Find Police Records in Chemung County

Chemung County police records are kept by the county sheriff, the Elmira Police Department, and the Chemung County Clerk's Office at 210 Lake Street in Elmira. The Elmira Police Department Records Bureau serves as the central repository for city law enforcement records and processes FOIL requests through the Next Requests online portal. The County Clerk's Office maintains an extensive computerized records system with documents dating back decades. This page covers the agencies, forms, fees, and steps you need to get police records in Chemung County.

Elmira Police Department Records Bureau

The Elmira Police Department Records Bureau is the central repository for all law enforcement records generated by the department. The bureau maintains incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and other police documentation in line with New York State retention rules. It also processes warrants issued by both the City and County Courts, serving as the link between the police department and the judicial system.

The Records Bureau handles storage and safekeeping of all evidence and property seized by the Elmira Police Department. This includes tracking chain of custody for evidence items, running secure storage, and processing property for release to rightful owners when authorized. The bureau also processes criminal record requests for authorized purposes and licensing matters.

For FOIL requests, the Records Bureau processes all requests for copies of police reports and records. You can submit requests in two ways. The first is through the Next Requests online portal, which lets you file and track requests digitally. The second is in person at the City Clerk's Office. All requests must be in writing using the FOIL request form. The bureau reviews each request to determine what can be released while protecting confidential information and ongoing investigations. Under Public Officers Law Section 89, the city must respond within five business days.

Fees are up to $0.25 per page for copies of records up to 9 by 14 inches, or the actual cost for other formats. When extensive staff time is needed, more than two hours, the agency can charge based on the hourly salary of the lowest-paid employee capable of doing the work. If a request is denied, you have 30 days to appeal. Appeals should go to the Records Management Officer or the head of the agency. The city must respond to appeals within ten business days.

Chemung County Clerk's Office Records

The Chemung County Clerk's Office is at 210 Lake Street, Elmira, NY 14901. The mailing address is P.O. Box 588, Elmira, NY 14902. The phone number is 607-737-2920. The fax is 607-737-0342. Email is countyclerk@chemungcountyny.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 AM to 4:30 PM, with document recordings accepted until 4:00 PM.

The clerk's office processes over 1,000 document pages daily. They record deeds, mortgages, federal tax liens, civil actions, UCCs, judgments, lis pendens, DBAs, partnerships, and military discharges. The office began scanning documents in September 2000. The computerized system holds records going back decades: deeds from July 31, 1967 to present, mortgages from 1970 to present, civil records from 1994 to present, and judgments from 1992 to present. Documents can also be retrieved from the Landex website for a small fee.

For FOIL requests, submit to the Records Access Officer. The County Clerk maintains court records including civil and criminal proceedings. The office also provides e-filing services through the New York State Court's electronic filing system (NYSCEF) and processes passport applications, pistol permits, and notary public authentications.

City of Elmira FOIL Process

The City of Elmira has a designated Records Management Officer who accepts and responds to all FOIL requests. This centralized system ensures consistent handling and timely responses. The officer serves as the primary contact for all FOIL matters. Government records in Elmira are presumptively open to the public under Article 6 of the Public Officers Law, unless specifically exempt.

Records available include laws, budgets, reports, and other documents maintained by city agencies. Two submission options exist: the online Public Records portal on Next Requests, or an in-person hard copy request at the City Clerk's Office. Upon receipt, the city has five business days to respond. They can make the record available, deny access with written reasons, or send a written acknowledgment with a time estimate for when records will be ready.

Statewide Police Records Resources

The New York State Police cover parts of Chemung County. Their Central Record Bureau in Albany handles all records requests at $15.00 per incident report under Public Officers Law Section 66-a. The DCJS maintains state criminal history records, which are not public and require fingerprint submission. The Sex Offender Registry lists Level 2 and 3 offenders online.

Pending criminal cases can be searched on WebCrims. Civil cases appear in eCourts WebCivil Supreme. The DMV Crash Report Sales Portal offers accident reports for $7.00 search plus $15.00 per report. The DOCCS lookup shows state prison inmates and parolees. The Committee on Open Government provides guidance on FOIL disputes.

Evidence, Background Checks, and Other Chemung County Police Records

The Elmira Police Department Records Bureau handles more than just incident reports. The bureau maintains the storage and safekeeping of all evidence and property seized or held by the department. This includes tracking chain of custody for every piece of evidence, keeping secure storage areas, and processing property for release when authorized by court orders or departmental policy. If you need information about property held by the department, the Records Bureau is your contact.

The bureau also processes criminal record requests for authorized purposes under New York State law. These must be made by the person who is the subject of the record, or with proper written consent. Fees may apply depending on the scope and purpose of the check. For official state criminal history records, you must go through the Division of Criminal Justice Services rather than the local police department. DCJS requires fingerprint submission and is the only source for official rap sheets.

Warrant processing is another function of the Records Bureau. Warrants issued by the City Court and County Court are received, processed for execution by officers, and returned to the issuing courts within statutory timeframes. Records related to warrants may be available through FOIL, though active warrants tied to ongoing cases may be exempt from disclosure until the warrant is executed.

Nearby Counties

Chemung County is in the Southern Tier of New York, near the Pennsylvania border. Incidents near county lines may have been handled by a neighboring agency.