Warrant records are public in New York County, New York, pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, §§ 84-90. This legislation establishes the public's right to access government records, including warrants, unless specifically exempted by statute. The law operates under the presumption of access to promote transparency and accountability in governmental operations.
Warrants constitute official court documents that become part of the public record upon issuance, unless sealed by judicial order. Sealing may occur under circumstances prescribed by Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 when:
Members of the public seeking warrant information may submit requests to the appropriate custodial agency, which must respond within five business days acknowledging receipt of the request, pursuant to Public Officers Law § 89(3).
Warrant records maintained by New York County authorities typically contain the following information as required by New York Criminal Procedure Law § 120.10:
The level of detail available to the public may vary based on the type of warrant and whether any redactions have been applied pursuant to FOIL exemptions under Public Officers Law § 87(2).
Members of the public may verify warrant status in New York County through several no-cost methods:
In-person inquiry at the New York County Criminal Court Clerk's Office 100 Centre Street, Room 1000 New York, NY 10013 (646) 386-4511 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact the New York County Sheriff's Office Civil Division 31 Chambers Street, Room 1302 New York, NY 10007 (212) 487-9734 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Access public terminals at the New York County Courthouse 60 Centre Street New York, NY 10007 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Utilize the New York State Tax Warrants search for tax-related warrants
Requestors should be prepared to provide proper identification and may be required to complete standardized request forms in accordance with agency procedures.
The New York City Sheriff's Office, operating under the Department of Finance pursuant to New York City Charter Chapter 25, serves as the chief civil law enforcement agency for New York County. Sheriff warrants are executed by deputies with full peace officer status as defined in Criminal Procedure Law § 2.10.
The Sheriff's Office processes and executes various warrant types including:
The Sheriff's Office maintains records of all warrants received for service within its jurisdiction. Warrant execution procedures follow strict protocols established by applicable state and local laws, including notice requirements specified in Civil Practice Law and Rules (CPLR) Article 52.
New York City Sheriff's Office
31 Chambers Street, Room 1302
New York, NY 10007
(212) 487-9734
NYC Sheriff's Office
Individuals seeking to determine their warrant status in New York County may utilize several official channels:
Contact the New York County Criminal Court Clerk's Office 100 Centre Street, Room 1000 New York, NY 10013 (646) 386-4511 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Inquire through the NYC Criminal Court Information Line (646) 386-4500 Hours: Monday-Friday, 8:30 AM - 4:30 PM
Submit a written request to the Records Management Unit New York County District Attorney's Office One Hogan Place New York, NY 10013 (212) 335-9000
Access the NYC311 portal for arrest warrant information
Pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 120.80, individuals with active warrants may voluntarily surrender to the appropriate court or law enforcement agency. This approach may be viewed favorably by the court when considering pretrial release conditions.
New York County residents and interested parties may verify outstanding warrant status through established procedures:
Submit a formal records request to the New York County Clerk 60 Centre Street, Room 141B New York, NY 10007 (646) 386-5955 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Consult the WebCriminal application available at courthouse public access terminals 100 Centre Street New York, NY 10013 Hours: Monday-Friday, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Contact the New York City Police Department Warrant Section One Police Plaza New York, NY 10038 (646) 610-5000
Engage licensed legal counsel to conduct a comprehensive search
Requestors should note that certain warrant information may be subject to restricted access pursuant to Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 regarding sealed records and § 720.35 concerning youthful offender adjudications.
When conducting warrant searches, individuals should be prepared to provide:
All warrant inquiries are logged in accordance with departmental record-keeping requirements and may be subject to verification procedures to prevent unauthorized access to sensitive information.