Suffolk County, New York · Jail custody, police records, District Court and felony County Court
Track a Suffolk County Arrest From Custody to the Final Court Result
Start with the New York county-jail locator if the person may still be incarcerated. Then identify the arresting agency and use Suffolk criminal court records to determine what happened to each charge.
Bail, Riverhead and Yaphank visitation, mail, phone calls, commissary, Legal Aid, victim services, New York rap sheets, corrections and record sealing are covered below.
SUFFOLK RECORD ROUTE
VERIFYING
JAIL
COURT
RESULT
CRIMINAL CASE
OUTCOME VERIFIED
CUSTODY + COURT MATCHED
An arrest is not a conviction.
A jail commitment or police arrest record proves that a custody event occurred. It does not prove that the prosecutor continued every charge or that a court found the defendant guilty.
Current jail lookup
New York directs county-jail searches through VINE.
Riverhead facility
100 Center Drive South, Riverhead.
Yaphank facility
200 Glover Drive, Yaphank.
District Court
Misdemeanors and felony arraignments.
County Court
Felony trials and indicted cases.
Record router
Choose the record that answers your question
COUNTY JAIL
Is the person incarcerated?
Current county custody, facility and available release-notification information.
Use the NYS county-jail locator.
SHERIFF RECORDS
Was the person held in Suffolk Jail?
Commitment, incarceration and discharge records maintained by the Sheriff.
Use Sheriff FOIL for historical incarceration records.
POLICE RECORD
What did officers report?
Arrest report, incident report and other releasable police documents.
Request from the agency that made the arrest.
CRIMINAL COURT
What happened to the charges?
Pending case, docket, indictment, plea, dismissal, conviction and disposition.
Use District or County Court.
NY STATE HISTORY
Need more than Suffolk?
OCA offers a public statewide court-history search; DCJS provides the record subject’s official fingerprint-based rap sheet.
These are different products.
Best sequence:
current custody → Sheriff PIN / identity → arresting agency → WebCriminal → Certificate of Disposition.
Current county-jail custody
Find someone currently held in Suffolk County
Do not start with an old mugshot website.
New York State’s Commission of Correction directs county-jail searches outside New York City through the VINE county-jail locator.
Click “SEARCH COUNTY JAILS”
The state page opens the VINE system used for county-jail custody searches.
Search the legal name
Start with the full first and last name. Try a prior surname or spelling variation if necessary.
Choose the correct Suffolk match
Do not assume two people with the same name are the same person.
Record available identifiers
Save the Suffolk Sheriff six-digit PIN if available because visitation registration requires it.
Record the facility
Determine whether the person is associated with Riverhead or Yaphank before traveling.
Use VINE notifications when appropriate
Crime victims and family members can use available VINE notification functions for custody changes.
Call the Sheriff when the live result is unclear
General Sheriff inquiries:
631-852-2200.
A VINE or jail result shows custody information. It does not tell you the final criminal-case outcome.
Two Suffolk correctional facilities
Riverhead and Yaphank serve different operational needs
Riverhead Correctional Facility
100 Center Drive South
Riverhead, NY 11901
- Published maximum capacity: 840.
- Houses minimum, medium and maximum security men and women.
- Medical, dental and mental-health unit.
- Rehabilitation and visiting areas.
- Bail accepted 24 hours a day, seven days a week.
- All bonds are accepted at Riverhead.
Yaphank Correctional Facility
200 Glover Drive
Yaphank, NY 11980
- Published maximum capacity: 976.
- Minimum, medium and maximum security housing.
- Medical and rehabilitation units.
- Addiction-treatment programming.
- Veterans and 55+ programmatic housing.
- START Resource Center located on the grounds.
