Clinton County

Clinton County is located in the northeastern corner of New York State, bordering Lake Champlain to the east and the Canadian province of Quebec to the north. Clinton County seat is Plattsburgh, a city that is the economic and governmental hub of Clinton County. Clinton County includes approximately 1,118 square miles and has a population of around 79,000 residents according to recent census estimates. Clinton County was established in 1788 and named after George Clinton, the first Governor of New York and Vice President under Thomas Jefferson and James Madison. Major landmarks include the Adirondack Coast along Lake Champlain, Cumberland Bay State Park, and Ausable Chasm, often called the 'Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks.' The former Plattsburgh Air Force Base, which closed in 1995, has been redeveloped into a mixed-use business park. Clinton County is unique for its strategic location along the U.S.-Canada border, its role in the War of 1812 including the Battle of Plattsburgh, and its stunning natural beauty as part of the Adirondack region. Clinton County Government Center is located at 137 Margaret Street, Plattsburgh, NY 12901, housing the County Clerk, who maintains vital records and official documents. Clinton County Assessor's office manages property assessment records, while the County Clerk also serves many recorder functions for land records. The Real Property Tax Services office assists municipalities with assessment administration throughout Clinton County.

Law Enforcement & Arrests

• To request arrest records, citizens must submit a written FOIL request to the specific law enforcement agency that made the arrest, describing the records sought with reasonable specificity.
• Mugshots and booking photos are generally considered public records but must be requested through FOIL from the Sheriff's Office or the arresting agency.
• Processing times for FOIL requests vary but agencies must respond within five business days acknowledging receipt and providing a timeline for production of records.

Criminal Records

Criminal records in Clinton County, NY are maintained by local law enforcement agencies and the court system. Background checks are typically obtained through state-level repositories or authorized vendors. For an authoritative source, see Criminal History Records, Background Checks - NY DCJS.

Arrest Records

Arrest records in Clinton County, NY are public under most state public-records laws unless sealed or expunged by a court. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Jail & Inmate Records

The Clinton County jail is operated by the County Sheriff's Office and houses pretrial detainees and short-sentence inmates. Inmate locator tools allow public searches by name or booking number.

• Look up current inmates and booking information at Corrections Division | Clinton County New York.
• Sheriff's Office: Clinton County Sheriff's Office | Clinton County New York.
• The bond and bail process allows for the release of detainees under conditions set by the court; inquiries about recently arrested individuals can be directed to the jail's administrative office.

• Clinton County has numerous Town and Village Justice Courts that handle traffic violations, small claims up to $5,000, misdemeanors, and preliminary hearings for felonies.
• The New York State Unified Court System operates an e-courts system for some case searching at iapps.courts.state.ny.us/webcivil/ecourtsMain, though not all local court records are available online.
• To obtain certified copies of court records, requests must be made to the specific court clerk, typically with a fee of $6 per document plus $1.25 per page for certification.
• Some records require in-person or written requests with proper identification and may require demonstration of proper legal interest in sealed or restricted matters.

Property records for Clinton County, New York are maintained by the Clinton County Clerk. This office maintains recorded documents including deeds, mortgages, liens, and easements for properties in Clinton County.

🔗 https://clintoncountyny.gov

Vital records for this county include birth, death, marriage, and divorce certificates issued under state vital statistics law.

• Processing time is typically 2-4 weeks for mail requests, or same-day/next-day for in-person requests if records are readily accessible.
• Marriage licenses must be obtained from Clinton County Clerk's Office prior to marriage; couples must apply in person together with identification and pay the current fee of $40.
• Divorce records (divorce decrees) are maintained by the County Clerk where the divorce was granted, also at $30 per certified copy.
• Online ordering of New York vital records is available through VitalChek at www.health.ny.gov/vital_records for an additional service fee, though county-level processing varies.

Business records, licenses, and permits for this county are processed by the County Clerk and local government offices.

• This free online database allows searching by business name, entity ID, or registered agent.
• Most formal business entities must register with the state rather than Clinton County.