Montgomery County Arrest Records

Montgomery County, New York, arrest records provide information on arrests conducted within the county. The records include the arrestee’s name, physical description, criminal charges, arrest date and location, and booking date. The Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office and other law enforcement agencies generate arrest records after documenting an arrest. The arrested persons are kept at the Montgomery County Corrections Facility.

In Montgomery County, arrest information is mostly included in crime-related records. For instance, Montgomery County court records may include arrest details like warrants, arrest charges, and bond amounts. Interested parties can also find such information in criminal history and inmate records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Montgomery County?

Montgomery County arrest records are mostly accessible to the public unless they contain legally exempt information. The New York Freedom of Information Law governs public access to arrest records. Under the law, public members can request and obtain copies of records from specific government entities. The entities must also disclose the records upon request from the public. Note that the entities may require oral or written requests and copy fees to access physical copies of the document.

However, New York state laws prevent public access to certain arrest information. The exempt information, if disclosed, will violate an individual’s right to privacy or safety. Other examples of non-public arrest records include:

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

Montgomery County Arrest Statistics

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice creates an annual report for all arrests conducted by local law enforcement agencies. The agency’s 2023 report revealed that 1,247 arrests were conducted in Montgomery County.

The state’s Department of Criminal Justice also maintains inmate statistics. According to the agency’s report, Montgomery County Corrections Facility housed 87 inmates as of November 30, 2024.

Find Montgomery County Arrest Records

Interested parties can find Montgomery County arrest records through options provided by official record custodians. For instance, the county sheriff’s office functions as a custodian of arrest records and also issues the records to interested parties. To find arrest records at the sheriff’s office, requesters must submit a request in person during open hours at:

Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office
200 Clark Drive
P.O. Box 432
Fultonville, NY 12072
Phone: (518) 853-5500
Fax: (518) 853-4096

The request must contain information about the document and the required copy fees.

In Montgomery County, inmate records are an alternative to finding arrest information. These records typically contain arrest data such as the arrestee’s name, charges, arrest date and location, and booking date.

Inquirers must use online resources maintained by specific public entities to find inmate records. For example, the county sheriff’s website hosts a third-party search platform for incarcerated persons in the county jail. Inquirers using the platform must provide the required search input.

Arrest information is also available through the New York Department of Corrections’ online search portal. Users may provide the inmate's name or NYSID/Book/Case number to view records on the portal.

The Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator also provides arrest information concerning inmates in federal detention facilities. Inquirers using the portal may search by providing the inmate's name or prison number.

Montgomery County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Montgomery County arrest records are quite distinct from criminal records. Although they both contain criminal information, the records differ in the following ways:

The records have different content

Interested parties will only find arrest-related data in arrest records. The arrest data may include the charges, date and location, arresting agency, booking date, and bond amount. However, criminal records typically contain an individual’s full criminal history. This means the public can find arrest data, court information, and incarceration details in criminal records.

The records are accessible through different agencies

Local enforcement agencies are the primary options for accessing arrest records. In addition, interested parties may find portions of arrest data through the local courts and correctional centers. However, you can only obtain criminal records from the state’s Division of Criminal Justice Services.

The records have different implications.

Criminal records reveal that the courts convicted the record subject. In most cases, such records may negatively impact the record subject’s chances of employment and participation in community services.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Montgomery County, arrest charges remain indefinitely on your public records. However, you can petition the court to expunge or seal the records after fulfilling the legal requirements for such processes.

Likewise, the New York Clean Slate Act automatically expunges dismissed arrest or criminal conviction records after specific timeframes. For example, the state will expunge misdemeanor records after three years of completing the court sentence.

Who is eligible to expunge arrest records in Montgomery County?

Arrestees are automatically eligible for expungement under these conditions:

• The arrest charges were dismissed.
• The court acquitted the offender.
• The prosecutor decided not to proceed with the case.

However, criminal conviction records can only be expunged after a specific timeframe. For instance, offenders convicted of a felony must wait eight years after conviction to expunge their records.

Montgomery County Arrest Warrants

Montgomery County arrest warrants are court documents that authorize the arrest of suspected offenders. The court may issue a warrant after receiving an accusatory instrument from an arresting agency.

Under New York state laws, arrest warrants must contain the following information:

• The defendant’s name, aliases, address, and physical identifying features, including tattoos and ethnicity.
• Arrest charges and description
• Arrest warrant issuance date
• The arresting officer’s names
• A statement that the defendant must be arrested and brought before the court.
• Court official’s signature

Do Montgomery County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Arrest warrants issued in Montgomery County do not expire. Instead, they remain active until the offender is arrested or the court withdraws the warrant. Note that warrants remain valid even after the statute of limitations for the crime has expired.