Search Free Brooklyn Public Records & Find Information on Anyone

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Search Free Brooklyn NY Public Records

Access Public Records & Information in Brooklyn New York: marriage, divorce, warrants, arrests, probation, criminal, court, background checks, and all public records.

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Access free public records in Brooklyn New York to find information on anyone.

Records about crimes, probation, warrants, arrests, marriages, divorces, births, deaths, court cases, property ownership, property taxes and more can be accessed thanks to New York’s Freedom of Information Law and the federal government’s Freedom of Information Act (FOIA).

While citizens can access these records, knowing which agencies and databases to use is key. This article will equip locals with the most effective ways to conduct a free public record search and resources to obtain them efficiently.

This resource was written by Attorney Robert Bailey Jr, who holds a Juris Doctorate from Widener University School of Law.

How To Access Arrest Records in Brooklyn New York for Free

When looking for arrest records, you can typically search for this information at the county and city levels. County-level searches are broader and often involve online search tools. City-level searches involve directly contacting local law enforcement agencies.

However, Brooklyn (Kings County)–along with the other four boroughs of New York City–are covered under one large umbrella.

County level searches to find arrest information can be performed with the NYC Department of Corrections and Police Department. Below is information on how to look up arrest records in Brooklyn and obtain police reports.

View Arrestees Booked in the Brooklyn Jail (NY)

An individual can search for arrest record information through the NYC Department of Correction Inmate Tool.¹ This search tool is for all of New York City and its five boroughs (each considered a county), including those incarcerated from Brooklyn–also known as Kings County.

To search with this tool, enter the arrestee’s name, New York state identification (NYSID), booking number or case number. Jail records will include a detailed description of the inmate, including their birth date, sex, race, height and weight.

For incarceration information, you can see the individual’s booking number, arrest date and where they are housed. You can also get information on any bond that may be applicable.

The next section contains the “Charge Information”. Here, you can view the docket number, indictment information, and the charge brought against the defendant. This information can be valuable for performing a separate criminal record search, which will be discussed later in this article.

Below the “Charges” you can find warrant information if that is applicable for the particular inmate.

Note: If you are looking to find someone’s mugshot, searchers should be aware that their public availability was largely removed with a 2019 amendment to New York’s Freedom of Information Law. 

The NYC Department of Corrections also provides inmate release information through the Victim Information & Notification Everyday (VINE) program.² The VINE program provides a 24-hour hotline that can be used to check the custody status of an arrestee incarcerated in a NYC Department of Corrections jail. You can call the hotline at 888-846-3469.

If you have additional questions about arrest records, you can reach out to the NYC Department of Corrections Office of Constituent & Grievance Services (OCGS) by phone at 718-546-1500 and by email at [email protected]. They are available Monday through Friday, from 8:00 AM – 5:00 PM.

You can also write or go directly to the following address:

New York City Department of Corrections
75-20 Astoria Boulevard
East Elmhurst, New York 11370

You can also consider calling the Brooklyn Detention Complex directly at 718-546-0700 and ask about locating a recently booked arrestee.

Acquire Arrest Data & Police Reports From Local Police Departments in Brooklyn

The New York City Police Department maintains jurisdiction over the entire city, including Brooklyn (Kings County).³ If you want to request a police report or related information about a crime committed, you can make this request with the NYPD Criminal Records Unit.

The quickest way is to submit a request online. You can also complete a Record Request Form to inquire about a record by mail. To request by mail, you must provide two copies of the form and a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The request for a police report can then be sent to the below address:

NYPD – Criminal Records Unit
375 Pearl St., Ste. 4, 16th Fl.
New York, New York 10038

There is no fee associated with this type of record request, as it is a free New York City public records search. If you have additional questions, contact the NYPD’s Criminal Records Unit at 718-610-8457.

You can also visit your local precinct if you have questions about obtaining a police report and related arrest information. Below is the contact information for all NYPD precincts in Brooklyn:

