Access Ontario County Background Check

Background check records in Ontario County are managed by the County Clerk in Canandaigua, the Sheriff's Office, and the courts of the 7th Judicial District. Canandaigua is the county seat. State agencies such as DCJS and the Office of Court Administration also maintain records that cover Ontario County. Criminal history, court filings, and other public records are available through several official sources at the county and state level.

Ontario County Clerk and Court Records

The Ontario County Clerk's Office is at 20 Ontario Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Phone is (585) 396-4200. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. The clerk keeps land records, court documents, and other legal filings. Passport applications and pistol permits are processed here too.

Supreme Court and County Court for Ontario County sit in Canandaigua. Felony criminal cases go through County Court. Major civil matters go to Supreme Court. The county has multiple town and village courts that handle misdemeanors, violations, and traffic offenses. Each court maintains its own files. For a certified disposition, contact the court where the case was originally heard.

New York law seals certain records automatically. CPL 160.50 covers dismissed cases and acquittals. CPL 160.55 covers convictions for violations and infractions. These records will not appear in a name-based search. Only the person named in the record or an authorized agency can get access to sealed files through DCJS.

Ontario County Sheriff and Background Check Records

The Ontario County Sheriff's Office is at 74 Ontario Street, Canandaigua, NY 14424. Phone is (585) 394-4560. The Sheriff provides law enforcement, runs the county jail, and handles civil process. Arrest records and incident reports are maintained by the office. Request these records through FOIL.

The county jail holds pre-trial detainees and people serving local sentences. For inmates in state prison, use the DOCCS lookup tool. The Sheriff's Office offers fingerprinting services for DCJS background checks and other authorized needs. Call the office to check hours and scheduling for fingerprinting.

State Background Check Resources for Ontario County

The Division of Criminal Justice Services holds the state's central criminal history records. DCJS maintains fingerprint-based rap sheets that cover arrests, indictments, convictions, and sentences reported by law enforcement and courts across New York. You must submit fingerprints to get your own record. The fee is about $62 to $65. Executive Law Article 35 designates DCJS as the sole repository for this data.

The Criminal History Record Search from OCA costs $95 per name. It covers court records in all 62 counties, including Ontario. The search requires an exact match on name and date of birth. Open cases and convictions are shown. Sealed records are excluded. Results are not certified. For a certified Certificate of Disposition, go to the originating court.

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision provides an online inmate lookup for state prisons. Search by name, DIN, or NYSID number. Results show facility, sentence information, and conviction data. DOCCS also has a parolee lookup and a most wanted list for absconders.

Sex Offender Registry in Ontario County

The Sex Offender Registry maintained by DCJS covers Ontario County. Under the Sex Offender Registration Act, a judge assigns a risk level after a hearing. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders appear in the public online directory. Level 1 offenders are not listed online. Call 800-262-3257 with a name and one identifier to check on Level 1 offenders.

Registry data includes home addresses, crimes of conviction, and photos. Level 3 offenders must verify their address every 90 days. Sexual predators and predicate sex offenders register for life. All others stay on for 20 years. Sign up for NY-ALERT to get notified when a registered offender moves in Ontario County or elsewhere in the state.

Public Records and FOIL in Ontario County

The Freedom of Information Law covers records held by Ontario County agencies. Under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90, anyone can request government records. You do not need to be a resident. Agencies have five business days to respond. Copies cost 25 cents per page. You can ask for reports, files, photos, and electronic data.

FOIL does not cover DCJS criminal history records. Those require the fingerprint process. Court records, police reports, and other county agency files fall under FOIL. Denials can be appealed within 30 days. If the appeal fails, you can take the matter to Supreme Court under Article 78.

Clean Slate Act and Ontario County Records

The Clean Slate Act went into effect November 16, 2024. Eligible misdemeanor convictions can be sealed three years after the sentence ends. Felonies need eight years. The person must have no new convictions or pending charges during the waiting period. OCA has up to three years to build the automated sealing process.

Until the system is in place, DCJS results for Ontario County may still show convictions that will eventually be sealed. Sex offenses requiring SORA registration and non-drug Class A felonies like murder are never eligible. People with ineligible convictions can still petition under CPL 160.59 or apply for Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct.

Background Check Fees in Ontario County

OCA charges $95 per name for the statewide search. A DCJS fingerprint review runs about $62 to $65. County clerk name searches cost $5 to $15. Copies at the clerk's office are $0.65 per page. Certified court documents cost $8 to $10 per certification. FOIL copies are 25 cents per page. Inspecting records in person at the clerk's office is typically free.

Nearby Counties

Ontario County sits in the Finger Lakes region and borders several other counties. Each one has its own clerk and court system for background check records.