Arrest-record strategy
There is more than one Suffolk County arrest record
Use the source that created each part of the arrest trail
| Record |
Who maintains it |
What it can establish |
What to do |
| Current jail custody |
Suffolk Sheriff / county-jail VINE system |
Current county custody information. |
Use NYS county-jail locator. |
| Incarceration history |
Suffolk County Sheriff |
Commitment or incarceration at a Suffolk correctional facility. |
Submit Sheriff FOIL request. |
| Police arrest report |
Arresting police department |
Officer narrative and agency arrest information. |
Request from that department. |
| Pending criminal case |
NYS Unified Court System |
Future court date and docket information. |
Use WebCriminal. |
| Final disposition |
Court of original jurisdiction |
Official outcome of the case. |
Order Certificate of Disposition. |
The Sheriff’s public arrest-data page currently describes annual arrest datasets as available on request. Individual arrest research is better handled through the custody, police-report and court workflows above.
Identity protection
Verify the person before relying on an arrest result
First and last name match
Middle name or suffix is consistent
Date of birth matches
Arrest date matches the known event
Sheriff PIN or jail identifier matches
Police agency matches the location
Court docket follows the same arrest
Disposition matches the correct docket
Minimum rule:
verify at least two independent identifiers before publishing an allegation, sending money or treating a record as belonging to a specific individual.
No-result troubleshooting
No Suffolk County arrest or inmate result found?
The person was released
Current custody lookup can disappear while the criminal case remains active.
The arrest is still processing
Intake, fingerprinting, arraignment and transport can delay the public custody trail.
The person is in another county
Search the jail that physically holds the person.
The arrest was on the East End
Town or village police and justice courts may own important parts of the record.
The person received an appearance ticket
A criminal case can exist without continued county-jail custody.
The name changed
Check aliases, former surnames, hyphens and suffixes.
The WebCriminal case is closed
WebCriminal is mainly useful for cases with future dates and does not display all finished cases.
The record is sealed
Sealed criminal matters are intentionally excluded from ordinary public systems.
Custody verification script
I am trying to confirm the current or recent Suffolk County custody status of [full legal name], date of birth [date]. The arrest may have occurred on [date] through [agency]. Can you confirm whether the person is in Suffolk County custody, was released, transferred, or is listed under another identifier?
Record lifecycle
Follow the case from arrest to disposition
Police arrest
Suffolk County Police, Sheriff deputies, town police, village police, State Police or another agency creates its arrest and incident records.
County correctional intake
If remanded, the Sheriff processes commitment, identity and custody information.
Arraignment
Suffolk District Court arraigns defendants charged with misdemeanors and also defendants accused of felonies before later felony proceedings.
Release or continued detention
The judge may address release conditions or bail where legally permitted.
Prosecutor action
The District Attorney determines how charges will proceed.
District or County Court
Misdemeanor cases can remain in District Court. Felony trial jurisdiction belongs to County Court.
Final disposition
Charges can end through dismissal, plea, acquittal, conviction or another court order.
Record correction or sealing
Verify the rap sheet and determine whether CPL sealing or Clean Slate applies.
Police report request
Request the arrest report from the agency that made the arrest
The Suffolk County Sheriff specifically states that its FOIL process generally covers incarceration records—not Suffolk County Police reports, accident reports or 911 transcripts.
Suffolk County Police Department records
SCPD Central Records Section
30 Yaphank Avenue
Yaphank, NY 11980
Phone:
631-852-6015
Monday–Friday: 9:00 a.m.–3:45 p.m.
Closed weekends and holidays
Report fees vary by record.
Confirm Suffolk County Police made the arrest
Check the ticket, appearance paperwork, jail information or court file.
Identify the exact report
Ask for the arrest report, incident report or another specifically described releasable record.
Provide the identifiers
Include name, date of birth, incident date, location, report number and court docket number where known.
Use the public-record application when necessary
SCPD’s Forms and Reports page includes the FOIL public-access form and criminal-record/background-check forms.
Open Central Records forms
Ask for electronic production
When possible, request an electronic copy and a fee estimate before large processing charges are incurred.
Copy-ready police records request
Under the New York Freedom of Information Law, I request an electronic copy of the releasable arrest report, incident report and specifically identified related records concerning [full legal name], date of birth [date], for the incident on [date] at [location]. Known identifiers include police report number [number], Suffolk Sheriff PIN [number] and court docket/indictment number [number]. Please advise me of any fee before processing if the total will exceed $[amount], and identify the legal basis for material withheld or redacted.
If another agency made the arrest
Town police
East Hampton, Southampton, Southold, Riverhead or other town agencies may maintain their own records.
Village police
Incidents inside incorporated villages may be controlled by the village department.
New York State Police
State Police arrests use the New York State Police records process rather than SCPD Central Records.
Sheriff incarceration records
Use Sheriff FOIL for historical Suffolk jail records
The Sheriff states that its office can generally provide incarceration records for men and women who were held in a Suffolk County correctional facility.
Complete Section 1
Enter enough information to reasonably identify the incarceration record.
Print and sign the form
The Sheriff instructs applicants to submit the signed request.
Include specific custody dates
Add the approximate commitment/release dates and facility when known.
Mail it to the Freedom of Information Officer
Use the address below.
Attn: Freedom of Information Officer
Suffolk County Sheriff’s Office
100 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
New York eCourts
Find the Suffolk County criminal case
WebCriminal has an important limitation:
it is designed primarily to show criminal cases with future court activity. Suffolk District Court warns that it does not show warrants, finished cases or sealed cases.
Select WebCriminal
Use the criminal-case search rather than WebCivil.
Search by docket number when known
Suffolk District Court docket numbers use the full format shown on the defendant’s paperwork.
Otherwise search by defendant name
District Court states that a name search requires at least the first three letters of the last name and first two letters of the first name.
Confirm the courthouse and part
Do not assume a case remains in the same court after indictment or transfer.
Check the next appearance
WebCriminal is useful for future dates and court calendars.
For a finished case, request the disposition
A closed matter may require the clerk instead of WebCriminal.
1st District Court Criminal Term
Use Central Islip for many misdemeanor and arraignment records
Cohalan Court Complex – Criminal Term
400 Carleton Avenue
Central Islip, NY 11722
General Clerk:
631-208-5800
Public windows: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m.
Misdemeanors
District Court handles misdemeanors and lesser criminal offenses.
Felony arraignments
District Court arraigns people accused of felonies before later felony proceedings.
In-custody arraignment
Published every day of the year at 9:30 a.m. in Courtroom D-11.
An adjournment cannot be obtained simply by calling the courthouse. Written requests or an attorney request may be required, and the judge decides whether to grant it.
Felony cases
Use Suffolk County Court after felony indictment
Arthur M. Cromarty Criminal Court Complex
Suffolk County Court
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Chief Clerk:
631-852-2120
Criminal Office:
631-852-1462
Monday–Friday, 9:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
County Court is the Suffolk court with authority to conduct felony trials.
Find the indictment or SCI number
This is the strongest identifier for a felony court file.
Match it to the arrest
Compare defendant name, arrest date, charges and District Court history.
Review the formal felony charges
The indictment can differ from the original arrest allegation.
Check motions, pleas and trial events
Do not stop at the first indictment entry.
Find the judgment or final disposition
This is more reliable than a booking or news report.
For a County Court criminal case from the last three years, contact the Criminal Office. For older files, the court directs users to the Suffolk County Clerk at
631-852-2000.
Official proof
Order a Certificate of Disposition instead of guessing the outcome
A Certificate of Disposition is the official court document stating what happened in the criminal case.
Suffolk criminal disposition requests
| Court |
Fee |
What to provide |
Mail details |
| Suffolk District Court |
$5 per certificate |
UCS-CODR form, photo ID and case details. |
Money order to Clerk of the Court, copy of ID, stamped return envelope. No personal check. |
| Suffolk County Court |
$5 per certificate |
Indictment number, defendant name and return address. |
U.S. Postal money order or bank check payable to Suffolk County Court. |
District Court micro-steps
Search for form UCS-CODR
Complete a separate request for the case you need.