Police Precinct	Address	Phone Number
60th Precinct	2951 W. 8th St. Brooklyn, New York 11224	718-946-3311
61st Precinct	2575 Coney Island Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11223	718-627-6611
62nd Precinct	1925 Bath Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11214	718-236-2611
63rd Precinct	1844 Brooklyn Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11210	718-258-4411
66th Precinct	5822 16th Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11204	718-851-5611
67th Precinct	2820 Snyder Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11226	718-287-3211
68th Precinct	333 65th St. Brooklyn, New York 11220	718-439-4211
69th Precinct	9720 Foster Ave. Brooklyn New York 11236	718-257-6211
70th Precinct	154 Lawrence Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11230	718-851-5511
71st Precinct	421 Empire Blvd. Brooklyn, New York 11225	718-735-0511
72nd Precinct	830 4th Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11232	718-965-6311
73rd Precinct	1470 E. New York Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11212	718-495-5411
75th Precinct	1000 Sutter Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11208	718-827-3511
76th Precinct	191 Union St. Brooklyn, New York 11231	718-834-3211
77th Precinct	127 Utica Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11213	718-735-0611
78th Precinct	65 6th Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11217	718-636-6411
79th Precinct	263 Tompkins Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11216	718-636-6611
81st Precinct	30 Ralph Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11221	718-574-0411
83rd Precinct	480 Knickerbocker Ave. Brooklyn, New York 11237	718-574-1605
84th Precinct	301 Gold St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	718-875-6811
88th Precinct	298 Classon Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11205	718-636-6511
90th Precinct	211 Union Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11211	718-963-5311
94th Precinct	100 Meserole Avenue Brooklyn, New York 11222	718-383-3879

How To View Someone’s Criminal Record for Free in Brooklyn NY

Judicial records are a valuable tool to find information about ongoing and past criminal cases. For ongoing cases, you can get information on upcoming court dates, bond information and the current status of a case.

For past cases, you can view a complete picture of how a particular criminal charge was adjudicated. Instead of a snapshot in time, a criminal record can provide you details from the arrest of an individual through to their sentencing.

Various custodians can maintain Brooklyn NY public records regarding criminal activity. Below are your options for searching Brooklyn criminal records.

Look Up Criminal Case Information in Brooklyn Through New York’s Unified Case Search Tool

You can use the NY Unified Case Search Tool to look up someone’s criminal record.⁴

You can enter the case number to access a criminal record quickly if that information is available to a searcher. Otherwise, you can perform a name search by selecting Kings County, “Criminal,” for the case type and then entering the individua’s name.

Once you find the criminal record you are looking for, you can get a detailed list of all events and documents submitted chronologically for a particular case.

A searcher can look up someone’s pending criminal record using New York’s Unified Criminal Case Search Tool.

Select a Kings County Court and enter the Defendant’s name to use this tool. Once you perform a search, you can view the case number, Defendant’s name, court and appearance date.

When you click on the case number, you can get additional information, such as details on the incident and arrest that led to the criminal charges. You can also use this search tool to get information on the case’s attorneys.

A searcher can also look up Brooklyn criminal records by checking with the appropriate court that maintains these records. Below is the contact information for Brooklyn courts that handle criminal matters:

Kings County Supreme Court – Criminal Term
320 Jay St.
Brooklyn, New York 11201

Phone: 347-296-1076

Kings County Criminal Court
120 Schermerhorn St.
Brooklyn, New York 11201

Phone: 646-386-4500

Before going to the courthouse, a searcher should call first to best prepare themselves. By calling, you can confirm their hours of availability, where their records are located and their processes and restrictions for searching court records.

How To Run an Arrest Warrant Search in Brooklyn New York

Anyone interested can look up Brooklyn warrant information by following the steps for finding details of wanted individuals in Kings County, New York; additional guidance can be found below as well, along with helpful search tools.

One way to check for arrest warrants in Brooklyn is to look up a defendant’s criminal record with the NYC Department of Correction Inmate Lookup Tool. To find warrant information, enter the offender’s name you want to search. Once you find the individual you seek, click on their name.

If an offender had any arrest warrants issued for a particular criminal charge, it would be listed in the final section of the individual’s inmate details. This final section shows the warrant number and type (e.g., federal, NY, or other jurisdiction). You can also view the charge that led to the arrest warrant and the severity of the offense.

A searcher can also use the NY Unified Case Search Tool to look up a defendant’s criminal record. An individual can check the list of document filings for a criminal case to see if any warrants were issued in that particular matter.

Another option is to contact the Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office. The Kings County (Brooklyn) District Attorney’s office maintains records of all criminal cases and warrants in Brooklyn.

You can call them at 718-250-2340 or visit the below address:

Brooklyn District Attorney’s Office
350 Jay Street
Brooklyn, NY 11201

You can also visit the Kings County Courthouse to inquire about warrant information in Brooklyn. You can contact them by phone at 347-296-1740, or visit them at:

Kings County Supreme Court
360 Adams Street, Room 123
Brooklyn, NY 11201

Note: For a wider search radius, use the New York warrant search instructions for a seamless statewide lookup.

How To See Probation Information in Brooklyn New York

While there is no direct way to search probation information, there are Brooklyn criminal records you can view to determine the likelihood of a defendant on probation. First, start by conducting a search using the NYC Department of Correction Inmate Search Tool.

As discussed earlier, this tool can be used to find information on an individua’s arrest, their charges and where they are currently housed. If an arrestee was recently released and they were charged with a misdemeanor, they may be on probation as this is a typical sentence for those types of crimes.

You can also look up a criminal court record to gather information about a defendant’s current probation status. If a defendant was recently sentenced, and you cannot find them listed in the NYC Department of Corrections, there is a good chance the individual is currently serving time on probation.

Alternatively, try contacting Brooklyn’s New York City Adult Probation Offices for additional information. You can contact them by phone at 718-488-5300 or talk to someone directly at one of the several Brooklyn Probation Offices.⁷

Complete a Background Check in Brooklyn NY

Another way to get Brooklyn public records is by requesting a background check report. While you can search public records on your own (often called a personal background check), there are many instances in which you need a professional report of your public records.

Someone needs a professional background check when, for example, it’s required by law (state or federal), to grant an individual’s request or to verify the accuracy of information that a citizen provided to a government agency or business.

Professional background checks vary in two ways. First, professional background checks can vary in scope.

When a government agency provides a background check, the scope (city, county, state, etc.) is typically limited to the government agency’s jurisdiction. For example, a background check provided by a sheriff’s office is often limited to the criminal records from the county under its jurisdiction.

Professional checks also differ in type. Level 1 background checks are name-based searches. The agency performing the background check searches their records based on the name provided.

A level 2 background check is fingerprint-based. These types of background checks have less subjectivity and are often used to conduct nationwide criminal background checks.

If you want to run a background check in Brooklyn, you can do so through the New York City Police Department.⁸ Their background check (referred to as a Certificate of Conduct) is limited to records within New York City.

To request a background check, you must first schedule an appointment online. The Certificate of Conduct & Non-Criminal Fingerprint Unit is available from 9:00 AM to 5:00 PM, Monday through Friday.

The process for requesting a background check involves fingerprinting and photograph requirements, so walk-ins are not allowed. At your scheduled appointment time, you can go to the following location:

NYPD Certificate of Conduct & Non-Criminal Fingerprint Unit
One Police Plaza, Rm. 152-A
New York, New York 10038

When you go for your appointment, make sure you also bring a valid government-issued ID (list of acceptable forms) and the applicable fee. The cost of a background check is $50.00, plus $1.00 for any extra non-criminal fingerprint cards you want. If you have any questions about requesting a background check, you can call 646-610-5541.

You can also get a New York State background check from the NY Division of Criminal Justice Service (DCJS) – but only for yourself. You cannot obtain a DCJS background check on anyone else, and you can only request one for yourself if you are legally mandated by an employer or other entity.

Parties who are required by legal statute to submit fingerprints to the DCJS for a background check will be provided with a statewide check encompassing criminal court records, indictments, convictions and sentencing information.

The DCJS also provides you the option to request an unsuppressed record, which will include New York criminal records that were sealed or suppressed by court order.

The cost for a NY state background check is $13.50 for residents and $43.50 for individuals who do not live in New York. Processing time for a background check is 3-4 weeks. For additional information, you can contact them by email at [email protected] or by phone at 518-457-9847.

Run a Criminal Records Search Through New York State & Federal Agencies

If you are looking to obtain criminal records outside of Brooklyn, you can expand the scope of your search to federal and statewide New York public criminal records.

This can be helpful if you want to confirm records you found at the county (borough) level or if you want to determine whether a citizen has a criminal record in other locations.

Certain state and federal tools can also help you narrow down your search results if you have a particular concern (e.g., checking a neighborhood you are moving into for sex offenders).

To perform a free criminal record check in New York, use the below state and federal resources:

NY Unified Case Search Tool — The NY Unified Case Search tool allows you to search criminal records in any county in New York.

NY Courts Criminal History Records Search — This tool can be used to request a Criminal History Record Check with the New York State Office of Court Administration (OCA). This tool can be used to conduct a background check on someone else and is not limited to only personal checks.

NY Department of Corrections Incarcerated Lookup — A citizen can use this search tool to look up inmates (current and past) who were convicted of crimes in New York.¹⁰ This tool can be used to get information on a defendant’s criminal record and sentencing information.

