New York Background Checks

Keeping you and your family safe is an important part of your life. That is one of the reasons that New York background checks can be so helpful. These background checks supply you with information that you can use to make judgments about the character of the person you're associating with:

  • You can search babysitters and house sitters to see if they have a criminal record.
  • You can search candidates for jobs to make sure they are trustworthy.
  • You can search friends or relatives to find out where they've been.

    • New York background checks are free, simple ways to get information about the people you're interested in. They can be performed completely anonymously, because they are hosted on websites that have culminated public records data and culminated it in a quick and easy place where anyone can gain access.

    What Do You Need?

    To perform a New York background check, all you need is a person's name - however, a city and state may be useful for more generic names. Simply find a reputable site that has found all of that data for you, perform your search, and instantly get information about that individual. This method of finding out information is quick and painless, and the individual you are searching for will have no idea that you've performed that search.

    Background checks are more than simply something that companies do to learn more about candidates. They are legitimate, easy ways to find out more about someone in your life. Easily search for romantic partners, friends, and those taking care of your children to help discover if any of them are hiding something that should be out in the open.

    New York Criminal Records

    New York criminal records are maintained and distributed on request by the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). The OCA is the central state repository for all New York criminal records. At this time, only name-based searches are supported by OCS, but anyone can request a New York criminal record by following the outlined application process.

    New York criminal records contain public information, such as open or pending convictions and dispositions of criminal cases within the New York. All 62 New York counties are represented in this system. Sealed records are not included with criminal records results and neither are non-criminal offenses, such as violations or infractions.

    Individuals, businesses or government agencies should submit the full name and date of birth for the OCA to search the database. Only a direct match will yield a result, which means no name variations will be included. The fee for this search is $55, which can be requested by mail or completed online. By mail, the requests are usually completed within 2 days, while online requests are filled within a few hours. If you elect to drop off your New York criminal records request in person, results will be available the following business day.

    To access records by mail do the following:

    When filling out the criminal history record search application form include the name and date of birth of the individual whose New York criminal records are desired. If you must include aliases, these will count as separate searches and will be billed accordingly. These results are not considered certified. You can opt to receive the request New York criminal records by mail (providing a SASE), pick them up in person, or request an email.

    For additional information on obtaining New York criminal records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

    NYS Office of Court Administration
    Office of Administrative Services
    Criminal History Record Search
    25 Beaver Street - Room 840 - Front Desk
    New York, NY 10004
    (212) 428-2943

    Resource Links
    New York Criminal History Record Search

    New York Court Records

    You can access New York court records originating in Civil Supreme Court from all 62 New York counties via WebCivil, an online system that allows you to search for cases using index number, plaintiff or defendant name or search by attorney or firm name. You can also view court calendars and even track Civil Supreme Court cases using eTrack. WebCivil is maintained by the New York State Unified Court System and is a free public service.

    Case information is updated daily except for the following counties: Bronx, Dutchess, Erie, Kings, Nassau, New York, Orange, Putnam, Queens, Richmond, Rockland, Suffolk and Ulster – all of which are updated four times each day. If you seek New York court records that aren’t available online, your local County Clerk’s office will help you find them.

    To search for court records online do the following:

    For additional information on obtaining New York court records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

    New York State Unified Court System
    Office of Court Administration
    25 Beaver St.
    New York, NY 10004
    (800) 268-7869

    Resource Links
    New York Court Record Search

    New York Jail Records

    New York jail records are available through an online inmate locator system, operated by the New York Department of Correctional Services. Anyone sentenced to New York state prison since 1970 will be in this comprehensive database, except juveniles or anyone whose conviction was set aside. You may search the database for New York jail records using the inmate’s name and date of birth, or use the ID number given to the inmate. If you are an authorized criminal justice agency, you will search using the NYSID (New York State Identification Number).

    There are three ways for victims of crimes to be notified of inmate status changes and information. Victims can opt to receive a written notice, wherein the prosecutor will provide the victim with a registration form to receive notification of the inmate’s release, escape, parole or conditional release. The VINE (Victim Information and Notification Everyday) system is also available and will provide victims with a 24-hour toll-free telephone number to call and check an inmate’s whereabouts. The VINELink will also provide email updates for registered users.

    To search for jail records online do the following:

    For additional information on locating New York jail records, please contact the New York Department of Correctional Services at the address or phone number below:

    New York Department of Correctional Services
    Building 2
    Albany, NY 12226
    (518) 457-8126

    VINE Hotline
    (888) 846-3469

    Resource Links
    New York Inmate Population Information Search

    New York Driving Records

    New York driving records can be obtained in full only by the individual or by a business or government agency who falls under certain provisions and proves they have reason to obtain an individual’s complete New York driving record. Privacy is important, which means partial New York driving records do not reveal information like social security numbers, but only the class and status of the driver’s license, restrictions, accidents, and any speeding tickets or moving violations.

    Individuals can order a complete copy of their New York driving record online, by telephone or mail and paying a $10 fee. Partial New York driving records are only available by mail or in person at the Central Office in Albany.

    For additional information on obtaining New York driving records, please contact the office at the address or phone number below:

    MV-15 Processing
    NYS Department of Motor Vehicles
    6 Empire State Plaza
    Albany, NY 12228
    (518) 486-9786

    Resource Links
    New York Driving Record Information

    Additional Resources

    New York Sexual Offender Registry
    New York Attorney General