Bring or mail photo identification
Sealed cases have additional authorization requirements.
Pay $5
People with court-appointed counsel or qualifying public benefits may be fee-exempt; request the court’s current instructions.
County Court mail request
Suffolk County Court
210 Center Drive
Riverhead, NY 11901
Attn: Criminal Office
County Court instructs mailed disposition requesters to allow approximately 7–10 business days for the response.
Warrant check
Do not use WebCriminal as proof that no warrant exists
Suffolk District Court specifically warns that WebCriminal does not show warrants.
Identify the court that issued the possible warrant
It may be Suffolk District Court, County Court, town court or village court.
Check the case history and newest court information
An old warrant entry can be followed by later court action.
For a Suffolk District Court warrant, use the court procedure
District Court publishes Application to Vacate District Court Warrant form DC-320-A.
Submit the application at the public-information window
The case is then calendared for a judge to decide the request.
For another court, contact that court
A town, village or County Court warrant must be handled in the correct jurisdiction.
Sheriff bail rules
Confirm bail before traveling to Riverhead or Yaphank
Sheriff Central Records handles bail questions
24 hours a day, seven days a week at
631-852-2241.
Suffolk County correctional-facility bail locations
| Location |
Published hours |
Key rule |
| Riverhead Correctional Facility |
24 hours a day, 7 days a week |
All bonds are accepted only at Riverhead. Bail after 10:30 p.m. must be posted here. |
| Yaphank Correctional Facility |
7:00 a.m.–10:30 p.m., 7 days a week |
Bail may be posted during the published window; bonds go to Riverhead. |
Accepted Sheriff payment methods
Cash
Bank check
Cashier’s check
Credit card
Know the person’s date of birth
The Sheriff specifically tells bail posters to have the incarcerated person’s DOB.
Call Central Records before traveling
Confirm the current amount, facility and whether a bond or other hold exists.
Allow several hours
The Sheriff warns that the on-site process can take several hours.
If using a bank or cashier’s check, go during banking hours
The check must be verified with the issuing branch.
Make the check payable correctly
Use: Sheriff of Suffolk County, N.Y.
For a Sheriff-facility credit-card bail, account for the service fee
Sheriff publishes a 7% charge and states the total credit-card charge including that fee cannot exceed $10,000.
The cardholder must appear in person
Visa, MasterCard, American Express and Discover are listed. The holder must present valid photo ID.
Courthouse card processing is different.
Suffolk District Court separately states that when a judge allows courthouse credit-card bail immediately after bail is set, the card processor charges 2.99%. Do not confuse that courthouse procedure with the Sheriff correctional-facility 7% card rule.
Bail-verification script
I am calling about [full legal name], date of birth [date]. Please confirm the current bail amount, whether there is more than one case or hold, whether I should go to Riverhead or Yaphank, whether a bond is involved, and the exact payment method accepted right now.
Appointment-only jail visits
Register first, then reserve a Suffolk County Jail visit
Family visits are
by appointment only. The reservation telephone number is
631-852-1893.
Confirm the person is still in Suffolk custody
Check the county-jail locator before registering.
Get the six-digit Sheriff PIN
The visitor-registration form requires the incarcerated individual’s six-digit Sheriff identification number.
Enter inmate details
Provide first name, last name, date of birth and six-digit PIN.
Enter visitor details
Provide name, DOB, relationship, phone, address and identification information.
Call 631-852-1893
Make the appointment only after all scheduled visitors are registered.
Confirm which facility
Riverhead and Yaphank are separate locations.
Bring acceptable original identification
Use one of the ID types listed below.