New York State Sex Offender Registry — This is a great tool if you want to look up individuals residing in New York who are registered as sex offenders. You can search by a registrant’s name or perform a search by county or zip code, both at no cost.

United States Sex Offender Registry — A broader sex offender registry search tool, allowing you to search the entire United States for free.¹¹ Searches can be performed by entering a defendant’s name or an address radius.

Federal Bureau of Prisons (BOP) — This search tool allows you to look up people from New York and other states who were convicted of federal crimes. You can find both current and released inmates who were incarcerated in a federal prison. Searches can be conducted by name or BOP register number.

How To Review Court Documents & Case Information in Brooklyn

An individual can search through public records in Brooklyn to find several different types of court cases and documents using the NY Unified Court Search Tool.

This tool can be used to search Brooklyn Court records by case number or name.

Here are some examples of the types of cases and court documents you can look up with this public index of records:

• Adoption
• Asbestos
• Criminal
• Child Custody & Support
• Environmental Matters
• Civil Cases
• Commercial Cases
• Contract Disputes
• Product Liability
• Personal Injury
• Medical Malpractice
• Foreclosure
• Department of Health Violations
• Landlord & Tenant Cases
• Mass Torts
• Real Property
• Workers’ Compensation

From the homepage, first select either case identifier or name, depending on how you want to conduct your search. Then select “Kings County” to ensure you only check public records in Brooklyn. Now you can select the case type you want to search, set a filing date range and enter your search criteria.

Another search tool that you can use is the Supreme Court Records Online Library (SCROLL). This search tool is limited to matters in the Supreme Court but can be used to search many of the case types listed above and more.

The other way to search Brooklyn Court documents and cases is by looking through these records at the courthouse.

Below is the contact information for courts that have jurisdiction in Brooklyn (Kings County):

Court	Address	Phone Number
Kings County Supreme Court (Civil)	360 Adams St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	718-675-7699
Kings County Supreme Court (Criminal)	320 Jay St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	347-296-1076
Kings County Criminal Court	120 Schermerhorn St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	646-386-4500
Kings County Civil Court	141 Livingston St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	247-404-9123
Kings County Family Court	330 Jay St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	347-401-9610
Kings County Surrogate’s Court	2 Johnson St. Brooklyn, New York 11201	347-404-9700

It’s advisable to contact the courthouse before going to search records in person. That way, you can confirm their hours of availability and ask any questions about how court records can be searched in person.

How To View & Obtain Brooklyn Vital Records Surrounding Marriage, Divorce, Birth & Death

Brooklyn vital records contain valuable information about major events that have occurred in an individual’s life. These events (birth, death, marriage and divorce) are captured by government agencies in official records.

For some, these records may simply be a tool to learn more about a particular individual in their life. They can check if someone is married, find out if a person has been divorced and learn where they were born. These records are also great resources for people performing a genealogy search to learn more about the history of their family.

For others, vital records are a necessity to formally identify themselves at either a company or government agency’s request.

For instance, if an individual were to file a claim as a beneficiary of their spouse’s life insurance policy, the company will likely want proof in the form of a certified marriage certificate that you were that person’s spouse at the time of their death.

Probate is another example in which certified records are essential. When you administer a decedent’s estate, much of the work involves taking an individual’s assets and transferring them to a beneficiary.

When you go to transfer assets from institutions or sell a house, you must provide, among other things, a certified copy of a decedent’s death certificate to prove you have authority to take that action.

In Brooklyn (and throughout New York), access to vital records is restricted. That means that only certain people will be able to access some of these records. Below is information on who can access these records and the steps they must take to do so.

Note: In addition to the guidance below, statewide marital lookups can be conducted using either the New York marriage document search tutorial or the instructions for finding NY divorce details.

Acquire Brooklyn Marital Records (Marriage, Divorce & Dissolution of Marriage) via the New York City Clerk

Marriage records in Brooklyn can be requested through the New York City Clerk.¹³ However, marriage records less than 50 years old are not public information. For marriage records less than 50 years old, only the following people can access and request them:

• One of the parties to the marriage
• Person that has a written and notarized authorization from a party to the marriage
• Attorney and the document is necessary for a legal matter
• Both spouses are deceased (must have original death certificates)
• Other judicial or official business reasons

The New York City Clerk manages all marriage records from 1950 to the present. Records from 1996 to the present can be obtained at the New York City Clerk’s Brooklyn office or any of their other offices. The Brooklyn Office is located at the address below:

City Clerk of New York – Brooklyn Office
Brooklyn Municipal Building
210 Joralemon St., Rm. 205
Brooklyn, New York 11201

They are available Monday through Friday, from 8:30 AM – 4:00 PM. For any questions before you go in, you can contact the New York City Clerk by phone at 212-639-9675.

