Bronx County Arrest Records

In Bronx County, New York, a record is created each time an individual is detained and booked by a law enforcement agency. From identifying details and booking information to the charges filed and the arresting officer's agency, these documents (collectively known as Bronx County arrest records) form the official written account of an individual's entry into the criminal justice system. The law enforcement agencies that make the arrest act as the primary custodians of these records, overseeing their maintenance and dissemination in compliance with the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), §§ 84-90 of the Public Officers Law, and other governing statutes.

Beyond documenting arrests, Bronx County arrest records play vital roles within and outside the criminal justice system. They:

• Promote transparency and accountability in policing
• Serve as essential sources in criminal background checks
• Provide the foundation for tracking criminal justice activity
• Function as research tools for legal scholars, students, and policymakers
• Help educate the public about law enforcement practices and their practical application
• Facilitate subsequent court proceedings
• Serve as admissible evidence in legal proceedings

Bronx County arrest records often intersect with other government records, such as court case files, vital records, and even federal case files, to satisfy the specific informational needs of requesting parties in accordance with applicable laws and regulations. However, the broader dissemination of "criminal history record information" is separately governed by Article 35 of the New York Executive Law and the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) rules, which limit who may obtain comprehensive criminal history reports and under what circumstances.

Are Arrest Records Public Information in New York?

Yes. Access to arrest records in New York is generally governed by the state's Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which requires law enforcement agencies to make government records available to the public upon request. Consequently, members of the public may obtain copies of arrest entries and related booking information from their official custodians, provided such records are not sealed or otherwise made confidential by law.

Examples of arrest record information subject to public-records exemptions include:

• Personal identifying details are protected by privacy laws
• Arrests or charges that have been sealed by court order
• Records tied to youthful offender adjudications
• Expunged materials were authorized
• Certain investigatory or law-enforcement-sensitive information

Note: Sealed or restricted records are only accessible to a limited number of persons, such as the individual named in the record, their attorney, or specified government agencies. The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services provides more information on access to arrest records in New York.

Bronx County Arrest Search

As a borough in New York City, Bronx County's law enforcement is handled primarily by the New York Police Department (NYPD). The NYPD also serves as the custodian of arrest reports generated within the county and manages public requests for these records through its Records Access Division or the local precinct where an arrest occurred.

Consequently, members of the public can conduct a Bronx County arrest search by sending an FOIL request to the Department. FOIL requests for arrest records should be in writing, and the documents sought should be sufficiently described to help the Department locate them efficiently. This means that the records request should contain any known information about the record, including:

• Complete arrest number
• Subject's name
• Subject's date of birth
• Arrest date and precinct
• Arrestee's NYSID (New York State Identification Number)

Interested parties can receive electronic copies of non-exempt responsive records by email. However, electronic records that exceed the system's size capacity will automatically be sent by mail on a compact disc or other suitable electronic medium.

The NYPD states that all public records requests should be routed through the NYC OpenRecords portal. The requester should select "New York City Police Department" from the agency drop-down menu, follow the prompts, and fill out the required information to submit their requests.

Meanwhile, access to comprehensive criminal history information (criminal history record) is handled by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services. Criminal history records are a compilation of an individual's arrest, indictment, conviction, and sentencing information obtained from the various criminal justice agencies within the county. These records are, however, not public information and are only made available to the subjects of the record and statutorily authorized potential employers or licensing agencies.

Bronx County Inmate Locator

Bronx County inmate information is maintained by the New York City Department of Corrections. To obtain records of Bronx County arrestees incarcerated in any of the New York City detention facilities, requesters may submit a written FOIL request to the Department via mail to:

Email requests should be directed to doccsfoilunit@doccs.ny.gov, and fax requests to (518) 453-8474. Individuals can also file an FOIL request to the Department of Corrections using its FOIL Records Access Center. Nevertheless, the most convenient way to obtain basic information about an inmate is through the Department's Person in Custody Lookup Service. This online lookup system allows members of the public to find inmates using their NYSID/book or case number. Searchers may also conduct a name search by inputting the inmate's full name in the appropriate search boxes.

