Buffalo Warrant Records Database
Buffalo warrant records are managed by the Erie County Sheriff's Office, the Buffalo Police Department, and the courts that serve western New York's largest city. The Erie County Sheriff runs a public active warrants database online, which makes Buffalo one of the easier places in the state to check for open warrants. You can search for arrest warrants, bench warrants, and search warrants through county tools or by reaching out to the right office. This page covers all the details on how to look up warrant records in Buffalo.
Buffalo Warrant Records Overview
Erie County Active Warrants for Buffalo
The Erie County Sheriff's Office Active Warrants database is the best tool for checking warrants in Buffalo. This public list shows names, photos, last known addresses, descriptions, warrant numbers, and the reasons for each warrant. The Sheriff's Office makes an effort to keep this list updated on a regular basis.
If you think an entry is wrong or out of date, call the Warrant Office at (716) 858-3287 between 8:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Friday. If you know where a wanted person is, call (716) 858-2903. All tips stay private. The Sheriff's Office warns that this info can not be used to harass or threaten anyone. Doing so is a crime under New York State law.
The Erie County Sheriff's active warrants page shows a public list of individuals with outstanding warrants in the Buffalo and Erie County area.
This is one of the few counties in New York that posts active warrants online, which gives Buffalo residents a direct way to check for open cases.
Note: The Erie County warrants list may not show every active warrant, and info should always be verified through the Warrant Office.
Buffalo Warrant Records Through Erie County
Buffalo sits in Erie County, and the Erie County Sheriff's Office is at 10 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. The main phone is (716) 858-7618. The office has been accredited by the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services since 2013 and has 141 full-time sworn personnel. You can reach them by phone or submit a FOIL request through their website.
The City of Buffalo website provides links to city services and government resources available to Buffalo residents.
The Buffalo Police Department also handles warrants within city limits. They work with the Sheriff's Office on cases that cross between the city and the county. For felony matters, the Erie County Court has jurisdiction. For misdemeanors and violations, Buffalo City Court handles the cases.
The Erie County government portal connects Buffalo residents to county-level services including the Sheriff's Office, courts, and the County Clerk.
The Erie County Clerk's Office provides online public record search tools, including court filings, criminal court cases, and judgment records. You can search by party name, case number, filing date, or document type.
Types of Warrants in Buffalo
Arrest warrants in Buffalo are issued under CPL 120.10 when a judge has probable cause. They have no end date. Bench warrants come from CPL 530.70 and go out when a person skips a court date in Buffalo City Court or Erie County Court. Search warrants under CPL Article 690 must be backed by a sworn statement and used within ten days.
Under CPL 120.80, arrest warrants can be served any day, at any hour. The officer must tell the person about the warrant and show it if asked. The Erie County Sheriff's Office Jail Management Division operates the detention facilities where people picked up on warrants are held. The Mental Health Unit at 716-858-8095 is available for cases that need special attention.
- Arrest warrants remain active until served or recalled by a judge
- Bench warrants stay open until the person appears in court
- Search warrants expire after ten days if not used
- The Warrant Office at (716) 858-3287 handles questions
- Tips on wanted persons go to (716) 858-2903
Buffalo Warrant Records and FOIL
New York's Freedom of Information Law applies to Buffalo warrant records. Active warrants that have not been served are usually held back. Once a warrant is carried out, the case records often become part of the public court file. FOIL requests can go to the Erie County Clerk or the court. The agency must respond in five business days.
The DCJS criminal history record review lets you check your own rap sheet by sending in fingerprints. Call 518-457-9847 or email RecordReview@dcjs.ny.gov. Under CPL 160.50, records from arrests that end without a conviction get sealed. The Clean Slate Act also provides for sealing of certain older convictions over time.
Nearby Cities with Warrant Records
Other cities near Buffalo in western New York also have warrant records pages.