Columbia County Jail Criminal Court Process
Criminal Court Process for Columbia County New York
Columbia County Criminal Court Guide
The Columbia County Jail holds adults whose cases are still open. It sits inside the Public Safety Facility, 85 Industrial Tract, Hudson, NY 12534. Their cases run through a city court, many small town and village courts, and County Court on Union Street. This guide maps every court, each step from arraignment to sentence, and the lawyers on both sides.
Custody can be confirmed through the Sheriff's inmate lookup. Beyond that, our Recent Arrests page digs into the arrest itself: fresh bookings and who sits in jail now, plus open warrants, each charge, booking photos, free defense lawyers and how to collect belongings.
Phone the jail at 518-828-3324. Write down the court's name, the charge and the next date. Our bail page covers every path home before trial.
1. Felony versus misdemeanor: whose courtroom?
Charge level decides the courtroom. New York uses three tiers:
- Felony: the top tier, and the only one that can lead to state prison. Felonies come in five classes, from A at the top down to E.
- Misdemeanor: a smaller crime. Jail is local, never prison: at most 364 days for class A, or three months for class B (Penal Law § 70.15).
- Violation: not a crime, though it can still bring as many as 15 days in jail.
Hudson City Court and the justices in each town or village hear misdemeanors, violations and traffic tickets from start to end. Felonies open there too, for the arraignment and preliminary hearing. After a grand jury indictment, County Court takes the felony, since its power reaches every crime in the county. Family Court and the Youth Part see the young. All of them belong to the Third Judicial District.
↑ Back to the question list2. Where are Columbia County's main courthouses?
Two buildings on Union Street hold the bigger courts.
- Supreme, County, Family and Surrogate's Courts, 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3150. Clerk windows open at 8:45 a.m. and close at 4:45 p.m., Monday to Friday, though Surrogate's shuts at 4:30 p.m.
- Regional Drug Court and Family Treatment Court, 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3164. A nonviolent defendant whose addiction played a part in the charge may enter a treatment program under a signed agreement with the court.
- Hudson City Court, City Police & Courts Center, 701-B Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3082. Weekday clerk hours run 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., not counting state holidays, with payments cut off at 3:30 p.m. Meters line the street, and accessible spots face the Police Department. Its docket covers misdemeanors, smaller offenses, felony arraignments and civil suits up to $15,000.
- Federal court, James T. Foley Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, 518-257-1789.
3. Which local courts serve each Columbia County town?
Each town handles arrests made within its lines in its own justice court. Hours vary from court to court, so call before driving over. Confirmed addresses and phones:
- Hudson City Court, 701-B Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3082
- Canaan Town Court, County Route 5, PO Box 59, Canaan, NY 12029, 518-781-3749
- Copake Town Court, 230 Mountain View Road, Copake, NY 12516
- Gallatin Town Court, PO Box 240, Ancram, NY 12502, 518-398-7690
- Germantown Town Court, 50 Palatine Road, Germantown, NY 12526, 518-537-6687
- Ghent Town Court, 2306 State Rte 66, PO Box 330, Ghent, NY 12075, 518-392-2706
- Livingston Town Court, 119 County Route 19, Livingston, NY 12541, 518-851-7210
- New Lebanon Town Court, 14755 State Route 22, New Lebanon, NY 12125, 518-794-9456
- Philmont Village Court, Philmont, NY 12565, 518-672-4886
Eleven more town courts hear cases. Look up their street addresses, phones and session days with the state's Find a Court search:
- Ancram, Austerlitz, Chatham and Claverack
- Clermont, Greenport, Hillsdale and Kinderhook
- Stockport, Stuyvesant and Taghkanic
Was the arrest inside the Village of Chatham, Kinderhook or Valatie? Check Find a Court, or ask the County Court clerk at 518-267-3150, to learn which local court is handling it.
↑ Back to the question list4. What happens at arraignment in these courts?
Arraignment is the first hearing, and the state courts say it typically follows an arrest by about 24 hours. City arrests land in Hudson City Court. Arrests elsewhere land in the justice court of the town or village involved.
- The charges are read or handed to the person.
- Counsel stands beside them, assigned free when they can't pay. New York's plan puts a lawyer at this first hearing (Executive Law § 832(4)).
- Release gets decided through a securing order: recognizance, conditions, bail, or remand for certain grave felonies (CPL 510.10).
