Weapons Offense in New York: What the Court Data Shows

According to 59,568 DCJS pretrial release records from 2019–2024, Weapons Offense cases across 56 New York counties have an average dismissal rate of 47.3% and an average conviction rate of 51.2%.

Weapons offenses in New York include criminal possession of a weapon, criminal use of a firearm, and related charges spanning misdemeanors to serious felonies. This page examines what DCJS pretrial release records (2019-2024) reveal about weapons case outcomes.

What Our Data Shows About Weapons Offense Outcomes

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

• Weapons offenses generally show higher bail and remand rates compared to many other charge categories
• Charge severity within the weapons category varies widely, affecting pretrial release patterns
• County-level variation in weapons offense outcomes is significant in the data

View weapons offense statistics across all New York counties

Variation Across New York

Weapons offense outcomes vary across New York's counties. The data suggests that jurisdictions differ in enforcement intensity, charging patterns, and pretrial release decisions for weapons cases. Urban counties with higher rates of gun-related offenses may show different patterns from counties where weapons charges more commonly involve non-firearm weapons.

Pretrial Release Patterns

Weapons offenses, particularly firearm-related charges, are among the offenses where bail reform had a more nuanced impact. Many serious weapons charges remained bail-eligible even under the 2020 reforms. Our data tracks how pretrial release patterns for weapons offenses have changed across the 2019-2024 period.

Understanding the Statistics

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