Published family visiting hours
All sessions require an appointment
| Day |
Sessions |
| Tuesday–Friday |
2:30–3:30 p.m.; 4:00–5:00 p.m.; 6:45–7:45 p.m.; 8:15–9:15 p.m.
|
| Saturday |
8:30–9:30 a.m.; 10:00–11:00 a.m.; 1:00–2:00 p.m.; 2:30–3:30 p.m.
|
Visits are limited to two adult visitors per incarcerated individual. Only scheduled adults are permitted on facility grounds for the visit.
Visitor ID and minor rules
Bring the correct identification and documents
Accepted adult identification
Valid state driver license
Valid state driver permit
DMV non-driver identification card
U.S. military ID
Foreign passport in English with photo ID
An immediate family member who lacks one of the published ID types can contact the START Resource Center at
631-852-5391
for assistance obtaining appropriate documents. Any document cost is borne by the visitor or incarcerated person.
Visitors younger than 18
A person must be 18 to visit alone
Minor may be accompanied by a parent
Documented legal guardian may accompany the minor
A qualifying signed Parental Acknowledgement Form may be required
Original birth certificate or court documentation is required for children
Attorney visits
Attorney visits use non-contact booths. Video and telephone conferences are also available and may be scheduled through Attorney Visiting:
631-852-3356.
Mail rules
Send Suffolk County inmate mail to the Riverhead processing address
C/O Incarcerated Individual’s Name
Suffolk County Correctional Facility
110 Center Drive South
Riverhead, NY 11901
If the incarcerated individual has a common name, the Sheriff instructs the sender to add the person’s date of birth to the front of the envelope.
Do not include these items
Colored envelopes — use white envelopes only
Stamps or other postage
Polaroid photographs
Photographs larger than 5 × 7 inches
Cards larger than 6 × 9 inches
Stickers
Pornographic, offensive or graphic photographs
Hard-cover publications with the cover attached
LIAM Safe digital letters and photos
The Sheriff also offers LIAM Safe. Letters and photos are encrypted, paid online and printed at the facility; depending on the time submitted, delivery may occur the same day.
Keefe commissary
Add money to a Suffolk County commissary account
At booking
Money brought in by the incarcerated person is placed in the commissary account.
Money order
Mailed money orders are deposited to the account. Personal checks are not accepted.
Facility kiosk
Riverhead and Yaphank visiting lobbies accept cash, credit or debit deposits at their kiosks.
Online / phone
Access Corrections accepts online card deposits and telephone deposits.
Published Access Corrections deposit limit: $100 per deposit. The Sheriff states that deposits are generally available within approximately 15 minutes or sooner.
Access Corrections charges a service fee, which reduces the amount ultimately placed in the inmate account.
Confirm the incarcerated individual
Verify name and identifying information before paying.
Select the correct Suffolk facility/account
Check the recipient before confirming.
Review the service fee and deposit amount
Do this before submitting payment.
Keep the confirmation
Save the transaction reference until funds are credited.
If money remains in the commissary account at release, the Sheriff states that the balance is returned to the released individual on a debit card.
Telephone service
Suffolk County Jail uses Securus for inmate calls
Confirm the person is still incarcerated
Do not fund an account based on an old jail listing.
Create or fund the Securus account
The Sheriff identifies Securus as the telephone service provider.
Open Securus
Use the correct receiving telephone number
Provider restrictions can affect whether calls connect.
Keep confidential case strategy off ordinary jail calls
Use attorney communication for privileged legal discussions.
Package limits
Know what Suffolk County allows before buying clothing or publications
Prohibited or excess package items can be returned at the incarcerated person’s expense or disposed of if not collected. Contraband can lead to prosecution.