- In family-violence cases, the judge may order the accused to stay away right then (CPL 530.12).
- A felony complaint is set for a preliminary hearing, or it goes toward a grand jury. If neither happens within 120 hours of custody, the person must be released. Add a day, for 144 hours, when Saturday, Sunday or a holiday lands in between. The statute lists some exceptions (CPL 180.80).
Many defendants never see a cell first. Police can write a desk appearance ticket with a future date and send them on their way (CPL 150.20).
↑ Back to the question list5. How do traffic and misdemeanor cases play out?
Local courts keep misdemeanor and traffic cases all the way through. An assistant from the District Attorney's office prosecutes. After a not guilty plea, two deadlines shape the case.
- Evidence. A jailed defendant must get the prosecutor's required evidence within 20 days of arraignment. Everyone else waits up to 35 days (CPL 245.10).
- Getting ready. Prosecutors have 90 days to be ready when a misdemeanor carries more than three months behind bars. For a smaller one it gets 60 days, and for a violation, 30 (CPL 30.30(1)).
The law caps the sentence:
- Class A: 364 days of jail, $1,000 in fines, or two to three years of probation, at most.
- Class B: three months of jail, $500 in fines, or one year of probation, at most.
- Violation: 15 days of jail and $250 in fines, at most.
- Conditional discharge: one year of rules with no probation officer (Penal Law § 65.05).
Down the road, the Clean Slate Act automatically seals most misdemeanor convictions after a three-year wait, counted from sentencing or release (CPL 160.57).
↑ Back to the question list6. What path does a felony case take?
Felonies start small and climb. The usual route:
- Local arraignment. The felony complaint is first heard by a city, town or village judge.
- Screening. A preliminary hearing is held, or the case heads to a grand jury. To speak to the grand jury, the person must give the District Attorney written notice ahead of any indictment (CPL 190.50(5)).
- County Court. Once indicted, the person is arraigned a second time, now upstairs in County Court, and enters a plea there.
- Evidence and motions. The six-month readiness clock applies to felonies (CPL 30.30(1)).
- Plea or trial, and if there is a conviction, a sentence.
For felonies that aren't violent, class E tops out at 4 years in prison, D at 7, C at 15, B at 25 and A at life (Penal Law § 70.00). A felony fine can hit $5,000 or twice the defendant's gain (Penal Law § 80.00). Felony probation terms run three, four or five years. Defendants with an addiction behind the crime may be steered into treatment through Judicial Diversion (CPL Article 216), sometimes with help from the county's drug court.
↑ Back to the question list7. What sets violent felonies apart?
They do. Penal Law § 70.02 names the violent felonies, and the rules tighten:
- Set prison ranges. Class B means a judge picks a term between 5 and 25 years. Class C runs between 3.5 and 15, class D between 2 and 7, and class E between 1.5 and 4. Supervision after prison is added.
- What counts. First-degree robbery or burglary sits in class B. Second-degree assault sits in class D.
- Release. Every violent felony is a qualifying offense, so a judge may choose bail or even remand.
- Protection orders. A final order of protection in a felony case may stay in force for as long as eight years after sentencing. If the longest prison term ends later, it can run eight years past that (CPL 530.12(5)).
- Sealing. Violent felony convictions can't be sealed by applying after ten years (CPL 160.59).
8. Which offices prosecute and defend in Columbia County?
The elected District Attorney's office prosecutes, from 325 Columbia Street, Suite 260, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-3414. It also handles requests to reduce traffic tickets.
Three county offices defend people without money for a lawyer:
- Public Defender, 11 Warren Street, Suite 4, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-3410. Its intake uses the Assigned Counsel Application, sent by email or brought over with the charging papers. Family matters need an extra Family Court form and questionnaire.
- Conflict Defender, 11 Warren Street, Suite 2, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-697-3411. It takes clients the Public Defender must decline.
- Assigned Counsel Program, 401 State Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-567-9010. When both offices are conflicted out, a private lawyer from its panel is appointed.
Eligibility is the judge's call. Anyone in jail is presumed to qualify, and a spouse's paycheck isn't counted.
↑ Back to the question list9. How do I track the case and its dates?
The state's WebCrims site tracks criminal cases in a fixed set of courts, such as New York City's courts, Long Island's courts and roughly 60 city courts. Only active cases with a date still to come appear. It skips finished cases, sealed files, youthful offender matters and anything waiting on a warrant.
