Crime Numbers
The New York Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) releases comprehensive annual reports of all crimes recorded in the state. According to the report published in 2018, Chemung County recorded 134 violent crimes and 1,304 property crimes. A detailed analysis of these numbers shows that the county had 3 murders, 87 aggravated assaults, 19 rapes, and 25 robberies. Property crimes include 1,073 larceny thefts, 198 burglaries, and 33 motor vehicle thefts.
Compared with 2014 crime figures for the county, aggravated assault, robbery, and all property crime rates declined in 2018. Specifically, aggravated assault (17.9%), robbery (72.7%), larceny (32.8%), burglary (42.3%), and motor vehicle theft (26.7%) rates went down during the five-year period. On the other hand, Chemung County recorded notable increases in murder (200%), and rape (72.7%) in the same period.
Criminal Records
The Records Division of the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office provides criminal record checks for members of the county. It offers name-based criminal records and allows residents to mail, fax, or come to the office to submit criminal records requests. To initiate a request, download, complete, and submit a Criminal History Check Form. If conducting a search on another individual, get them to sign the completed form before dropping it off or sending it to the following address:
Chemung County Sheriff’s Office
203 William St
P.O. Box 558
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 737-2948
Fax: (607) 737-2931
The Chemung County Sheriff's Office charges $5 per background check. Make payment by cash or money order. All mail requests must include a self-addressed stamped envelope.
Fingerprint-based criminal history check records are not public information in the State of New York. However, Chemung County residents can request for their personal record review using fingerprint-based search. To request a fingerprint-based criminal history check, start by booking an appointment with the electronic fingerprinting service authorized by the state. This vendor will then electronically transmit the fingerprint to the Department of Criminal Justice Services with the result of the search subsequently mailed to the applicant. Each complete set of electronic fingerprints costs $63.50. Contact the vendor at (877) 472-6915 to get information on acceptable payment methods and required forms of identification.
Note that a New York criminal record review does not contain information about sealed/suppressed portions of the record. The request ultimately yields a “no record found” result or a rap sheet containing all criminal history records.
Authorized employers and licensing entities can make requests for fingerprint-based criminal history records. All requests must be made using the Request for Access to Criminal History Record Information Form. For additional queries, contact the office at (518) 457-8413 or send a mail to:
Office of Legal Services
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
RE: Criminal History Record Information Access Inquiry
Alfred E. Smith Building
80 South Swan Street
Albany, NY 12210
E-Mail: dcjslegalservices@dcjs.ny.gov
The Records Division of the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office handles all requests for incident and accident reports generated by its officers. It is important to note that only public information is made available to requesters that are not directly involved in the incidents and accidents recorded.
Make a request for any of these police documents by completing the Application For Public Access to Records Form. Contact the office’s staff at (607) 737-2948 to get information about copy fees and acceptable payment methods. Take the completed form along with appropriate payment to the address below:
Chemung County Sheriff’s Office
203 William St
Elmira, NY 14902
Other law enforcement agencies in Chemung County also perform criminal history checks and issue copies of incident records, accident records, and other public records for events that occurred within their respective jurisdictions. Below are their addresses and contact details:
Elmira City Police Department
317 E Church Street
Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 737-8600
Elmira College Campus Police
1 Park Plaza
Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 735-1776
Elmira Heights Police Department
215 Elmwood Avenue
Elmira Heights, NY 14903
(607) 733-6580
Elmira Town Police Department
1255 W Water Street
Elmira, NY 14905
(607) 734-2031
Horseheads Police Department
202 S Main Street
Horseheads, NY 14845
(607) 739-5668
Southport Police Department
1139 Pennsylvania Avenue
Elmira, NY 14904
(607) 734-3637
By law, New York law enforcement agencies do not provide public access to level 1 sex offenders. Call the DCJS at (800) 262-3257 any time from Monday through Friday between 8:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. to obtain information on these low-risk sexual offenders. Note that callers must provide the names, addresses, date of births, driver’s license numbers/social security numbers of the individuals of interest.
