What is an Arrest Warrant?
A warrant of arrest is issued by a criminal court directing a law enforcement officer to arrest a defendant and bring him before the court. An arrest warrant is not a statement of guilt. An arrest warrant’s sole function is to compel the defendant’s appearance before the court in a criminal action for arraignment.
Warrant searches in Cattaraugus County, NY
The best source for searching active warrants is the Cattaraugus County Sheriff’s Office. The Sheriff’s Office maintains a list of active warrants on its website in addition to a list of the ten most wanted fugitives for Cattaraugus County. Victims of crimes can sign up for the New York Sheriff’s Victim Hotline through the Sheriff’s website to receive a notification when an inmate’s status changes. If you need more information about outstanding warrants, I would strongly suggest contacting the Sheriff’s Office in person at 301 Court Street, Little Valley, NY 14755.
Cattaraugus County is in the 8th Judicial District for New York. Numerous lower courts within the county can issue arrest warrants, which makes warrant searches difficult in Cattaraugus County. The county courts guide provides contact information for each of the county courts. To search criminal records, you must contact the individual courts for information. Some offices may provide data by telephone; however, the majority of offices will require you to appear in person to search court records.
For more information about crimes in New York, you can research the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services website. The website has news, helpful links, and information about the criminal justice system in New York.
Can you get any information about Cattaraugus County warrants and arrest over the phone? (2021-Update).
The Sheriff’s Office can be contacted by dialing the main phone number of the agency- (716) 938-9191. Then, you can reach the various divisions by using the extensions listed below:
- Details on recent arrests: ext. 2200
- Details about a criminal case filed by you: ext. 2225
- Information on arrest warrants: ext. 2203
- Arrest records and police reports, including accident/incident reports: ext. 2399
- Inmate records: Call the Cattaraugus County Jail at (716) 938-9194.
- Automated victim notification: Register by calling the toll-free phone number 1-888-846-3469.
- Judicial records: (716) 379-6640 (Cattaraugus County Court), (716) 379-6639 (Supreme Court).
Crime rates in Cattaraugus, NY
From 2019 and 2020, the crime rate of Cattaraugus County decreased from 932 incidents to 854 incidents. Of the annual crime total, the maximum number of complaints, at 730, were filed against property crimes. In this crime category, 136 cases were attributed to burglary and over 540 were filed against larceny-theft. Violent crimes led to the filing of nearly 130 complaints in 2020.
Compared to ten similar counties, Cattaraugus County ranked number one for the highest crime rates between 1999 and 2008, including violent and non-violent crime rates. During the ten years, crime rates within the county increased by over 70%, with violent crimes growing by over 90%.
Are there any other ways to locate criminal court records in Cattaraugus, NY?
Court cases are required to be accessible to the public; this means that any time your name appears on court dockets, theoretically, you should be able to find information about it via public records.
Unfortunately, due to the high volume of deals each day, clerks cannot appropriately document the public records. That is why I always tell people to contact the county courts directly. You can speak to the clerks over the phone, but if I were advising someone on how to get their documentation, I would tell them to go down to the courthouse in person.
Before you go to the courthouse, make sure you have all the paperwork necessary. Otherwise, you will have waited in those lines for no reason. The only documentation you will need is your state-issued identification card. That should be enough to get what you need, but I generally tell my clients to have a second form of identification with you just in case one is requested.
What is the Police Blotter, and How Can It Help You?
The “police blotter” is the book that cops will use when they make an arrest. This is not only used for seizures, but it also extends to any police report. Even if you are not wrong and have committed no crimes, your name will appear in the blotter if you have any interaction with a police officer.
Police logs are highly relevant because it is the only way that they can keep up with all of the interactions they have throughout the day. These police records are meant to keep up with what is going on and provide documentation for their businesses. But they are also intended to ensure transparency.
Police logs are also open to public viewing, and this is a fact that I feel too many people are unaware of. These logbooks are supposed to be set up because every time an officer goes on a call, you should see it written down in the log. When I want to know how an officer acts on his job and how productive he is at policing his neighborhood, I go straight to the police blotters and police logs.