Phoning the clerk usually gets a faster answer here:
- Felonies and County Court: 518-267-3150, open 8:45 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. weekdays.
- Hudson City Court: 518-267-3082, open 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. weekdays.
- Town and village courts: phone numbers come from the Find a Court search.
The city court's page also points to the state's eCourts site. Clerks will want the person's full name and birth date.
↑ Back to the question list10. Is my person wanted on a warrant? What then?
Warrants here are served by Sheriff's deputies and local police. Ask the Sheriff's round-the-clock line, 518-828-3344, whether one is out, or for city matters try the Hudson Police Department, 518-828-3388. The State Police keep a statewide Wanted and Missing list. You may also phone or visit the court that could have issued it. Courts generally warn the person or lawyer 48 hours ahead of issuing a bench warrant over a missed date (CPL 510.50). Clearing it starts with a lawyer. Together you surrender at the issuing court, or the lawyer asks that court for a new date. The County Court clerk sits at 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3150.
↑ Back to the question list11. When the charge is federal, where does it go?
The Albany Division of the U.S. District Court for the Northern District of New York handles federal prosecutions from the county. Its home is the James T. Foley Courthouse, 445 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, 518-257-1789. Clerks are in from 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
- The first appearance covers the arrest papers, the charges and whether to detain. Federal law wants that detention hearing held immediately, with only brief delays allowed (18 U.S.C. 3142(f)).
- Until trial, federal prisoners stay under Marshals Service control. Its Albany office is on the 2nd floor of 445 Broadway, Albany, NY 12207, 518-472-5401. Some federal prisoners are housed at the jail in Greenport.
- For a defendant who can't pay, the Federal Public Defender may be appointed. It is at 54 State Street, Suite 310, Albany, NY 12207, 518-436-1850.
- Court filings are on the PACER Case Locator. Pages cost 10 cents, never more than $3 for one document.
When a federal prison term starts, the Federal Bureau of Prisons inmate locator tracks the person.
↑ Back to the question list12. How can an immigration detainer touch the case?
Court dates on the state charges continue no matter what. A detainer only matters at the point of release:
- Form I-247A goes from ICE to the jail, requesting continued custody.
- It seeks a hold of up to 48 hours after they would otherwise be released (8 CFR 287.7(d)).
- Agents arrive to take custody.
- The upstate Buffalo Field Office of ICE, 130 Delaware Avenue, Buffalo, NY 14202, 716-843-7600, runs a detention center at 4250 Federal Drive, Batavia, NY 14020, 585-344-6500. People may be taken there or somewhere else.
- Use the ICE Online Detainee Locator to find them.
State law draws its own lines. People ex rel. Wells v DeMarco (2018), an Appellate Division case, found no authority in New York law for state or local officers to make arrests over civil immigration violations. The Attorney General calls detainers voluntary and recommends honoring them only with a judge's signed warrant in hand. Executive Law § 170-k went further, wiping out local 287(g) pacts with ICE on August 25, 2026. Civil Rights Law § 28 protects people with honest business in court, meaning parties, witnesses and their relatives, against civil arrest on the trip to court, inside it and on the ride home, unless a judge signed off.
↑ Back to the question list13. Where does a Columbia County prison sentence lead?
Up to a year, the time is served in the county jail. Beyond a year, the sentence belongs to the Department of Corrections and Community Supervision (DOCCS).
Sentenced people wait in Greenport for a while. Once the county reports them ready for the state, DOCCS has ten business days to come get them. At reception, each person gets a DIN number, health checks, a counselor interview and a security level. Then a prison is chosen.
- Track them on the Incarcerated Lookup by DIN or last name.
- Check parole status with the Parolee Lookup.
- DOCCS answers location questions at 518-457-5000 on business days.
- Our New York state prisons guide has a page for every facility.
14. How do courts here handle teenagers?
New York sorts young people by age and charge:
- Juvenile delinquents. Family Court hears most cases against children aged 12 through 17 (Family Court Act § 301.2).
- Juvenile offenders. Kids aged 13, 14 or 15 accused of certain grave felonies, such as murder, robbery or arson, are charged in adult court (CPL 1.20(42)).
