Oswego County Arrest Records

In Oswego County, New York, law enforcement officers have the authority to detain individuals when there is probable cause to believe that they have committed a crime. After an arrest, the individual is typically transported to the nearest police precinct for booking. This process includes a search of the person and collecting their personal belongings, which are inventoried and stored. The arrested individual must provide personal information, such as their name, address, and occupation, which is used to create an arrest record.

Oswego County arrest records are compiled and maintained by the local police departments. These records contain crucial information about the individual's encounter with law enforcement and are used as foundational documents in the commencement of legal proceedings. Arrest records in Oswego County are often associated with other legal records, such as Oswego County court records and statewide criminal history records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Oswego County?

Yes, arrest records in Oswego County are generally available to the public under New York State's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Article 6, Sections 84-90 of the New York Public Officers Law. This law grants individuals the right to request access to public records, including arrest records, with certain limitations.

However, there are specific circumstances under which arrest records or portions of them may be exempt from public access. The following records are typically exempt:

• Records that may jeopardize an individual's right to a fair trial.
• Records related to ongoing investigations, where disclosure could interfere with law enforcement processes.
• Information that might reveal the identity of witnesses, victims, and informants.
• Records that expose law enforcement's investigative techniques.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Arrest records in Oswego County typically include the following information:

• Personal Information of the Arrestee, including their name, age, sex, weight, height, race, and hair/eye color
• Offense description
• Bail amount
• Booking date and time
• Court information, including scheduled arraignment dates and case number

Oswego County Crime Rate

According to the most recent data from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (NY DCJS), Oswego County recorded a total index crime rate of 1,696 incidents in 2023. Property crimes accounted for most of the criminal activity, with 1,493 reported incidents. Among these, larceny was the most common, with 1,219 cases reported. This was followed by burglary, with 180 incidents and 94 reports of motor vehicle thefts. The county also recorded 203 violent crimes, with aggravated assault being the most frequent, at 142 cases. There were also 46 reports of rape and 15 robbery incidents.

Oswego County Arrest Statistics

In 2023, law enforcement agencies in Oswego County made a total of 2,016 arrests. Of these arrests, 761 were for felony charges, while 1,255 were for misdemeanor offenses. Breaking down the felony arrests, 76 were related to felony drug offenses, 57 were for driving while intoxicated (DWI), and 154 were for violent felony offenses. The remaining felony arrests were associated with other crimes.

Misdemeanor arrests in Oswego County were similarly distributed. Among them, there were 174 arrests for misdemeanor drug offenses, 305 arrests for DWI, 778 arrests for property-related misdemeanors, and 709 arrests for other types of misdemeanor offenses.

Find Oswego County Arrest Records

Oswego County arrest records are managed by various law enforcement agencies at the local, county, state, and federal levels and the process for obtaining these records depends on the custodian of the record of interest.

At the county level, Oswego County residents can access arrest records through local law enforcement agencies, such as the Oswego County Sheriff's Office or municipal police departments within the county. Queries to the County Sheriff's Office can be made by contacting the Record Clerk at (315) 349-3320 or by sending a written request containing details of the record of interest to the office at:

Oswego County Sheriff
39 Churchill Rd,
Oswego, NY 13126
Phone: (315) 349-3302

At the state level, individuals interested in obtaining Oswego County arrest records can request criminal history information through the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). This process involves a fee and may include fingerprinting for verification purposes.

For those seeking federal arrest records, the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) provides access to these records for a processing fee of $18. The requesting party will also be required to provide information relating to the record-holder and the arrest in question in order to aid the record search. Online searches may also be conducted using the Bureau of Prisons Inmate Locator.

Free Arrest Record Search in Oswego County

Under FOIL, individuals may request arrest records from local law enforcement offices at no cost. However, requesters may be charged a nominal fee if they request copies of the record.

Some third-party websites also offer public arrest record searches. While basic information may be available for free, users might be required to create an account or subscribe to the service for more detailed information.

Get Oswego County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Oswego County encompass the complete history of an individual's involvement in the criminal justice system, from the initial arrest to the final court disposition. These records provide detailed information about an individual's arrests, charges, and convictions.

Unlike arrest records, which are generally public, New York State criminal history records are confidential. According to N.Y. Public Officers Law § 87, access to these records is restricted to authorized individuals and agencies, such as the individual named in the record or their legal representative.

