Sullivan County Arrest Records

According to the New York State Unified Court System, an arrest occurs when law enforcement takes an individual into custody based on probable cause, with or without a warrant. In Sullivan County, individuals who are arrested by law enforcement agencies are usually kept at the Sullivan County Jail, which is situated on Old Route 17 in Monticello. The Sullivan County Sheriff's Office manages arrest records in Sullivan County. These documents contain information about the arrest, charges pressed, and booking details.

Arrest records are linked to various public records, specifically Sullivan County Court Records. While an arrest record provides information about an accusation, court records provide details about the legal actions taken after an arrest, such as court appearances, filings, and the case's outcome. Together, arrest and court records offer a complete overview of the criminal justice system in Sullivan County.

Are Arrest Records Public in Sullivan County?

In Sullivan County, New York, arrest records are typically viewed as public information per the state's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Public access to arrest records may be granted to members of the public unless specifically exempt from public disclosure.

Certain details in arrest records might be restricted from public access if revealing them could:

• Invade someone's privacy without a valid reason.
• Hinder a current investigation or legal procedure.
• Reveal confidential details or methods of inquiry or endanger someone's life or safety.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records usually contain:

• The arrest date
• Name provided at the time of the arrest
• Address provided at the time of the arrest
• The crime location
• The crime date
• Arrest charges, arrest number, and arrest precinct
• Docket Number
• Booking images

Sullivan County Arrest Statistics

The criminal and youth justice system data analyzed and published by the Division of Criminal Justice Services includes incidents of crime, arrests, and dispositions. This publication reveals that Sullivan County witnessed 1,689 arrests in 2023. Of these, the most frequently occurring arrest category was "Property," accounting for 22.4% of the total arrests (379 arrests). This was followed by "All Other Felony Offenses (except Drug & DWI)" at 19.6% (332 arrests) and "All Other Misdemeanor (except DWI & Drug)," at 18.8% (318 arrests).

Find Sullivan County Arrest Records

The Office of Court Administration (OCA) in New York State provides a Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) for $95. This service allows users to view public arrest records on ongoing cases, convictions from criminal cases, and other legal matters from courts in Sullivan County and throughout the state.

Individuals seeking public arrest records from the New York court system can use the CHRS through the OCA. This can be done via the Direct Access system, which is available online. However, to use this system, users will be required to create an account. Alternatively, those who opt for traditional methods can complete and mail a CHRS application form to the following address:

Criminal History Record Search
NYS Office of Court Administration
Office of Administrative Services
Criminal History Record Search Unit
25 Beaver Street
9th Floor
New York, NY 10004

The CHRS search requires an exact match of the person's name and date of birth, and it is crucial to understand that the search might not cover sealed records, family court cases, civil cases, federal court cases, specific dispositions, or minor violations and infractions.

Free Arrest Record Search in Sullivan County

Third-party websites unaffiliated with law enforcement agencies offer free resources for looking up arrest records. These websites typically have easy-to-use interfaces that enable users to look up arrest records using criteria such as name, date of birth, or other relevant information.

How Long Do Arrests Stay on Your Record?

In Sullivan County, arrests remain permanently on a person's record unless they are sealed or expunged under state law. Nevertheless, New York government agencies maintain record retention and disposition schedules per the law—from less than a year to indefinitely. As a result, when a certain amount of time has passed, the arrest files of a particular agency may be deleted or disposed of, and a record has no administrative, legal, financial, or historical significance. The Retention and Disposition Schedule for New York Local Government Records (LGS-1), published by the New York State Archives, guides the retention and disposition of local and state agency records in New York.

According to the LGS-1 schedule, local law enforcement agencies indefinitely keep records of incidents, complaints, or arrests that are not sent to the DCJS. Yet, a case investigation file for an adult, juvenile, or youthful offender, comprising the arrest report and final case outcome, is maintained based on the categorization of the record. For example, case investigation records for suicides, first, second, or third-degree arson, and homicides are kept on file forever. Meanwhile, case investigation records for misdemeanors are retained for 5 years after a case is closed, records related to violations or traffic infractions are maintained for a year after a case is closed, and so on.

Expunge Sullivan County Arrest Records

According to CPL §1.20 (45) of the New York Consolidated Laws, expungement is described as the act of erasing an arrest and associated events, reinstating the accused to their state before the arrest, and erasing or indicating as expunged the documentation of the arrest, trial, and outcome. Even though there is no specific procedure in New York for expunging arrest records, except for marijuana-related arrests under the Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act, individuals can petition the court to seal some of these records. Sealing means that a criminal conviction record is kept private and not erased, allowing people to move forward without the weight of previous arrests.

To qualify for sealing, an individual must finish serving their entire sentence, have no ongoing criminal cases, and abide by the waiting period set for the crime. After ascertaining their qualification, they must file a request with the court, inform the District Attorney, provide further evidence, and await the court's ruling.

Sullivan County Arrest Warrants

In Sullivan County, like in other areas in New York State, the New York Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) regulates arrest warrants. According to Section 120.10 of this law, arrest warrants are official papers granted by a court that give law enforcement the power to detain a specific person for a specific offense.

Per CPL Section 120:30, a local criminal court or youth part of the superior court can issue a warrant of arrest if a defendant has not been arraigned after an accusatory instrument has been filed. The court must determine if there is enough evidence to suggest that the defendant is likely guilty.

Arrest warrants are typically needed for felony and misdemeanor crimes not committed in front of a police officer, with some exceptions, such as when crimes are committed in front of a police officer or in hot pursuit situations. The information found in an arrest warrant includes the following:

• Identity of the person to be apprehended
• The offense(s) with which the person is charged.
• The purported crime's date and time.
• The judge's name or the magistrate who approved the warrant
• The court's jurisdiction that issued the warrant

Do Sullivan County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Article 120 of the Criminal Procedure Law of New York State sets specific guidelines for the administration of arrest warrants in Sullivan County. These guidelines do not assign an expiration date for arrest warrants but some factors may affect their validity.

A warrant loses its validity as soon as it is executed and the subject is placed under arrest. Similarly, if the charges are dropped or withdrawn, the court can revoke the warrant. Additionally, if a warrant remains unexecuted for an extended length of time, the court that issued it may reconsider and decide to revoke it, especially if circumstances have changed or the warrant is now deemed unnecessary.

It is crucial to consider that the unique conditions of each situation and the judgment of the court issuing the warrant can affect how long an arrest warrant remains valid. Hence, although there is no specific end date, the warrant's legitimacy may be affected by different legal and procedural elements.