For marriage records from 1950 to 1995, you can make a request in person or by mail to their Manhattan Office at the following address:

City Clerk of New York – Manhattan Office
141 Worth Street
New York, New York 10013

For an in-person request, you will be required to schedule an appointment with one of the New York City Clerk’s Offices (depending on the year of the marriage record). For a submission by mail, complete the Request for Marriage Records Form.

Once completed, send the form, along with a copy of your government-issued ID and fee, to the address below:

City Clerk of New York
Attn: Record Room
141 Worth St. 
New York, New York 10013

The fee for a marriage record is $15.00 ($10.00 for each additional copy) for domestic use and $35.00 ($30.00 for each additional copy) for foreign use.

There is also a $5.00 fee for the first year of the marriage record that you request to be searched. This is followed by an additional $1.00 fee if you expand the search to a second year and $0.50 for each subsequent year.

A person can search with the Department of Records & Information Services if they are looking for a marriage record from 1790 to 1949.¹⁵ This online directory allows a person to request a certified marriage record during this timeframe for $18.00. To perform a search, you will need to provide basic information, such as the date of the marriage and the spouse’s name.

For additional information, call 212-639-9675 or visit:

Department of Records & Information Services
31 Chambers St. 
New York, New York 10007

Note: Archived Brooklyn marriage records can also be searched in person at the Municipal Library and Archives‘ public research rooms. To do so, schedule an appointment at [email protected]. They are open daily from 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM, except for between 12:00 – 1:00 PM.

When hoping to access Brooklyn divorce records, you can search online using the NY Unified Court Search Tool. To perform a search without creating an account, select “Search as Guest” on the home page. You are now on the main search page.

From here, you can select how you want to perform a search, which includes a case number and name search. To appropriately narrow your search results, select “Kings” for the County (this is Brooklyn), and for Case Type, select any of the matrimonial options. You can also narrow your search results by entering a date range.

Search results will list all applicable cases with the current status, caption and court number. Click on the case number to get the complete court details. The “Document List” tab will provide you with a chronological list of all filings, the date they were filed and the result.

You can click on the “case detail” tab to get party information as well as the date the divorce decree was entered. The Judgment of Divorce contains a link that allows you to view a PDF of the original order.

Alternatively, you can request a marriage or divorce record through the New York State Department of Health.¹⁶

Obtain Birth or Death Certificates via the New York City Department of Mental Health & Hygiene

Birth and death records can be requested from the New York City Department of Mental Health & Hygiene.

Birth records are restricted and only available to the person listed on the certificate, that person’s parents or an attorney requesting it on either party’s behalf. For death certificates, that list is more expansive and can include the following individuals:

• Spouse or Domestic Partner
• Parents
• Children
• Siblings
• Grandparents
• Grandchildren
• Person in Charge of the Disposition

To request a birth or death record, you can do so in person, by mail or online. The cost for a certified birth or death record is $15.00. Here is how you can accomplish this.

By Mail: Applications by mail require the completion of either a Birth Certificate Application or a Death Certificate Application. The application, along with a copy of your photo ID and applicable fee, can be sent to the below address:

NYC Department of Health & Mental Hygiene
125 Worth St., CN-4, Rm. 119
New York, New York 10013

The processing time for mail-in requests is 6-8 weeks from when they receive a completed application.

In-Person Requests: To make a request in person, you are required to first schedule an appointment online.

Appointments can be scheduled any time on Monday through Friday from 9:00 AM – 3:30 PM. In-person requests include an additional $2.75 processing fee.

Note: For in-person requests, you are restricted to birth records from 1920 to the present or death records from 1970 to the present.

Online: Online requests for a birth or death record can be made through an approved third-party vendor, VitalChek. There are additional processing fees when using VitalChek to request a birth or death record.

How To View Property Records & Taxes for Free in Brooklyn New York

A person can search public records in Brooklyn NY to get detailed property information using the New York City Register’s Automated City Register Information System (ACRIS).