Search the Offender Watch web page provided by the Chemung County Sheriff's Office to view level 2 and level 3 sex offenders living near selected neighborhoods and residential areas. To perform a statewide search for these high-risk sexual offenders, visit the Sex Offender Registry maintained by the Division of Criminal Justice Services.
There are three major detention institutions located in Chemung County. Below are their addresses and contact details:
Chemung County Jail
211 William St
Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 737-2934
Elmira Correctional Facility
1879 Davis Street
Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 734-3901
NYSDOC Southport Correctional Facility
236 Bob Masia Drive
Pine City, NY 14871
(607) 737-0850
While the Chemung County Jail is maintained by the county sheriff’s office, the other two correctional facilities are maintained by the New York Department of Corrections.
Interested persons can fund the accounts of inmates in Chemung County Jail by visiting the incarceration center during visitation time (Monday through Friday between 6:30 a.m. and 1:15 p.m.). Alternatively, send a money order or check to the jail’s mail. The administrative officer will approve and deposit the money into the inmate’s account.
The New York Department of Corrections and Community Supervision maintains a central inmate search tool to help citizens locate prisoners incarcerated in state-managed facilities. Use this inmate lookup service when searching for inmates booked into Elmira Correctional Facility and Southport Correctional Facility.
Visit the kiosk or cashier’s office at the respective facilities to pay cash into an inmate’s commissary account. Interested persons can also send money to inmates online or by phone via the JPay, the payment processor approved by the New York Department of Corrections for commissary services.
Court Records
The Chemung County trial court system comprises the Chemung County Supreme Court, County Court, Family Court, Surrogate Court, City Court, Town Courts, Justice Courts, and Village Courts.
These courts have varying jurisdictions and preside over different types of cases. For instance, the Chemung County Supreme Court has general authority over all serious criminal and civil cases while the Chemung County Court handles cases that are beyond the authority of the other lower courts. While the Chemung County Family Court handles domestic and juvenile cases, the county’s Surrogate court handles all cases pertaining to wills and estate management. On the other hand, the Chemung County’s town, village, and justice courts preside over small civil claims, ordinance violations, and misdemeanors occurring within their borders.
Pay a visit to the particular courthouse where the case of interest was handled to inspect and request copies of its records. Before going to any courthouse, make sure to call to enquire about acceptable request methods, copy fees, and payment methods.
The New York State Unified Court System (NYUCS) provides public access to a searchable database where interested persons can search for public case files and court decisions. Use this database to view information on cases handled by Chemung County trial courts.
The NYUCS also provides access to pending and active civil and criminal cases that have been filed in the trial courts via the e-Tracker Web Portal.
Below are the addresses and contact details of all the courts in Chemung County:
Chemung County Supreme Court
Hazlett Building
224 Lake Street, P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9450
Fax: (607) 963-6605
Chemung County Court
Hazlett Building
224 Lake Street, P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9430
Fax: (212) 952-7227
Chemung County Family Court
203-209 William Street, P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9500
Fax: (212) 884-8950
Chemung County Surrogate's Court
Hazlett Building
203-205 Lake Street, P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902
Phone: (607) 873-9440
Fax: (646) 963-6606
Elmira City Court
317 East Church Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Phone: (607) 873-9520
Fax: (212) 401-9240
Ashland Town Court
3663 Sixth Street
Wellsburg, NY 14894
(607) 398-7119 ext. 1
Baldwin Town Court
622 Breesport - North Chemung Road
Lowman, NY 14861
Phone: (607) 398-7208
Fax: (607) 733-7384
Big Flats Town Court
476 Maple Street
Big Flats, NY 14814
Phone: (607) 562-8443 ext. 233
Fax: (607) 562-8796
Catlin Town Court
1448 Chambers Road
Beaver Dams, NY 14812
Phone: (607) 739-5598 ext. 3
Fax: (607) 795-1740
Chemung Justice Court