- Adolescent offenders. Felony charges against anyone 16 or 17 start out in the Youth Part. The nonviolent ones are transferred to Family Court unless the District Attorney proves "extraordinary circumstances" (CPL 722.23).
- Teen misdemeanors. For 16- and 17-year-olds, these go to probation intake.
- Youthful offenders. If the crime happened between ages 16 and 18, the judge may swap the conviction for a youthful offender finding (CPL 720.10).
Officers have to call a parent immediately. They can question a child only at a court-approved site, where it is recorded on video, or at home with a parent's OK (Family Court Act § 305.2). Family Court is at 401 Union Street, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-267-3150. Probation does youth intake at 11 Warren Street, Suite 3, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-4126, and can say where a teen is held.
↑ Back to the question list15. Where can Columbia County crime victims turn?
Start with the District Attorney's office, 325 Columbia Street, Suite 260, Hudson, NY 12534, 518-828-3414, and ask who assists victims and witnesses there.
- Compensation. Costs from a crime, including doctor bills, counseling and funerals, may be covered by the state Office of Victim Services. Its help line is 800-247-8035.
- Custody alerts. VINE covers both county jails and state prisons. Register by phone at 888-846-3469 or on VINELink, and it will call when the person is released or moved.
- Stay-away orders. In a case against a family member, the judge may forbid the accused from contacting or going near the victim (CPL 530.12).
- Family Court. Say a case against a relative is dropped or settled. Prosecutors must then make a fair try at letting the victim know a Family Court petition remains possible (CPL 530.12(14)).
The DOCCS victim notification form handles state prison releases and parole decisions.
↑ Back to the question listCriminal Court Process for Columbia County New York
Columbia County New York Criminal Court System – Definitions
The Criminal Court System in New York State can be a complicated system to understand. In order to understand better, it might be helpful to define some words that will be used on this site. The definitions on this site are for general information and not legal advice. It is always preferred to follow information given by your attorney or local authorities.
If you scroll down below this content, and the listing of the courts in Columbia County, you will find a simple flowchart diagram and a video that will help you visualize the stages of the Criminal Court Process.
Arrest is when New York, Columbia County or local police take a person into custody and start the legal process. The arrested person may or may not be immediately jailed.
In less serious crimes, the person may only be given a citation ordering that they appear in municipal or Columbia County court on a certain date. In cases involving more serious crimes, the person is usually placed in the county jail until an arraignment, or a judge decides the next step.
Booking is when the Columbia County sheriff or local police gather information such as the detainee’s name, address and why the person is being arrested. Booking also includes fingerprinting, criminal history, investigation, and verification of identity. Bail for lower-level crimes may be set right after booking so the arrested can “bail or bond out” before being detained.
The prosecution, sometimes called “the government” or “the people” or “the state” is the side that press the charges and seeks punishment for the offense. These are attorneys that work for the municipal (or city) courts, county courts, circuit courts, courts of appeal and supreme court. In New York, the prosecuting attorney for the state or county is called an Assistant District Attorney or ADA or District Attorney or DA and a U.S. Attorney prosecutes for federal cases.
Jurisdiction is an important term in the court system that means whether a court has the obligation or duty or right to handle a case. For example, if you run a red light in your town or city, a municipal court would likely have jurisdiction over your case, but the next town or city over would not have jurisdiction over your case. If you attempted to flee from police when they attempted to stop you after you ran the red light, it becomes a more serious crime, and the municipal court might not have jurisdiction so you might be assigned to a higher-level court that has jurisdiction over the more serious crime. Jurisdiction varies from state to state and sometimes county to county.
District Court can be a New York State District Court (which are only in Nassau and parts of Suffolk County), or it can refer to a United States Federal District Court that hears federal cases and there are four US District Courts in New York. It is important to ask the arresting officer or court the exact address of the courthouse rather than trying to figure it out yourself and miss your court appearance.
Bail is money paid that is kept by the courts to make sure that the arrested does not flee the area before their trial. Bail amounts and conditions are determined at the arraignment. Once the case is over, the bail money is returned. If a person does not pay bail, they remain in jail until their trial. Bail can be denied if the court feels that the arrested would be a danger to others if released.
A bond proceeding is the determination of how much bail is to be paid and usually happens at the same time as an arraignment. During bond proceedings, the defendant can have an attorney present but does not have the right to an attorney. A judge or court officer in the {county extended} or municipal court sets bail.