Published package quantities
| Item |
Published limit / rule |
| Female night gowns |
2; plain white only |
| Female sports bras |
7; no metal underwire |
| Sweatshirts |
2; hunter green or white |
| Sweatpants |
2; hunter green or white |
| Gym shorts |
2; hunter green or white |
| T-shirts |
7; white only |
| Towels |
2; maximum 2 × 4 feet; white only |
| Thermals |
2 sets; white or off-white |
| Books |
5; paperback only |
| Magazines |
5 |
| Newspapers |
2; current issues only |
| Photos |
15; maximum 5 × 7 inches; no Polaroids |
| Prayer rug |
1 |
| Kuffi |
1; black or white, single layer |
| Wedding band |
1; plain |
No pockets or drawstrings are permitted on the listed clothing. “Hunter green” is described by the Sheriff as the color of a New York Jets football jersey.
Books, magazines and newspapers must come directly from the publisher or a reputable online vendor. They are no longer accepted when personally brought by visitors or placed in ordinary mail.
Assigned criminal defense
Use Suffolk Legal Aid when the court assigns counsel
The Legal Aid Society of Suffolk County represents eligible people who cannot afford private criminal defense.
Felony Court Bureau
300 Center Drive, 1st Floor
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-852-1650
Pre-Indictment Felony Bureau
320 Carleton Avenue, Suite 2200
Central Islip, NY 11722
631-630-3360
East End Bureau
24 E. 2nd Street, 2nd Floor
Riverhead, NY 11901
631-630-3380
Tell the judge if you cannot afford counsel
Appointment is made by the court.
Identify which bureau handles the case
District Court, pre-indictment felony, felony County Court and East End matters use different Legal Aid units.
Provide the docket or indictment number
This helps route the client to the correct attorney.
Use attorney visiting for incarcerated clients
Attorney Visiting:
631-852-3356.
Bail scam warning:
Suffolk Legal Aid states that it will never call and solicit money for bail for one of its clients. A caller demanding bail payment while displaying a Legal Aid number may be spoofing caller ID.
Victim assistance
Get court updates, safety help and release notifications
The Suffolk County District Attorney Victim Services Unit assists victims and witnesses involved in cases prosecuted by the DA.
Crime-victim compensation assistance
Explanation of criminal-case stages
Safety-planning assistance
Help with return of property
Court dates and case information
Court accompaniment
Victim Impact Statement assistance
Parole or release-notification help
Suffolk County DA Victim Services
William J. Lindsay County Complex
Veterans Memorial Highway, Building 77
Hauppauge, NY 11788
Phone:
631-852-3185
New York state custody
Use DOCCS only after transfer to state prison custody
Use DOCCS for
- Someone in a New York State prison.
- State correctional facility.
- State custody after a prison sentence.
Do not use DOCCS alone for
- A new Suffolk County arrest.
- Riverhead or Yaphank pretrial custody.
- The police arrest report.
- The official court disposition.
Public New York court-history search
Use OCA CHRS when you need a statewide public court search
The New York State Office of Court Administration currently charges $95 for a statewide Criminal History Record Search.
CHRS can report
- Open or pending criminal cases.
- Public convictions.
- County/Supreme criminal courts.
- City courts.
- Town and village information, subject to limitations.
CHRS does not provide
- Sealed records.
- Family Court cases.
- Civil cases.
- Federal cases.
- A nationwide criminal check.
- A certified Certificate of Disposition.
CHRS search rules
Exact full name and date of birth are required
A different alias can count as another search
A different DOB can count as another search
“No Results Found” online can return in real time
Matches may require staff review
Outside NYC, court data is updated on average about weekly
Choose online Direct Access or mail
The public online account supports payment by debit or credit card.
Enter exact name and DOB
Name variations not matched by the search rules can produce a false “no result.”
Pay $95 for the search
The report itself is not certified.
Order the local disposition separately when proof matters
Use the Suffolk court that handled the case.
New York Courts also states that a Suffolk County criminal-record search may be requested through Suffolk County Police Central Records at
631-852-6015.
Your official NY rap sheet
Request your own fingerprint-based DCJS Record Review
A DCJS criminal history is not a public people-search product. You cannot use the DCJS Record Review process to obtain another person’s rap sheet.
