Orleans County Arrest Records

Law enforcement agencies create arrest records in Orleans County as official reports of the arrests and detentions that occur within the county. Under state laws, peace officers in Orleans County arrest individuals caught or suspected of perpetrating criminal acts. Following an arrest, the suspect is brought into custody and booked into a holding facility pending arraignment or release on bail/recognizance. Arrest records are created during the booking process and stored by the law enforcement agency in charge of the arrest, usually the Sheriff's Office.

In Orleans County, arrest records are included in the public records maintained by the Sheriff's Office, the city/ town police departments, and other local enforcement agencies. Interested persons may inspect arrest records to obtain the arrestee's personal information and details about the arrest. Besides arrest records, concerned persons may also find arrest information in Orleans County Court Records maintained by the County Clerk's Office.

Are Arrest Records Public in Orleans County?

Yes. Per the New York Freedom of Information Law (Article 6, Sections 84-90), residents of Orleans County have the right to access arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies with specific restrictions. Interested persons may, therefore, submit requests for the inspection and copying of arrest records to the appropriate custodian.

Some of the specified restrictions to the public access of arrest records contained in the Freedom of Information Law include:

• Arrest records of juveniles and minors
• Records that have been sealed or expunged by court order or other state/federal laws
• Arrest records of cases undergoing investigation by law enforcement agencies
• Arrest records related to sexual assaults, child abuse, and substance dependency
• Records containing personal information of confidential witnesses, victims, or informants
• Records with sensitive information such as a social security number or bank account information
• Records whose disclosure may threaten an individual's safety or breach privacy rights
• Records containing medical diagnoses and reports.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Orleans County public arrest records generally contain the information outlined below:

• Arrested individual's name, age, and aliases if known
• Bodily descriptions of the arrestee, including tattoos, sex, height, race, and hair/eye color
• Alleged offenses and laws violated by the suspect
• Arrest location, time, date, and circumstances necessitating the arrest
• Possessions found on the arrestee, including weapons and substances
• Booking information such as date, time, facility, and official in charge
• Information about the arresting agency/ officer
• The outcome of the arrest, including bail, release, and detention information
• The arrestee's mugshots or photographs.

Orleans County Arrest Statistics

The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services publishes annual arrest statistics for Orleans County. In 2023, the total number of arrests in Orleans County was 646. 36 juvenile arrests were recorded, while adult arrests totaled 612. Of the total sum recorded, property crimes were more prevalen,t with 134 arrests recorded.

Find Orleans County Arrest Records

Residents and researchers may utilize the resources state and federal enforcement agencies provide to obtain Orleans County arrest records. These resources include:

• Querying the arresting agency: interested persons may submit requests in person or via electronic means to the Orleans County Sheriff's Office or the law enforcement agency in charge of an arrest. Requestors may be required to adequately describe the requested record, including a name, birth date, or age.
• Statewide Online Search tools: concerned persons may search for arrest records in Orleans County using the Incarcerated Lookup page maintained by the State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision. The New York State Unified Court System is another option for remote access to arrest records generated in Orleans County. These search tools usually require the user to input a name, birth year, or ID number.
• Federal resources: arrest records and inmate information for arrests made by federal agencies may be obtained by searching the inmate locator maintained by the Bureau of Prisons or the Immigration and Customs Enforcement(ICE) detainee locator. Interested persons may also query the closest ICE field office.

Free Arrest Record Search in Orleans County

Residents of Orleans County may inspect arrest records for free at the physical location of the record custodian within regular hours. However, requestors may be required to cover the cost of producing copies of the requested records. In addition, arrest and inmate information on the Sheriff's page is free. One may also query the Sheriff's Office for free arrest information by Phone: ((585) 590-4142) or fax ((585) 590-4178).

Similarly, concerned persons can access arrest records in Orleans County for free using third-party online resources. These sites usually provide users with free access to limited arrest information and may require payment to obtain comprehensive arrest records. Note, however, that because third-party sources are independent of the government, the completeness and accuracy of the results may vary.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

Indefinitely, unless sealed or expunged. The State of New York does not specify a retention period for arrest records; hence, they may remain on a subject’s record permanently. However, state laws have provisions for the sealing or expungement of certain arrest records. An expungement or sealing will make an arrest record unavailable to members of the public.

Expunge Orleans County Arrest Records

Per New York laws, expungement of arrest records is only available for certain crimes involving Marijuana. Every other type of arrest record may qualify for sealing which makes such records accessible only by a court order. Certain arrest records may be sealed automatically while others such as those involving a drug treatment program may require the filing of a petition.

To seal an arrest record in Orleans County, eligible individuals may follow the steps outlined below:

• Request and complete a Criminal Certificate of Disposition at $10 per copy.
• Notarize a completed Sealing Application form(otherwise known as a Notice of Motion and Affidavit in Support).
• Attach the necessary evidence of rehabilitation documents.
• Serve copies of the acquired documents by hand or mail to the District Attorney's Office in Orleans County.
• Obtain, fill out, and notarize an Affidavit of Service form.
• File the original copies of all documents obtained from the previous steps with a court of jurisdiction.

If the court approves the filed petition, it issues a signed “Seal Order” to the appropriate record custodians, usually the State Division of Criminal Justice Services(DCJS). Concerned persons may verify whether an arrest record has been sealed by completing a Request for Seal Verification form and mailing it alongside a copy of the seal order to the DCJS.

Orleans County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Orleans County is a written directive signed by a judge that authorizes law enforcement agents to apprehend and detain the named individual. An arrest warrant is typically issued when the subject is suspected of committing an offense, has failed to appear in court, or has violated parole/probation rules.

Under Article 120 of the New York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL), an arrest warrant is to be issued by a judge or magistrate only when probable cause has been established by submitting an affidavit and filing a complaint. Once an arrest warrant is issued, any peace officer or authorized public servant may execute it within the stipulated conditions. An Orleans County arrest warrant typically contains the name/description of the subject, the alleged charges, the issuing date, and the name or signature of the issuing judge/court.

Do Orleans County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No. Once issued, arrest warrants in Orleans County remain valid until execution. An arrest warrant is said to have been executed when an arrest is made. However, the issuing court may cancel or recall an arrest warrant under certain circumstances. For instance, the submission of fresh evidence that exonerates the subject of the warrant or nullifies the established probable cause for the warrant.