Judges in New York rely on a statewide bail schedule, which sets out a recommended range of bail amounts for different offenses. Judges can still exercise discretion in setting bail above or below the recommended range.
A judicial public bond or personal recognizance bond is a bond where someone representing the defendant signs paperwork promising to pay the money if the defendant does not show up to court. If the defendant does not show, the full amount will be due and the people who signed the paperwork will be responsible for paying the court. Sometimes the court decides that there is a good chance that the arrested will show up for trial and not flee so they are released on their own promise, or recognizance.
Cash percentage in lieu of bonds. If the bond order permits, the defendant pays a percentage of the amount, (sometimes up to 100%) to the court, which then holds the money until the case is over. The amount is returned if the defendant is acquitted or the case is dismissed, or it can be used toward paying any court fines incurred by the defendant.
Surety Bond is when defendant pays a percentage of the bond amount (usually 10–15%) to a professional bondsman or bail bond company licensed to do business in New York, {county extended}. The bondsman then signs the bond on behalf of the defendant. The defendant does not receive any of the money back. If the bondsman feels the defendant is a flight risk, they can refuse to give a bond or charge a higher fee. For example, a bondsman may determine a defendant is a flight risk if they are from a state other than New York.
A Property Bond is a bond in which the bond is pledged in land or home real estate (mobile homes are not accepted). Usually, the property must be in Columbia County, and it must be worth at least the amount of the bond.
Transfer bond is transferable across state lines but generally a bond company will only assume the loan to adjoining states.
It is always important to have family involvement after being arrested. Not only can they make calls and communicate on your behalf (not all bond companies will accept collect calls), but family support will show the court that there are people who will make sure that the defendant makes it to court, not only for the defendant’s own good, but because they may have signed bond paperwork and responsible to pay if the defendant does not show in court. Chances of obtaining a bond from a bond company or clerk of court are better if family is involved.
(There have been phone scams where a bond company calls and informs a person that their family member has been arrested and they ask for financial information. A bondsman will not call asking for money without involvement of the arrested.)
A criminal defense attorney (also called lawyer or counsel) is hired or retained to represent the arrested as early as possible after the arrest. If the arrested cannot afford a lawyer, the New York court would assign indigent representation, usually called a public defender or an assigned or contracted attorney to represent the person for free or a small fee or a reduced rate, depending on the county. Indigent representation is only available for juvenile cases, appeals and cases that could result in jail time. It is not available for civil cases or cases that would not result in jail time.
In New York State, criminal attorneys can be asked by the courts to represent people periodically at a much-reduced rate. This is called an 18-B assignment.
A right to an attorney is in the 6th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution; that all people that are going to be heard in trial are entitled to be represented by a lawyer and if they cannot afford one, the court will provide one. This only applies to criminal cases and not to civil cases or criminal cases that would not result in jail time.
In New York State, the Office of Indigent Legal Services is the state agency that oversees indigent defense as a whole, but it is up to each county to fund and run their own indigent services.
For less serious cases or civil cases, there are pro bono volunteers who volunteer legal services for free or for a small fee. They often will hold clinics to teach people how to represent themselves in court. The attached link has a list of pro bono organizations in New York State.
Many courts will provide forms and help for people who want to represent themselves, called pro se. Here is a link for legal self-help in New York, and another website for which court to go to.
Pretrial proceeding is the process where both sides (prosecution and defense) gather information, interview witnesses, request records, videos etc. Pretrial proceedings also include communications with the judge assigned to the case and these appearances are either in person or by on-line conferencing. Some pretrial proceedings may not require a defendant’s appearance, allowing an attorney to appear in their place. The information that is gathered is called discovery and both sides must share the information that they have gathered. This information does not include conversations between the arrested and their attorney.
Most cases do not go to trial because both sides reach a plea deal, where both sides try to reach a reasonable punishment based on what was learned in the pretrial proceedings. A plea deal can only happen if the accused person admits they are guilty in exchange for a lighter punishment. The reason they must admit guilt is because it would not be fair to punish someone who claims they are not guilty. There are times in plea bargaining when the prosecution agrees to give a lighter sentence in exchange for information leading to the arrest of a more serious criminal related to the crime.
