Nassau County Arrest Records

Arrest records are the official documents generated when an individual is detained and booked by a law enforcement agency in Nassau County, New York. These records are a part of the public record system, which was created to encourage openness, enable victims and defense attorneys to track a case, and assist employers, courts, and background-checking organizations in confirming charges and custody status. In New York, access to most local and state government records is governed by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (Public Officers Law, Article 6). In contrast, the release and maintenance of criminal history and "criminal offender record information" are subject to the rules administered by the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) and statutory criminal procedure provisions (including CPL sealing provisions such as CPL §160.50, §160.55, and §160.59).

Are Arrest Records Public Information in New York?

Yes. In New York, the starting presumption is that government records are public and must be disclosed on request under FOIL, subject to specific statutory exemptions. Many arrest-related records are public in New York, but not everything is freely available. In New York, the principal access tools and legal frameworks are:

• Agency administrative records are subject to the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (Public Officers Law, Article 6). With a few listed exceptions, FOIL applies to the majority of state and local agency records. The primary method for requesting incident reports and administrative documents from police departments is FOIL.
• While FOIL governs most agency records, the central collection and dissemination of criminal history (the official "rap sheet") is handled by DCJS.
• Court records are generally accessible through the Unified Court System, its local clerks, and public eCourt portals (WebCrims/eCourts). Still, the courts are governed by other rules and have their own disclosure limits. For many criminal cases, one can view registers of actions, calendars, and some filings online or in the clerk's office.
• The Office of Court Administration (OCA) is in charge of statewide criminal history (rap sheet) and CHRS (Court History Record Search) searches. It has strict guidelines on what can be revealed (sealed cases excluded). A CHRS search is a paid-for statewide exact-match report.

Therefore, while most arrest information is available, certain information is redacted or withheld due to legislative exemptions.

New York law and agency policy frequently mandate the suppression or non-disclosure of specific components, even when a record is subject to disclosure. For instance:

• Family court cases and juvenile records (private under distinct juvenile/family statutes).
• Identifying information on victims or witnesses, including names, contact details, and medical records, is kept private and secure.
• Information that could jeopardize an ongoing investigation (specific witness statements, investigative methods, and confidential informants).
• Sealed documents or documents covered by court orders (such as CPL sealing orders or other legal safeguards).
• Information about mental and medical health, as well as other privacy-sensitive material. Before disclosing a record under FOIL, agencies may redact these sections.

Nassau County Arrest Search

For individuals seeking arrest information related to Nassau County, there are two broad classes of sources to consult:

• State-level repositories and court systems: When an individual requires state-prison custody status, statewide disposition data, or judicial docket information, the state Department of Corrections (DOCCS inmate lookup for state prison commitments), the New York Unified Court System (WebCrims/eCourts), and DCJS criminal history services (rap sheet requests) are the necessary options.
• Federal resources: For federal arrests or convictions (beyond county/state jurisdiction), search the Federal Bureau of Prisons or PACER/federal court dockets. (FOIA governs federal records; federal agencies are exempt from FOIL.)

On the other hand, it is more practical to start at the county and local levels for most Nassau County incidents. Here's how researchers can go about it:

• Nassau County Sheriff: Researchers can look up individuals who are currently in county custody by name or Personal File Number (PFN) using the Nassau County Sheriff's online In-Custody/Inmate Inquiry. This is the quickest way to view the location of the facility, charges displayed at booking, custody status, and current bookings. (Not all arrests will show up here; for instance, those who are held by local police exclusively, transferred, or released promptly may not.)
• Nassau County Police Department and municipal police departments: Submit a FOIL request for incident reports, body-cam footage, or administrative documents to the Nassau County Police Department if the arrest occurred in a town or village with its own department. The majority of local PDs post online submission forms and FOIL instructions. Anticipate redactions for investigative details and victim/witness privacy.
• County court clerks & courthouse public access: Numerous records ( filings, dockets, and original, certified documents such as disposition certificates) are available for in-person inspection at courthouse public terminals or upon written request. Registers of action and certified dispositions can be obtained from the clerk's office of the court that handled the matter, such as the Nassau District Court, County Court, or Supreme Court, assuming charges were brought and the case proceeded to court.

