What is the dismissal rate for Drug Sale in Erie County?

The dismissal rate is 31.3%, based on 1857 cases from public court records. This includes judicial dismissals and cases dismissed in the interest of justice.

How long does a Drug Sale case take in Erie County?

The average case takes 6.5 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 Drug Sale in Erie County?

Outcomes vary by charge class. B Felony: 30.9% dismissal rate (1577 cases). A-II Felony: 35.3% dismissal rate (142 cases). Higher severity classes generally have different dismissal and conviction patterns.

Drug Sale in Erie County, NY — 31.3% Dismissed

Q: What are the case outcomes for Drug Sale in Erie County?

Based on 1857 cases in Erie County, 31.3% are dismissed, 68.0% result in conviction, and 0.1% end in acquittal. The average case takes 6.5 months. Individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case.

Q: What is the conviction rate for Drug Sale in Erie County?

The conviction rate for Drug Sale in Erie County is 68.0%, based on 1857 cases from public court records. This includes guilty pleas and findings of guilt at trial.

Q: How often are Drug Sale charges reduced in Erie County?

81.0% of Drug Sale cases in Erie County result in conviction on a lesser charge. The most common reduction is to Drug Possession.

Q: How does Erie County compare to other counties for Drug Sale?

Erie County has a 31.3% dismissal rate for Drug Sale. Visit the Drug Sale overview page to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across all New York counties.

Drug sale cases in Erie County are dismissed at a significantly higher rate than the statewide average, with a 31.3% dismissal rate compared to just 11.9% statewide—a gap of 19.4 percentage points. Of the 1,857 cases in Erie County, 68% result in conviction. This dismissal rate has been rising over the past five years, climbing from 25.6% in 2019 to 39.2% in 2024, suggesting prosecutors and courts in Erie County have become increasingly skeptical of drug sale cases or that evidentiary issues are more commonly identified. The median time to case resolution is 195 days.

Most defendants charged with drug sale in Erie County avoid immediate detention, with 48.5% released on their own recognizance. Another 30.3% face bail set at a median of $7,500. Notably, 81% of drug sale charges are reduced to lesser offenses, predominantly to drug possession (49.8% of reductions) or disorderly conduct (38.6%). When convictions do occur, prison sentences are most common at 22.4% of cases, followed by probation at 14.9%, suggesting courts reserve incarceration for more serious circumstances in this county.

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

31.3%

Dismissal Rate

68.0%

Conviction Rate

6.5 months

Avg Duration

Case Outcomes

31.3%

68.0%

Dismissed 31.3% Convicted 68.0% Acquitted 0.1%

Source: 1,857 public court records, Erie County Courts — NewYorkCourtFile.com

Outcomes by Charge Class

How outcomes differ by felony and misdemeanor classification for Drug Sale in Erie County.

Charge Class	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
B Felony	1,577	30.9%	68.3%
A-II Felony	142	35.3%	64.7%
A-I Felony Non Reducible	117	35.7%	64.3%
D Felony	13	25.0%	75.0%

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 Drug Sale outcomes in Erie County have changed over time.

Year	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
2019	432	25.6%	74.2%
2020	192	37.6%	61.8%
2021	272	27.1%	71.7%
2022	257	32.7%	65.7%
2023	311	28.7%	71.0%
2024	389	39.2%	60.2%

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 Drug Sale in Erie County are handled at arraignment.

48.5%

Released on Recognizance (ROR)

30.3%

Bail Set

18.6%

Remanded

$7,500

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

81.0% of Drug Sale cases
in Erie County are reduced

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

Most common reductions

Drug Sale Drug Possession

452 cases (47.9%)

Drug Sale Disorderly Conduct

350 cases (37.1%)

Drug Sale Weapons Offense

105 cases (11.1%)

Drug Sale Traffic Offense

21 cases (2.2%)

Drug Sale DWI / DUI

16 cases (1.7%)

Sentencing When Convicted

Breakdown of sentencing outcomes for Drug Sale convictions in Erie County.

11.2%

Jail

14.9%

Probation

22.4%

State Prison

10.0%

Fine Only

8.0%

Time Served

81.0% of Drug Sale cases in Erie County are reduced to lesser charges. An attorney can review your situation — free, no obligation.

Ask a Erie County attorney — free

Outcomes by Demographics

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

Race	Cases	Dismissal Rate	Conviction Rate
Black	1,230	30.7%	68.5%
White	325	28.4%	71.6%
Hispanic	281	37.8%	61.4%

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 1,857 cases in Erie County, 31.3% are dismissed, 68.0% result in conviction, and 0.1% end in acquittal. The average case takes 6.5 months from arraignment to resolution. Outcomes vary based on the specifics of each case.

The dismissal rate for Drug Sale in Erie County is 31.3%, based on 1,857 cases from public court records. This includes cases dismissed by the court and dismissals in the interest of justice.

The average Drug Sale case in Erie County takes 6.5 months. Duration depends on factors like whether the case goes to trial, plea negotiations, and court scheduling.

48.5% of defendants are released on their own recognizance (ROR), 30.3% have bail set, and 18.6% are remanded without bail. The median bail amount when set is $7,500. Pretrial release decisions are governed by New York's bail reform laws.

The conviction rate for Drug Sale in Erie County is 68.0%, based on 1,857 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.

81.0% of Drug Sale cases in Erie County result in conviction on a lesser charge. The most common reduction is to Drug Possession.

Erie County has a 31.3% dismissal rate for Drug Sale cases. Outcomes can vary significantly across New York counties. View our Drug Sale overview page to compare dismissal rates, conviction rates, and case timelines across all counties.

For those convicted of Drug Sale in Erie County, 11.2% receive a jail sentence, 14.9% receive probation, and 22.4% 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. B Felony: 30.9% dismissal rate, 68.3% conviction rate (1,577 cases). A-II Felony: 35.3% dismissal rate, 64.7% conviction rate (142 cases). A-I Felony Non Reducible: 35.7% dismissal rate, 64.3% conviction rate (117 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. 1,857 cases analyzed for Drug Sale in Erie County. Last updated March 2026. — NewYorkCourtFile.com