Homicide in New York: What the Court Data Shows

According to 4,374 DCJS pretrial release records from 2019–2024, Homicide cases across 23 New York counties have an average dismissal rate of 15.9% and an average conviction rate of 81.3%.

Disclaimer: This page provides statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. This is not legal advice. Laws and penalties change — consult a licensed New York attorney and the New York Penal Law for current legal information. Past court outcomes do not predict future results.

Homicide charges in New York include murder and manslaughter at various degrees and represent the most serious offenses in the criminal justice system. This page examines what DCJS pretrial release records (2019-2024) reveal about homicide case processing across the state.

What Our Data Shows About Homicide Outcomes

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

Homicide charges show the highest bail and remand rates among all charge categories
Pretrial release decisions for homicide reflect the extreme severity of these charges
The data captures homicide case processing patterns across urban and rural counties

View homicide statistics across all New York counties

Variation Across New York

While homicide charges are treated seriously everywhere, our data shows some county-level variation in pretrial release outcomes. This may reflect differences in case composition (the mix of murder versus manslaughter charges), local judicial practices, and the specific circumstances of cases in each jurisdiction.

Pretrial Release Patterns

Homicide charges were largely unaffected by bail reform's restrictions on bail-setting, as these serious offenses remained bail-eligible throughout the 2019-2024 period. Our data shows consistently high remand and bail rates for homicide cases, though the specific rates vary by county.

Understanding the Statistics

When reviewing homicide 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 homicide laws and potential penalties, consult a licensed New York attorney or visit the New York Penal Law. To explore the data, view our homicide statistics by county.

Frequently Asked Questions

Our analysis of DCJS pretrial release records from 2019-2024 shows that homicide outcomes vary across New York's 62 counties. Pretrial release patterns, charge reduction rates, and disposition outcomes all differ by county. Visit our homicide data page for county-specific statistics.

Our data shows meaningful county-level variation in how homicide cases are handled. Urban, suburban, and rural counties may show different pretrial release rates, bail patterns, and charge reduction frequencies for similar charges.

For current information about homicide laws and potential penalties, consult a licensed New York attorney or visit the New York State Senate website for the Penal Law text. Our site provides court outcome statistics, not legal guidance.

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