New York criminal records are maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). DCJS processing fee for background checks is $75 (FBI fee: $14.75). The Office of Court Administration (OCA) provides a statewide criminal history record search (CHRS) for $95. Court records are accessible through the NY eCourts system. DCJS also maintains the New York State Sex Offender Registry with searchable level 2 and level 3 offender information. The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS) manages the sex offender registry search portal.
New York’s Clean Slate Act took effect in November 2024 and requires the automatic sealing of eligible criminal convictions. Misdemeanor convictions may be sealed after three years and felony convictions after eight years, provided the person has completed their sentence and has no pending charges.
Certain serious offenses are excluded, including sex offenses requiring registration and Class A felonies. The Unified Court System has up to three years to complete the initial sealing process.
What this means for record searches: criminal records that were once publicly visible through DCJS or OCA may no longer appear as eligible records are sealed. If you are researching New York criminal records, be aware that the available data is actively changing.