48 Rotary Road Extension
Chemung, NY 14825
Phone: (607) 529-3532 ext. 2
Fax: (607) 529-9385
Elmira Heights Village Court
215 Elmwood Avenue
Elmira Heights, NY 14903
Phone: (607) 737-6750
Fax: (607) 737-6751
Elmira Town Court
1255 West Water Street
Elmira, NY 14905
Phone: (607) 734-5971
Fax: (607) 734-4089
Erin Town Court
1138 Breesport Road
Erin, NY 14838
Phone: (607) 739-8681 ext. 2
Fax: (607) 739-3313
Horseheads Town Court
150 Wygant Road
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-2113
Fax: (607) 796-6543
Horseheads Village Court
202 South Main Street
Horseheads, NY 14845
Phone: (607) 739-0158
Fax: (607) 796-0263
Southport Town Court
Town Hall
1139 Pennsylvania Avenue
Elmira, NY 14904
Phone: (607) 734-4446
Fax: (607) 737-3606
Van Etten Town Court
83 Main Street, P.O. Box 177
Van Etten, NY 14889
Phone: (607) 589-4925
Fax: (607) 589-4925
Veteran Justice Court
4049 Watkins Road
Millport, NY 14864
Phone: (607) 739-3337
Fax: (607) 739-1729
Wellsburg Village Court
3663 6th Street
Wellsburg, NY 14894
(607) 732-0723
Vital Records
Vital records in Chemung County include divorce decrees, divorce certificates, marriage certificates, birth records, and death records. These records are not public records and can only be obtained by persons named on the records or those with relevant court orders.
Chemung County divorce decrees are available from the Clerk of the County Supreme Court. Speak with the clerk at (607) 873-9450 to get information about copy fees, record certification, and request methods.
Chemung County divorce certificates are available from the Vital Records Section of the New York Department of Health. Visit this office to order copies of a divorce certificate. To order copies of divorce certificates by mail, provide the required information using the Mail-in Application for Copy of Divorce Certificate. Deliver the completed form along with a current state-issued ID; self-addressed stamped envelope; and appropriate fees to:
New York State Department of Health Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Each divorce certificate costs $30 when requested by mail and $45 when requested in person.
Visit the Chemung County Clerk’s Office to make a marriage certificate request. Contact the office beforehand to get directions on what to bring along. The Clerk’s Office is located at:
210 Lake Street
Elmira, NY 14901
(607) 737-2920
Alternatively, request for marriage certificates from the Vital Records Section of the New York Department of Health. Start by downloading, printing, and completing a Mail-in Application for Marriage Certificate. Bring this, along with the required copy fees; and a valid photo ID issued by the government, school, or an employer, to the New York Vital Records Office in Albany.
This office is open to the public during weekdays between 8:30 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. The Vital Records Office charges $45 for each marriage certificate requested in person. Cash, check, and money order are accepted means of payment.
To submit a mail request, send the completed application, fees, and copy of a valid photo ID to:
New York State Department of Health Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Only money orders and checks are accepted for mail requests. Make these payable to New York State Department of Health.
Follow the same procedures to apply for certified copies of birth certificates and death certificates from the New York State Department of Health. Submit an Application for Birth Certificate to request for copies of a birth certificate and use Application for Death Certificate for copies of a death certificate. Fees and payment methods for birth and death certificates are the same as for divorce and marriage certificates.
Birth records and death records that were registered in Chemung County from 1875 to the present are also available from the Chemung County Health Department. Contact the Vital Records Division at (607) 737-2018 to schedule an appointment. The office is located at:
Peter A. Chalk Pavilion
Chemung County Health Center
103 Washington Street
Elmira, NY 14901
Fax: (607) 737-0437
It is also possible to request these vital records from the Chemung County Health Department by mail. To do so, send a completed Application for a Certified Birth and Death Certificate along with a valid government-issued ID; a self-addressed stamped envelope; and applicable fees to:
Chemung County Vital Records
P.O. Box 588
Elmira, NY 14902-0588
Each certified copy of a birth or death certificate requested from the Chemung Local Health Department costs $15.
