Clinton County Public Records / Clinton County Arrest Records

Clinton County Arrest Records

Are Arrest Records Public in Clinton County

Arrest records in Clinton County, New York, are generally accessible to the public under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at New York Public Officers Law § 87, which establishes the public's right to inspect and copy government records maintained by state and local agencies. The Clinton County Sheriff's Office and other law enforcement agencies are subject to FOIL obligations and must respond to records requests within five business days of receipt.

Under current law, an important legal distinction exists between an arrest record and a conviction record. An arrest record documents the act of being taken into custody by law enforcement and does not constitute proof of guilt. A conviction record, by contrast, reflects a formal finding of guilt following a court proceeding. New York law recognizes this distinction, and certain protections—such as sealing provisions under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50—apply specifically to arrest records that did not result in conviction. Members of the public should be aware that accessing arrest records does not imply that the subject was found guilty of any offense.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4300 Clinton County Sheriff's Office

What's in Clinton County Arrest Records

Clinton County arrest records contain a standardized set of data fields compiled at the time of booking and updated as the case progresses through the criminal justice system.

Arrestee Identifying Information:

Full legal name, including any known aliases
Date of birth and age at time of arrest
Gender, race, and physical descriptors (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Home address at time of arrest
Photograph (mugshot) taken during booking

Arrest Details:

Date, time, and location of the arrest
Name and badge number of the arresting officer
Arresting agency (e.g., Clinton County Sheriff's Office, Plattsburgh City Police)
Incident or case number associated with the arrest

Charge Information:

Specific criminal charges filed, including New York Penal Law section references
Classification of each charge (felony, misdemeanor, or violation)
Whether charges were later amended, dismissed, or upgraded

Warrant Information (if applicable):

Warrant number and issuing court
Date the warrant was issued
Type of warrant (arrest warrant, bench warrant)

Booking Information:

Booking number assigned by the detention facility
Date and time of booking
Facility where the individual was processed

Bond/Bail Information:

Bail amount set by the court
Type of bail (cash, surety bond, release on recognizance)
Bail status (posted, pending, denied)

Court Information:

Arraignment date and court of jurisdiction
Scheduled hearing or trial dates
Assigned judge or magistrate

Custody Status:

Current custody status (held, released, transferred)
Release date if applicable
Transfer information if the individual was moved to a state facility

Additional Information May Include:

Prior arrest history on file with the agency
Fingerprint classification codes
Notations regarding detainers or holds from other jurisdictions

How To Look Up Arrest Records in Clinton County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain arrest records from Clinton County through several official channels. The following steps outline the standard process for submitting a records request.

Submit a FOIL Request to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office: Requestors must submit a written request identifying the records sought with reasonable specificity. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or by email to the Records Division of the Sheriff's Office at 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901. The agency is required under New York Public Officers Law § 89 to acknowledge receipt within five business days and to provide records or a denial within twenty business days.
Contact the Clinton County Clerk's Office: Court-related arrest and disposition records may be obtained through the County Clerk, which maintains criminal court filings and case records.
Request Records from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS): DCJS maintains statewide criminal history records. Individuals may request their own criminal history record through the DCJS fingerprint-based background check process.
Provide Required Information: Requestors should supply the full name of the subject, date of birth, and approximate date of arrest to facilitate an accurate search.
Pay Applicable Fees: Agencies may charge fees for copying records pursuant to applicable FOIL regulations. The standard fee is currently $0.25 per page for photocopies.

Clinton County Clerk's Office 137 Margaret Street, Suite 208, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4700 Clinton County Clerk

New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services 80 South Swan Street, Albany, NY 12210 (518) 457-5837 New York State DCJS

How To Find Clinton County Arrest Records Online

Several official online platforms currently provide access to arrest-related information for Clinton County.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office Press Releases: The Sheriff's Office publishes recent arrest information and incident reports through its official website. Members of the public may review recent arrest and incident press releases directly on the county website, which are updated on a regular basis and include DWI arrests, warrant arrests, and other law enforcement actions.
Clinton County Corrections Division: The Corrections Division of the Clinton County Sheriff's Office maintains an inmate lookup tool that allows members of the public to search for individuals currently held at the county jail. This resource provides custody status and booking information.
New York State DOCJS Incarcerated Lookup: For individuals who have been transferred to a state correctional facility, the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) provides a statewide incarcerated person lookup tool available at no cost.
New York State Courts Electronic Filing (NYSCEF): Certain court records associated with criminal cases may be accessible through the NYSCEF system, depending on the court and case type.

How To Search Clinton County Arrest Records for Free?

Members of the public may access certain arrest record information at no cost through the following methods.

Sheriff's Office Online Press Releases: The Clinton County Sheriff's Office publishes arrest summaries and press releases on its official website free of charge. These records include recent arrests, DWI incidents, and warrant executions.
Corrections Division Inmate Lookup: The county's online inmate search tool, maintained by the Corrections Division, is available to the public at no cost and provides current custody information for individuals held at the Clinton County Jail.
DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup: The New York State DOCCS incarcerated person search is a free, publicly accessible tool for locating individuals currently serving sentences in state correctional facilities.
In-Person Inspection at the Sheriff's Office: Under FOIL, members of the public have the right to inspect records in person at the agency's offices without charge. Fees apply only when copies are requested.
Clinton County Supreme and County Court: Members of the public may visit the courthouse to review publicly available criminal case files at no cost during regular business hours.