To request a criminal history record, individuals must schedule an appointment with an approved fingerprinting service. The DCJS requires that a valid service code be provided, along with a fee of $14.25 for in-state requests or $44.25 for out-of-state requests. Following fingerprint submission, the DCJS will mail the criminal history records directly to the requester, as in-person collection is not permitted.

For public records related to specific cases, such as court proceedings, individuals can visit the courthouse where the case was adjudicated. According to N.Y. Judiciary Law § 255, these court records are available for public inspection and can be accessed through the Office of the Clerk at the respective court.

Oswego County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

An arrest record typically provides details about a person's arrest, such as the charges and the circumstances surrounding the incident. However, an arrest does not necessarily lead to a conviction, nor does the record imply that the individual was found guilty of the crime for which they were arrested.

In contrast, a criminal record encompasses the entirety of an individual's involvement with the criminal justice system, including arrests, charges, and court outcomes. A criminal record will indicate whether an individual was convicted or acquitted and include details about sentencing.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Oswego County, arrest records are generally permanent and may appear in public record searches unless the record is sealed or expunged.

Notwithstanding, individuals may be able to have their arrest records sealed, especially if the arrest did not result in a conviction. If an arrest leads to an acquittal or the charges are dismissed, the record is typically sealed automatically under Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50. This automatic sealing applies to cases that do not result in a conviction, protecting individuals from the negative impacts of having an arrest record.

If a conviction occurs, the process for sealing an arrest record becomes more complex since some convictions are eligible for sealing, but many serious offenses are not. For example, violent felonies and certain sex-related crimes cannot be sealed.

Expunge Oswego County Arrest Records

Unlike most U.S. states, New York does not have a broad expungement statute that applies to most criminal records. The only offenses eligible for expungement are certain marijuana-related offenses that have been decriminalized under state law. Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 (5)(a) provides for the automatic expungement of certain marijuana convictions, which means these offenses are permanently removed from a person's criminal record.

For other offenses, sealing is the primary method of restricting access to an arrest record. If a record is sealed, it remains in existence but is no longer accessible to most people or agencies. Only law enforcement and certain government entities can access sealed records, which means that for most practical purposes, the record is hidden from public view.

To be eligible to apply for record sealing under CPL 160.59, an individual must meet the following conditions:

• The person must have no more than two convictions, with only one being a felony.
• At least 10 years must have passed since the completion of the sentence or probation period.
• The conviction must not be for an offense that is ineligible for sealing, such as a violent felony, certain sex crimes, or Class A felonies.

Consequently, the following crimes are typically ineligible for sealing in Oswego County:

• Sex-related offenses
• Open cases
• Federal offenses
• Violent felonies, including homicide and other Class A felonies

Oswego County Arrest Warrants

An arrest warrant in Oswego County is a legal order that directs law enforcement officers to apprehend a specific individual believed to have committed a crime. Arrest warrants are issued to ensure that the accused person appears before the court to face charges.

To issue an arrest warrant, law enforcement must demonstrate probable cause. This usually requires presenting evidence to a judge, along with a sworn affidavit, showing that there are reasonable grounds to believe that the named individual committed the crime.

A typical Oswego County arrest warrant will include:

• The name of the court issuing the warrant
• The date the warrant was issued
• The specific offense that the individual is accused of
• The name and identifying details of the person named in the warrant
• The name of the officer responsible for executing the warrant

Oswego County Arrest Warrant Search

Individuals can perform an arrest warrant search in Oswego County by contacting the Oswego County Sheriff's Office or the local courthouse where the warrant may have been issued. Inquirers may either contact the Warrants department at (315) 349-3336 or send a written request to the office requesting a warrant confirmation. Additionally, the Sheriff's Office maintains the Oswego Most Wanted page, where details of the country's most wanted persons are listed.

Do Oswego County Arrest Warrants Expire?

No, arrest warrants in Oswego County do not expire. Once issued, an arrest warrant remains valid until the individual named in the warrant is apprehended and brought before the court. Law enforcement officers can execute the warrant at any time, and there are no time limits on when the warrant must be acted upon. Even if significant time has passed, an individual with an active warrant can be arrested at any point.