Columbia County Arrest Records
Arrest records in Columbia County are kept by the Sheriff's Office, the County Clerk, and the District Attorney. The Sheriff's Office on Industrial Tract in Hudson is the first place most people look when they need booking data or want to check on someone who was recently picked up. Columbia County is part of the 3rd Judicial District, and the court system here handles everything from misdemeanor charges to felony trials. If you are trying to find arrest records, there are a few different routes depending on what exactly you need and how far back the records go. Below is a full breakdown of where to look and how to get what you need.
Columbia County Overview
Columbia County Sheriff's Office Records
The Columbia County Sheriff's Office is at 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, NY 12534. The main phone number is 518-828-0601. Sheriff Donald J. Krapf and Undersheriff Jacqueline Salvatore lead the office. The Records Division can be reached at extension 2399. This office maintains arrest records, incident reports, and booking information for areas the Sheriff patrols.
The 24-hour Communications Center number is 518-828-3344. For criminal investigations, call 518-828-4316. Pistol permits and accident reports go through extension 1414. Civil enforcement is at extension 1413. The Crime Tips Hotline is 518-822-8477.
To get arrest records, submit a FOIL request. FOIL stands for Freedom of Information Law, outlined in Public Officers Law sections 84 through 90. Write down the name of the person, any known dates, and case numbers. Mail or deliver it to the Records Access Officer at the Sheriff's Office. They must respond within five business days.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page. The office also handles fingerprinting services and civil process.
Court Records in Columbia County
The Columbia County Clerk is at 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534. Call 518-828-3115. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The Clerk's office maintains records from Supreme Court and County Court cases. That includes felony arrest records that went through the court system. You can search records in person or send a written request by mail.
Columbia County Court is also at 401 State Street. Phone is 518-828-3378. The county is in the 3rd Judicial District. All criminal proceedings from arraignment through sentencing flow through this courthouse. Court security is in place, and you need a photo ID to enter.
The Office of Court Administration offers a statewide Criminal History Record Search at $95 per name. It is name-based and requires an exact match on name and date of birth. Sealed records will not appear. Results take one to two business days.
Check WebCrims for pending criminal cases with upcoming court dates in Columbia County. Guest access is free. You need at least three letters of the last name and two of the first name. Closed cases and sealed records do not show up here.
Columbia County District Attorney
The Columbia County District Attorney's Office is at 325 Columbia Street, Hudson, NY 12534. Phone is 518-828-3414. Christopher Liberati-Conant serves as the DA. This office reviews all arrests in the county and decides what charges to file. They work with every law enforcement agency in the county on case preparation.
Victim services are available through the DA's office. If you were a victim of a crime in Columbia County, you can get help navigating the court process and receive updates on case progress. The office participates in treatment court programs for certain defendants. FOIL requests for DA records are accepted in writing.
State Resources for Columbia County Records
The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains the only official state criminal history database. DCJS records are fingerprint-based. To get your own rap sheet, you must submit fingerprints at an IdentoGO location. The fee runs $50 to $65. Results arrive by mail in 7 to 10 business days.
DCJS records are not available through FOIL. Third-party sites do not access the official state database. Under CPL section 160.50, dismissed cases are sealed automatically. The Clean Slate Act seals eligible misdemeanors after 3 years and felonies after 8 years from sentence completion. Sex offenses and Class A felonies are excluded.
The DOCCS Inmate Lookup covers people in state prison. If someone arrested in Columbia County ended up in a state facility, search there. The Sex Offender Registry is free to search for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.
FOIL Requests in Columbia County
You can file a FOIL request with the Sheriff's Office, the County Clerk, or the DA. Each has its own Records Access Officer. Be specific about what records you want. Give names, dates, and case numbers.
The agency must respond within five business days. They can release the records, deny the request with a written reason, or ask for more time. Denials are appealable. The standard copy fee is $0.25 per page. Exempt records include ongoing investigations, sealed cases, and material that would cause an unwarranted invasion of privacy. Under Public Officers Law section 89, every denial must be explained in writing.
Sealing and Expungement in Columbia County
Under CPL section 160.50, arrests ending in dismissal or acquittal are sealed automatically. No application is needed. Cannabis convictions wiped out by the Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act are treated as though they never happened.
CPL section 160.59 allows sealing of up to two criminal convictions if 10 years have passed since the last sentence ended. Only one can be a felony. Sex offenses, violent felonies, and Class A felonies do not qualify. File the application with the court where the conviction took place. The NY Attorney General's office has more information on eligibility.
Columbia County Jail and Inmate Information
The Columbia County Correctional Facility is at 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, NY 12534. The Corrections number is 518-828-3324. The jail holds people awaiting trial and those serving short sentences. Call to find out if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and what bail has been set.
Visitation is on a set schedule. Photo ID is required. Mail to inmates should include the full name and booking number. If someone has been transferred to state prison, use the DOCCS lookup tool instead.
The DCJS Record Review page above shows how Columbia County residents can check their own criminal history through the state system.
Nearby Counties
If you need records from areas next to Columbia County, these neighboring counties each maintain their own court and law enforcement systems: