Search Franklin County Police Records

Franklin County police records are maintained by the Sheriff's Office in Malone, a rural county along New York's northern border with Canada. The sheriff provides the primary law enforcement coverage for the county, and the office holds incident reports, arrest records, accident reports, and investigation files. This page explains how to get police records through FOIL, what state databases apply, and where to find court and criminal history information for Franklin County.

Franklin County Sheriff's Office Records

The Franklin County Sheriff's Office is at 298 Main Street, Malone, NY 12953. Call 518-483-8477. The sheriff is the main law enforcement agency for the county. The office handles patrol, corrections, and civil process. Records kept here include incident reports, accident reports, arrest logs, and investigation files.

Franklin County sits along the Canadian border, which gives it a unique law enforcement profile. The sheriff works alongside federal agencies like U.S. Customs and Border Protection on border-related matters. However, federal records are separate from county records and must be requested through federal channels. For county-level police records, the sheriff is your starting point.

FOIL requests must be in writing. Mail your request to the sheriff's office or deliver it in person. Include the date of the incident, the location, names of people involved, and the specific type of record you need. Fees follow the state standard of $0.25 per page under the Public Officers Law. The office must respond within five business days. They can approve, deny with reasons, or ask for more time.

If your request is denied, you have 30 days to appeal. The appeals process goes through the designated officer. That officer has ten business days to respond. If the appeal fails, you can go to court within four months.

State-Level Police Records for Franklin County

The New York State Police patrol highways and rural roads in Franklin County. If a state trooper handled an incident, the report is held by the State Police. Request it through their GovQA online form or by mail to the Central Record Bureau at 1220 Washington Avenue, Building 22, Albany, NY 12226-2252. Reports cost $15.00 each. Extra pages are $0.25.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains official criminal history records for the state. These are fingerprint-based and not public. You can only request your own record. Contact DCJS at 518-457-9847 or mail the Record Review Unit at 80 South Swan St., 5th Floor, Albany, NY 12210.

For court records, use eCourts WebCivil Supreme for civil cases and WebCrims for pending criminal cases. Both are free and cover Franklin County courts. The OCA name-based Criminal History Record Search costs $95.00 per name and takes about two weeks. For older records not in the online systems, visit the Franklin County Clerk in Malone.

How FOIL Applies to Franklin County Police Records

New York's Freedom of Information Law is in Article 6, Sections 84 through 90 of the NYS Public Officers Law. FOIL gives the public the right to access records from any government agency in the state. That includes the Franklin County Sheriff, town courts, and every other local government body. A "record" under FOIL is defined broadly. It covers reports, statements, memos, photos, maps, computer data, and just about anything else the agency creates or keeps.

Certain records are exempt from release. Police records tied to active investigations can be withheld. Records that identify a confidential source, reveal non-routine investigative techniques, or could endanger someone fall under exemptions too. Juvenile records and court-ordered sealed records are off limits. When denying a request, the agency must state the specific exemption. It still has to release any portions of the record that are not protected.

The Committee on Open Government provides guidance on FOIL matters. They issue advisory opinions that can help resolve disputes between requesters and agencies. You can contact them if you believe an agency is not complying with the law.

Police Records Fees in Franklin County

Standard copies from the sheriff cost $0.25 per page. State Police reports run $15.00 each. The OCA name-based Criminal History Record Search is $95.00 per name. DMV crash reports cost $7.00 to search plus $15.00 per report. Requests that take more than two hours of staff work may be billed at the hourly rate of the lowest-paid employee who can handle the task. Payment at the sheriff's office is usually by check or money order. Call 518-483-8477 first to confirm current fees and payment methods.

Other Police Records Databases

The New York Sex Offender Registry covers Franklin County. Level 2 and 3 offenders are listed on the public site. For Level 1 info, call the sheriff at 518-483-8477. Search by name, address, or county. The 24-hour hotline is 1-800-262-3257.

The DOCCS Incarcerated/Parolee Lookup covers people in state prison or on parole. County jail inmates are not in this system. For Franklin County jail info, call the sheriff. The DMV Crash Report Sales Portal provides accident reports from police agencies statewide. The search fee is $7.00 plus $15.00 per report. Reports take 14 to 60 days to appear after filing.

Nearby Counties

Franklin County is in northern New York, bordering Canada. These neighboring counties may hold police records for incidents near the county line.

Towns in Franklin County

Franklin County has no cities over the population threshold for a separate page. The county includes towns like Malone, Saranac Lake (shared with Essex County), Tupper Lake, and Chateaugay. The sheriff handles police records for the entire county. Some villages have a small police presence, but the official records are maintained by the sheriff's office. Call 518-483-8477 for all records requests.