Trial is where both sides share their information in front of a judge or a judge and jury. After listening to all the evidence, the judge or jury decides the verdict which is whether if the person is guilty or not guilty. If a court has only a judge hearing both sides, it is called a bench trial. If a jury is selected, it is called a jury trial. If the defendant is found non-guilty, they are released. If they are found to be guilty, the next step is sentencing.
Sentencing is the punishment that the judge decides the person should get. This could be fines, community service, probation, jail time or a combination.
Appeal is asking for a higher court to hear the case again. If the accused person thinks something went wrong at trial or has new information that was not available during the trial or that the sentence is too harsh, the defense attorney can ask for an appeal. It is not unusual for an appeal when there is a long jail sentence, but an appeal can be denied if the appellate court feels that the original trial or sentencing was fair.
A misdemeanor crime in New York State is a crime that has a penalty such as fines, probation, community service or up to one year in a county jail. Common misdemeanor offenses include petty theft, simple assault, trespassing, some drug offenses or harassment.
A felony crime in New York State is a more serious crime than a misdemeanor and can be punished with more significant fines and prison (not jail) time over one year. Examples of felony crimes include murder, rape, theft, aggravated assault, drug trafficking, kidnapping, armed burglary and identity theft.
The Columbia County Clerk of Court is an elected official whose responsibilities for Criminal Court’s administrative issues include receiving criminal warrants, receiving bail, creating the trial schedule, receiving fees, fines and maintaining court records.
A warrant is used to get someone to appear in court or to law enforcement. There must be good reason to believe that the person is involved in a crime. The warrant gives authority to arrest the person and search for evidence for the investigation of the crime.
A criminal summons is issued to request that a person appear in court at a particular time and date. It does not involve an arrest. A traffic ticket, summary citation or lesser misdemeanor could be considered a summons if you are given a court date.
A summary citation, commonly referred to as a ticket, is a criminal summons by a law enforcement officer either in person or via mail accusing the defendant of a minor offense, stating potential fine, listing the court having jurisdiction and instructions for addressing the issue. Defendants may or may not be required to appear in court or handle the matter by entering a plea via mail.
Fines are usually paid to the District Court or clerk of court and payment methods can be found on the District Court or Columbia County Clerk of Court website. If you do not pay your fine on time, you can lose your driver’s license, must pay additional fees or even have a warrant for your arrest. It is important to read the instructions on the ticket issued by the police officer or court at the time of your arrest. For a parking ticket or summary citation, the fine amount and how to send payment should be on the ticket.
CRIMINAL COURTS IN NEW YORK STATE
The Criminal Court System in New York City, Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County are different from all of the other counties and cities in the state of New York.
After someone is arrested in New York, which court to go can be complicated. It depends on where the crime occurred and what type of crime it was. To further complicate things, New York City, Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County process the arrested differently than the rest of New York State. The arresting police officers or police department are best suited to advise you of which court the arrested should go to until a lawyer is retained. The NY Unified Court website also provides a guide as to which court to use.
When someone is arrested in New York, they are usually brought to the local city, town or village police department where booking occurs before being seen in a justice court which is the name given to town or village courts.
Most traffic and vehicle offenses are handled in a justice court as well as misdemeanors. If you can say that the crime happened in the “Town of ___” or “Village of____”, and it was not a felony crime, you will most likely appear in a justice court. The judges are called justices of the peace are on call 24 hours/day to be available for arraignments and to issue orders of protection. There are 1,200 justice courts in New York State except for New York City.
If the offense occurred in one of about 60 cities in New York, your case will be heard in a city court which acts the same as a justice court.
District courts are only in Nassau and parts of Suffolk County, and they act like the justice courts, they can handle traffic matters, misdemeanor cases and conduct felony arraignments.
County Courts can handle most criminal cases from beginning to end or they can receive felony cases from justice courts (or district courts in Nassau and Suffolk County) that need to be further prosecuted or go to trial. County courts hear mostly criminal cases and some family court matters but not civil cases. If your case is appealed from the justice or city court, it will likely be heard in a county court.
The term Supreme Court in New York confuses a lot of people because it sounds like a high-level court that hears special cases and has a panel of justices. This is not so in New York. There is a supreme court in each county in New York State. A New York Supreme Court handles civil, divorce, criminal cases and some juvenile cases. Criminal cases are handled in a division of supreme court called the Criminal Term.
