Clinton County Public Records /Clinton County Criminal Records

Clinton County Criminal Records

What Is Clinton County Criminal Records

Criminal records in Clinton County, New York, are official government documents that chronicle an individual's interactions with the criminal justice system, from initial law enforcement contact through final court disposition. These records are generated and maintained by multiple agencies operating within the county and at the state level.

Arrest vs. Conviction Records: An arrest record documents that law enforcement took an individual into custody based on probable cause; it does not indicate guilt. A conviction record reflects a formal finding of guilt, either through a guilty plea or a jury or bench verdict, and carries legal consequences including sentencing.

Felony vs. Misdemeanor: Under New York Penal Law, felonies are offenses punishable by more than one year of incarceration and are classified as Class A through Class E. Misdemeanors carry lesser penalties, generally up to one year in a local jail, and are classified as Class A or Class B.

Adult vs. Juvenile Records: Adult criminal records are generally accessible to the public under applicable law. Juvenile delinquency records are sealed by operation of New York Family Court Act § 375.1 and are not available for public inspection except under narrowly defined circumstances.

Active Warrants vs. Historical Records: Active warrants are court-issued orders currently directing law enforcement to apprehend an individual. Historical records document past arrests, charges, and dispositions that may or may not have resulted in conviction.

The principal agencies maintaining criminal records in Clinton County include:

Clinton County Sheriff's Office — maintains arrest records, booking data, and jail records
Clinton County Court and Supreme Court — maintains case filings, arraignment records, pleas, trial transcripts, sentencing orders, and probation/parole documentation
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) — maintains the statewide criminal history repository
Plattsburgh City Police Department and other local agencies — maintain incident and arrest reports within their respective jurisdictions

Records maintained across these agencies collectively document charges filed, arraignments, pleas entered, trial proceedings, verdicts, sentencing terms, and conditions of probation or parole supervision.

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

Are Criminal Records Public In Clinton County

Adult criminal records in Clinton County are presumptively open to the public under New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified at New York Public Officers Law § 84–90. This statute establishes that government records shall be available for public inspection and copying unless a specific statutory exemption applies.

Under current law, the following categories of records are generally accessible to members of the public:

Adult conviction records, including charges, pleas, verdicts, and sentences
Court proceedings and case dockets filed in Clinton County Court and Supreme Court
Arrest logs and booking information maintained by the Sheriff's Office
Sex offender registration information, which is publicly searchable through the New York State Sex Offender Registry administered by the New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision

The following categories are restricted from public disclosure under applicable law:

Records pertaining to ongoing criminal investigations, where disclosure would interfere with law enforcement proceedings
Sealed records, including those sealed pursuant to New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 following acquittal or dismissal
Juvenile delinquency records, which are confidential under the Family Court Act
Youthful offender adjudications, which are sealed and not available for public inspection
Certain intelligence and security records exempt under FOIL

Members of the public seeking access to court records may contact the Clinton County Clerk's Office, which assists the Supreme and County Courts by handling filings and certifying court records.

Clinton County Clerk's Office 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone: 518-565-4700

How To Look Up Criminal Records In Clinton County in 2026

Members of the public may obtain Clinton County criminal records through several official channels. The following steps outline the current process for accessing these records.

Step 1 — Identify the Appropriate Agency Determine which agency holds the record sought. Arrest and jail records are maintained by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office. Court case records, including charges, pleas, and dispositions, are maintained by the Clinton County Clerk's Office. Statewide criminal history records are maintained by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.

Step 2 — Submit a FOIL Request Pursuant to New York Public Officers Law § 84–90, any person may submit a written FOIL request to the records access officer of the relevant agency. Requests should identify the subject individual by full name and date of birth and specify the records sought. Requests may be submitted in person, by mail, or, where available, electronically.

Step 3 — In-Person Inspection at the Clerk's Office Members of the public may inspect court records in person at the Clinton County Clerk's Office during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Staff are available to assist with locating case files and certified copies.

Step 4 — Request Statewide Criminal History Through DCJS For a comprehensive criminal history record, individuals may submit a fingerprint-based request to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. This process is required for employment background checks and licensing purposes and involves a processing fee established by state regulation.

Step 5 — Pay Applicable Fees Fees for copies of records are set by statute and agency schedule. Certified copies of court records carry a per-page fee. The Clinton County Clerk's Office can provide the current fee schedule upon request.

Clinton County Clerk's Office 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone: 518-565-4700 Clinton County Clerk's Office

Clinton County Sheriff's Office 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901 Phone: 518-565-4300 FAX: 518-565-4333

How To Find Criminal Records in Clinton County Online?

Several official online portals currently provide access to Clinton County criminal records and related justice system information.

