Herkimer County Public Records /Herkimer County Criminal Records

Herkimer County Criminal Records

What Is Herkimer County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Herkimer County are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are maintained by multiple agencies across the county and state, each responsible for a distinct segment of the criminal justice process.

Key distinctions among record types include:

Arrest records vs. conviction records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt by a court of law. An arrest does not constitute a conviction, and individuals may have arrest records without any resulting conviction.
Felony vs. misdemeanor: Felonies are serious offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration in a state facility. Misdemeanors are lesser offenses typically resulting in fines or incarceration of up to one year in a local jail.
Adult vs. juvenile records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under applicable law. Juvenile records are routinely sealed pursuant to New York Family Court Act § 375.1 and are not available for public inspection except under specific court-authorized circumstances.
Active warrants vs. historical records: Active warrants reflect current judicial orders for an individual's arrest. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that have been resolved.

Agencies responsible for maintaining Herkimer County criminal records include:

Herkimer County Sheriff's Office 320 N. Main St., Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 867-1167 Herkimer County Sheriff's Office

Herkimer County Supreme and County Court 301 N. Washington St., Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 867-1209 Herkimer County Supreme and County Court

Herkimer County District Attorney's Office 301 N. Washington St., Suite 2400, Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 867-1155 Herkimer County District Attorney's Office

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) 80 South Swan St., Albany, NY 12210 (518) 457-5837 New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

Records maintained across these agencies include charges filed, arraignment proceedings, pleas entered, trial outcomes, sentencing details, and probation or parole conditions.

Are Criminal Records Public In Herkimer County

Criminal records in Herkimer County are generally accessible to the public under New York State law. Pursuant to New York Public Officers Law § 87, government agencies are required to make records available for public inspection unless a specific statutory exemption applies. Court records, including criminal case filings and dispositions, are similarly subject to disclosure under the New York Judiciary Law and applicable court rules.

Records that are currently available to the public include:

Adult conviction records and court dispositions
Arraignment records and case filings in criminal court
Sentencing information and terms of probation or parole
Sex offender registration information maintained by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services

Records that are restricted from public access include:

Ongoing criminal investigations where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement
Sealed records pursuant to court order or statutory mandate, including cases that resulted in acquittal or dismissal under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50
Juvenile delinquency records, which are confidential by statute
Youthful offender adjudications, which are sealed and not available for public inspection
Records pertaining to victims of certain crimes, including sexual offenses

Members of the public seeking access to criminal records must submit requests through the appropriate agency and may be required to provide identifying information about the subject of the record.

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Herkimer County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Herkimer County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the process for accessing these records:

Identify the appropriate agency. Determine whether the record sought is a court case record, an arrest record, or a statewide criminal history. Court records are maintained by the Herkimer County Clerk; arrest records are held by the Sheriff's Office or local police departments; statewide criminal histories are maintained by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
Submit a request to the Herkimer County Clerk. Members of the public may visit the County Clerk's office in person during public counter hours to request court records. The office is open Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Herkimer County Clerk's Office 109 Mary St., Suite 1111, Herkimer, NY 13350 (315) 867-1129 Herkimer County Clerk's Office

Request a criminal history record check through DCJS. Individuals seeking their own criminal history record may submit a request to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Third-party requests for criminal history records require fingerprint-based searches and are subject to statutory authorization.
Contact local law enforcement for arrest records. Arrest records and booking information may be requested directly from the Herkimer County Sheriff's Office or the relevant municipal police department.
Pay applicable fees. Fees for copies of records are established by statute and agency schedule. Members of the public should inquire about current fee schedules at the time of request.

How To Find Criminal Records in Herkimer County Online

Several online portals currently provide access to Herkimer County criminal records without requiring an in-person visit.

New York State Unified Court System – eCourts: The New York State eCourts case search portal allows members of the public to search for civil and criminal court cases by party name, case number, or attorney. The portal contains case filing information, appearance dates, and disposition data for cases processed through the New York State Unified Court System.
New York State Sex Offender Registry: The New York State Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services allows members of the public to search for registered sex offenders by name or geographic area.
Herkimer County Sheriff's Office: Current inmate and jail roster information may be available through the Sheriff's Office website. Members of the public are advised to contact the office directly for the most current booking information.
New York State DCJS Criminal History Record Search: Individuals may request their own criminal history record through the DCJS online portal. Third-party access to criminal history records is restricted and requires statutory authorization.

Online portals generally contain court case information and registered offender data. Certain records, including sealed cases and juvenile records, are not accessible through any online system and require in-person requests with appropriate legal authorization.

Can You Search Herkimer County Criminal Records for Free?

Under current law, members of the public have the right to inspect public records without charge. New York Public Officers Law § 87 provides that agencies shall make records available for public inspection and copying, and that inspection itself does not require payment of a fee. Fees may be assessed for copies of records at rates established by statute.

Free resources currently available for searching Herkimer County criminal records include:

New York State eCourts: The eCourts case search portal is available at no cost and provides access to court case information for cases filed in New York State courts.
New York State Sex Offender Registry: The sex offender search tool is available to the public at no charge.
In-person inspection at the County Clerk's Office: Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Herkimer County Clerk's Office without charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.

Certified copies of court records, fingerprint-based criminal history searches, and certain background check services are subject to fees established by the relevant agency or statute.

What's Included in a Herkimer County Criminal Record?

A complete Herkimer County criminal record may contain information across several categories, depending on the nature and history of the case.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description
Mugshot photograph
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) and FBI number

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency and officer
Booking number and jail facility
Charges filed at the time of arrest
Bail or bond conditions

Court Case Information

Case number and court jurisdiction
Filing date and case type
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered by the defendant
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict or plea outcome
Conviction date, if applicable
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and conditions of release
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms and supervising agency

Additional Record Elements

Active or outstanding warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status
DUI or DWI convictions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges or open cases

How Long Does Herkimer County Keep Criminal Records?

Herkimer County and New York State agencies retain criminal records in accordance with schedules established under state law and the New York State Archives Records Retention and Disposition Schedule. Retention periods vary by record type and agency.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony conviction records: Retained permanently by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and the courts of record.
Misdemeanor conviction records: Retained for a minimum of ten years following the completion of sentence, subject to applicable state schedules.
Arrest records without conviction: Retained subject to sealing orders; records sealed pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 are not destroyed but are restricted from public access.
Court case files: Retained in accordance with the New York State Court Records Retention Schedule, which mandates permanent retention for felony cases and varying periods for misdemeanor and violation cases.
Jail and booking records: Retained by the Herkimer County Sheriff's Office for a minimum period established by the New York State Archives local government retention schedule.
Juvenile records: Retained under seal and subject to destruction upon the subject's eighteenth birthday or as otherwise ordered by the court.

The New York State Archives publishes official retention schedules applicable to county government agencies, and all Herkimer County offices are required to comply with those mandated periods.