Buffalo Busted Mugshots

Buffalo arrest records come from two main law enforcement agencies: the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Sheriff's Office. The city has its own police force handling arrests within city limits, while the sheriff runs the county jail and manages inmates held on bail or serving short sentences. Buffalo is the second largest city in New York State, and the arrest volume reflects that. This page covers how to find busted mugshots, request booking records, search court cases, and check inmate status across every relevant agency.

Buffalo Police Department Arrest Records

The Buffalo Police Department handles all arrests within city limits. BPD headquarters is at 74 Franklin Street. Call (716) 851-4444 for general inquiries. The department processes bookings at its central facility, where mugshots are taken and fingerprints recorded.

To get arrest records from BPD, file a FOIL request. Send it to the Buffalo Police Department Records Division. Include the person's name, date of birth if known, and the approximate arrest date. The department must acknowledge your request within five business days under FOIL.

Mugshots are subject to FOIL in New York. That means you can request booking photos as part of your records request. The key exception is sealed records. Under CPL 160.50, dismissed cases and acquittals are sealed automatically. Sealed mugshots cannot be released.

BPD keeps arrest records for 5 years for standard arrests and 25 years for felonies. Older records may be archived or destroyed. If you need records close to those time limits, file your request sooner rather than later.

Erie County Sheriff and Buffalo Booking Records

The Erie County Sheriff's Office at 10 Delaware Avenue runs the county jail system and works alongside BPD on arrest processing. Call (716) 858-7618. The sheriff handles inmates held on bail, awaiting trial, or serving sentences of one year or less.

Central Police Services at 45 Elm Street, (716) 858-6100, coordinates between agencies in Erie County. This is also a contact point for records that span multiple jurisdictions within the county.

The Erie County Holding Center at 40 Delaware Avenue, (716) 858-7638, is where most Buffalo arrestees go after booking if they cannot make bail. The average stay for un-sentenced inmates is about 3 days. Those serving sentences average around 40 days.

The Erie County Correctional Facility at 11581 Walden Avenue in Alden, (716) 937-9101, holds inmates serving longer county sentences. It is a separate facility from the Holding Center. Both fall under the sheriff's authority. You can inquire about inmates at either location by calling directly.

FOIL and Busted Mugshots in Buffalo

The Freedom of Information Law applies to both the Buffalo Police Department and the Erie County Sheriff. Arrest records, booking photos, and incident reports are all subject to FOIL requests. You can file with either agency depending on who holds the records you need.

BPD handles city arrests. The sheriff handles county jail records and booking data for the holding center. Some records overlap, so it helps to know which agency made the arrest. If you are not sure, file with both. There is no fee to submit a FOIL request.

Copies cost $0.25 per page from either agency. Response times vary. Simple requests can come back in a few weeks. Large or complex requests may take months, especially if documents need redaction. You can appeal any denial within 30 days.

The Clean Slate Act, effective November 16, 2024, seals older misdemeanors after three years and certain felonies after eight years from sentence completion. This affects the availability of older Buffalo arrest records. Violent felonies and sex crimes are excluded from automatic sealing.

Buffalo Court Records and Case Search

Buffalo City Court handles misdemeanor arraignments and trials. Felony cases go to Erie County Supreme Court after indictment. The courts are in downtown Buffalo, close to the police headquarters.

WebCrims shows pending criminal cases in Erie County courts. You can search by name or docket number. It updates daily with upcoming court dates and current charges. Closed cases are removed from the system.

The DCJS Record Review provides a fingerprint-based statewide criminal history for $65. The OCA search costs $95 and uses name and date of birth. For thorough background checks, these are the go-to options.

State Databases for Buffalo Arrest Records

The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup shows Buffalo residents in state prison. Search by name or DIN number. Results include facility, earliest release date, and crime of conviction.

The Sex Offender Registry covers all of Erie County including Buffalo. Level 2 and Level 3 offenders are searchable online. Level 1 offenders require a call to 800-262-3257. Buffalo has a significant number of registrants given its population size.

The Erie County Sheriff publishes a jail roster in PDF format online. This list shows current inmates at the Holding Center and Correctional Facility. It updates regularly and is one of the easier ways to check custody status in the Buffalo area without making a phone call.

Buffalo County Records

Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County. For full county-level arrest records and court data, visit the Erie County page.

Nearby Cities