Criminal Contempt in New York: What the Court Data Shows

According to 84,989 DCJS pretrial release records from 2019–2024, Criminal Contempt cases across 60 New York counties have an average dismissal rate of 58.1% and an average conviction rate of 41.6%.

Criminal contempt charges in New York commonly arise from violations of orders of protection and other court orders. This page examines what DCJS pretrial release records (2019-2024) reveal about how criminal contempt cases are handled across the state.

What Our Data Shows About Criminal Contempt Outcomes

Based on our analysis of criminal contempt cases across New York courts (DCJS pretrial release records, 2019-2024):

• Criminal contempt charges often appear in the context of domestic violence cases
• Pretrial release patterns for criminal contempt reflect the court's concern for complainant safety
• County-level variation in criminal contempt outcomes is notable in the data

View criminal contempt statistics across all New York counties

Variation Across New York

Criminal contempt outcomes vary across New York counties. Because these charges frequently involve order-of-protection violations, pretrial release decisions may reflect safety considerations beyond the charge severity alone. Our data shows geographic differences in how courts balance release and protection concerns.

Pretrial Release Patterns

Criminal contempt charges present unique pretrial release considerations because they often involve allegations of violating court orders designed to protect specific individuals. Our data shows how bail, ROR, and remand rates for criminal contempt differ across counties and how these patterns shifted during the bail reform period.

Understanding the Statistics

When reviewing criminal contempt data, keep in mind:

• Statistics reflect aggregate patterns from DCJS pretrial release records — individual outcomes depend on the specific facts of each case
• County-level differences may reflect local practices, caseload volumes, and available programs
• Data covers 2019-2024, a period that includes bail reform and its subsequent amendments

Next Steps

For information about criminal contempt laws and potential penalties, consult a licensed New York attorney or visit the New York Penal Law. To explore the data, view our criminal contempt statistics by county.