How New York Criminal Courts Work: From Arraignment to Disposition

According to 214,542 DCJS pretrial release records from 2019–2024, Assault cases across 59 New York counties have an average dismissal rate of 74.2% and an average conviction rate of 25.4%.

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.

New York's criminal court system handles hundreds of thousands of cases each year across 62 counties. This guide explains how cases generally move through the system and what our data from DCJS pretrial release records (2019-2024) reveals about patterns across the state.

The Stages of a Criminal Case

While every case is unique, most criminal cases in New York follow a general sequence: arrest, arraignment, pretrial hearings, possible plea negotiations, and disposition (whether by plea, trial, or dismissal). The specifics depend on the county, the charges, and individual circumstances.

What Our Data Shows About Case Processing

Our analysis of 1.38 million DCJS pretrial release records reveals notable patterns:

Pretrial release decisions vary significantly by county and charge type
The balance between ROR (released on recognizance), bail, and remand differs across jurisdictions
Charge reductions and plea patterns show meaningful geographic variation

View assault statistics or DWI statistics across all New York counties for examples of this variation.

Local Courts vs. Superior Courts

New York has a multi-tiered court system. Local courts (city, town, and village courts) handle misdemeanors, violations, and preliminary felony hearings. Superior courts (County Court and Supreme Court) handle felony cases. New York City has its own Criminal Court for misdemeanors and Supreme Court for felonies. These structural differences contribute to the variation our data captures.

Understanding the Statistics

When reviewing court data on our site, keep in mind:

Our data source is DCJS pretrial release records, which capture case-level information at the point of arraignment and disposition
County-level statistics reflect aggregate patterns — individual outcomes depend on specific case facts
Data covers 2019-2024, a period that includes significant criminal justice reforms in New York

Next Steps

For information about New York court procedures, visit the New York Unified Court System website. For legal advice about a specific case, consult a licensed New York attorney.

Frequently Asked Questions

Arraignment is the first court appearance after an arrest. The judge informs the defendant of the charges, sets bail or release conditions, and the defendant enters an initial plea. Our DCJS data from 2019-2024 tracks pretrial release decisions made at this stage across all 62 New York counties.

Case timelines vary widely depending on charge severity, county, and whether the case goes to trial. Our data shows significant county-level variation in how quickly cases move through the system. Consult a licensed New York attorney for guidance on your specific situation.

The New York Unified Court System website (nycourts.gov) provides official information about court procedures, forms, and resources. For legal advice about your case, consult a licensed New York attorney.