About
Agency Mission
DCJS enhances public safety by providing resources and services that inform decision making and improve the quality of the criminal justice system.
The agency provides direct training to law enforcement and other criminal justice professionals; oversees a law enforcement accreditation program; ensures Breathalyzer and speed enforcement equipment used by local law enforcement operate correctly; manages criminal justice grant funds; analyzes statewide crime and program data; provides research support; oversees county probation departments and alternatives to incarceration programs; and coordinates juvenile justice policy.
DCJS maintains criminal history records and fingerprint files and performs background checks for employment and licensure. The agency also administers the state’s Sex Offender Registry; the Missing Persons Clearinghouse; the state's DNA Databank in cooperation with the New York State Police Forensic Investigation Center; and provides staff support to independently appointed commissions and councils, including the New York State Commission on Forensic Science, which monitors and accredits the state’s forensic laboratories.
Contact
General information, suggestions, comments may be directed to:
New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services
Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
80 South Swan St.
Albany, New York 12210
InfoDCJS@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-457-5837
Toll-Free: 1-800-262-3257
Office/Unit Contact Information
Note: All offices/units are located in the Alfred E. Smith State Office Building
State Law Prohibits DCJS from:
- Providing information on another individual's criminal history.
- Providing legal services or advice. If you need legal advice you should contact a local attorney or Bar Association or the New York State Bar Association at http://www.nysba.org (look under Lawyer Referral and Information Service) or by calling, toll-free, 1-800-342-3661. If you have a legal problem and cannot afford a lawyer, contact the public defense organization in your community. Addresses of these organizations can be found at this site in the Directory of Criminal Justice Agencies.
- Providing relief in consumer matters. If you have a consumer complaint you may wish to contact the Office of the New York State Attorney General (look under Consumer Issues) or by calling, toll-free, 1-800-771-7755. Another resource is the Division of Consumer Protection in the New York State Department of State: www.dos.ny.gov or 1-800-697-1220, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday.
- Investigating allegations of misconduct concerning police officers, district attorneys, or other government officials.
- Providing investigating complaints concerning judges. If you have such a complaint, you may wish to contact the State Commission on Judicial Conduct. The mailing address is:
New York State Commission on Judicial Conduct
38-40 State Street
Albany, New York 12207
Freedom of Information Law (FOIL) Requests
Criminal History Records/Rap Sheets
DCJS allows individuals to obtain and review their own criminal history record, commonly known as a rap sheet, for the purpose of challenging the accuracy and completeness of that record; this process is known as a personal record review. (Note: link that here to the personal record review tab: http://www.criminaljustice.ny.gov/ojis/recordreview.htm
Individuals may also request a copy of their own criminal history record for personal use. If no record exists, a statement to that effect will be provided.
The media and others cannot request criminal history records/rap sheets for another person. Access to New York State criminal history record information for employment or licensure is only permitted by regulation or if there is a state law, federal law, or local law of a New York State village, town, city or county that specifically authorizes a fingerprint-based criminal history record background check.
For law enforcement agencies or officers with questions about criminal history records or requests to update/modify arrest information:
- Visit the eJusticeNY Integrated Justice Portal (hotlink here: https://www.ejustice.ny.gov/
- E-mail the Customer Contact Center: PortalHelpDesk@ejusticeny.ny.gov.
Sex Offender Registry
Registry Search: 518-457-5837 or 1-800-262-3257
Note: The Registry is staffed from 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
Main Line: 518-417-3384
SORRequests@dcjs.ny.gov
More information about the Registry
Criminal Justice Publications, Research and Statistics
Office of Justice Research and Performance
dcjsstats@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-457-7301
Crime Reporting by Law Enforcement Agencies
Incident Based Reporting: infonysibr@dcjs.ny.gov
Uniform Crime Reporting: infonysucr@dcjs.ny.gov
Employment
Office of Human Resources Management
dcjshrm@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-485-1704
Forensic Services
DNA Databank, Commission on Forensic Science and Laboratory Accreditation Program
forensics@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-457-1901
Fax: 518-457-9384
Funding and Grants
Office of Program Development and Funding
funding@dcjs.ny.gov
Administration: 518-457-8462
Byrne Justice Assistance Grants (Byrne/JAG): 518-457-8422
Youth Justice: 518-457-3670
Motor Vehicle/Local Law Enforcement Grants: 518-457-8404
State Aid Programs: 518-485-9905
Violence Against Women Act (VAWA) Grants: 518-457-9726
Law Enforcement Training, Accreditation
Program-specific e-mail addresses
Phone: 518-457-2667
Media
Janine Kava, Director of Public Information
Janine.Kava@dcjs.ny.gov or pressinfo@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 518-457-8828
Missing Persons Clearinghouse
Help and information about children, college students or vulnerable adults reported missing
missingpersons@dcjs.ny.gov
Phone: 1-800-346-3543
Crime Victims Resources
- New York State Office of Victim Services
- New York State Office for the Prevention of Domestic Violence
- New York State Prison/Inmate Lookup
- New York State Parolee Lookup
- Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE)