Steuben County, New York Public Records

Steuben County offices and records

Sheriff & Law Enforcement. Steuben County Sheriff's Office is responsible for maintaining law and order in Steuben County.

Police Departments. Steuben County is served by several law enforcement agencies, including Steuben County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments such as the Corning Police Department and Hornell Police Department.

Law Enforcement & Arrests. Steuben County Sheriff's Office, headquartered at 7007 Rumsey Street Extension in Bath, New York 14810 (607-622-3911), is the primary law enforcement agency for unincorporated areas and provides countywide services including civil process, court security, and jail operations. Steuben County Jail, located at the same Rumsey Street facility, houses pre-trial detainees and sentenced inmates. Municipal police departments operate independently in the cities of Corning (Corning Police Department at 72 East First Street) and Hornell (Hornell Police Department at 82 Main Street), providing primary law enforcement within city limits. Arrest records and police reports in Steuben County are subject to New York's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, Sections 84-90.

Arrest Records. They are maintained by the arresting agency, primarily the County Sheriff's Office and municipal police departments.

Steuben County's court system operates under the Unified Court System of New York State. Steuben County Court, located at 3 East Pulteney Square in Bath (607-622-8272), handles felony criminal cases, appeals from local courts, and some civil matters exceeding $25,000. Elections in Steuben County are administered by Steuben County Board of Elections, located at 3 East Pulteney Square, Bath, NY 14810. The Board can be reached at 607-664-2260 and maintains information at steubencony.org under the elections section. Property tax records are maintained by Steuben County Real Property Tax Services Agency at 3 East Pulteney Square (607-664-2261), which coordinates assessment activities across Steuben County's municipalities. Building permits and zoning compliance in Steuben County are handled at the municipal level by individual town and city building departments, as New York uses a strong home rule system. Steuben County Planning Department at 3 East Pulteney Square (607-664-2442) coordinates regional planning and may provide guidance on local requirements. The Chemung River flows through Steuben County, and numerous state forests provide recreational opportunities. Key county agencies serving the public include Steuben County Clerk located at 3 East Pulteney Square in Bath (607-664-2451), the County Recorder's Office which handles land records, and the Real Property Tax Services Agency which is the assessment coordinating office. For a more full search or records from elsewhere in New York State, the New York State Department of Health Vital Records Section in Albany maintains statewide records from 1881 forward. Their office can be reached at health.ny.gov/vital_records or by calling 855-322-1022.