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Statewide public records directory

New York Official Records, Agencies & Answers

Jump into the four biggest statewide record categories, review the refreshed New York overview pulled from the live database, and open only direct government sources from the directory below.

Top topic Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
Top topic Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
Top topic Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
Top topic Most Wanted Wanted-person and fugitive resources.
NY

New York public records, redesigned

State of New York Most Updated Online Public and Criminal Records Portal

Updated March 29, 2026

The State of New York is a provider of many public documents and data requested by the general public and private entities on a regular basis. Recorded property records, documents and certificates can be requested online, in many cases begining with database searches. Access to criminal history records from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is open to individuals for review and employment purposes. With…

Official sources 49 Direct state links currently rendered on this page
Counties County coverage 62 County-level public records coverage tied to New York
FAQ / Q&A 9 Live statewide answers surfaced from the database
Bonus cities 13 Standalone city record pages currently shown

About New York

Open the dedicated background page for a deeper history, civic overview, and statewide public-records context beyond the agency directory.

Open about page

Explore cities & counties County links 🗺️ Local map

Move deeper into the state structure with the city directory, county access page, and location-specific record hubs without losing the statewide view.

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✨ County picks County directory: open county access
Hub → sub pages

Explore every linked New York specialty page

The hub now links directly to every live state-topic page we found for New York. Use the cards below to jump straight into each specialty area.

11 sub pages linked
NY
Criminal Records Criminal history tools, sheriff links, and related justice records.
NY
Expungements Record-clearance and expungement guidance.
NY
Inmate Search Custody, jail, and inmate lookup resources.
NY
Most Wanted Wanted-person and fugitive resources.
NY
Police Police department and public-safety resources.
NY
County Sheriff County sheriff and detention access points.
NY
Background Checks Background screening and identity research resources.
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Asset Search Asset, ownership, and locator resources.
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Vital Records Birth, death, marriage, and health-record links.
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Genealogy Family-history and genealogy research tools.
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Missing Children Missing-child alerts and support resources.
Fresh database content

About New York public records

This panel now uses the newer statewide heading content from the database instead of the old generic filler copy.

DB-backed content live

The State of New York is a provider of many public documents and data requested by the general public and private entities on a regular basis. Recorded property records, documents and certificates can be requested online, in many cases begining with database searches. Access to criminal history records from the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services is open to individuals for review and employment purposes. With…

Settled in 1624, New York is the 3rd largest state by population with over 19 million residents. The state of New York served as a major trading port by the Dutch and soon after by the English. The city of New York is the largest city in the U.S. and has held that title since 1790. Today, New York's largest economy is the financial and investment industries followed by real estate and business services. The New York Freedom of Information Law was implemented by the Committee on Open Government. The committee is composed of 11 members, 5 from government and 6 from the public. This law was enacted in 1974 and revi…

State snapshot Did you know? In New York, arrest searches often move from city, town, or village police into county clerk, sheriff, or court records. Starting local first usually beats a broad statewide search. Bonus tip: village, town, and city agency differences can matter, so matching the exact local jurisdiction saves time.
Frequently asked questions

About New York public records

Clearer question cards, modern spacing, and the same live statewide answers from the database.