Clinton County Supreme and County Court 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 285-8300 Clinton County Courts

How To Delete Arrest Records in Clinton County

New York law provides two distinct legal remedies for individuals seeking to limit public access to arrest records: sealing and expungement. These are not interchangeable terms, and the applicable remedy depends on the circumstances of the case.

Sealing restricts public access to a record while preserving it within law enforcement and court systems. Under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.59, eligible individuals with up to two convictions—no more than one of which may be a felony—may petition the court to seal their records after a ten-year waiting period following the later of sentencing or release from incarceration.

Expungement in New York is currently limited in scope. The Marihuana Regulation and Taxation Act provides for the automatic expungement of certain marijuana-related convictions. True expungement of other criminal records is not broadly available under current New York law.

Automatic Sealing of Non-Conviction Records: Pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50, records of arrests that did not result in conviction—including dismissed charges and acquittals—are automatically sealed. These records are not accessible to the general public, though they remain available to law enforcement and certain licensing agencies.

Steps to Petition for Sealing:

Confirm eligibility based on the nature and number of convictions and the applicable waiting period
Obtain certified copies of all relevant court records and certificates of disposition
File a petition with the court in which the conviction was entered
Serve the petition on the District Attorney's office, which has the opportunity to object
Attend a court hearing if scheduled by the judge

Clinton County District Attorney's Office 137 Margaret Street, Suite 302, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4770 Clinton County District Attorney

What Happens After Arrest in Clinton County?

The criminal justice process in Clinton County follows a structured sequence from the point of arrest through final case disposition.

Arrest and Booking: Following an arrest, the individual is transported to the Clinton County Jail or a local police facility for booking. Booking involves recording personal information, photographing, and fingerprinting the arrestee.
Arraignment: The arrestee is brought before a judge or magistrate, typically within 24 hours of arrest, to be formally informed of the charges. Bail is set or the individual is released on recognizance at this stage.
Preliminary Hearing or Grand Jury Proceeding: For felony charges, the case proceeds to a preliminary hearing or grand jury review to determine whether sufficient evidence exists to proceed to trial.
Indictment or Information: If the grand jury returns an indictment, or if a misdemeanor information is filed, the case is formally docketed in the appropriate court.
Pre-Trial Proceedings: Both parties engage in discovery, motion practice, and plea negotiations. Many cases are resolved through plea agreements at this stage.
Trial: If no plea agreement is reached, the case proceeds to a bench or jury trial in Clinton County Court or Supreme Court, depending on the severity of the charges.
Sentencing: Upon a finding of guilt, the court imposes a sentence, which may include incarceration, probation, fines, or community service.
Appeals: The convicted individual retains the right to appeal the verdict or sentence to a higher court.

How Long Are Arrest Records Kept in Clinton County?

Arrest records in Clinton County are subject to retention schedules established under New York State law and regulations issued by the New York State Archives. The New York State Local Government Records Law governs the retention and disposition of records maintained by county agencies, including law enforcement.

Arrest and Booking Records: Law enforcement agencies are generally required to retain arrest records for a minimum of several decades. Under the New York State Archives retention schedule for local government records, arrest registers and booking records are typically retained for a minimum of 25 years.
Records of Non-Conviction: Records sealed pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 are retained by law enforcement but are not accessible to the public. These records are preserved for use in future law enforcement proceedings.
Conviction Records: Records associated with criminal convictions are retained for longer periods, often permanently, particularly for felony convictions.
Different Agencies, Different Requirements: The Sheriff's Office, the District Attorney's Office, and the courts each maintain separate records with distinct retention schedules. Court records, for example, may be subject to different timelines than those held by the arresting agency.
Purpose of Retention: Records retention serves the dual purpose of preserving evidence for potential future proceedings and maintaining accountability within the criminal justice system.

How to Find Mugshots in Clinton County

What Mugshots Are A mugshot is a standardized photograph taken by law enforcement at the time of booking. It typically includes a front-facing and profile image of the arrestee and is associated with the individual's booking record.

Where Mugshots Are Maintained Mugshots are maintained by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division as part of the official booking record. They are stored in the county's jail management system and may also be transmitted to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services as part of the statewide criminal history record.

Finding Mugshots Members of the public seeking a specific mugshot may submit a FOIL request to the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. The request should identify the subject by full name and approximate date of arrest. The agency will review the request and provide responsive records unless an exemption applies.

Can They Be Found Online The Clinton County Sheriff's Office does not currently maintain a publicly searchable online mugshot database. Recent arrest information, including some identifying details, may appear in Sheriff's Office press releases published on the county website. Third-party websites may republish mugshot images, though such sites are not official government sources.

Obtaining Mugshots Officially The official method for obtaining a mugshot is through a written FOIL request submitted to the Sheriff's Office Records Division. Requestors should allow the statutory response period and be prepared to pay applicable copying fees.

Restrictions on Mugshot Access Mugshots associated with sealed records—including arrests that did not result in conviction—are not subject to public disclosure under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50. Law enforcement agencies are prohibited from releasing such images to the general public.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office – Corrections Division 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 (518) 565-4300 Clinton County Sheriff's Office Corrections Division