Division of Criminal Justice Services

Need to review your New York State criminal history or verify that you don’t have a criminal record in the state?

Learn about the Criminal History request process »

Interested in becoming a security guard? Are you a police or peace officer who wants to enhance your skills?

Check out training schedules, requirements »

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vulnerable adults go missing.

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Survivors of 9/11 may be eligible for no-cost healthcare and/or financial compensation through two federal government programs.

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  • New York State's First-Ever Missing Child Rescue Operation Results in Successful Location of 47 Children Reported Missing in Erie County

    The New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) today announced that 47 children who were reported missing in Erie County have been located through a first-of-its-kind Missing Child Rescue Operation in the state. The cases, which involved children who had been reported missing to the Amherst and Buffalo police departments, were solved through a unique collaboration among the Missing Persons Clearinghouse at DCJS, the National Child Protection Task Force, the National Center for Missing & Exploited Children, and law enforcement professionals and private sector partners who convened in late September to review cases at the Scott Bieler Child Advocacy Center at BestHelp in Buffalo.

    Read the press release >>

  • New York State Commercial Security Tax Credit: Applications Now Being Accepted

    The Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) administers the state’s Commercial Security Tax Credit Program. The program provides a tax credit to small retail businesses (50 or fewer employees) that operate a physical location or locations in the state and incur costs associated with retail theft prevention measures. Businesses may be eligible for a $3,000 credit per retail location, depending on the business size and expenses, and must submit their application by Thursday, Oct. 31, 2024.

    More information about the tax credit, including qualifying retail theft prevention measures >>

  • New York State’s Clean Slate Act

    New York State’s Clean Slate Act takes effect Nov. 16, 2024, and provides the state Office of Court Administration (OCA) up to three years to develop the required processes to automatically seal eligible conviction records. Once that work is complete, convictions that meet certain criteria will be sealed for certain civil background check purposes.

    It is important to note that until OCA implements these sealing processes, any criminal history record provided through the DCJS Records Review process will continue to include convictions that eventually will be sealed because of Clean Slate. DCJS cannot seal records until receiving an order from the court to do so.

    NOTE: Records of individuals convicted of sex crimes and non-drug Class A felonies, including murder, will not be sealed. Police departments, sheriffs’ offices, prosecutors, the courts, and any employer permitted by to perform fingerprint-based background checks on job applicants will continue to have access to all criminal records under the law.

    Additional information about the Clean Slate Act >>

  • New York State’s Firearm Laws: Resources and Information

    New York State’s Gun Safety website provides the public, gun owners and gun dealers with comprehensive information about the requirements detailed in state laws. Questions about the new law may be directed to 1-855-LAW-GUNS.

    Gun Safety in New York State >>

    Frequently Asked Questions >>

    Department of Environmental Conservation FAQs >>

    Minimum Standards for Firearm Safety Training >>