A New York Supreme Court is a trial level court for cases that handle more serious or complicated for county courts with the exception of New York City where most criminal felony cases are handled in New York City Supreme Court instead of a county court. A New York Supreme Court has an Appellate Division that hears appeals from the supreme court criminal term, from family court and from county courts.
New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York meaning that the decisions are final unless it is a matter for the U.S. Supreme Court. Most appeals are heard in a New York Supreme Court Appeals Division.
Family Court handles cases involving family and domestic issues, such as child custody, child support, and domestic violence. Juvenile crimes are usually heard in Family Court and there is a court in each county. Here is a link for more information on juvenile court.
Specialty Courts or Problem-Solving Courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Problem-solving courts in New York include: Drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, human trafficking courts, mental health courts, opioid courts and veterans treatment courts. Follow this link to find out more about a problem-solving court in New York State.
The New York State Court System is complicated and there are factors that can change the court type and location, so it is important to follow the instructions given by the paperwork given by the police or judge at the time of the arrest or by your attorney.
New York City Criminal Courts
If a crime is committed in New York City the initial process is different than the rest of New York State. If the crime is committed in one of the five boroughs (The Bronx, Kings County (Brooklyn), New York County (Manhattan), Queens County or Richmond County (Staten Island), the arrested is taken to the New York City Criminal Court which handles lower-level cases, arraignments and trials for misdemeanors which are crimes punished by a fine or imprisonment of less than one year. It also conducts arraignments, preliminary hearings and plea bargaining for some felonies.
The more serious felony cases are transferred to the New York County Supreme Court.
The New York County Supreme Court’s Criminal Term handles cases in parts. A part deals with a certain type of proceeding or crime. The parts in NYC Supreme Court Criminal Term include many conference and trial parts, youth part, narcotics part, domestic violence parts, diversion and mental illness parts. Here is more information on New York City’s Criminal Court.
New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York meaning that the decisions are final unless it is a matter for the U.S. Supreme Court. Most appeals are heard in a New York Supreme Court Appeals Division.
Family Court handles cases involving family and domestic issues, such as child custody, child support, and domestic violence. Juvenile crimes are usually heard in Family Court and there is a court in each county.
Here is a link for more information on juvenile court.
Specialty Courts or Problem-Solving Courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances.
Problem-solving courts in New York include: Drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, human trafficking courts, mental health courts, opioid courts and veterans treatment courts. Follow this link to find out more about a problem-solving court in New York State.
The following link gives information regarding New York City’s Drug Treatment Court.
The New York State Court System is complicated and there are factors that can change the court type and location, so it is important to follow the instructions given by the paperwork given by the police or judge at the time of the arrest or by your attorney.
Nassau County Criminal Court System
After someone is arrested in New York, which court to go can be complicated. It depends on where the crime occurred and what type of crime it was. To further complicate things, New York City, Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County process the arrested differently than the rest of New York State. The arresting police officers or police department are best suited to advise you of which court the arrested should go to until a lawyer is retained.
The initial process following an arrest in Nassau County is different than the rest of New York State in that the initial process does not occur in city, town or village court but in Nassau County District Court. The District Court in Nassau County handles traffic and vehicle matters, misdemeanor cases from beginning to end, including trial and preliminary proceedings in felony criminal cases. The felony cases will then be transferred to a county or supreme court for further prosecution and/or trial.
The Nassau County Court can handle most criminal cases from beginning to end or they can receive felony cases from district courts that need to be further prosecuted or go to trial. County courts hear mostly criminal cases and some family court matters but not civil cases. If the case is considered serious enough or is complicated, it will be moved to a New York State Supreme Court. If your case is appealed from the district court, it will likely be heard in the Nassau County Court.
The term Supreme Court in New York confuses a lot of people because it sounds like a high-level court that hears special cases and has a panel of justices. This is not so in New York. There is a supreme court in each county in New York State. A New York Supreme Court handles civil, divorce, criminal cases and some juvenile cases. Criminal cases are handled in a division of supreme court called the Criminal Term.
A New York Supreme Court is a trial level court for cases that handle more serious or complicated for county courts with the exception of New York City where most criminal felony cases are handled in New York City Supreme Court instead of a county court. A New York Supreme Court has an Appellate Division that hears appeals from the supreme court criminal term, from family court and from county courts.
