Search Kings County Arrest Records
Kings County arrest records are managed through the NYPD, Brooklyn Criminal Court, and the Kings County District Attorney's Office. Kings County is Brooklyn, the most populated borough in New York City. Unlike most New York counties, Kings County does not have its own county sheriff handling arrests. The NYPD handles all law enforcement across Brooklyn, and arrest records are kept through the city's centralized system. You can search for records online through the NYC OpenRecords portal, or go in person to the criminal court at 120 Schermerhorn Street.
Kings County Arrest Records Overview
NYPD Arrest Records in Kings County
All arrests in Kings County are handled by the NYPD. Brooklyn has multiple precincts that cover different neighborhoods, but all arrest records flow into the same centralized system. To get a copy of an arrest report, you need to submit a FOIL request through the NYC OpenRecords portal. Select "New York City Police Department" as the agency and include the person's name, date of arrest, and any case or complaint numbers you have.
The NYPD Records Access Division is at One Police Plaza, Room 110C, New York, NY 10038. Their phone number is 646-610-5296. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 3:30 PM. You can also email foil@nypd.org. For in-person requests, bring a government-issued photo ID. Reports may take a few days to become available after an arrest since officers need to finalize the paperwork.
Copy fees are $0.25 per page for standard documents.
Brooklyn Criminal Court Records
Kings County Criminal Court is located at 120 Schermerhorn Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. The general information line is 347-404-9400, and the chief clerk can be reached at 347-296-1100. Arraignments run seven days a week from 9:00 AM to 1:00 AM. Central Booking numbers are 718-875-6586 and 718-834-5318.
The criminal court handles misdemeanor cases and the early stages of felony cases for people arrested in Brooklyn. After arraignment, cases move to different parts of the court depending on the charge type. Felony cases that go to trial are transferred to Supreme Court at 320 Jay Street. Public court records can be inspected at Room 079, 360 Adams Street, Brooklyn. Under CPLR Section 8019(f), the clerk may charge search and certification fees for court records.
If you need to check on a pending case, WebCrims is a free tool that shows future court dates in Brooklyn. You can search by name or docket number. Closed cases and sealed records do not appear.
Note: Kings County Criminal Court records are separate from NYPD arrest reports, and you may need to check both for complete case information.
Kings County District Attorney
The Kings County District Attorney's Office is at 350 Jay Street, Brooklyn, NY 11201. Phone is 718-250-2000. The Early Case Assessment Bureau (ECAB) can be reached at 718-250-3500. This is the office that decides whether to prosecute cases after an arrest in Brooklyn. They work directly with the NYPD and handle everything from misdemeanors to serious felonies.
If you want to know if charges were filed after an arrest, the DA's office is the place to ask. They also provide victim services for people affected by crimes. FOIL requests can be directed to their records access officer for documents within their files.
How to Find Arrest Records in Kings County
There are several ways to search for Kings County arrest records. The fastest option for pending cases is WebCrims. For official state criminal history, you need to go through the Division of Criminal Justice Services. That requires fingerprinting through IdentoGO and costs $50 to $65. DCJS records are fingerprint-based and cannot be obtained through FOIL.
The Office of Court Administration runs a statewide Criminal History Record Search for $95. This is a name-based search that covers all 62 counties. It uses an exact match on name and date of birth. If the information does not match exactly, the record will not come up. Results are not certified.
For people in state prison, use the DOCCS Inmate Lookup tool. It shows current custody status, facility, charges, and parole dates. For those held in city jails like Rikers Island, the NYC Department of Correction runs its own inmate lookup at nyc.gov.
Kings County Arrest Records and the Law
New York's Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to request arrest records from the NYPD and other city agencies. Agencies must respond within five business days. In 2019, the state created a presumption against releasing booking photos unless there is a specific law enforcement reason. This is codified in Public Officers Law Section 89(2)(b).
The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. Misdemeanors will be sealed three years after sentencing. Felonies get sealed eight years after the sentence is complete. Sex offenses and Class A felonies are not eligible. Dismissed cases should be sealed automatically under CPL Section 160.50. The Attorney General's website has more details on eligibility for sealing convictions.
The Sex Offender Registry is free and shows Level 2 and Level 3 offenders in Kings County. You can search by name, ZIP code, or address.
Note: Marijuana convictions under Penal Law Sections 221.05 through 221.40 are now expunged and will not appear on any criminal history search in New York.
Kings County Court System Resources
The New York State court system provides online tools for looking up criminal cases across all five boroughs, including Kings County in Brooklyn.
Through these portals you can check case calendars, look up pending matters, and find court contact information for Brooklyn courts. The Red Hook Community Justice Center at 88 Visitation Place also handles certain misdemeanor cases in the area.
Nearby Borough and County Resources
Kings County borders other NYC boroughs and counties. For arrest records in these areas:
All five NYC boroughs share the NYPD for law enforcement, but each has its own criminal court and district attorney. For city-wide information, see New York City.