Search New York City Police Records

New York City police records are maintained by the NYPD, the largest police force in the United States. The department serves all five boroughs across New York, Kings, Queens, Bronx, and Richmond counties. Residents and the public can request incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other law enforcement files through the city's Freedom of Information Law process. NYPD handles FOIL requests through the NYC OpenRecords portal, which lets you submit, track, and get responses to your records requests online.

How to Get NYPD Police Records

The NYPD processes records requests through the NYC OpenRecords portal. This is the main way to file a FOIL request with any New York City agency. You can create an account, submit your request, and track its status all in one place. The portal also shows past requests and responses, so you can check if what you need has already been released.

To get started, go to the OpenRecords site and pick NYPD as the agency. Write a clear description of the records you want. Include dates, names, locations, and any case or complaint numbers you have. The more detail you give, the faster the NYPD can find the right files. Simple requests may come back in five business days. More involved requests can take much longer.

You can also visit in person. The NYPD Criminal Records Section is at 1 Police Plaza, Room 300, New York, NY 10038. Bring valid ID if you are asking for your own records. Walk-in requests are handled during business hours on weekdays. For after-hours help, call 311.

Types of Police Records Available

NYPD keeps many kinds of records. Incident reports document what happened at a scene. Arrest reports list who was taken into custody and on what charges. Accident reports cover motor vehicle crashes and other collisions. Complaint reports are filed when someone reports a crime.

There are also records from the Civilian Complaint Review Board, or CCRB. This board looks into claims of police misconduct. Some CCRB records are available to the public. Other types include patrol logs, stop reports, and field intelligence. Not all of these can be released due to privacy and safety rules, but the law says the NYPD must explain why if it says no to a request.

The department keeps files at precinct level too. There are 77 precincts across the five boroughs, and each one generates its own reports. Central records pulls all of this together. If you know which precinct handled your case, mention that in your request.

FOIL Law and Your Right to Police Records

The Freedom of Information Law gives you the right to see government records in New York. It applies to all state and local agencies, including the NYPD. Under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90, agencies must respond to your request within five business days. They can grant it, deny it in writing with reasons, or send a notice saying they need more time.

If a request is denied, you have 30 days to appeal. The appeal goes to a designated officer within the NYPD. That officer has ten business days to respond. If the appeal also fails, you can file a lawsuit in court within four months of the final denial.

Some records are exempt from release. Active investigations, confidential source identities, and records that could endanger someone are common reasons for denial. But the NYPD must still release any parts of a record that are not exempt. Redacting is used to block out protected details while showing the rest.

Fees for New York City Police Records

Copy fees follow the state standard of $0.25 per page for records up to 9 by 14 inches. If a request takes more than two hours of staff time, the NYPD can charge the hourly wage of the lowest-paid employee who can do the work. Most simple requests do not hit this threshold.

There is no fee to inspect records in person at NYPD facilities. You only pay when you want copies. Digital records sent through the OpenRecords portal may have no copy charge at all, depending on the format. Certified copies cost more. Always confirm fees with the agency before submitting payment.

Criminal History Searches in New York City

Official criminal history records in New York are kept by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS). These are fingerprint-based records and are not public. You can only get your own rap sheet by submitting your fingerprints to DCJS. No third party can access these records through FOIL.

A name-based search is available through the Office of Court Administration. The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95.00 per name. It matches exact name and date of birth against court records statewide. Processing takes about two weeks. If nothing comes up, you still pay the fee. This search does not include youthful offender records.

The New York Sex Offender Registry is a free tool run by DCJS. You can search by name, address, or county. Level 2 and 3 offenders appear on the public site. For Level 1 offender details, call your local precinct or the toll-free line at 1-800-262-3257.

Court Records in New York City

Criminal court records for pending cases in New York City can be searched through WebCrims. This free database covers most courts and shows charges, court dates, and case status. Sealed cases and juvenile matters do not appear.

Civil case records are available through eCourts WebCivil Supreme for Supreme Court cases in all 62 counties. The system lets you search by party name, index number, or attorney. For local civil courts in the city, use the WebCivil Local system instead.

Manhattan Criminal Court sits at 100 Centre Street. Brooklyn Criminal Court is at 120 Schermerhorn Street. Queens Criminal Court is at 125-01 Queens Boulevard. Bronx Criminal Court is at 215 East 161st Street. Staten Island Criminal Court is at 67 Targee Street. Each court clerk can help you find case files not available online.

More Police Records Resources

The DOCCS Incarcerated/Parolee Lookup shows people in state prison or on parole. It does not include county jail inmates or federal prisoners. The database updates daily and lists name, facility, custody status, and release dates.

Motor vehicle crash reports filed by NYPD are available through the DMV Crash Report Sales Portal. Reports take 14 to 30 days to appear after an electronic filing. The fee is $7.00 for the search plus $15.00 per report for online orders. You need a NY.gov ID to use the portal.

The Committee on Open Government offers guidance on FOIL issues. If you have trouble getting records from the NYPD or any other agency, you can contact the Committee for help. They issue advisory opinions and can assist in resolving disputes between requesters and agencies.

New York City Police Records and New York County

New York City is part of New York County. The New York County Sheriff's Office keeps its own set of police records that may overlap with local cases. If you need records from outside New York City limits, the county sheriff is the right place to check. The sheriff also handles jail records, civil process, and court security for the county.

For county-level records, visit the New York County police records page. You can also check with the New York County Clerk for court filings tied to criminal cases in the area.

Nearby Cities with Police Records

Other cities near New York City also have their own police records. Select a city below to find local contact details and learn how to get records from that area.