Richmond County Police Records Search

Richmond County police records come from the New York City Police Department, which covers all of Staten Island. Richmond County is the same as the borough of Staten Island. The NYPD's 120th and 122nd Precincts serve the island. Police records for any incident in Staten Island are obtained through the city's FOIL process using the NYC OpenRecords portal.

NYPD Records for Richmond County

The NYPD is the sole law enforcement agency for Richmond County. There is no separate county sheriff patrol on Staten Island. The 120th Precinct covers the north shore and the 122nd Precinct covers the south shore. Each precinct generates incident reports, arrest records, and investigation files. All records are managed through the NYPD's central system.

To request police records, file a FOIL request through the NYC OpenRecords portal. Create an account, describe the records you want, and track your request online. Include the date, location, and names tied to the event. A complaint number or report number helps speed things up.

You can also mail requests to NYPD Legal Bureau, 1 Police Plaza, Room 1406, New York, NY 10038. Written requests must describe the records you want. The NYPD processes a large volume of FOIL requests, so response times vary. Simple requests may take five business days. Complex ones can take longer.

Richmond County Courts and Police Records

The Richmond County Supreme Court Criminal Term is at 26 Central Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. It handles felony cases. The Staten Island Criminal Court at 67 Targee Street handles misdemeanors and preliminary felony matters.

Pending criminal case records can be found through WebCrims. Search by defendant name or case number. The eCourts WebCivil Supreme system covers civil cases. The Richmond County Clerk maintains Supreme Court records for the borough.

Under Public Officers Law Section 87(2), some records are exempt from release. Active investigation files, confidential source information, and records that could endanger someone can be withheld. Sealed records and juvenile matters are not available to the public.

Police Records Types in Richmond County

Incident reports document each call or event. Arrest reports show charges and booking data. Accident reports cover vehicle crashes. Investigation files hold case notes and evidence logs. The NYPD also keeps records of officer complaints through the Civilian Complaint Review Board (CCRB). Some disciplinary records became public after a 2020 law change.

Redacting is standard. Protected information gets blacked out. Crime victim names are usually not released. Court convictions are public, but sealed and juvenile records stay closed. The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, will automatically seal certain old convictions over three years. Sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies are excluded.

How to File a FOIL Request for Richmond County Police Records

FOIL stands for the Freedom of Information Law. It is found in Article 6 of the NYS Public Officers Law, Sections 84 through 90. This law gives the public the right to see records held by any state or local government agency. The NYPD falls under this law.

Put your request in writing. State what records you need. Give the date, time, and place of the event. Include any names or report numbers you have. The more specific you are, the faster the agency can find the records. Submit through the OpenRecords portal or by mail.

Under the law, the agency must respond within five business days. They can release the records, deny access with a written explanation, or send a notice saying they need more time. If your request is denied, you have 30 days to appeal. The appeals officer has ten business days to rule on the appeal. If that fails too, you can go to court within four months.

Statewide Databases for Richmond County

The DCJS provides official criminal history records by fingerprint only. These are not public and cannot be released under FOIL. The Sex Offender Registry lists Level 2 and Level 3 offenders by name, address, or county. Call 1-800-262-3257 for details on higher-level offenders. The DOCCS Lookup covers state prison inmates and parolees but not city or county jail inmates.

The State Police maintain records for cases they investigate. Their reports cost $15.00 each. Crash reports from any police agency in the state can be ordered from the DMV Crash Report Sales Portal for a $7.00 search fee plus $15.00 per report.

Copies from the NYPD cost $0.25 per page. The OCA criminal history search is $95.00 per name. Always check with the specific agency for current fees and payment methods before sending money.

Cities in Richmond County

Richmond County is coextensive with the borough of Staten Island in New York City.

Nearby Counties

Richmond County is separated from other boroughs by water but connects to Brooklyn and New Jersey.