What Are Rochester City Public Records?
In stipulation with the FOIL, Rochester City public records are information filed, kept, and issued by governmental agencies at the local and state level. These include documents, reports, images, audio/videotapes, and files produced in any physical form. Generally, Rochester public records are accessible to interested persons except in cases records contain confidential information. Such records may be exempted or redacted from public's inspection if they contain:
- Information infringing on personal privacy
- Trade secrets
- Names of sex crime victims
- Some law enforcement records that may impair judicial proceedings, disclose an informant/confidential information, impair the right to a fair trial, or reveal investigative procedures
- Inter-agency or intra- agency materials except for external audits, statistical/factual data, staff instructions that affect the public, and final agency policies or determinations
- Information containing personnel or medical information
- Information invading attorney-client privilege
- Information specifically exempted by state or federal statute
- Records that may impair existing or imminent contract awards or negotiations if revealed
- Information that may endanger an individual’s life or safety if revealed
- Examination questions and answers requested before final administration of such questions
- Information that may harm the security of an agency, entity, or its agents
Rochester City Crime Statistics
According to the crime statistics provided by the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS), Rochester City Police Department indexed 8,686 crimes in 2019, consisting of 1,542 violent crimes and 7,144 property crimes. Subcategories of violent crimes include 33 murders, 102 rape cases, 430 robberies, and 977 cases of aggravated assaults. On the other hand, property crimes included 1,269 burglaries, 5,222 larceny cases, and 653 motor vehicle thefts. Compared to the 2018 crime rates, there was a 0.4% increase in indexed crimes, with violent crimes reducing by 4.5% while property crimes rose by 1.5%.
Are Rochester City Criminal Records Public?
Not all Rochester City criminal records are available to members of the public. Sealed criminal records are exempted from public disclosure and only accessible by authorized persons, including the record’s subject, law enforcement agencies, and legally authorized persons. For instance, the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) only processed criminal history requests for personal review, licensing, or employment into certain agencies. Third-party requests are not accepted.
Interested parties may ask to review personal criminal records from the division or send the completed Request for CHRI Access Form along with requirements to the DCJS at:
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Alfred E. Smith Building
80 South Swan Street,
Albany, NY 12210
Email: dcjslegalservices@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: (518) 457-8413
Local criminal history checks are also available at the Rochester Police Department. Make walk-in requests by completing an application in person, paying a $25 fee in cash, credit card, or money order, and providing two means of identification i.e. a social security card and any of the following:
- Driver license
- Learner permit
- Non-driver photo ID card or passport
How to Obtain Police Reports and Arrest Records
The Rochester Police Department provides access to Rochester City arrest records, accident reports, crime reports, and other police reports. Accident reports are available at the City Public Safety Building, 185 Exchange Boulevard during work hours. Interested persons can make requests in person for 25 cents per copy page or by making FOIL requests. Involved parties may obtain a free copy online.
For Rochester arrest records, call (585) 428-5990 Crime victims or reporters may access crime reports providing valid identification and 25 cents per page copy, while uninvolved persons should make FOIL requests online.
Similarly, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provides access to accident and crime reports following online FOIL requests or walk-in visits to 130 South Plymouth Avenue, Rochester, during work hours.
How to Find Sex Offender Information in Rochester City
Sex offender information is publicly available at the city, county, and state levels. The Rochester Police Department provides online offender mapping, the Monroe County Sheriff’s Office provides a public registry, and the NYS Division of Criminal Justice Services maintains a statewide registry. Interested persons may find offenders by searching these databases according to name, location, or other offender information.
How to Find Rochester City Inmate Records
The Monroe County Sheriff Office files and maintains information on inmates held in the county jail. The office provides an online roster that contains information on current inmates in the County Jail. For further details, contact the jail bureau at:
Phone: (585) 753-4300
Fax: (585) 753-4051
How Do I Visit an Inmate in Rochester City Jail?
Individuals interested in visiting inmates in any Monroe Correctional Faculty should request online visits on the Downtown Jail visitation form or Andrew P. Meloni (Henrietta) visitation form. Persons under 18 years of age must submit the filled Visitation Permission for Minors form, while adults may also schedule downtown visits in person or by calling (585) 753-4000
Each inmate housed in either facility may receive two one-hour visits weekly, and all visits are scheduled one week beforehand. Visitors must take along valid government-issued identification and should be in the facility at least 15 minutes ahead of schedule to avoid cancellation. The visitation schedules are as follows:
Monroe County Jail
Mondays to Fridays:
8:45 a.m. - 9:45 a.m.
9:45 a.m. - 10:45 a.m.
10:45 a.m. - 11:45 a.m.
1:00 p.m. - 2:00 p.m.
2:00 p.m. - 3:00 p.m.
3:00 p.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Andrew P. Meloni: STAR Academy
Tuesdays:
9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
All visits take place in the facility’s visitation area. Visitors are subject to search, and all personal items and electronic devices are prohibited unless approved before the visit. Additional information on professional visits is available online.
Court Records
Rochester City court records include all materials, case files, transcripts, dockets, and other documents generated, gathered, maintained, and issued by a court in the city to provide information of court proceedings and actions. Listed below are the locations and contact details of some of the courthouses in Rochester City:
Monroe County Supreme Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard,
Room 545,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3758
Fax: (585) 371-3780
Monroe County Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard,
Room 545,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3758
Fax: (585) 371-3780
Monroe County Family Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard,
Room 360,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3544
Fax: (585) 371-3585
Monroe County Surrogate's Court
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard,
Room 541,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3310
Fax: (585) 371-3313
Rochester City Court – Civil Division
Hall of Justice
99 Exchange Boulevard,
Room 6,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3412
Fax: (585) 371-3427
Rochester City Court – Criminal Division
Public Safety Building
130 South Plymouth Avenue,
Room 123,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 371-3413
Fax: (585) 371-3430
Brighton Town Court
2300 Elmwood Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14618
Phone: (585) 784-5152
Fax: (585) 784-5380
Chili Town Court
3235 Chili Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: (585) 889-1999
Fax: (585) 889-8932
Gates Town Court
1605 Buffalo Road,
Rochester, NY 14624
Phone: (585) 426-0410
Fax: (585) 247-5328
Henrietta Town Court
135 Calkins Road,
Suite G,
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone: (585) 359-2640
Fax: (585) 359-8706
Irondequoit Town Court
1300 Titus Avenue,
Rochester, NY 14617
Phone: (585) 336-6040
Are Rochester City Court Records Public?
Not all Rochester court records are public. By law, some court records are restricted from public disclosure due to their confidentiality status or if they contain personal information. Such records include:
- Law enforcement records that may impair judicial proceedings, disclose an informant/confidential information, impair the right to a fair trial, or reveal investigative procedures
- Information that may endanger an individual’s life or safety if revealed
- Information that may infringe on personal privacy if disclosed
- Information or communications subject to attorney-client privilege
- Sealed or expunged records
- Records of closed proceedings
How to Obtain Rochester City Civil Court Case Records
The Monroe County Clerk maintains and issues civil court case records. Interested persons can obtain Rochester civil court case records by mail, email, or in-person requests to:
Office of the Monroe County Clerk
39 West Main Street,
Room 101
Rochester, NY 14614
Email: MCClerk@monroecounty.gov
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Requestors must provide information such as the record's index number to aid the search. The office charges $5 for every two years searched if requestors cannot provide the case’s index number.
How to Obtain Rochester City Criminal Court Records
Interested persons can obtain Rochester criminal court records from the Monroe County Clerk’s Office. To obtain record copies, requestors must provide information such as the record’s case number, year of filing, and party names to aid in locating the requested file. Requestors can forward by mail, email, or physical queries to:
Office of the County Clerk
39 West Main Street,
Room 101,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Email: mcclerk@monroecounty.gov
What Are Rochester City Vital Records?
Rochester vital records are official government documents that contain information on life events such as births, deaths, marriages, and divorces of residents living in the city. Most Rochester vital records are obtainable locally by applying to the Monroe County Department of Health. Similarly, the New York Department of Health maintains a statewide registry of vital records of residents living within the state. Hence, interested individuals can obtain records from the department.
Where and How to Obtain Rochester City Divorce Records
The Monroe County Clerk maintains records of divorces that occurred within the county. Requests for Rochester divorce records can be obtained in person, by mail, or by email. However, only eligible persons such as the record’s subject, defendant, and attorneys can review and obtain a divorce file. Third-party persons can review a Rochester divorce record if authorized by a court order. To obtain a copy of the divorce record, requestors must submit a form of identification along with the request to:
The Monroe County Clerk
39 West Main Street,
Room 105,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 753-1600
Email: MCClerk@monroecounty.gov
Similarly, the Monroe County Vital Records Unit issues divorce decrees and certificates of divorces that occurred within the state from January 1, 1963, till the present. Eligible persons such as record's subject, either spouse and persons with a New York State court order can obtain a divorce record from the department.
To obtain a Rochester divorce record, requestors must submit an application form along with a valid government-issued ID and charge fees of $45 through walk-ins, by mail, or online. Requestors can forward queries to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Email: vr@health.ny.gov
Where and How to Get Confidential Marriage Records in Rochester City
All marriage records in Rochester City are considered public and accessible to members of the public. However, certified copies of marriage records are only accessible to eligible persons such as a named spouse, a parent or legal guardian, or persons authorized by New York State court order.
Where and How to Get Public Rochester City Marriage Records
The Office of the City-Clerk maintains and processes requests for marriage licenses and records that took place in the city of Rochester. As stipulated by the New York Health Code, marriage records can only be issued to eligible persons such as:
- Either spouse
- A parent or legal guardian
- Persons authorized by New York State court order
Eligible persons can obtain public Rochester City marriage records via in-person queries or by mail. To obtain Rochester marriage records, eligible requestors must submit a completed application form, valid government-issued ID, and $40 service fee to the:
Office of the City Clerk
City Hall
30 Church Street,
Rochester, NY 14614
Phone: (585) 428-7538
Email: council@cityofrochester.gov
The Vital Records Unit of the New York Department of Health also files and issues copies of Rochester City marriage records from 1880 till date. Eligible persons can obtain marriage records through in-person requests, by mail, or online queries. To obtain Rochester marriage records, requestors must submit a filled application, along with a valid government-issued ID and charge fees of $45 payable to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Email: vr@health.ny.gov
Send mail-in requests to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Where and How to Find Rochester City Birth Records
The Monroe County Vital Records Department files and issues certified copies of birth records of individuals born within the city from 1880 till the present. To obtain certified copies of Rochester birth records, interested persons must submit a completed application form, government-issued ID, and a $30 charge fee payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Requestors can submit requests in-person, mail, online order, or telephone queries to:
Monroe County Department of Health
740 East Henrietta Road,
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone: (585) 753-5141
Fax: (585) 753-5961
However, as stipulated by the New York Health Code, Rochester birth records are only available to eligible persons, such as the person named on the certificate, the subject's family members, and persons authorized by court order. Similarly, the New York Department of Health maintains and issues certified copies of birth records from 1881 to the present to eligible applicants.
Requestors can obtain Rochester birth record in-person, by mail, or online request to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Email: vr@health.ny.gov
For copies of a birth record, requestors must submit a completed application form, a valid government-issued ID, and charge fees of $45 payable by cash, credit card, or money order.
Mail forms to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
P.O. Box 2602
Albany, NY 12220-2602
Where and How to Find Rochester City Death Records
The Vital Records department files and issues certified copies of death records that occurred within the city from 1880 to the present. In compliance with the New York Health code, authorized copies of Rochester death certificates can only be issued to:
- Surviving spouse listed on the certificate
- Parents
- Children
- Siblings
- Persons with documented lawful claim or right
- Persons with documented medical claim or right
- New York court order
To obtain certified copies of Rochester death records, interested persons must submit a completed application form, a government-issued ID, and a $30 charge fee payable by cash, check, money order, or credit card. Individuals can submit requests in-person, mail, online order, or telephone queries to:
Monroe County Department of Health
740 East Henrietta Road,
Rochester, NY 14623
Phone: (585) 753-5141
Fax: (585) 753-5961
The Vital Records Unit of the New York Department of Health maintains and issues certified copies of death records from 1881 to the present to eligible persons. Requestors can obtain Rochester death record by submitting requests in-person, mail, or online request to:
New York State Department of Health
Vital Records Certification Unit
Corning Tower
Empire State Plaza
Albany, NY 12237
Email: vr@health.ny.gov
To obtain a death record from the department, requestors must submit a completed application form, a valid government-issued ID, and charge fees of $45 payable by cash, credit card, or money order.
