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What should I do if my Pistol License is lost or destroyed?
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If you lose your Pistol License or it is destroyed, you need to go to the Dutchess County Clerk's Office (Records Room) and obtain a copy of your original pistol license application. Bring your application copy to the Pistol Bureau and we will print a new card. There is a $5.00 fee. We accept cash, check or money order.
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Where can I find answers to my questions about jury duty?
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The New York State Unified Court System provides a juror information website with the stated purpose being “ to answer . . . concerns and give you an introduction into your upcoming jury service. Please browse through the site and feel free to use the e-mail feature to ask questions or tell us what you think about your jury system.” Click Here to access this website.
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How do I find out if someone has a criminal record?
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There are certain circumstances under which you can find out if someone has a criminal record in New York State, and there are several ways to go about the process.
For example, if the individual you are seeking information on has been an inmate in a New York State correctional facility, then information on the crime, sentence and release date is public record in most cases (exceptions include youthful offenders). The New York State Department of Correctional Services (DOCS) will provide this information. Click Here to access the DOCS website, where there is a form for requesting this information.
Crime victims and all other New Yorkers can also make toll-free calls to get information about convicted felony offenders in the custody of the DOCS through Victim Information and Notification Everyday (VINE), which is available around the clock. The VINE phone number is 1-888-846-3469. Click Here to view specific instructions on using VINE.
Furthermore, there a certain instances where employers are required by law to perform a background check on potential employees, and there are also instances where an employer may perform a background check with the consent of the individual in question. For example, under “Kieran’s Law,” parents can forward the fingerprints of a prospective childcare provider to the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services for a criminal background search.
For additional information about criminal background checks, click on the following link to access the website of the New York State Division of Criminal Justice Services.
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How can I get my name changed?
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You should obtain a court order that officially changes your name. The process is relatively simple in the case of a marriage or a divorce; in these situations, a name change can be included in the marriage certificate or on the order of divorce.
However, if you are changing your name for any reason other than a divorce or a marriage, you must petition the New York State Supreme Court for a name change, and the process will be a bit more complicated.
The following is meant only as a summary of the procedure that you should follow to petition the court for a name change. Please contact the Dutchess County Clerk at (845) 486-2120 for more specific instructions:
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To petition the court for a name change, you must first gather and fill out all of the necessary documents, including an original or certified copy of your birth certificate, a petition to change your name, a proposed name change order, an index number application, and a filing fee of approximately $210.00. These documents must all be presented at the Dutchess County Clerk’s Office at 22 Market Street, Poughkeepsie.
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The County Clerk will assign an index number to your request, after which you must present your documents to the Supreme Court Clerk’s Office at 10 Market Street, Poughkeepsie. There will then be a waiting period during which the court will decide whether to issue an order to allow your requested name change.
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Once the order is issued by the judge, you must file the order with the Dutchess County Clerk. You must also publish your name change in a newspaper in Dutchess County. Then you must complete an affidavit of publication and file it with the Dutchess County Clerk.
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If I am being abused or neglected by my parent, guardian, or another family member (or want to call to report suspected child abuse) can I make a Child Abuse Report? Where can I get help?
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Yes, you can. The toll free hotline telephone number to make a report is 1-800-342-3720. Anyone (including the victim) can make a report and the Hotline is open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. When you call the Hotline you will be asked some questions about the abuse or neglect which has occurred. You do not have to reveal your name. A report can be made on behalf of any youth under the age of 18 years. Once a report is made, it is transmitted to the county (ies) in which the youth and family reside. An investigation into the allegations on the report commences within 24 hours. If you are not sure that what has happened is considered abuse or neglect, make the call anyway. The staff at the Hotline are trained to take the information and make this determination.
There is help available for youth who are being abused or neglected. In addition to making a hotline report, other options include going to the police or going to a trusted adult such as a family member, teacher, counselor or therapist, doctor, foster parent, friend or case manager for help. If you are in imminent danger call 911 or call your local police department for help.
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How do I become a foster/adoptive parent?
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There is a great need for more foster homes and more adoptive applicants for school age children. Foster parent requirements include:
- Attending one of our monthly Orientation Meetings
- You must be at least 21 years old
- You can be married, single, or living in partnership.
- Have your own source of income (job, public assistance, or Social Security)
- Have a bed for each child
- Have working smoke detectors
- Provide a safe and healthy home
- Each person in the home 18 years or older must be fingerprinted
- Each person in the home 18 years or older must be cleared through the Child Abuse Registry
See our brochure on how to become a foster parent or contact us at the following numbers for more information:
(845) 486-3086
(845) 486-3069
(845) 486-3071
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If I’ve been raped or engaged in sex without consenting what can I do? Do I have to press charges? Do my parents need to know about it if I am under age 18?
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If you are raped or engaged in sex without consenting, help is to be found by calling the police or Crime Victims Assistance Program. Dutchess County also has a Rape Crisis Hotline, which is available 24 hours per day, 7 days per week, and can be reached by calling (845) 452-7272. Services available include crisis intervention, advocacy, referral information, counseling and accompaniment to the hospital, police and / or court.
No, it is your choice about whether to press charges.
Generally for a young adult to receive services from the Crime Victims Assistance Program or the Rape Crisis Hotline a parent does not need to be notified. However, there are some circumstances, about which your parent may need to know. Talk to the person who is assisting you to see whether your parent needs to know and how this can be handled.
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If I’m being physically or sexually abused or threatened by someone outside of my household where can I go for help? How old do I need to be to press charges against someone?
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The police are the first and foremost resource for anyone being abused or threatened by someone outside of the victim’s household. Some of the police contacts in Dutchess County include the following:
NYS Police Troop K Barracks 677-7300
Dutchess County Sheriff’s Dept. 486-3800
City of Poughkeepsie Police Dept. 451-4000
Town of Poughkeepsie Police Dept. 485-3660
City of Beacon Police Dept. 831-4111
Town of Hyde Park Police Dept. 229-2931
If you have an emergency situation or are in danger of being harmed by someone else, you should dial “911” on the telephone to reach an emergency response dispatcher.
Anyone can make a police report. However, to sign a complaint so the police can take action, you need to be eighteen years old. If you are under age eighteen, your parent must sign for you.
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Courts and Legal