Nassau County Inmate Locator

Name or PFN (Personal File Number) searches are possible through the Nassau County Sheriff's Office's online In-Custody/Inmate Inquiry. For those detained in county facilities, that public search will yield up-to-date custody details, typically including the booking name, booking date and time, and charges displayed at the time of booking. It is the quickest way to determine if someone has been recently booked or is currently in county custody. Remember that individuals who were arrested and promptly released or detained only by municipal departments and not sent to county custody may not always be listed in the in-custody system. A researcher will still need to request papers through FOIL or the court clerk for some uses (such as certified disposition, full arrest narratives, or older records). To request arrest or incident records with the In-Custody/Inmate Inquiry:

• Search with full name and, if available, DOB or middle name to narrow exact matches.
• Note the PFN or booking number displayed; this will expedite any subsequent FOIL or clerk inquiries.
• For confirmation of release dates, transfers, or certified records, please contact the Sheriff's Records/Warrants unit, following their published contact procedures.

For FOIL for police records:

• In accordance with the agency's published FOIL procedure, submit a written or electronic FOIL request (online forms are available for Nassau County Police and many local agencies). Give precise information about the records being sought, including full name, birthdate, arrest date and time, report number, if available, and (booking sheet, CAD entries, incident report, body cam). While processing may take longer, FOIL gives agencies five business days to recognize and reply.

Active Warrant Search in Nassau County

An arrest warrant is a court order signed by a judge or magistrate that permits law enforcement to detain a specific individual based on probable cause. Generally, a warrant identifies the subject, lists the alleged offense or offenses, specifies the date of issuance, and gives deputies or police the authority to make the arrest.

When there is a demonstration of probable cause, courts in New York, such as district courts or magistrates, will issue warrants. If known, warrants typically contain the charges, the issuing court, and the defendant's name. Bench warrants are sometimes issued for probation violations or failure to appear. For operational or safety concerns, warrant details (beyond simple confirmation) could be restricted.

The Nassau County Sheriff's Office processes executions and keeps internal warrant documents. The Sheriff's Office can verify the presence of a warrant or offer advice on handling it; however, Nassau County does not offer a fully public online warrant search that yields comprehensive warrant documents, unlike other counties that publish online warrant databases. Although the public can visit or call the Sheriff's Warrants & Records unit with questions, agencies frequently do not disclose complete operational details over the phone due to security concerns. For advice on how to resolve and the safest way to handle a warrant that an individual thinks has been issued in their name, it is best to contact the Nassau Sheriff's Warrants Unit or an attorney.

How to Find Arrest Records for Free in Nassau

Several no-cost avenues to find arrest records for free in Nassau are commonly available:

• Police department FOIL inspections: Although many agencies charge for copies, they frequently permit free record inspections or offer free, limited redacted copies. Various records are available for free internet viewing through accident and incident report websites published by multiple departments.
• Nassau County Sheriff's In-Custody search: Free, useful for current bookings and custody status.
• Court docket lookups/register of actions: Numerous courts provide docket summaries or permit walk-in users to view case registrations and future calendar entries (sometimes for free) on public computers. The New York Unified Court System also offers portals for public case information.

Free tools are valuable but limited: they may not include body-worn camera footage or accompanying documentation (such as witness testimonies or complete narratives), which typically require official FOIL requests and copy fees. Online indexes might not show sealed proceedings or older arrests. Access to sensitive or detailed records may occasionally need identification or verification (such as proof of identity or relationship). Depending on the agency backlog, formal FOIL or court clerk requests may take a few business days to several weeks to process.