Active Warrant Search in Bronx County

Bronx County arrest warrants are orders issued by a judge or magistrate of a criminal court within the county's jurisdiction, directing the apprehension of an individual suspected of committing a crime. Arrest warrants are provided for under § 120.10 of the Criminal Procedure Law (CPL). Per the law, arrest warrants are directed to a police officer based on a filed accusatory instrument and serve the primary purpose of securing the defendant's arraignment in court.

A typical Bronx County arrest warrant contains the following information:

• The name of the issuing court
• The date of issuance
• The name of the alleged offense charged in the accusatory material
• Defendant's name or description if name is unknown
• A command for the defendant's arrest

Although Bronx County arrest warrants are primarily executed by officers from the New York City Police Department, the issuing court remains the primary custodian of arrest warrant information. As a result, arrest warrant searches should be directed to the Bronx County Criminal Court located at:

Note: In-person visits to the Bronx County Criminal Court should be done within regular administrative hours and require the presentation of a valid means of identification.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Bronx County

In New York, requesters can search a record custodian's public documents at no cost if their goal is limited to inspection rather than obtaining copies. This can be done through in-person visits to the appropriate agency, such as the New York City Department of Corrections, or through online databases maintained by state and local entities.

However, while inspection itself is free, fees typically apply if the requester needs printed or certified copies. Few agencies, such as the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, may also require a processing fee for accessing information in their custody.

Individuals should note that free access to public records may be restricted to basic information only.

Bronx Arrest Report

Arrest records and reports are essential for the Bronx County criminal justice system. Although they are often confused with one another, each serves a distinct purpose and carries a different meaning.

An arrest report is a detailed narrative of the circumstances surrounding an arrest, prepared by law enforcement officers to provide a comprehensive account of events that support investigations, facilitate prosecutions, and assist with internal reviews. These reports include information about the arrestee's conduct during apprehension, the officer's observations, witness statements, confiscated items, videos, pictures taken at the arrest scene, etc. Furthermore, arrest reports are internal documents, and public access is often heavily restricted.

On the other hand, arrest records are summary reports that only highlight the facts of an arrest. Unlike arrest reports, arrest records are concise, free of an officer's detailed observations, and restricted to the arrestee's identifying information, charges, arrest date, custodial status, and court details. Arrest records are public documents available to any requester, subject to the state's FOIL rules.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged in Bronx County

Unlike many other states, New York does not recognize expungement of criminal records, save for some marijuana charges that are automatically expunged by virtue of the New York State Penal Law Article 222. For other cases, true expungement does not exist, and individuals seeking to remove their arrest information from public view must rely on record sealing instead.

Instead of completely erasing an arrest record, record sealing hides the arrest information from members of the public, although it remains accessible to the subject of the record, law enforcement, and other criminal justice agencies.

Individuals who want their arrest information sealed must confirm their eligibility first. While certain records, such as those involving juvenile offenders, are automatically sealed, others require the individual to initiate a formal sealing process to remove them from public view. However, sealing is generally not available for serious offenses, including Class A felonies and many sexual crimes. In addition, some individuals must remain crime-free for at least 10 years before qualifying for record sealing. More information on the requirements for sealed criminal records is available on the state's courts website.

Once eligibility is confirmed, the record subject can kickstart the sealing process by completing a Request for Criminal Certificate of Disposition and submitting it to the court clerk who heard the matter. Upon receiving the criminal certificate of disposition, the applicant's next steps include:

• Completing a Sealing Application
• Serving the Sealing Application on the Bronx County District Attorney
• Filing all pages of the Sealing Application together with supporting documents with the court
• Attend a hearing, if required
• Obtain a sealing order

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

Individuals can verify that their records have been sealed pursuant to a court order by completing and submitting a Request for CPL 160.59 Seal Verification Form to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services and obtaining a confirmation that a CPL 160.59 Seal has been applied to the affected record. This seal also applies to arrest records published online on official databases.

Parties who still find their arrest information on independent or third-party websites can contact those sites directly to have their records removed. Sometimes, it may be necessary to consult an attorney to assist with the request.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

Bronx County arrest records include a wealth of public information about the arrestee and the circumstances surrounding the arrest, such as:

• Arrestee's personal/identifying information (Name, date of birth, sex, race, height, weight, hair color, eye color, nativity)
• NYSID
• Booking information (date of incarceration, book/case number, current housing facility, arrest date, arrest number)
• Court information (court name, part, next court date)
• Charge information (docket number and indictment)
• Bond details