Albany County Arrest Records
Albany County arrest records are kept by several agencies across the county, with the Sheriff's Office at the center of most record requests. If you need to look up a case, find booking data, or check on someone held at the Albany County Correctional Facility, there are a few ways to get that done. The county sits right in New York's Capital District, and because of that, state-level resources from the Division of Criminal Justice Services are close at hand. You can search for arrest records in Albany County through FOIL requests, court lookups, or by reaching out to the right office with the right details. This page walks through each option and what to expect.
Albany County Overview
Albany County Sheriff's Office Records
The Albany County Sheriff's Office is located at 58 Verda Avenue, Clarksville, NY 12041. The phone number is 518-487-5510. This office handles arrest records, incident reports, and booking data for areas the Sheriff patrols. That includes the City of Albany and towns around it. Records requests go through the Records Division during normal hours, Monday through Friday.
To get arrest records from the Sheriff's Office, you submit a FOIL request. FOIL stands for Freedom of Information Law. It is set out in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, sections 84 through 90. Your request goes to the Records Access Officer. Put it in writing. Give the name of the person, the date of the arrest if you know it, and any case numbers you have. The office must get back to you within five business days.
The Albany County Correctional Facility is run by the Sheriff's Office too. For jail or inmate data, call 518-487-4111. They can tell you if a person is in custody and what charges are on file.
Note: Copy fees for Albany County records are $0.25 per page under Public Officers Law section 87.
Court Records in Albany County
The Albany County Clerk keeps court records at 16 Eagle Street, Room 128, Albany, NY 12207. Call 518-487-5100. The Clerk's office holds files from Supreme Court and County Court cases, and those include felony arrest records that went to trial or plea. You can go in person to search records or send a written request by mail. Bring a valid photo ID if you visit in person.
Albany County is part of the 3rd Judicial District. The Office of Court Administration runs a statewide Criminal History Record Search for $95 per name. It is a name-based search, not fingerprint-based. Keep in mind that it needs an exact match on name and date of birth. Even small differences can cause a miss. Sealed records will not show up in this search. Results come back in one to two business days for records that have hits.
You can also check WebCrims for pending criminal cases with future court dates in Albany County. Guest access is free. You need at least three letters of the last name and two letters of the first name. This tool does not show closed cases, warrants, or sealed matters.
Albany County District Attorney
The Albany County District Attorney's Office sits at 6 Lodge Street, Albany, NY 12207. Phone is 518-487-5460. The DA reviews all arrests made in the county and decides what charges to file. If you need case status or want to know what happened after an arrest, the DA's office can point you in the right direction.
Victim services are part of what the DA's office does. If you were the victim of a crime in Albany County, you can get referrals and help with the court process. The office also runs diversion programs for some defendants.
State Resources for Albany County Records
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is the only source of official state criminal history records. DCJS keeps fingerprint-based records. You cannot get your own rap sheet without submitting fingerprints through an authorized IdentoGO location. The fee runs between $50 and $65. Results come by mail in 7 to 10 business days. DCJS is based in Albany at 80 South Swan Street, so for Albany County residents, the main office is right there in the city.
Official DCJS records cannot be obtained through FOIL. Third-party background check sites do not have access to the official state database. Only the person named on the record, authorized criminal justice agencies, and certain employers with specific legal authority can get these records. Under CPL section 160.50, dismissed cases are automatically sealed. The Clean Slate Act, which took effect November 16, 2024, will seal eligible misdemeanor convictions after 3 years and felony convictions after 8 years from sentence completion. Sex offenses and Class A felonies are not eligible.
The DOCCS Inmate Lookup tool lets you search for people in state prison. If someone was arrested in Albany County and later sent to a state facility, this is where you check. Search by last name or Department Identification Number. The data is live and pulled from the main database at the time you search.
Note: The Sex Offender Registry is free to search by name, county, or ZIP code for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.
How FOIL Works in Albany County
Freedom of Information Law gives the public a right to see government records. In Albany County, you can file a FOIL request with the Sheriff's Office, the County Clerk, or the District Attorney. Each office has its own Records Access Officer. Put your request in writing. Be specific. Name the records you want. Give dates, names, and case numbers if you have them.
The agency has five business days to respond. They can give you the records, deny the request with a reason, or say they need more time. Denials can be appealed. Fees are typically $0.25 per page for copies. Some records are exempt from FOIL. Ongoing investigations, sealed cases, and materials that would cause an unwarranted invasion of privacy are common reasons for denial. Under Public Officers Law section 89, the agency must explain any denial in writing.
Sealing and Expungement in Albany County
New York has several ways to seal arrest and conviction records. Under CPL section 160.50, arrests that end in dismissal, acquittal, or a non-criminal outcome are sealed automatically. No application is needed. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act also wiped out certain cannabis convictions. Those are treated as if they never happened.
For other convictions, CPL section 160.59 lets you apply to seal up to two criminal convictions if at least 10 years have passed since your last sentence ended. You can have no more than one felony. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies are not eligible. The application goes to the court where the conviction happened. The NY Attorney General's office has more details on who qualifies and how to file.
Albany County Jail and Inmate Data
The Albany County Correctional Facility is at 58 Verda Avenue, Clarksville, NY 12041. Call 518-487-4111 for inmate information. The jail holds people waiting for trial and those serving sentences under one year. You can find out if someone is in custody, what they were charged with, and what their bail is set at.
Visiting hours vary. You need a photo ID to visit. Mail sent to inmates must include the full name and booking number. The Sheriff's Office runs the facility and handles all record requests related to people held there. If someone has been moved to state prison, use the DOCCS lookup instead.
Note: People arrested within the last 72 hours may still be in police custody and not yet in the jail system.
The DCJS Record Review page above outlines the process for Albany County residents who want to check their own criminal history through the state system.
Nearby Counties
If you need records from areas next to Albany County, these neighboring counties each have their own Sheriff's Office and court system:
Cities in Albany County
The following cities in Albany County have their own pages with local arrest record details: