Richmond County Background Check

Richmond County background check records are held by the Richmond County Clerk, the Staten Island Criminal Court, and the courts of the 13th Judicial District. Richmond County covers the borough of Staten Island in New York City. The population is roughly 495,000. Criminal case files, civil court records, and other public records are available through multiple offices on Staten Island. Below is a full guide to searching background check records in Richmond County.

Richmond County Clerk Background Check Records

The Office of the Richmond County Clerk is at 130 Stuyvesant Place, Staten Island, NY 10301. Phone is (718) 675-7700. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The office was founded in 1683. It is the oldest governmental institution on Staten Island.

The Richmond County Clerk runs four business segments. These are the Office of the Clerk of the County, Office of the Clerk of the Supreme Court, Office of the County Register, and Office of the Commissioner of Jurors. Hon. Stephen J. Fiala serves as Richmond County Clerk and Commissioner of Jurors. The office is the official records repository for the county.

Records categories include business filings, court proceedings, and real property matters. The office manages millions of legal documents and public records. Copy fees range from $0.25 to $0.65 per page depending on document type. Certified copies carry additional statutory fees. Land records go back to 1884. Naturalization records span 1907 to 1960.

For property records, visit the County Clerk's Office at 130 Stuyvesant Place, 2nd Floor. The same office handles divorce records, court records, and land records. Divorce records are not public. Only the parties to the case and their attorneys can access them.

Richmond County Criminal Court

Richmond County Criminal Court is at 26 Central Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10301. The court handles arraignments, hearings, trials, and sentencing for criminal matters. Records can be accessed through the Clerk of Courts office. The WebCrims portal provides online access to criminal case information at no charge.

Case data includes charges, court dates, disposition, and sentencing details. Sealed records and juvenile records are not publicly accessible. The court processes misdemeanor cases, violations, and felony arraignments. After arraignment, felony cases move to Supreme Court.

The 13th Judicial District includes Richmond County Supreme Court, Surrogate's Court, Civil Court, and Family Court. The Supreme Court Law Library is at 25 Hyatt Street, Room 515, Staten Island, NY 10301. Surrogate's Court is at 18 Richmond Terrace, phone 718-390-5400. The Surrogate's Court handles estates, trusts, guardianships, and adoptions.

NYC City Civil Court for Richmond County is at 927 Castleton Avenue, Staten Island, NY 10310. Phone is 718-675-8458. Filing can be done electronically through the New York State Courts Electronic Filing Program, known as NYSCEF.

Statewide Background Check for Richmond County

The Office of Court Administration criminal history record search costs $95 per name. It pulls data from courts across all 62 New York counties. Results need an exact name and date of birth match. Sealed records are not included. Online searches that find no records come back right away. If records exist, staff review them and email results the next business day.

The Division of Criminal Justice Services handles fingerprint-based checks. Cost is about $62 to $65. DCJS records are not available through FOIL. Under Executive Law Article 35, DCJS is the sole official repository for criminal history data in New York State. You cannot request records on another person without specific legal authority.

Contact DCJS at 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM. Two response types exist. Suppressed responses exclude sealed records. Unsuppressed responses include everything, even cases sealed under CPL 160.50, CPL 160.55, and CPL 720.35.

Public Records Access in Richmond County

New York's Freedom of Information Law covers Richmond County offices. Under Public Officers Law Sections 84 through 90, any person can request government records. You do not need to live in New York or Staten Island. Agencies must respond within five business days.

The standard copy fee is 25 cents per page for documents no larger than 9 by 14 inches. Agencies may waive fees when doing so serves the public interest. If a request is denied, you have 30 days to appeal. A further denial can be challenged through an Article 78 proceeding in Supreme Court.

DCJS criminal history records are not available through FOIL. Court records, police reports, and most other Richmond County agency records are covered. The Richmond County Sheriff's Office maintains arrest records and booking information. Send FOIL requests to the agency that holds the records you need.

Clean Slate Act and Richmond County Background Checks

The Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024. It provides for automatic sealing of eligible conviction records. Misdemeanors become eligible three years after sentence completion. Felonies qualify after eight years. No new convictions or pending charges are allowed during the wait. Sex offenses under SORA and non-drug Class A felonies like murder are never sealed.

The OCA has three years to build the system. Until it is running, a Richmond County background check may still show convictions that qualify for future sealing. People can still petition under CPL 160.59 if they do not qualify for Clean Slate. Certificates of Relief from Disabilities remain available for those with one felony or any number of misdemeanor convictions.

More Background Check Resources

The Sex Offender Registry lets you look up Level 2 and Level 3 offenders on Staten Island. For Level 1 offenders, call 800-262-3257. The DOCCS inmate lookup covers state prisons. The NYC Department of Correction lookup covers city jails for all five boroughs, including Richmond County.

The Staten Island Office Borough Administrator is at Borough Hall Building, 10 Richmond Terrace, Third Floor, Room 311. Phone is 718-816-2290. They can direct you to the right office for specific records. The Richmond County Historian is at 10 Richmond Terrace, Staten Island, NY 10301.

A driving record abstract costs $7 online from the DMV. It covers violations, suspensions, and DWI convictions. A driving record can be part of a broader Richmond County background check.

Cities in Richmond County

Richmond County is the borough of Staten Island within New York City. All court matters for Staten Island residents go through the Richmond County court system.

Nearby Counties

Kings County is the closest New York county to Richmond County. Each county has its own court system and records offices.