Ulster County Background Check

Ulster County background check records are held by the County Clerk, Sheriff's Office, and courts in Kingston, New York. The county is part of the 3rd Judicial District and spans the mid-Hudson Valley into the Catskills. This page explains how to search criminal history, court records, and other public records through Ulster County and state-level agencies.

Ulster County Clerk Background Check Records

The Ulster County Clerk's Office is at 244 Fair Street, Kingston, NY 12401. Phone is (845) 340-3288. Hours are Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM. The clerk is the custodian for Supreme Court and County Court records in Ulster County.

Records on file include felony case files, civil judgments, liens, and land records. Walk-in visits are welcome during office hours. You can look at records at no charge. Copies cost about $0.65 per page. Certified copies cost more. A name search runs $5 per two-year period. The clerk also handles passport applications, notary services, and pistol permit records.

Ulster County has an online portal for some land records, but criminal court records typically require an in-person visit or a mail request. Under the Freedom of Information Law, FOIL Sections 84 through 90, these records are open to the public. Submit a written FOIL request if you cannot visit in person. The office must respond in five business days.

Ulster County Court Records Search

Ulster County is in the 3rd Judicial District. Supreme Court and County Court sit in Kingston. Town and village courts across the county handle misdemeanors, violations, and traffic cases. Kingston City Court covers cases within the city limits.

For a statewide search, the Office of Court Administration runs the Criminal History Record Search at $95 per name. It 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 between May 1991 and 2002 may be incomplete.

Online requests that return no record show results right away. If a record exists, staff review and email results the next business day. Mail requests go to the Criminal History Record Search Unit at 25 Beaver Street, Room 940, New York, NY 10004. A returned check triggers a $20 fee.

For Ulster County records specifically, the clerk's office in Kingston is the direct source. Walk in during hours and staff can look up cases by name or case number.

Fingerprint-Based Background Check in Ulster County

The Division of Criminal Justice Services is the only source for fingerprint-based criminal history in New York. Executive Law Article 35 makes DCJS the central repository. Submit fingerprints at an IdentiGO location or through the Ulster County Sheriff's Office. The fee runs between $62 and $65.

DCJS rap sheets include arrests, indictments, convictions, and sentences from agencies across the state. A suppressed response omits sealed records. An unsuppressed response includes everything, including records sealed under CPL 160.50, CPL 160.55, CPL 160.58, and CPL 160.59. Which type you get depends on the legal authority behind the request. You cannot get another person's record without specific legal basis.

Contact DCJS at 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. Hours are Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.

Ulster County Sheriff's Office Records

The Ulster County Sheriff's Office handles law enforcement, corrections, and civil enforcement. The office keeps arrest records and incident reports. These are available through FOIL. Write to the Records Access Officer at the sheriff's office with your request. The office must respond in five business days.

The sheriff runs the Ulster County Jail. Booking data and inmate information are held there. Contact the facility for information about someone in custody. Fingerprinting services are available for those who need prints for a DCJS background check or professional licensing. The standard FOIL copy fee is 25 cents per page.

Sex Offender Registry Search for Ulster County

DCJS runs the Sex Offender Registry under the Sex Offender Registration Act. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are in the public online directory. For Level 1 offenders in Ulster County, call 800-262-3257 with a name and one identifier like date of birth or address.

Public information includes residence addresses, conviction details, and photos. Level 3 offenders verify their address every 90 days. Sexual predators stay on the registry for life. Others are listed for 20 years. Sign up for NY-ALERT to receive notifications about address changes in your area.

Clean Slate Act and Ulster County Background Checks

The Clean Slate Act became law on November 16, 2024. Eligible misdemeanors can be sealed automatically 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 system. Until then, Ulster County background check results may still show convictions that will eventually be sealed. Sex offenses under SORA and non-drug Class A felonies are never eligible for automatic sealing. People who do not qualify can petition under CPL 160.59 for court-ordered sealing. Certificates of Relief from Disabilities and Certificates of Good Conduct remain available through Judiciary Law Section 255.

Corrections and Incarceration Records

The Department of Corrections and Community Supervision operates state prisons across New York. The online inmate lookup lets you search by name, DIN, or NYSID number. Results show facility, sentence details, parole eligibility, and conviction data going back decades. A parolee lookup is also available.

For records beyond the online tool, send a FOIL request to the DOCCS Records Access Officer. The VINE system provides victim notifications about changes in custody status.

FOIL Public Records in Ulster County

The Freedom of Information Law covers records from all Ulster County agencies. Any person can request records under FOIL Sections 84 through 90. No residency is required. Agencies have five business days to respond. Denials can be appealed within 30 days. If the appeal fails, an Article 78 proceeding is available.

DCJS criminal history records are not available through FOIL. Court records, incident reports, and most other agency documents are covered. Standard copy fees are 25 cents per page. Agencies may waive fees when doing so serves the public interest.

Nearby Counties

Ulster County borders several Hudson Valley and Catskills counties. Each has its own clerk and court system for background check purposes.