Q What is included in a New York background check?
In New York, background checks are governed by the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (New York Public Officers Law § 84 through § 90). They may include criminal history, sex offender status, court filings, arrest records, and vital statistics. Agencies must respond within 5 business days to acknowledge a written request. The law is administered by New York Committee on Open Government (COG), One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12231; (518) 474-2518.
Q Where can I find police reports in New York?
Police reports in New York are public records under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL). Submit your request to the agency that generated the report. Who may request: Any person - no residency requirement. Response deadline: 5 business days to acknowledge a written request. If access is denied, you may appeal to district or circuit court.
Q What are the procedures to obtain New York vital records, and what is included in those records with address, not URLs?
Vital records (birth, death, marriage, divorce) in New York are maintained by the state Department of Health or Vital Statistics. Standard fees: $0.25 per page for copies; no charge for electronic records provided in existing. Certified copies carry separate fee schedules. Fee waivers may be available for journalists, nonprofits, and public-interest requesters - always ask.
Q What is the school district and performance data for New York?
The New York State Education Department (NYSED) provides performance data for all school districts in New York. The data includes information on student enrollment, graduation rates, test scores, and other indicators of school performance. The data can be accessed through the NYSED website. New York State Education Department (www.nysed.gov) publishes annual school and district performance reports covering graduation rates, standardized test scores, chronic absenteeism, and college/career readiness. Reports are available on the agency's official website and are updated each fall following the close of the academic year. Parents and researchers can compare district performance across New York using the state's school accountability portal.
Q What is the crime statistics for New York?
New York crime statistics are compiled by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and published at criminaljustice.ny.gov. FBI UCR data covers New York. In 2022, New York State reported a violent crime rate of approximately 380 per 100,000 residents. The NYPD CompStat portal provides real-time NYC crime data at compstat.nypd.org. Local data is also available through the DCJS Crime Stat portal for counties and municipalities statewide.
Q If I get arrested in New York where would I go to jail and court? include address.
If arrested in New York, you would be taken to the local county jail. Court appearances are scheduled in the county where the arrest occurred. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), arrest records and booking information are generally public. Oversight: New York Committee on Open Government (COG), One Commerce Plaza, 99 Washington Ave., Albany, NY 12231; (518) 474-2518. Appeals go to district or circuit court.
Q Can I find Public records in New York State Library?
Yes. New York state and public libraries provide access to public records databases. The New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (New York Public Officers Law § 84 through § 90) guarantees public access to government documents. Many libraries offer free access to LexisNexis, court records portals, and vital record indexes. The New York State Library, Cultural Education Center, 222 Madison Ave, Albany, NY 12230 provides free public access to government records, genealogy databases (Ancestry.com, HeritageQuest), legal research tools (LexisNexis, Westlaw), and historical newspaper archives. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law § 84), library patrons can request government documents through the library's inter-agency loan and records request services at no charge. Many local public libraries throughout New York also offer digital access to court records and vital statistics indexes.
Q Where is the New York State Library located?
The New York Public Library is located at 476 Fifth Avenue, New York, NY 10018. The library maintains public access to government records, historical archives, genealogy databases, and legal research tools. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law (Public Officers Law § 84), New York residents may request government documents through the state library's reference services. Collections include census records, land patents, vital statistics indexes, and digitized newspapers. Most state library services are free to New York residents. Contact the library by phone or visit the official NY state library website for research guides and online catalog access.
Q New York State fingerprinting office
The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) operates a fingerprinting office in Albany, New York. The office is located at 1220 Washington Avenue, Albany, NY 12226. The office is open Monday through Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and can be contacted by phone at (518) 457-5837. Residents can also be fingerprinted at local sheriff offices, police departments, and approved private LiveScan vendors throughout New York. Prints are submitted electronically to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and to the FBI for national background checks. Common purposes include employment, professional licensing, adoption, volunteer work, and immigration. Standard fee: $5-$25 for ink cards; $20-$50 for electronic LiveScan. Allow 3-7 business days for results to be returned to the requesting agency.
Did you know?

Some New York cities have standalone record pages

Fun fact: some New York cities skip the county layer entirely. They have their own public record hubs—go straight to them below.

city

Amersterdam

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Amersterdam records
City

Aurelius

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Aurelius records
city

Batavia Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Batavia Town records
city

Canandaigua Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Canandaigua Town records
Community

Harrisburg

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this community.

Open Harrisburg records
city

Ithaca Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Ithaca Town records
city

Kingston Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Kingston Town records
Community

Lewisboro

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this community.

Open Lewisboro records
city

Lockport Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Lockport Town records
City

New York

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open New York records
city

Oswego Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Oswego Town records
city

Rye Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Rye Town records
city

Tonawanda Town

Open the local page for focused public-record links and a quicker statewide sweep into this city.

Open Tonawanda Town records
State page refreshed: March 29, 2026
Last reviewed: Mar 25, 2026 Updated: Mar 25, 2026