Access New York City Arrest Records
New York City arrest records cover all five boroughs and are kept by the NYPD, the largest police force in the country. If you want to look up a case, find booking data, or check on someone held in the city jail system, there are clear paths to get that done. The NYPD handles most arrest records through its Records Access Division at One Police Plaza. Court records, inmate data, and case details can also be found through city and state portals. This page walks through each option so you know where to go and what to expect when you search for New York City arrest records.
New York City Overview
NYPD Arrest Records Division
The NYPD Records Access Division is the main place to get arrest records in New York City. It is based at One Police Plaza, Room 110C, New York, NY 10038. You can call them at (646) 610-5296. The office is open Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM, and closed on holidays. The Criminal Records Section sits in Room 300 of the same building, with a phone line at (646) 610-5000. All arrest records for the five boroughs are kept through this centralized system.
To get records, you need to file a FOIL request. FOIL stands for Freedom of Information Law. You can submit your request through the NYC OpenRecords portal online. Pick "New York City Police Department" from the drop-down menu. You can also email your request to foil@nypd.org or mail it to the Records Access Officer at One Police Plaza, Room 110C. Mail requests should include your name, contact details, the date of the arrest, the name of the person, and how you want to get the records back.
The NYPD charges $0.25 per page for copies up to 9x14 inches. That fee comes from Public Officers Law section 87(1)(b). If a request takes more than two hours to prepare, there may be extra costs based on staff time. In 2024, the NYPD got 37,537 FOIL requests through the OpenRecords portal. That was about 16% of all NYC FOIL requests that year. The NYPD must respond within five business days under Public Officers Law section 89(3). They will either send the records, deny access with a reason, or tell you when to expect a full response.
If your request is denied, you have the right to appeal. Send your appeal in writing within 30 days to the NYPD FOIL Appeal Officer.
Note: Arrest reports may take a few days to become available after an incident as officers must complete proper filing.
NYC Incident Report Verification
If you filed a complaint with the NYPD, you can get a free "Verification of Incident" report. This is a brief summary of the complaint report. It is not the same as the full report. You can use it as proof that the incident was reported to police. This is separate from a full FOIL request.
To get one by mail, print and fill out the Verification of Incident Request Form. You can find it online or pick one up at any precinct, housing police service area, or transit district. Mail the form with a stamped, self-addressed 9 1/2 by 4 inch envelope to NYPD - Mail Room, Criminal Records Unit, One Police Plaza, New York, NY 10038. Reports are sent back by mail only. You cannot pick them up in person. The Criminal Records Unit takes phone calls at (718) 610-8457, Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM.
New York City Criminal Courts
Each borough has its own criminal court. These courts handle misdemeanors and preliminary hearings for felony cases. Arraignments run seven days a week in most locations, from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Desk Appearance Tickets are heard Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Court records are open to the public at each courthouse clerk's office.
Here are the main criminal court locations across the five boroughs:
- Manhattan Criminal Court: 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013, phone (646) 386-4511
- Brooklyn Criminal Court: 120 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, phone (347) 404-9400
- Queens Criminal Court: 125-01 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11415, phone (718) 298-1000
- Bronx Criminal Court: 215 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451, phone (718) 618-2460
- Staten Island Criminal Court: 26 Central Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301, phone (718) 390-8400
You can look up pending criminal cases with future court dates through WebCrims, a free tool run by the state court system. Guest access lets you view court calendars and search by name. Keep in mind that WebCrims only shows cases with future dates. It does not show closed cases, warrants, or sealed records. You need at least the first three letters of the last name and first two letters of the first name to search.
Note: Each borough uses a two-letter code in docket numbers: NY for Manhattan, KN for Brooklyn, QN for Queens, BX for Bronx, and RI for Staten Island.
NYC Department of Correction Records
The NYC Department of Correction inmate lookup tool shows details on people in DOC custody. You can search for anyone held in the city jail system. The results show charges, court date and location, book and case number, jail mailing address, NYSID number, holding location, release date, and bail or bond amount. The DOC Information Center runs 24 hours a day, seven days a week, at (718) 546-1500.
The screenshot below shows the NYC Department of Correction inmate lookup page, which is the main portal for finding people in city custody.
This tool only covers people in DOC custody. If someone was arrested within the past 72 hours, they might still be in police custody and not yet in the DOC system. For people sent to state prison, use the NYS DOCCS Incarcerated Person Locator instead. If someone is in Central Booking, where fingerprints and photos are taken before seeing a judge, you can call 311 or (212) 639-9675 for arrest details.
NYC District Attorney Offices
Each borough has its own District Attorney. These offices prosecute criminal cases and can be a source of case information. The DA offices handle prosecution records and can respond to FOIL requests for their own files.
Manhattan DA: 1 Hogan Place, New York, NY 10013, phone (212) 335-9000. Brooklyn DA: 350 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201, phone (718) 250-2000. Queens DA: 125-01 Queens Boulevard, Kew Gardens, NY 11415, phone (718) 286-6000. Bronx DA: 198 East 161st Street, Bronx, NY 10451, phone (718) 590-2000. Staten Island DA: 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301, phone (718) 876-6300. The Staten Island DA accepts FOIL requests by email at FOILRequests@RCDA.NYC.GOV.
State Criminal History Search
For an official state-level criminal history, the Division of Criminal Justice Services is the only source. DCJS keeps fingerprint-based records. No other agency or third party can give you the official state record. To get your own record, you submit fingerprints through an IdentoGO location. The fee is about $50 to $65, and results come by mail within 7 to 10 business days.
The NYS Office of Court Administration also runs a Criminal History Record Search for $95 per name. This is name-based, not fingerprint-based. It only finds exact matches on name and date of birth. Results include open cases and convictions from all 62 counties. Sealed records do not show up. The OCA office is at 25 Beaver Street, Room 830, New York, NY 10004, phone (212) 428-2943.
Note: DCJS records cannot be obtained through FOIL. Third-party background check companies do not have access to official DCJS records.
Sealing Arrest Records in NYC
Arrests that end in a dismissal, acquittal, or non-criminal outcome should be sealed on their own under CPL section 160.50. No application is needed for those. If you have a conviction you want sealed, CPL section 160.59 sets the rules. You can have no more than two criminal convictions total, and no more than one felony. At least 10 years must have passed since your sentence or release from jail, whichever is later. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies cannot be sealed.
The NY Attorney General's office has a guide on how to seal your record. The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Under this law, the Office of Court Administration has up to three years to set up processes that will automatically seal eligible convictions. Misdemeanors will be sealed after 3 years. Felonies will be sealed after 8 years from completion of sentence.
Sex Offender Registry Search
The NYS Sex Offender Registry is run by DCJS. It is free to search. You can look up offenders by name, county, ZIP code, or within a set distance from an address. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders show up online. Level 1 offenders are not listed on the public website but may be available through local law enforcement. You can also call 518-457-5837 or 1-800-262-3257 during business hours for phone lookups.
County Court Records in NYC
New York City spans five counties: New York (Manhattan), Kings (Brooklyn), Queens, Bronx, and Richmond (Staten Island). Each county has its own clerk's office for court records. Manhattan Supreme Court Criminal Term is at 100 Centre Street. Brooklyn Supreme Court Criminal Term is at 320 Jay Street. Public court records can be viewed at each courthouse. The NY CourtHelp page explains what records are available and how to get them.
For county-level arrest records, you can visit the individual county pages: New York County, Kings County, Queens County, Bronx County, and Richmond County.
Nearby Qualifying Cities
If you need arrest records from areas close to New York City, these pages may help: