Arrest records in Great Neck Plaza, New York are considered public documents pursuant to the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), codified in Public Officers Law Article 6, §§ 84-90. This legislation establishes the presumption that government records, including arrest records, shall be accessible to the public unless specifically exempted by statute. The law promotes transparency in governmental operations by allowing citizens to access information regarding law enforcement activities within their communities.
Members of the public should be aware that certain arrest records may be subject to restrictions or sealing under specific circumstances as provided by New York Criminal Procedure Law § 160.50 and § 160.55. These provisions allow for the sealing of records in cases where charges were dismissed, resulted in acquittal, or met other statutory criteria for confidentiality. Additionally, records pertaining to youthful offenders or juvenile delinquents are generally not accessible to the public pursuant to Family Court Act § 375.1.
The Nassau County Police Department, which serves Great Neck Plaza, maintains arrest records in accordance with state regulations and departmental policies. These records document official law enforcement actions and serve as an essential component of the criminal justice system's documentation process.
The Village of Great Neck Plaza provides multiple methods for accessing arrest records in compliance with New York State's Freedom of Information Law. Individuals seeking arrest record information may utilize the following procedures:
In-Person Requests: Requestors may visit the Great Neck Plaza Village Hall to submit FOIL requests for arrest records. The Village Clerk serves as the Records Access Officer and can assist with proper submission procedures.
Great Neck Plaza Village Hall
2 Gussack Plaza
Great Neck, NY 11021
Phone: (516) 482-4500
Village of Great Neck Plaza Official Website
Office Hours: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 4:30 PM, excluding holidays
Written Requests: FOIL requests may be submitted in writing to the Village Clerk at the address listed above. Written requests must include:
Nassau County Police Department: For arrest records processed by county law enforcement, requests may be directed to:
Nassau County Police Department Records Bureau
1490 Franklin Avenue
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: (516) 573-7000
Nassau County Police Department Records Section
Hours of Operation: Monday through Friday, 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM
Online Access: The Nassau County District Court provides limited online access to case information through its public portal. While complete arrest records are not available online due to privacy considerations, basic case status information may be accessible through:
Nassau County District Court
99 Main Street
Hempstead, NY 11550
Phone: (516) 572-2200
Pursuant to Public Officers Law § 87(1)(b)(iii), agencies may charge reasonable fees for duplication of records. Current fees are set at $0.25 per page for photocopies not exceeding 9 by 14 inches, or the actual cost of reproduction for larger documents or electronic media.
Arrest records maintained by law enforcement agencies serving Great Neck Plaza typically contain standardized information as prescribed by New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services regulations. These records document the circumstances and details of an individual's arrest and subsequent processing through the criminal justice system.
Standard components of an arrest record include:
Pursuant to New York State Executive Law § 837-c, arrest fingerprints and associated information are transmitted to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for inclusion in the state's criminal history repository. This information is maintained in accordance with state retention schedules and may be accessed by authorized criminal justice agencies for legitimate law enforcement purposes.
New York State law provides mechanisms for the sealing and expungement of certain arrest records under specific circumstances. The process is governed primarily by Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) § 160.50, § 160.55, and § 160.59, which establish eligibility criteria and procedural requirements.
Automatic Sealing: Pursuant to CPL § 160.50, records of arrests that did not result in a conviction are eligible for automatic sealing. This includes cases that were:
Conviction Sealing: Under CPL § 160.59, individuals with eligible criminal convictions may apply for record sealing after a waiting period of 10 years from the date of sentencing or release from incarceration, whichever is later. Eligibility restrictions include:
Application Process: Individuals seeking expungement or sealing must file a motion with the court where the case was adjudicated. The application process requires:
Nassau County District Attorney's Office
262 Old Country Road
Mineola, NY 11501
Phone: (516) 571-3800
Legal Assistance: The Legal Aid Society of Nassau County provides assistance to eligible individuals seeking record sealing:
Legal Aid Society of Nassau County
40 Main Street, 3rd Floor
Hempstead, NY 11550
Phone: (516) 560-6400
Successful sealing under CPL § 160.59 restricts public access to criminal records but does not completely destroy them. Sealed records remain accessible to certain law enforcement agencies and may be considered in future criminal proceedings or for specific licensing purposes as permitted by statute.