Nassau Arrest Report

An arrest record is a brief, organized document that certifies an individual's arrest. It usually includes the individual's name, booking number or PFN, arrest date and time, the arresting agency, charges at the time of booking, and the current detention status.

On the other hand, an arrest report is a more comprehensive narrative document created by the arresting officer that details the circumstances leading up to the arrest, including observations, witness accounts, supporting documentation, and declarations of probable cause. Although narrative reports serve as the factual foundation for charges, they are frequently redacted when made public under FOIL due to concerns about ongoing investigations and the privacy of victims and witnesses.

How to Get an Arrest Record Expunged (Sealed) in Nassau

New York does not use the term "expungement" in the same way as some states; instead, New York offers sealing procedures that remove records from routine public disclosure and DCJS indexes under specific statutory schemes. This isn't how some states use the term "expungement". Some government entities may still have access to sealed data (for certain legislative purposes). Still, sealed records are not found in many official state indexes and are not apparent in routine public searches. If the goal is to make an arrest or conviction non-public, New York offers several paths depending on the disposition:

• For favorable dispositions (dismissal, acquittal, conversion to non-criminal disposition): petition the court under CPL §160.50 for an order terminating the criminal action in favor of the accused. This may result in the sealing of associated arrest/prosecution records.
• Sealing convictions after a waiting period: Strict eligibility requirements apply (the number and type of convictions are limited, plus exclusions such as sex-offender registration), but CPL §160.59 permits qualified individuals with few convictions who have been crime-free for at least ten years to request the sealing of eligible convictions through a statutory process. Forms and instructions for filing a sealing application are available through the Unified Court System.
• Other specialized sealing or relief: Depending on the particular circumstances, partial or complete sealing may result from court orders under CPL §160.55 for violations and convictions of non-criminal offenses or other laws, juvenile offender dispositions, or conditional sealing for specific drug offenses under CPL §160.58. The availability and impact of these procedures can differ significantly depending on the case facts and legal history.

How To Proceed In Nassau County

Start by obtaining certified certificates of disposition from the court that handled the case (these are necessary attachments to sealing petitions), then follow the sealing application instructions on the NY Courts website. Because sealing is a judicial process with potential prosecutorial input, many people seek assistance from criminal defense counsel, legal-aid clinics, or the county public defender for guidance and filings.

How Do You Remove Arrest Records From the Internet?

• Obtaining the underlying official sealing order or certificate of disposition proving the matter was dismissed or sealed is the most effective way to prevent further republication. Third-party aggregator websites lose their authoritative status and are free to change or remove their entries after a court order is sealed, which also updates the court's and DCJS's repositories.
• For any third-party background websites or news archives that broadcast arrest information, submit an opt-out or removal request and, if possible, provide documentation of the court order or disposition. Different sites have different policies; some cooperate when court documents are received, while others need formal orders.
• Search engine cache removal: To clear cached search results, use search engine tools (like Google's Remove Outdated Content tool) once the originating website updates or deletes content. Although original content is not removed, search engine visibility may significantly decrease.

What Do Public Arrest Records Contain?

In accordance with New York law, arrest records, governed by the Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) (Public Officers Law, Article 6, Sections 84-90), contain a summary accessible to the public that includes procedural and identifying information, but excludes any sensitive or exempt material. The following are commonly visible elements in publicly accessible arrest or booking records:

• Full name and known aliases (as recorded at booking)
• Booking number / Personal File Number (PFN) or arrest ID
• Date and time of arrest and booking
• Location of arrest
• Arresting agency (e.g., local police department, Nassau County Sheriff)
• Charges listed at booking (penal code or statute citations)
• Custody status (in custody / released/transferred) and facility location
• Case or docket number if charges were filed and assigned to a court

Meanwhile, arrest reports will contain descriptions of events and witness statements, but are commonly redacted to protect victims or ongoing investigations. The statewide CHRS report shows criminal dispositions (convictions, dismissals, acquittals) subject to exact-match constraints and sealing rules.