Search Herkimer County Arrest Records
Arrest records in Herkimer County are managed by the Sheriff's Office, the County Clerk, and the court system based in the village of Herkimer. Sheriff Scott Scherer oversees a force of 42 officers who serve the county's population of about 64,000. Herkimer County is part of the 5th Judicial District, and most record requests start at the Sheriff's Office on North Main Street. Whether you need to check on a recent booking, pull up an older case file, or request a copy of a criminal record, this page explains every option and the steps you need to take to get what you are looking for.
Herkimer County Overview
Herkimer County Sheriff's Office Records
The Herkimer County Sheriff's Office is at 320 North Main Street, Herkimer, NY 13350. Phone is 315-867-1167. Sheriff Scott Scherer leads 42 officers who patrol a county that stretches over 1,400 square miles. The office handles arrest records, incident reports, and all booking information for the areas under Sheriff patrol.
To request arrest records, you submit a FOIL request. FOIL is the Freedom of Information Law, found in Public Officers Law sections 84 through 90. Put the request in writing. Give the person's full name, date of arrest if you have it, and any case numbers. Send 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, civil process, and pistol permit applications. For emergencies, call 911.
Court Records in Herkimer County
The Herkimer County Clerk is at 109 Mary Street, Suite 1111, Herkimer, NY 13350. Phone is 518-731-7520. Sylvia M. Rowan serves as the County Clerk. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 AM to 5 PM. The Clerk's office holds court records from Supreme Court and County Court, including felony arrest records that went to trial or plea.
Herkimer County Court sits at 301 North Washington Street, Herkimer, NY 13350. Phone is 315-867-1282. The county is in the 5th Judicial District. Criminal cases are processed through this courthouse from arraignment to sentencing. You can search records in person at the Clerk's office or submit a written request by mail.
The Office of Court Administration has a statewide Criminal History Record Search for $95. It is name-based and requires an exact match. Sealed records do not show. Results take one to two business days.
Use WebCrims to check pending criminal cases in Herkimer County. It is free for guest users. You need three letters of the last name and two of the first. Only active cases with upcoming court dates appear.
Herkimer County District Attorney
The Herkimer County District Attorney's Office is at 301 North Washington Street, Suite 2401, Herkimer, NY 13350. Phone is 315-867-1155. The DA reviews all arrests in the county and decides what charges to file. If you need to know the status of a case after an arrest, this office can help.
The DA's office investigates crimes against older adults and works with social workers on certain cases. Victim services are available. The office participates in treatment courts and community outreach programs. FOIL requests are accepted in writing.
State Resources for Herkimer County Records
The Division of Criminal Justice Services is the only source for official state criminal history records. Records are fingerprint-based. Submit prints at an IdentoGO location for $50 to $65. Results arrive by mail in 7 to 10 business days. DCJS records cannot be obtained through FOIL or from third-party background check sites.
Dismissed cases are sealed automatically under CPL section 160.50. The Clean Slate Act seals 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 covers people in state prison. The Sex Offender Registry is free to search for Level 2 and 3 offenders.
Herkimer County Jail and Inmate Data
The Herkimer County Correctional Facility is at 11 Middleville Road, Herkimer, NY 13350. Phone is 315-867-1252. The jail holds pretrial detainees and those serving sentences under one year. Call to find out if someone is in custody, what charges they face, and their bail status.
Visitation is available on a set schedule. Bring a photo ID. Mail to inmates must include the full name and booking number. If someone has been transferred to state prison, use the DOCCS lookup tool. Programs are available for inmates during their stay.
FOIL Requests in Herkimer County
The public can request records through Freedom of Information Law. File with the Sheriff, County Clerk, or DA. Each has its own Records Access Officer. Be specific. Include names, dates, and case numbers in your written request.
The agency has five business days to respond. They can provide the records, deny with a reason, or request more time. Copy fees are $0.25 per page. Common exemptions include sealed cases, open investigations, and privacy-sensitive material. Denials must be explained in writing under Public Officers Law section 89.
The Herkimer County website shown above provides access to Sheriff's Office services and records request information.
Herkimer County Clean Slate Act
The Clean Slate Act changes how old convictions show up in Herkimer County record searches. Starting November 16, 2024, eligible misdemeanor convictions seal automatically after 3 years from the end of the sentence. Felony convictions seal after 8 years. This means older arrest records tied to those cases will no longer appear in most searches.
Not all convictions qualify. Class A felonies and sex offenses are excluded. Violent felonies have separate rules. CPL section 160.59 is still available for people who want to apply to seal up to two convictions if 10 years have passed. No more than one can be a felony. The application goes to the sentencing court in Herkimer County. The NY Attorney General's office explains who qualifies and how to apply.
If you run a search and find fewer results than expected, sealing is likely the reason. Sealed records do not show up in CHRS searches, FOIL responses, or WebCrims. Only the named person, law enforcement, and certain authorized agencies can still see them. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act also vacated many cannabis convictions in Herkimer County and across the state.
Nearby Counties
These neighboring counties maintain their own arrest record systems and court offices: