Around 353,574 adult arrests occur in New York State each year, and 14,197 of these arrests are carried out by law enforcement agencies in Erie County. Under the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), Erie County arrest records are open to the public unless they contain confidential information, such as juvenile records, certain personal information, and information that may compromise an investigation.
Furthermore, to obtain Erie County arrest records, requesters may be required to pay processing fees ranging from $0.25 cents per page to a lump sum of $95. Also note that records subjects and government agencies like the courts and District Attorney's Office may have broader access to arrest records, including information declared confidential by status.
Criminal justice agencies, such as the Sheriff's Office, local Police Departments, the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services, and the Courts, maintain arrest records in Erie County.
The Identification Bureau of the Erie County Sheriff's Office maintains county-level criminal information, including arrest records. To conduct a local criminal history background check, call (716) 858-6566 to book an appointment. Also submit a notarized Record Request form along with a valid ID and applicable fees (via money order or card payment) at:
Identification Bureau
134 West Eagle Street
Buffalo, NY 14202
The Sheriff's Office also provides online resources like the FOIL Request form and the Inmates List that allow residents to access information on law enforcement activities in the county.
Local Police Departments (PDs) perform law enforcement functions within several cities, towns, and villages in Erie County. You may find arrest records at the municipal level by contacting the relevant police department that made the arrest. Alternatively, submit a public records request through the FOIL Platform on the relevant agency's website. Below are the major local Police Departments in Erie County.
The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) serves as the state-level repository for crime-related information, including arrest records. These records are open to the records subjects with valid IDs.
You can request arrest records from the DCJS by booking a fingerprinting appointment with the agency's recommended vendor or by calling (877) 472-6915. Furthermore, visit the fingerprinting center with a valid ID and make the required payments by card, check, or money order.
Erie County arrest records may be found in official documents maintained by the Courts in the county, particularly when the arrest results in a criminal charge. The Erie County Clerk is responsible for managing records of criminal cases handled by the county's Supreme and County Courts. Anyone may access these records by submitting a request at the Clerk's Office or by using official online resources, including the eCourts WebCriminal portal, the Erie County Official Records Public Search website, and the Criminal History Record Search (CHRS) portal.
Several private platforms also offer public access to arrest information and other public records in Erie County. For example, reliable third-party websites like InfoTracer allow users to search for arrest records from various official sources, including law enforcement and the courts.
Erie County records 16.3 arrests per 1,000 residents and 2172.3 crimes per 100,000 residents each year. Below is a breakdown of the county's current arrest statistics.
| Arrest Type | Number of Arrests |
|---|---|
| Drug Felony | 690 |
| Violent Felony | 1,488 |
| DWI Felony | 209 |
| Other Felony | 2,983 |
| Drug Misdemeanor | 962 |
| DWI Misdemeanor | 1,424 |
| Property Misdemeanor | 3,338 |
| Other Misdemeanor offenses | 3,103 |
It is situated in Erie county, New York with a total number of 179 employees - 9 female, 127 male officers and 43 civilians. Erie County SO ORI (Originated Agency Identifier) number is NY0140000, it belongs to the Middle Atlantic division in the Northeast region with a region code of Region I.
| Department | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Buffalo Police Department | 74 Franklin Street | 716-851-4444 |
| Name | Address | Phone |
|---|---|---|
| Collins Correctional Facility | Middle Road, P.o. Box 490 | 716-532-4588 |
| Erie County NY Holding Center (ECHC) | 40 Delaware Avenue | 716-858-7618 |
| Erie County NY Juvenile Detention Center | 810 East Ferry Street | 716-923-4000 |
| Gowanda Correctional Facility | South Road, P.o. Box 350 | 716-532-0177 |
| Wende Correctional Facility | 3040 Wende Road | 716-937-4000 |