Suppressed record
Does not include information that is sealed or suppressed from the ordinary response.
IdentoGO service code: 15464Z
Unsuppressed record
Includes sealed and suppressed entries that DCJS is legally permitted to show to the record subject.
IdentoGO service code: 15465F
Current New York-resident IdentoGO fingerprint-processing fee:
$17.50 as of February 2, 2026.
Choose suppressed or unsuppressed
Use the correct service code above.
Bring acceptable identification
Follow the IdentoGO identification requirements.
Pay the fingerprint processing charge
Credit cards, checks and money orders are accepted under the current instructions.
Wait for the mailed response
DCJS states that the response generally arrives within approximately 3–4 weeks after the request reaches DCJS.
Review every Suffolk arrest and disposition
Compare the rap sheet with the correct Certificate of Disposition.
If the $17.50 processing cost cannot be paid, DCJS offers a fingerprint-processing fee-waiver application. Request it from
RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov.
Rap-sheet correction
Correct a Suffolk arrest or disposition at the source
Obtain your DCJS rap sheet
Use the fingerprint-based Record Review so you can see exactly what New York State maintains.
Identify the incorrect Suffolk case
Record the arrest date, docket number, indictment number and disposition shown.
Get the Certificate of Disposition
Obtain the official Suffolk court document showing the correct outcome.
Check whether the disposition is properly marked sealed
If it should be sealed, ask the court clerk to review the court file.
Send the correction proof to DCJS
Follow the instructions accompanying the Record Review response.
Correct police data with the police agency
A wrong arrest-report fact and a wrong court disposition are different problems.
Recheck after correction
Obtain another appropriate record response when proof of the correction is important.
New York Courts advises that if a case should be sealed but is not, obtain a Certificate of Disposition, confirm whether the court file shows sealing, and then use the court/DCJS correction process.
New York sealing
Know which Suffolk records seal automatically and which require a motion
Favorable disposition — CPL 160.50
Qualifying cases ending favorably to the accused are generally sealed automatically.
- Acquittal.
- Dismissal.
- Grand Jury dismissal / no indictment in qualifying circumstances.
- Qualifying ACD dismissal.
- Successful diversion followed by dismissal.
- Qualifying decline to prosecute.
Older conviction — CPL 160.59
Certain convictions can be sealed by application after the statutory waiting period.
- Crime-free for at least 10 years.
- 10 years runs from conviction or prison release, whichever is later.
- No current criminal case pending.
- No more than two qualifying convictions.
- Maximum one felony among those convictions.
CPL 160.59 conviction-count rule
Potential eligibility is limited to no more than two misdemeanors, or one felony and one misdemeanor, subject to statutory exclusions and the court’s discretion.
Sex offenses, violent felonies and other serious excluded felonies do not qualify for CPL 160.59 sealing.
How to apply after 10 years
Request a Certificate of Disposition for each conviction
Suffolk criminal courts generally charge $5 per certificate.
Complete the Notice of Motion and Affidavit
Sign it before a notary.
Add rehabilitation evidence
Examples include employment, education, treatment, volunteer work, community service and recommendation letters.
Serve the Suffolk County District Attorney
If convictions exist in other counties, each applicable DA must also receive the papers.
Complete the Affidavit of Service
The person who served the papers signs it before a notary.
File the originals with the correct court
File where the most serious conviction occurred. If both convictions are the same class, use the court of the most recent conviction.
There is no filing fee for the CPL 160.59 motion
Court disposition-copy fees can still apply.
Keep the signed seal order
It is needed if you later ask DCJS to verify the seal.
2026 Clean Slate status
New York Clean Slate is not yet fully implemented statewide
Important 2026 status:
New York’s Clean Slate Act took effect November 16, 2024, but the Unified Court System has until November 16, 2027 to complete automatic sealing of eligible convictions.