New York Court of Appeals is the highest court in New York meaning that the decisions are final unless it is a matter for the U.S. Supreme Court. Most appeals are heard in a New York Supreme Court Appeals Division.
Family Court handles cases involving family and domestic issues, such as child custody, child support, and domestic violence. Juvenile crimes are usually heard in Family Court and there is a court in each county.
Here is a link for more information on juvenile court.
Specialty Courts or Problem-Solving Courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances. Problem-solving courts in New York include: Drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, human trafficking courts, mental health courts, opioid courts and veterans treatment courts. Follow this link to find out more about a problem-solving court in New York State.
The New York State Court System is complicated and there are factors that can change the court type and location, so it is important to follow the instructions given by the paperwork given by the police or judge at the time of the arrest or by your attorney.
Suffolk County New York Criminal Court System
After someone is arrested in New York, which court to go can be complicated. It depends on where the crime occurred and what type of crime it was. To further complicate things, New York City, Nassau County and parts of Suffolk County process the arrested differently than the rest of New York State. The arresting police officers or police department are best suited to advise you of which court the arrested should go to until a lawyer is retained.
Parts of Suffolk County (Western Towns of Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Islip and Brookhaven) and all of Nassau County differ from the rest of New York State. The remaining towns of Suffolk County are like the rest of New York State where the court process starts in city, town or village court. In the five western towns of Suffolk County, all cases start at the District Court.
The initial process following an arrest in the Western Towns of Suffolk County is different than the rest of New York State in that the initial process does not occur in city, town or village court but in Suffolk County District Court. The District Court in Suffolk County handles traffic and vehicle matters, misdemeanor cases from beginning to end, including trial and preliminary proceedings in felony criminal cases. The felony cases will then be transferred to the Suffolk County Court or supreme court for further prosecution and/or trial.
Suffolk County Court can handle most criminal cases from beginning to end or they can receive felony cases from the district court in Suffolk County that need to be further prosecuted or go to trial. County courts hear mostly criminal cases and some family court matters but not civil cases. If the case is considered serious enough or is complicated, it will be moved to a New York State Supreme Court. If your case is appealed from the district court, it will likely be heard in a county court.
The term Supreme Court in New York confuses a lot of people because it sounds like a high-level court that hears special cases and has a panel of justices. This is not so in New York. There is a supreme court in each county in New York State. A New York Supreme Court handles civil, divorce, criminal cases and some juvenile cases. Criminal cases are handled in a division of supreme court called the Criminal Term.
A New York Supreme Court is a trial level court for cases that handle more serious or complicated for county courts with the exception of New York City where most criminal felony cases are handled in New York City Supreme Court instead of a county court. A New York Supreme Court has an Appellate Division that hears appeals from the supreme court criminal term, from family court and from county courts.
Family Court handles cases involving family and domestic issues, such as child custody, child support, and domestic violence. Juvenile crimes are usually heard in Family Court and there is a court in each county.
Here is a link for more information on juvenile court.
Specialty Courts or Problem-Solving Courts are being adopted in many states as a way to handle cases that involve non-violent and first-time offender cases in a way to where the offender can retain a job or responsibilities while following specific orders of the court as returned court appearances, periodic evaluations or testing for substances.
Problem-solving courts in New York include: Drug treatment courts, family treatment courts, human trafficking courts, mental health courts, opioid courts and veterans treatment courts. Follow this link to find out more about a problem-solving court in New York State.
The New York State Court System is complicated and there are factors that can change the court type and location, so it is important to follow the instructions given by the paperwork given by the police or judge at the time of the arrest or by your attorney.
FEDERAL COURT
Federal Court deals with crimes involving violations of United States laws. Federal crimes include federal drug trafficking, federal tax evasion and fraud that crossed state lines and include crimes that occur on federal property as post offices or federal buildings.
Cases involving crimes that involve the FBI or DEA or Immigration agencies are federal crimes. Terrorism is a federal crime.
There are some differences in the Federal court system as compared to the New York state court system. For example, the attorneys who work for the courts are called United States Attorneys and Federal judges are called District Court Judges (not to be confused by local state district courts).
Federal Magistrate Judges hear the case early on, but they do not decide on the cases at a trial like the Federal District Court Judges. In a federal case, a grand jury is used for indictments.
There are four U.S. Federal Judicial Districts in New York.
