Lewis County Arrest Records
Lewis County arrest records are held by the Sheriff's Office in Lowville, the County Clerk, and the District Attorney. This is a small, rural county in northern New York, so most record requests go through one or two offices. If you need to look up an arrest, find out if someone is in jail, or pull court files tied to a criminal case, there are a few paths you can take. The county sits in the 5th Judicial District and has its own court system for felony and misdemeanor cases. You can file a FOIL request, visit the courthouse, or call the Sheriff's Office to get started. This page covers each office and what they can give you.
Lewis County Overview
Lewis County Sheriff's Office Records
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office is at 5252 Outer Stowe Street, Lowville, NY 13367. The phone number is 315-376-3511. This office handles arrest records, incident reports, and booking data for the areas it patrols. Lewis County is mostly rural, so the Sheriff covers a wide stretch of land. If you need a copy of an arrest report, this is where you start.
To get arrest records from the Lewis County Sheriff, you submit a FOIL request. FOIL is the Freedom of Information Law, set out in Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, sections 84 through 90. Put your request in writing. Give the name of the person, the date of the arrest if you have it, and any case or report numbers. The office has five business days to get back to you with a response. They can give you the records, deny the request with a reason, or tell you they need more time. Copy fees are $0.25 per page under Public Officers Law section 87.
The Sheriff's Office also provides fingerprinting services. If you need a DCJS criminal history check or are applying for a pistol permit, this is where you go in Lewis County. Fingerprinting appointments may need to be set up in advance, so call first.
Court Records in Lewis County
The Lewis County Clerk is at 5274 Outer Stowe Street, Lowville, NY 13367. Call 315-376-5333. The Clerk's office keeps files from Supreme Court and County Court cases. That means felony arrest records that went through the court system are on file here. You can visit in person during business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. Bring a photo ID.
Lewis County is part of the 5th Judicial District. The court at 5274 Outer Stowe Street handles felony criminal cases and can be reached at 315-376-5304. If you need a certificate of disposition for a Lewis County case, you request it from the court where the case was heard. This is a common need for people trying to clear up old records or show proof of how a case ended.
You can also check WebCrims for pending criminal cases with future court dates in Lewis County. Guest access is free. You need at least three letters of the last name and two letters of the first name. This tool only shows open cases with upcoming dates. Closed cases, sealed matters, and warrants do not appear.
Note: The Office of Court Administration runs a statewide Criminal History Record Search for $95 per name based on exact match of name and date of birth.
Lewis County District Attorney
The Lewis County District Attorney's Office is at 5274 Outer Stowe Street, Lowville, NY 13367. Phone is 315-376-5215. The DA reviews all arrests made in Lewis County and decides what charges to file. If you want to know the status of a case or 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 here. If you were the victim of a crime in Lewis County, you can get referrals and help with the court process. The office also works with the Sheriff, State Police, and local law enforcement on cases throughout the county.
State Resources for Lewis County Arrests
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 is between $50 and $65. Results come by mail in 7 to 10 business days.
Official DCJS records are not available 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 sealed automatically. 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 for sealing under this law.
The DOCCS Inmate Lookup tool lets you search for people in state prison. If someone was arrested in Lewis County and later sent to a state facility, you can check their status here. Search by last name or Department ID number.
Note: The Sex Offender Registry is free to search by name, county, or ZIP code for Level 2 and Level 3 offenders.
Lewis County Jail Information
The Lewis County Jail is at Outer Stowe Street in Lowville, NY 13367. Call 315-376-5290 for inmate information. The jail is run by the Sheriff's Office and holds people waiting for trial and those serving short sentences of one year or less. You can find out if someone is in custody, what charges are on file, and what bail has been set.
Visiting hours vary. You need a photo ID to visit. All mail sent to inmates must include the full name and booking number. If someone has been moved to state prison, use the DOCCS lookup instead. People arrested within the last 72 hours may still be in police custody and not yet in the jail system.
FOIL Requests in Lewis County
Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to see government records in Lewis County. You can file a FOIL request with the Sheriff's Office, the County Clerk, or the District Attorney. Each has its own Records Access Officer. Put your request in writing and be specific about what you want. Give dates, names, and case numbers when you have them.
The agency has five business days to respond. Fees are $0.25 per page. Some records are exempt. 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. You can appeal a denial within 30 days.
Sealing and Expungement in Lewis County
New York has several ways to seal arrest and conviction records. Under CPL section 160.50, arrests that end in dismissal or acquittal are sealed automatically. No application is needed. The Marijuana Regulation and Taxation Act wiped out certain cannabis convictions too.
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.
The Lewis County Sheriff's Office website shown above provides information on law enforcement services and record requests for Lewis County residents.
Nearby Counties
If you need arrest records from areas near Lewis County, these neighboring counties each have their own Sheriff's Office and court system: