An outstanding warrant for your arrest is a serious matter. In New York, lower courts issue arrest warrants based upon law enforcement officers’ complaints or other sources. The judges must find that probable cause exists before issuing an arrest warrant. Probable cause means that a reasonable person would believe that the suspect committed the crime alleged based on the facts presented. Once the warrant is issued, it is directed to law enforcement agencies for service.
Chemung County warrant searches
Because several courts may issue arrest warrants within each county, the easiest way to search for outstanding warrants is to check with the Chemung County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office is located at 203 William Street in Elmira, NY 14902 (telephone: 607-737-2987). However, you can view active warrants online without the need to contact the office directly. The Sheriff’s Office also performs background checks, but you must have the consent of the person being searched when requesting the report.
Since more than one court in Chemung County may issue arrest warrants, searching through arrest records in each court may be difficult. However, if you suspect which court may have issued the warrant, you may contact the court’s clerk directly to request information. The Chemung County Courts Guide contains telephone numbers, addresses, and other information to assist you in your warrant search.
If you find an outstanding arrest warrant in your name, you should contact an attorney before doing anything else. Finding out your rights is the first step in defending yourself against an arrest warrant.
How do you get information on Chemung County arrests and warrants over the phone? (2021-Update)
- To get a warrant search done, call the Records Division at 607-737-2948 or 607-737-2937.
- To find out about recent arrests, dial the phone number of Chemung County Jail-607-737-2934.
- To learn the procedure for a local criminal background check, call the Records Division at 607-737-2931.
- To get a certified statement of a criminal conviction and know more about accessing criminal judicial records, call the Chief Clerk of Court at 607-873-9450.
- To file a non-emergency complaint, contact Sheriff’s dispatch at 607-737-2987.
Crime Statistics for Chemung County, New York
The crime rate of Chemung County decreased by approximately 8% in 2020 as compared to 2019, when the police registered around 1625 cases. Of the 1500 complaints filed in 2020, over 170 were against violent crimes. These involved 110 cases of aggravated assault, nearly 30 cases of rape, and around 30 of robbery.
Property crimes accounted for almost 1330 complaints in 2020. Of these, 1133 were against larceny-theft and more than 130 were against burglary.
Between 2001 and 2008, approximately 78% of the crimes committed in Chemung County were theft-related, with roughly 7% of the violent crimes. The crime rate in Chemung County was meager during the first four years, below 600 each year; however, beginning in 2005, crimes escalated rapidly to almost 2,400 per year. Compared to ten other similar counties, Chemung County ranked second highest for crimes per 1,000 people during that period.