Tompkins County Arrest Records

Arrest records refer to documents that contain details of the circumstances of an individual’s arrest by law enforcement agents. Generally, an arrest becomes necessary when an individual is seen committing the crime or has enough evidence directing guilt toward them.

Arrest records are public records maintained by the courts and law enforcement agencies. Requesters can obtain these records by physically submitting requests at the county courthouses, the county clerk’s office, or the sheriff’s office. Requests can also be mailed in, or online alternatives can be adopted to access Tompkins County court records. Records may also exist as part of Tompkins County court records.

Are Arrest Records Public in Tompkins County?

Tompkins County arrest records are public records under the New York Freedom of Information Law. This law allows members of the public access to public documents handled by public agencies, such as the courts and law enforcement agencies. These agencies maintain arrest records and are open to the public to receive records requests in person or via mail.

Govt offices are typically available for public requests from Monday to Friday during work hours. Requesters can also use the county clerk’s website to conduct an online records search for court records. The public can also inquire or get contact information for requests through the sheriff’s website.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Public arrest records contain details about an individual’s arrest. Some of these may include:

• The time, date, and place the arrest took place.
• The court details for arraignment.
• The alleged charges.
• The arresting officer’s name and badge number.
• The arrestee’s personal information and physical description.
• The law enforcement body handling the arrest.
• The arrestee’s booking details include mugshots, fingerprints, and booking numbers.
• Any further remarks about the arrest or arrestee.

Tompkins County Crime Rate

Tompkins County's crime rate is documented by the FBI UCR database. The statistics for 2022 reveal that there were 29 reported violent crimes and 288 reported property crimes. The most common property crime was larceny-theft, with 235 reported incidents, followed by burglary and motor vehicle theft, with 43 and 10 reported incidents, respectively. The most reported violent crime was aggravated assault, with 20 incidents, followed by robbery and rape, with 6 and 3 reported incidents, respectively. There were no reports of arson or homicide within the year.

Tompkins County Arrest Statistics

Tompkins County arrest statistics for 2022, as revealed by the FBI UCR database, show that there were 71 arrests for all other offenses except traffic offenses. The county recorded 38 arrests for larceny-theft and two arrests for burglary and motor vehicle theft, respectively. There were eight arrests for aggravated assault and one arrest for rape. The county recorded no arrests for arson and murder/manslaughter.

Find Tompkins County Arrest Records

Tompkins County arrest records can be found at the county clerk’s or sheriff’s offices. The county clerk and county clerk’s officials maintain court records, which include arraignment records and active bench warrants. The sheriff’s office maintains records of arrests and county jail inmates. Requesters may also be able to use online resources such as the county clerk’s online records search platform.

Free Arrest Record Search in Tompkins County

Tompkins County arrest records are available for in-person search requests at the county courthouses, sheriff’s, or county clerk’s offices. These offices maintain arrest records in different capacities, with the sheriff’s office being the main custodian.

Requesters can search records by submitting details about the records with the request application. Such details can be the booking number, arrestee’s name, or physical description. The public can also search online records through the county clerk’s website or third-party platforms. Third-party websites are independent or government-backed platforms that offer simplified interfaces to which everyone can relate. These platforms are available around the clock and allow users to download records straight to their computers or mobile devices. While third-party websites usually offer their services for free, the accuracy of information on such platforms cannot be guaranteed.

Get Tompkins County Criminal Records

Criminal records are typically maintained by the county clerk’s office and the county sheriff’s office. The County Clerk’s office maintains Tompkins County criminal court records, while the sheriff’s office maintains records of arrests and inmates. Criminal records can be obtained in person at the County Clerk’s office, the court clerk’s office, or the county sheriff’s office. These offices will be open from Monday to Friday during business hours to receive and process criminal records requests.

Requesters can mail their records requests to the county clerk or sheriff’s office. Members of the public who prefer to request online can use the sheriff’s Civil & Records website to get more information and contact details for making inquiries and requesting criminal records. The county clerk also offers an online records search and a criminal records request form.

Tompkins County Arrest Records Vs. Criminal Records

Criminal records are documented history of an individual’s crimes and convictions, while arrest records are details of an individual’s arrests, whether there was a conviction or not. Criminal records contain details about court trials, sentencing, and charges, while arrest records contain details such as location, date, and time of the arrest, as well as the reason for the arrest. Arrest records are a part of criminal records, and the latter covers arrest, court proceedings, and prison records. While arrest records do not directly imply guilt, criminal records are usually proof of past criminal activities.

Expunge Tompkins County Arrest Records

Records cannot be expunged in Tompkins County, but residents can have their records sealed. The first step is to determine if you are eligible for the procedure. Eligibility is determined by the following requirements:

• It must be ten years post-conviction or release.
• It must be two misdemeanors or one misdemeanor and one felony.
• There must be no new convictions.
• Completion of a special drug treatment program.
• Automatic expungements for certain minor marijuana convictions.

After confirming your eligibility, get a copy of your criminal record to identify which information will be sealed. Prepare the necessary documents and a motion to seal, which will detail the convictions and reasons for sealing. File the motion and notify the District Attorney's office. Attend the court hearing promptly and obtain the court’s verdict if it's favorable. Serve the verdict on the relevant governmental agencies and obtain the record after confirming that the sealing was successful.

Tompkins County Arrest Warrants

Tompkins County arrest warrants refer to signed documents issued by a judge to a law enforcement agency to arrest and arraign an individual in court for the commission of a crime. This document becomes active after a judge signs it and shall remain active till it is executed or the court recalls it.

An arrest warrant will be issued when an individual has enough liability for a crime or the individual was caught in the crime. There are two major types of arrest warrants: arrest warrants issued before an accused’s arraignment and a bench warrant issued to arrest defendants who do not show up for court trials.

Arrest warrants are public documents and are maintained by the county courts and the county sheriff’s office. These offices also receive and handle records requests from the public either by mail or in person. The public can make in-person requests or process mailed requests during work hours or business days. Here are the content of a Tompkins County arrest warrant:

• The accused’s name and physical description
• The charges against the accused and the supporting laws
• The time, date, and place of the arrest
• The name and badge number of the arresting officer

Tompkins County Arrest Warrant Search

Tompkins County arrest warrants can be looked up at the county courthouses and the sheriff’s office. Arrest warrants are public documents that make them public records that are accessible to everyone. The court clerks and the sheriff’s records custodian will be receiving and processing arrest warrant search requests from Monday to Friday during work hours.

Requesters can submit in-person requests or mail their records requests to the records custodians. Tompkins County arrest warrants can also be searched online through the sheriff’s Civil & Records website. The website offers contact details and other resources to help obtain arrest warrants.

Do Tompkins County Arrest Warrants Expire?

Tompkins County arrest warrants do not expire until the issuing judge or court recalls the warrant or the law enforcement agency executes it. Warrants shall remain in force after a judge signs them, and this applies to both bench and arrest warrants. The warrant is also effective whether the law enforcement officer executing the arrest is in possession of it at the time or not. However, the arrestee must be provided with a copy of the warrant as soon as possible.