When using this tool, you have several different options for search criteria depending on the information you have available. This tool allows you to search based on any of the following options:

• Owner’s Name
• Parcel Identifier (Borough, Block & Lot)
• Document ID
• City Register File Number
• Transaction Number
• Reel & Page
• UCC or Federal Lien File Number
• Document Type (Deeds, Mortgages, etc.)

You may have noticed that there is not an option to search by address. However, if all you have is the address, there is still a way to look up the property record. On the ACRIS home page for this search tool, click “Find Address and Parcels.”

Once you click on this, you can select Brooklyn for the county and then enter the street name and address. After you enter this information, you can get the property’s borough, block and lot, which can be used when searching property records.

Now, you can go back to the home page and select “Search Property Records.” From there, a person can enter their search criteria. The search results will show the owner’s name, document type and other information about the property records listed in the results.

You then have two options: you can choose to view details or the image of the document. Here, you can view specific details of the property document along with a PDF of the original document filed with the New York City Register.

For additional assistance, contact the City Register’s Division of Land Records by phone at 212-639-9675 or go in person to their Brooklyn office:

City Register – Division of Land Records
210 Joralemon St., Second Fl.
Brooklyn, New York 11021

Property tax information can be a valuable tool. This is especially the case if you are in the market to buy a particular property. Property tax information can let you know the average cost for taxes in a particular neighborhood or whether a property owner is current on their taxes.

You can look up this information in Brooklyn by using the NYC Department of Finance’s Property Tax Public Records Repository. To perform a search with this tool, first select “Brooklyn” under the Borough drop-down menu. From there, you can enter the property address you want to search.

A person can perform a search using this tool, even if they do not have the complete address or name of the street.

Once you enter a search, you will see the Borough Block, Lot (BBL) number, owner(s) name and address. After you click on a particular property record, you can view a variety of information broken down into several sections.

The property info section will provide a searcher with general information on both the owner(s) and the property. For tax information, you can click on the account balance to see if there are any taxes owed or if the account is current.

For a detailed look at taxes paid on a particular property, you can view the account history, which will provide you with the last several years of tax information, including the due date, amount charged, paid and the balance (if any). In addition, you can click and view the actual property tax bills that were sent to the owner.

You can also use this tool to gauge the value of the property. You can view the market value and assessment for the past several years. In addition, you can view the actual notice of property value sent to the property owner.

Utilizing Public Records in Brooklyn New York Responsibly & Understanding Your Rights

Before you start with a free public records search, make sure you know what is required of you to responsibly use this information. Regardless of how you plan to use any information you find, there are rules you need to follow and important things to consider. However, personal responsibility varies depending on the type of use for these records.

Personal use is a very broad category that encompasses any use of public records to learn more about a person without a specific business or legal reason. Examples of personal use include checking a neighbor’s criminal record or performing a search out of curiosity to find out if someone is married.

When searching records for personal use, you do not need the person’s consent you are searching for. In addition, if there is no readily available access to a particular type of public record, you can submit a FOIA request.

The responsible government agency must provide a response and the documents requested as long as they are considered public records and not subject to any exemptions.

When you perform a search for personal use, your primary responsibility is to avoid using public records for criminal purposes. Secondarily, confirm that your use of public records does not become professional use.

Professional use is a search of public records for business and employment decisions and to comply with state and federal laws. Professional use has a specific purpose and can be necessary in the following types of situations:

• Adoption
• Requesting a firearm’s license
• Volunteer or employment with a vulnerable group (e.g., elderly, children)
• Security clearance
• Rental or employment application

When you use public records for professional use, there are various laws and government agencies that regulate your actions. Here is a brief summary of the rules for using professional records:

When checking a person’s consumer records, there are several requirements mandated by the Fair Credit Reporting Act (FCRA).²⁰

The FCRA mandates that individuals be given access to their consumer files (including their credit score) and that they can challenge information believed to be incomplete or wrong. Information can only be given for a valid need and cannot contain outdated information.

Before you search for a person’s public records for professional purposes, make sure you receive their consent. If–after reviewing their record–you take adverse action, make sure you send the appropriate legal notices. Failure to follow either of these requirements can be reported to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC).

Sometimes, people use the information they find to discriminate against a person. This could be discrimination based on a protected class (e.g., gender, race, etc.) or because the person had a criminal or arrest record. A person suffering discrimination can file a claim with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC).

This resource walks you through the process of finding all sorts of records, from criminal to property information; you are now equipped with methods of performing free online searches for various public records in Brooklyn; you can also refer to the resource on accessing free statewide New York public information.