New York State Unified Court System — eCourts The New York State Unified Court System maintains the eCourts public access portal, which allows members of the public to search civil and criminal case information by party name or case number. The portal provides case status, appearance dates, and disposition information for cases filed in Clinton County Court and Supreme Court. No registration is required for basic case searches.

Clinton County Sheriff's Office — Inmate Search The Sheriff's Department inmate search portal allows members of the public to search current and recent jail roster information. This tool provides booking data, charges, and custody status for individuals held at the Clinton County Correctional Facility. The portal is accessible without registration.

New York State Sex Offender Registry The New York State Department of Corrections and Community Supervision maintains the official sex offender registry search, which is searchable by name, county, or zip code. Registered sex offenders are assigned a risk level by a judge following a court hearing: Level 1 (low risk), Level 2 (medium risk), and Level 3 (high risk of re-offense). Level 1 offenders are not displayed in the public registry; Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are publicly searchable.

Clinton County Clerk's Office The Clinton County Clerk's Office provides access to court filings and certified records. Certain records may require an in-person visit, as not all historical case files are available through online portals.

New York State DCJS — Criminal History The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services provides fingerprint-based criminal history record searches through its online submission system. This service is primarily used for employment and licensing background checks and requires identity verification and payment of applicable fees.

Can You Search Clinton County Criminal Records for Free?

New York's Freedom of Information Law currently mandates that members of the public have the right to inspect government records at no charge. Pursuant to New York Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b), agencies must make records available for inspection during regular business hours free of cost; fees may only be charged for copies, not for inspection itself.

The following resources are currently available at no cost:

In-person inspection of court records at the Clinton County Clerk's Office, 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, Monday through Friday, 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
eCourts case search through the New York State Unified Court System, which provides free online access to case status and docket information
Inmate roster search through the Clinton County Sheriff's Department portal, which is freely accessible online
Sex offender registry search through the New York State DOCCS, which is available to the public at no charge
Arrest log review at the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, 25 McCarthy Drive, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, during public counter hours

Fees apply when requesting certified copies of records, paper reproductions exceeding the statutory free-copy threshold, or fingerprint-based statewide criminal history reports through DCJS.

What's Included in a Clinton County Criminal Record?

A complete Clinton County criminal record may contain several categories of information, depending on the nature of the case and the agency maintaining the record.

Identifying Information

Full legal name and known aliases
Date of birth and physical description (height, weight, eye and hair color)
Photograph (mugshot) taken at booking
Last known address
State Identification Number (SID) assigned by DCJS
FBI Number assigned through the national criminal history system

Arrest Information

Date, time, and location of arrest
Arresting agency (e.g., Clinton County Sheriff's Office, Plattsburgh City Police)
Booking number and date of booking
Charges filed at arrest
Bail or bond amount set
Jail facility where the individual was held, such as the Clinton County Correctional Facility operated by the Corrections Division

Court Case Information

Case number and court of jurisdiction (Clinton County Court, Supreme Court, or local criminal court)
Filing date and arraignment date
Charges and applicable statutes, including felony or misdemeanor classification
Plea entered (guilty, not guilty, or no contest)
Attorney of record and prosecuting agency

Disposition Information

Verdict (guilty, not guilty, or dismissed)
Conviction date
Sentencing details, including type and length of sentence, fines, restitution, and conditions of supervision
Appeals filed and outcomes
Probation or parole terms; information on pretrial release programs administered through the Clinton County Pretrial Release Program may also be reflected

Additional Record Elements

Active or recalled warrants
Protective or restraining orders
Sex offender registration status and risk level
DUI/DWI convictions and related license actions
Traffic violations adjudicated in criminal court
Pending charges not yet resolved

How Long Does Clinton County Keep Criminal Records?

Criminal record retention in Clinton County is governed by the New York State Archives Records Retention and Disposition Schedule MU-1 for local governments and Schedule CO-2 for county offices, as well as applicable provisions of New York law.

Current retention periods for principal record categories include:

Felony conviction records — retained permanently by the courts and by DCJS in the statewide criminal history repository
Misdemeanor conviction records — retained for a minimum of ten years following final disposition, with many records retained permanently
Arrest records without conviction — retained for a period established by agency policy; records subject to sealing under New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 must be sealed upon order of the court, though the underlying agency records are not destroyed
Jail booking and inmate records — retained by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office for a minimum of seven years under local retention schedules
Court case files — felony case files are retained permanently; misdemeanor and violation case files are retained for varying periods depending on disposition, generally ranging from three to ten years
Sex offender registration records — maintained for the duration of the registration period, which may be ten years, twenty years, or life, depending on the offender's risk level and offense of conviction

The New York State Archives publishes official retention schedules that govern the minimum periods for which county agencies must preserve records. Agencies may retain records beyond the minimum period at their discretion.