Search Monroe County Police Records

Monroe County police records come from two main sources: the Monroe County Sheriff's Office and the Rochester Police Department. This large metropolitan county has over 740,000 residents in the greater Rochester area, making it one of the most populated counties in New York. The Sheriff patrols unincorporated areas and runs the county jail, while Rochester PD handles the city. Both agencies process police records requests through FOIL, and each has its own Records Division.

Monroe County Sheriff's Office Records

The Monroe County Sheriff's Office is at 130 S Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, NY 14614. Call 585-753-4178 to reach the office. The Sheriff handles law enforcement in towns and villages outside the City of Rochester, including road patrol, criminal investigations, civil process, and the Monroe County Jail. All records from these operations go through the Sheriff's Records Division.

To request police records from the Sheriff, send a written FOIL request to the Records Access Officer at the Plymouth Avenue address. You can submit by mail or in person. Include details like the date, location, names, and report type. If you have a case or incident number, that will speed things up.

The Sheriff's Office follows state fee guidelines. Copies are $0.25 per page. Larger requests that take more than two hours of staff time may incur hourly charges. Ask about fees when you submit your request so there are no surprises. The agency must respond within five business days under state law.

Rochester Police Department Records

The Rochester Police Department is separate from the Sheriff's Office. It covers all law enforcement inside the City of Rochester. If the incident you need records for happened within city limits, you must contact Rochester PD, not the Sheriff. The department handles its own FOIL requests through the City of Rochester's records process.

Submit a written FOIL request to the Rochester Police Department Records Section. Include the date, location, and names of those involved. Accident reports from Rochester PD may also be available through online crash report portals. Check with the Records Section for the best way to get the specific report you need.

Rochester PD maintains incident reports, arrest records, crash reports, and investigation files. The same FOIL rules and fees apply. Copies cost $0.25 per page. The five-day response window is the same as any other New York government agency.

How FOIL Works for Monroe County Police Records

The Freedom of Information Law is in Article 6 of the NYS Public Officers Law, Sections 84 through 90. It gives everyone the right to request records from any New York government agency. You do not need to live in Monroe County or give a reason for your request.

A "record" under FOIL is broad. It covers reports, files, photos, computer data, letters, maps, and almost anything else made or kept by a government body. Police reports, booking records, and investigation files all fall under this definition.

Agencies can deny access to records that would interfere with an active investigation, reveal a confidential source, show non-routine investigative techniques, or endanger someone's safety. When part of a record is exempt, the agency must still release the rest. Staff will redact protected portions and give you what they can. If you believe a denial is wrong, you have 30 days to appeal. The appeal goes to a designated officer, who has ten business days to respond. If that fails, you can go to court within four months.

Monroe County Court Records

Monroe County is in the 7th Judicial District. The County Court handles felony cases, and local courts deal with misdemeanors. The Monroe County Clerk maintains court files for Supreme Court and County Court cases. Some records can be searched through the eCourts WebCivil Supreme system online.

Pending criminal cases in Monroe County appear in WebCrims. You can look up defendant names, charges, and court dates. Cases that are sealed, involve juveniles, or have been concluded may not show up. For cases not in the system, contact the court clerk directly.

The Monroe County Clerk's Office also handles land records, civil filings, and other public documents. For records not available online, visit the office in Rochester during business hours.

Statewide Police Records Databases

Several state agencies maintain records that may be relevant to a Monroe County search. The New York State Police handle incidents on state roads and in areas without local coverage. File a FOIL request through their GovQA portal. Reports cost $15.00 each.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) holds official criminal history records. These are not public. You must submit fingerprints to get your own record. Private record search firms pull data from public court databases, not DCJS. They rely on public court databases instead.

Other useful resources include the Sex Offender Registry for Level 2 and 3 offenders, the DOCCS Inmate/Parolee Lookup for state prisoners, and the DMV Crash Report Portal for motor vehicle accident reports. For Monroe County jail information, call the Sheriff's Office at 585-753-4178.

Cities in Monroe County

Monroe County includes the City of Rochester and several large towns. Rochester has its own police department with a separate records process. Towns in the county are served by the Sheriff's Office or their own police agencies.

Nearby Counties

Monroe County is bordered by several counties in western New York. Contact the neighboring county's law enforcement if the event happened outside Monroe County lines.