Clean Slate waiting periods
| Conviction |
Eligibility waiting period |
Waiting period starts |
| Misdemeanor |
3 years |
After sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later. |
| Felony |
8 years |
After sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later. |
Additional Clean Slate conditions
No pending misdemeanor or felony case
Not on probation
Not on parole
Not on post-release supervision
A new conviction can restart the waiting period
Sex offenses remain excluded
Most non-drug Class A felonies remain excluded
Drug Class A offenses are treated differently under the statute
As of August 2026, the court system says the manual Clean Slate review form will be made available no later than November 16, 2027. Do not pay a private service that falsely promises to file a currently unavailable state Clean Slate review form.
Clean Slate does not mean that every government user loses access. Police, sheriffs, prosecutors, courts and certain legally authorized fingerprint-background-check users can retain access under New York law.
Reentry assistance
Use START for help after Suffolk County incarceration
The Sheriff’s Transition and Reentry Team assists people with employment, treatment, identification, transportation, food, housing, clothing and other reentry needs.
START Resource Center
200 Glover Drive
Yaphank, NY 11980
Phone:
631-852-5391
Monday–Friday: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m.
Walk-ins welcome
What is already solved on this page
Important official details brought into the article
Custody search
County-jail VINE route, current-custody limitations and identity checks.
Police records
SCPD Central Records address, hours, request workflow and Sheriff-versus-police routing.
Court records
District-versus-County Court roles, WebCriminal limits, disposition fees and mail steps.
Bail
Riverhead/Yaphank hours, payment types, card charges, bonds and 24/7 contact.
Jail family services
Visit schedule, ID rules, minors, mail, packages, Securus calls and Access Corrections.
Record relief
DCJS rap sheet, corrections, CPL 160.50, CPL 160.59 and 2026 Clean Slate status.
Title-related questions
Suffolk County NY arrest-record questions answered
How do I search Suffolk County NY arrest records?
Use New York’s county-jail locator for current custody, request the arrest report from the arresting agency, and use WebCriminal plus the appropriate Suffolk court for prosecution and disposition information.
How do I find someone currently in Suffolk County Jail?
Open the New York State Commission of Correction Incarcerated Individual Locators page, select Search County Jails and use the VINE county-jail search.
Where are Suffolk County inmates held?
Suffolk County Sheriff operates the Riverhead Correctional Facility at 100 Center Drive South and the Yaphank Correctional Facility at 200 Glover Drive.
How do I find a Suffolk criminal court case?
Use New York eCourts and select WebCriminal. District Court handles misdemeanors and felony arraignments; County Court has felony-trial authority.
How much is a Suffolk Certificate of Disposition?
Suffolk District Court and Suffolk County Court currently publish a $5 fee per Certificate of Disposition.
How do I post bail?
Call Sheriff Central Records at 631-852-2241 first. Riverhead accepts bail 24/7. Yaphank accepts bail from 7:00 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. All bonds and late-night bail are handled at Riverhead.
How do Suffolk County Jail visits work?
Register each visitor first, obtain the incarcerated person’s six-digit Sheriff PIN and then call 631-852-1893 for the appointment. Visits are limited to two scheduled adults.
What address should I use for inmate mail?
Address ordinary mail to C/O Incarcerated Individual’s Name, Suffolk County Correctional Facility, 110 Center Drive South, Riverhead, NY 11901. Add DOB when the name is common.
How do I get my own New York criminal history?
Use DCJS Record Review through IdentoGO with service code 15464Z for a suppressed response or 15465F for an unsuppressed response. The current New York resident fingerprint-processing fee is $17.50.
Can a Suffolk County arrest or conviction be sealed?
Favorably terminated cases generally qualify for CPL 160.50 sealing. Certain older convictions can be considered under CPL 160.59, and Clean Slate is separately being implemented statewide with a November 16, 2027 completion deadline.