How long does a Criminal Contempt case take in Onondaga County?

The average case takes 6.8 months from arraignment to disposition. Duration depends on factors specific to each case including whether bail is set and plea negotiations.

How do outcomes vary by charge class for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County?

Outcomes vary by charge class. A Misdemeanor: 65.0% dismissal rate (1776 cases). E Felony: 51.8% dismissal rate (1654 cases). Higher severity classes generally have different dismissal and conviction patterns.

Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County, NY — 58.2% Dismissed

Q: What are the case outcomes for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County?

Based on 3430 cases in Onondaga County, 58.2% are dismissed, 41.5% result in conviction, and 0.1% end in acquittal. The average case takes 6.8 months. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.

Q: What is the dismissal rate for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County?

The dismissal rate is 58.2%, based on 3430 cases from public court records. This includes judicial dismissals and cases dismissed in the interest of justice.

Q: How often are Criminal Contempt charges reduced in Onondaga County?

39.5% of Criminal Contempt cases in Onondaga County result in conviction on a lesser charge. The most common reduction is to Harassment.

Criminal contempt cases in Onondaga County are dismissed at a significantly higher rate than the statewide average, with 58.2 percent of the 3,430 cases ending in dismissal compared to 33.0 percent statewide—a gap of 25.2 percentage points. The 41.5 percent conviction rate is correspondingly higher than typical for this charge elsewhere in New York. Over the six-year period from 2019 to 2024, dismissal rates have remained relatively stable, declining only slightly from 53.3 percent to 52.4 percent, suggesting consistent prosecutorial or judicial handling of these cases in the county.

At the pretrial stage, about 40 percent of defendants have bail set with a median amount of $2,500, while roughly 21 percent are released on their own recognizance and nearly 10 percent are remanded. When convictions occur, jail sentences dominate the outcome at 16.5 percent of cases, with probation appearing in 12.7 percent and prison time in only 1.7 percent. Nearly 40 percent of cases are reduced to lesser charges, predominantly to harassment (76.6 percent of reductions), indicating prosecutors frequently step down from the original contempt charge during case processing. The median time from charge to disposition is 204 days.

Dismissal rate includes judicial dismissals and cases dismissed in the interest of justice. Conviction rate includes guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial. Avg duration measures arraignment to final disposition. Data sourced from New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data. Last updated: March 2026

58.2%

Dismissal Rate

41.5%

Conviction Rate

6.8 months

Avg Duration

Case Outcomes

58.2%

41.5%

Dismissed 58.2% Convicted 41.5% Acquitted 0.1%

Source: 3,430 public court records, Onondaga County Courts — NewYorkCourtFile.com

Outcomes by Charge Class

How outcomes differ by felony and misdemeanor classification for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County.

Charge Class	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
A Misdemeanor	1,776	65.0%	34.9%
E Felony	1,654	51.8%	47.8%

Charge class reflects the severity classification at arrest (e.g., A Felony is the most serious, B Misdemeanor the least). Outcomes vary by class due to differing prosecutorial priorities, plea bargaining patterns, and case complexity. Source: New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data.

Year-Over-Year Trends

How Criminal Contempt outcomes in Onondaga County have changed over time.

Year	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
2019	552	53.3%	46.2%
2020	550	57.9%	42.1%
2021	630	56.2%	43.6%
2022	516	61.8%	38.2%
2023	666	65.4%	34.2%
2024	514	52.4%	47.0%

Year reflects arrest year from DCJS Pretrial Release Data. Case volumes may vary as more recent cases may still be pending disposition.

Pretrial Release

How defendants charged with Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County are handled at arraignment.

20.7%

Released on Recognizance (ROR)

39.9%

Bail Set

9.5%

Remanded

$2,500

Median Bail Amount

Pretrial release data reflects arraignment outcomes under New York's bail reform laws. ROR = Released on Own Recognizance. Bail Set = cash bail or bond required. Remanded = held without bail.

Charge Reductions

39.5% of Criminal Contempt cases
in Onondaga County are reduced

Defendants were convicted on a lesser charge than their original arrest charge.

Most common reductions

Criminal Contempt Harassment

269 cases (73.7%)

Criminal Contempt Disorderly Conduct

69 cases (18.9%)

Criminal Contempt Escape / Bail Jumping

13 cases (3.6%)

Criminal Contempt Other

9 cases (2.5%)

Criminal Contempt Criminal Trespass

5 cases (1.4%)

Sentencing When Convicted

Breakdown of sentencing outcomes for Criminal Contempt convictions in Onondaga County.

16.5%

Jail

12.7%

Probation

1.7%

State Prison

1.8%

Fine Only

6.2%

Time Served

39.5% of Criminal Contempt cases in Onondaga County are reduced to lesser charges. An attorney can review your situation — free, no obligation.

Ask a Onondaga County attorney — free

Outcomes by Demographics

Case outcome rates by race for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County. These statistics reflect systemic patterns and structural factors in the criminal justice system, not individual behavior.

Race	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
Black	2,206	60.0%	39.6%
White	913	53.8%	46.2%
Hispanic	227	60.1%	39.9%
Native American	31	55.6%	44.4%
Asian	30	52.4%	38.1%
Other	17	46.2%	53.8%

Disparities in case outcomes reflect well-documented systemic factors including policing patterns, socioeconomic inequality, and structural bias in the criminal justice system. These statistics should not be used to draw conclusions about any individual or group. Data sourced from DCJS Pretrial Release Data.

Common Questions

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your case.

Based on 3,430 cases in Onondaga County, 58.2% are dismissed, 41.5% result in conviction, and 0.1% end in acquittal. The average case takes 6.8 months from arraignment to resolution. Outcomes vary based on the specifics of each case.

The dismissal rate for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County is 58.2%, based on 3,430 cases from public court records. This includes cases dismissed by the court and dismissals in the interest of justice.

The average Criminal Contempt case in Onondaga County takes 6.8 months. Duration depends on factors like whether the case goes to trial, plea negotiations, and court scheduling.

20.7% of defendants are released on their own recognizance (ROR), 39.9% have bail set, and 9.5% are remanded without bail. The median bail amount when set is $2,500. Pretrial release decisions are governed by New York's bail reform laws.

The conviction rate for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County is 41.5%, based on 3,430 cases from public court records. This includes both guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial. For guidance on your specific situation, consult a licensed New York attorney.

39.5% of Criminal Contempt cases in Onondaga County result in conviction on a lesser charge. The most common reduction is to Harassment.

Onondaga County has a 58.2% dismissal rate for Criminal Contempt cases. Outcomes can vary significantly across New York counties. View our Criminal Contempt overview page to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across all counties.

For those convicted of Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County, 16.5% receive a jail sentence, 12.7% receive probation, and 1.7% are sentenced to state prison. Actual sentences depend on the specifics of each case. Consult a licensed attorney for guidance on your situation.

Outcomes vary by charge class. A Misdemeanor: 65.0% dismissal rate, 34.9% conviction rate (1,776 cases). E Felony: 51.8% dismissal rate, 47.8% conviction rate (1,654 cases). Higher severity classes generally have different dismissal and conviction patterns due to prosecutorial priorities and plea bargaining dynamics.

Data source: New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data. 3,430 cases analyzed for Criminal Contempt in Onondaga County. Last updated March 2026. — NewYorkCourtFile.com