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What Does Homicide Get Reduced To?

3,686 convictions analyzed · 9 reduction targets · DCJS Data (2019–2024)

According to 3,686 conviction records, Homicide is reduced to a lesser charge in 42.2% of cases. The most common reduction is to Weapons Offense (20.9% of reductions). Reduction rates vary across 31 New York counties with sufficient data.

Charge reduction means the conviction charge differs from the original arrest charge, typically through plea negotiation. Percentages reflect the share of guilty outcomes where the conviction charge is a different category than the arrest charge. Data sourced from New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data. Last updated: March 2026

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42.2%
Reduction Rate
Weapons Offense
Most Common Target
3,686
Total Convictions

What Homicide Gets Reduced To

The 9 most common conviction charges when Homicide is reduced through a plea deal.

Conviction Charge Count % of Reductions
Weapons Offense 772 20.9%
Assault 572 15.5%
Reckless Endangerment 50 1.4%
Other 49 1.3%
Robbery 45 1.2%
Disorderly Conduct 24 0.7%
Traffic Offense 17 0.5%
Burglary 14 0.4%
Endangering Welfare of a Child 12 0.3%

Source: New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data (2019–2024) — NewYorkCourtFile.com

Homicide Reduction Rates by County

How often Homicide is reduced across New York counties. Click a county for detailed reduction targets.

County Convictions Reduced Reduction Rate Top Reduction
Bronx 588 346 58.8% Weapons Offense
New York 478 272 56.9% Weapons Offense
Kings 436 233 53.4% Weapons Offense
Queens 381 214 56.2% Weapons Offense
Monroe 218 31 14.2% Weapons Offense
Nassau 205 89 43.4% Weapons Offense
Erie 178 34 19.1% Weapons Offense
Albany 136 52 38.2% Weapons Offense
Onondaga 121 24 19.8% Weapons Offense
Westchester 106 47 44.3% Assault
Suffolk 95 12 12.6% Robbery
Richmond 73 37 50.7% Weapons Offense
Orange 59 21 35.6% Assault
Niagara 50 6 12.0% Traffic Offense
Oneida 50 14 28.0% Weapons Offense
Schenectady 49 24 49.0% Weapons Offense
Broome 38 21 55.3% Weapons Offense
Dutchess 33 16 48.5% Assault
Rockland 33 17 51.5% Weapons Offense
Rensselaer 31 21 67.7% Weapons Offense
Chemung 26 7 26.9% Assault
Ulster 24 4 16.7% Burglary
Oswego 18 6 33.3% Assault
Sullivan 18 3 16.7% Weapons Offense
St. Lawrence 17 4 23.5% Assault
Cattaraugus 13 8 61.5% Assault
Delaware 12 1 8.3% Assault
Columbia 11 4 36.4% Assault
Steuben 11 3 27.3% Weapons Offense
Montgomery 10 3 30.0% Weapons Offense
Ontario 10 4 40.0% Assault

Source: New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data — NewYorkCourtFile.com

About Plea Bargaining in New York

Plea bargaining is a central part of New York's criminal justice system. The vast majority of criminal cases are resolved through negotiated pleas rather than trial. Charge reductions — where a defendant pleads guilty to a lesser offense — are one of the primary mechanisms. The data above reflects actual outcomes from DCJS Pretrial Release records, not predictions. Every case is unique, and outcomes depend on the specific facts, evidence, defense strategy, and local prosecutorial practices.

How we calculate reduction rates: We compare the arrest charge category to the conviction charge category for all guilty outcomes. When the conviction charge differs from the arrest charge, we count it as a reduction. Only charge category changes are counted — reductions within the same category (e.g., felony to misdemeanor assault) are not reflected here. Minimum threshold: 3 reductions per combination. Data from DCJS Pretrial Release Data, last updated March 2026.

Common Questions

Statistics from public court records for informational purposes only. Not legal advice. Past outcomes do not predict future results.

Homicide is reduced to a lesser charge in 42.2% of convictions statewide, based on 3,686 conviction records from DCJS Pretrial Release Data (2019–2024). This means that in roughly 42 out of every 100 convictions, the defendant pleads guilty to a different charge than originally arrested for.
The most common reduction for Homicide is to Weapons Offense, accounting for 20.9% of all reductions. This means when Homicide is reduced, it most often becomes a Weapons Offense conviction. The specific plea offered in your case depends on the facts, evidence, and your attorney's negotiations.
Yes. Homicide reduction rates vary significantly across New York's 62 counties. Counties like Bronx (58.8% reduction rate) and New York (56.9%) show different patterns. These differences reflect local prosecutorial practices, court caseloads, and plea bargaining customs. Consult a licensed attorney familiar with your county's courts.

Data source: New York DCJS Pretrial Release Data. 3,686 conviction records analyzed for Homicide. Last updated March 2026. — NewYorkCourtFile.com

Next Step

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