Yes, arrest records are public in Kingston, New York. This accessibility is in accordance with the New York Freedom of Information Law (FOIL), which mandates that all government records, unless explicitly exempted, must be available for public inspection and copying. Arrest records, as part of the public records category, fall under this statute, allowing citizens to access them unless they are sealed or otherwise restricted by law.
To get Kingston arrest records, individuals have several options available:
A Kingston arrest record typically includes the following information:
In Kingston, the expungement of arrest records is possible under certain conditions. Individuals who have been arrested but not convicted, or whose convictions have been overturned, may apply for expungement. The process involves petitioning the court in which the arrest occurred, and demonstrating that the criteria for expungement as set by New York law are met. This typically requires the absence of any pending charges and a waiting period that varies depending on the specifics of the case. The court then reviews the petition and decides whether to grant the expungement, effectively sealing the arrest record from public access.