Access Buffalo Booking Reports
Buffalo booking reports are filed at the Erie County Holding Center each time someone is arrested and processed in the city. The Buffalo Police Department at (716) 851-4444 handles most arrests, and the Erie County Sheriff's Office runs the detention facility where booking takes place. Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County and the second largest city in New York. Searching for Buffalo booking reports means working with county-level agencies since the holding center serves all of Erie County. This page walks through who to contact, what records are available, and how to get copies of booking reports tied to arrests in Buffalo.
Buffalo Booking Reports Overview
Where Buffalo Booking Reports Are Created
The Buffalo Police Department makes arrests in the city. Their main number is (716) 851-4444. After an arrest, the person goes to the Erie County Holding Center at 40 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202. That is where the booking report gets created. The Erie County Sheriff's Office at 10 Delaware Avenue manages the facility. Their main line is (716) 858-7618.
The holding center is a pretrial, maximum security facility. It has 638 beds and processes over 20,000 inmates each year. The Erie County Correctional Facility at 11581 Walden Avenue in Alden holds sentenced inmates. That facility's phone number is (716) 937-9100. Both facilities fall under the Sheriff's Office.
Each booking report includes the person's full name, date of birth, home address, physical description, all charges filed, the arresting agency, date and time of arrest, bail or bond amount, and a unique booking number. Mugshots are taken during the booking process. The report stays on file at the Sheriff's Office indefinitely.
How to Search Buffalo Booking Reports
Contact the Erie County Sheriff's Office. You can call (716) 858-7618 for current inmate status. For copies of a booking report, submit a FOIL request in writing. Send it to the Records Access Officer at 10 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202 or email sheriff@erie.gov. Include the person's name, date of birth, and arrest date.
The agency has five business days to respond under New York's Freedom of Information Law. They must either provide the records, deny with a stated reason, or acknowledge receipt with a timeline. Standard copies cost $0.25 per page. In-person inspection of records is free.
Buffalo City Court handles criminal arraignments for people arrested in the city. Court records are separate from booking reports. The Erie County Clerk at 92 Franklin Street, Buffalo, NY 14202 maintains criminal case files. Their number is (716) 858-8785. They handle over 2 million transactions per year.
Note: Always search multiple spelling variations of names when looking through Erie County records since the Clerk's online system may index names differently than expected.
Buffalo Booking Reports Resources
The City of Buffalo website provides access to city departments including the police department and links to public records resources for residents and the general public.
The city site is a good starting point for finding the right department to contact about Buffalo booking reports, FOIL requests, and court records.
Erie County Holding Center Visitation
If you need to visit someone who was recently booked at the holding center, the schedule is limited. Monday is day shift only, from 7:30 AM to 12:00 PM and 1:00 to 2:30 PM. Tuesday through Thursday adds an afternoon shift from 3:30 to 5:30 PM and an evening shift from 6:30 to 10:30 PM. Friday through Sunday the facility is closed for visitation.
The Erie County Correctional Facility in Alden has a similar schedule. Monday is day shift only. Tuesday through Thursday includes day and afternoon visits. Weekends are closed. Visitors must bring valid photo ID. Specific rules on dress code and prohibited items apply. Call ahead to confirm the current schedule.
State Databases for Buffalo Arrests
The DOCCS Incarcerated Lookup shows anyone in a New York state prison. Buffalo arrestees sentenced to over a year transfer from Erie County to state custody. Search by name or birth year. The OCA Criminal History Record Search costs $95 per name and covers all 62 counties.
The VINELink system provides free inmate lookup for the Erie County Holding Center and all state prisons. Register for automatic notifications when an inmate is released, transferred, or escapes. The Committee on Open Government handles questions about FOIL and public records access across the state.
The Sex Offender Registry lets you search Level 2 and 3 offenders online. For Level 1 offenders, call 800-262-3257 with the person's name and one identifier. Staff are available Monday through Friday, 8 AM to 4 PM.
Note: Executive Law Section 296(15) and Correction Law Section 752 prohibit discrimination based on prior convictions unless a direct relationship exists between the offense and the position sought.
Erie County Booking Reports
Buffalo is the county seat of Erie County. The Erie County Holding Center on Delaware Avenue processes all arrests from Buffalo and surrounding communities. The Sheriff's Office maintains booking records for the entire county. Visit the Erie County page for complete contact information, facility details, FOIL procedures, and links to online search tools.
Nearby Cities
These Erie County communities use the same holding center and correctional system for booking.