Search Union Background Check

Background check records for Union are managed through the Broome County court system and New York State agencies. Union is a town in western Broome County, home to the village of Endicott and part of the Binghamton metro area. All felony cases and Supreme Court matters go through the Broome County courts in Binghamton. Union Town Court covers local matters. State databases from DCJS and the Office of Court Administration provide statewide search access. This page explains how to search for background check records in Union.

Broome County Court System for Union

Union falls within Broome County. The county seat is Binghamton, where the Broome County courts and clerk's office are based. The Broome County Clerk is located at 60 Hawley Street, Binghamton, NY 13901. The phone number is (607) 778-2255. Office hours are Monday through Friday during business hours.

The county clerk maintains records for Supreme and County Courts. Criminal case records, civil filings, and judgment data are all on file. You can inspect these records in person for free under Judiciary Law Section 255. Copies cost $0.65 per page. Certified copies of court documents run $8 to $10 per certification. A name search through the clerk's office is $5 per two-year span.

Union Town Court handles local violations, traffic cases, and minor offenses within town boundaries. Some cases that begin in town court may escalate to the county level depending on the charges. Case dispositions from the town court are available from the court clerk. This is also where initial arraignments for certain offenses take place before transfer to higher courts.

How to Run a Background Check for Union

There are several routes. Each one gives different results at different costs.

The county route means going to the Broome County Clerk at 60 Hawley Street in Binghamton. Ask to inspect Supreme and County Court records. This is free. If copies are needed, the fee is $0.65 per page. The clerk can pull case files that cover felony matters and major civil cases in Broome County. Bring valid identification with you.

The statewide route uses the Office of Court Administration Criminal History Record Search. This costs $95 per name and covers all 62 New York counties. Results include open cases and convictions from county, supreme, city, town, and village courts. Sealed records are excluded. Town and village court data from May 1991 through 2002 may have gaps. Submit through Direct Access online or by mail to 25 Beaver Street, Room 940, New York, NY 10004.

For the most thorough check, the Division of Criminal Justice Services offers fingerprint-based searches. Executive Law Article 35 makes DCJS the central repository for New York criminal history data. The fee is $62 to $65. You must submit fingerprints, and results take 7 to 10 business days. This is the most accurate option but restricted to your own records unless you have special legal authorization.

Union Background Check Fees

What you pay depends on the source. Local is cheapest. State is broadest.

In-person inspection is free at the Broome County Clerk's Office. You only pay when you need printed copies or certified documents. Call (607) 778-2255 to confirm what payment is accepted before your visit.

Broome County Sheriff and Law Enforcement Records

The Broome County Sheriff's Office is at 155 Lt. VanWinkle Drive, Binghamton, NY 13905. The sheriff handles law enforcement, court security, and corrections for the county. Arrest records, incident reports, and jail data are maintained by this office.

Records requests go through the Freedom of Information Law. Under FOIL (Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90), any person can request records from New York government agencies. Residency is not required. Write to the Records Access Officer at the relevant agency. The agency has five business days to respond. Standard copies cost 25 cents per page. Some records may be withheld if they would interfere with active investigations. Denials can be appealed within 30 days.

DCJS criminal history records cannot be obtained through FOIL. Those require fingerprints. But arrest logs, incident reports, and most other sheriff's office and town records fall under FOIL access rules.

Sealed Records and the Clean Slate Act

The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. It calls for automatic sealing of eligible conviction records. Misdemeanors become eligible three years after the sentence ends. Felonies qualify after eight years. The person must have no new convictions or pending charges during the waiting period.

Sex offenses that require registration under SORA are never eligible for automatic sealing. Non-drug Class A felonies, including murder, are also excluded. OCA has up to three years to implement the automated sealing system. Until it operates, background check results from DCJS may still show convictions that will eventually be sealed. Records already sealed under CPL 160.50, CPL 160.55, or CPL 160.58 do not appear in suppressed responses. People whose convictions are not eligible for automatic sealing may still petition the court under CPL 160.59. Courts and law enforcement keep full access to all records.

Sex Offender Registry and State Corrections

DCJS maintains the Sex Offender Registry under the Sex Offender Registration Act. The online directory includes Level 2 and Level 3 offenders. For Level 1 offenders, call 800-262-3257 with a name and one identifier. Level 3 offenders verify their address every 90 days. NY-ALERT sends notifications when a registered offender changes address.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision provides an online inmate lookup. Search by name, DIN, or NYSID number. Results show facility location, sentence details, parole eligibility, and conviction information. The database goes back to the 1970s. A parolee lookup and a most wanted list for absconders are also available. For more records, file a FOIL request with the DOCCS Records Access Officer. These databases help build a fuller picture of a Union background check.

Nearby Cities

Syracuse is the nearest major city with a page on this site. It is about 75 miles north of Union in Onondaga County.