warrant is taken into custody or the issuing judge recalls or cancels the warrant. The warrant may only become invalid in circumstances such as when new evidence proves the suspect is not guilty, was a victim of mistaken identity, or has died.

Expunge Rochester Arrest Records

Expungement implies the removal of parts of an individual's public record by court order. However, New York does not use expungement. Instead, it seals records, restricting public access. However, such sealed records are still accessible to authorized individuals such as law enforcement, licensing bodies, and other authorities.

To be eligible for record sealing, record subjects must satisfy some conditions. These include:

• They must have fulfilled the compulsory waiting period after conviction or completion of sentence.
• The offense must be among those listed as eligible for sealing. This includes most misdemeanors and certain non-violent felonies.
• An individual may only seal up to two convictions in their lifetime, and only one of these may be a felony.
• They must not have pending convictions or charges when petitioning for records sealing.
• The record subject must present evidence of rehabilitation.