New York City Criminal Court NYC Criminal Court Frequently Asked Questions

No, family members are not entitled to visit a defendant while in police custody unless the defendant is a juvenile (under 16 years of age).

To find an attorney call the Association of the Bar of the City of New York Legal Referral Service at Phone: 917-993-5879 (English), Phone: 917-832-1927 (Spanish). You may also complete the Legal Referral Service Request Form online.

Court calendars / appearance lists / alpha lists (alphabetical list of defendants) are posted daily in the lobby of each courthouse. Defendants are listed by either docket number or name. If the defendant's name does not appear on the calendar, go to the central clerk's office.

To apply for a Certificate of Relief from Civil Disabilities, obtain a form from the central clerk's office in the county in which your case was filed. The form must be completed, notarized, and returned. Your case then will be added to the daily calendar. You may be required to undergo a Probation investigation prior to a ruling on the request.

A warrant can only be cleared/vacated by a defendant's appearance before a judge. The defendant must go to the central clerk's office in the county where his/her case is being heard. The defendant must have the following information: full name and date of birth, or date of arrest, or docket number. 

A Certificate of Conduct can be requested at Police Headquarters, 1 Police Plaza, New York, N.Y.  

You must report to the above address with a passport or other form of photo identification, and a money order for $50.00 to cover the processing fee. 

For more information, visit NYPD Record Requests.

To request a Certificate of Disposition, bring the following items to the central clerk's office in the county in which your case was filed: docket number, or defendant's full name and date of birth, or date of arrest; picture I.D.; $10.00 (exact change only).

If requesting a disposition for a defendant who has a sealed case, you must attach a notarized letter from the defendant giving permission to release the disposition.

 Generally, bail money is returned to the owner once the case is concluded. A notice to release bail should be issued from the court room on the same day the court case is finished. There are no checks issued from the court. If you haven't received your bail money within four to six weeks from the last court date, contact NYC Finance Dept., 1 Centre Street Room 2200, New York, NY or call (212) 504-4321.   66 John Street, 2nd floor, New York, NY or call (212) 908-7619.  

Courts Bail Refund Inquiry

If you miss your court date, contact your attorney and report to the central clerk's office in the borough your case was scheduled.

If you missed your court date, contact your attorney and report to the central clerk's office in the borough your case was scheduled. 

In the broadest sense, the ADA requires that the court system be accessible to people with disabilities and give them an equal opportunity to participate.  Where necessary, the court system must make reasonable modifications to the usual way it does things, as long as doing so doesn’t fundamentally alter the nature of the court’s services, programs, or activities. The court system also must take the steps necessary to effectively communicate with a person with a communication disability.   An accommodation is anything the court system can do or provide to make sure that a person with a disability has an equal opportunity to participate in a court proceeding or make use of the court’s services, programs, and activities.

The length of time between arrest and arraignment is usually 24 hours.

For information on bail bonds, visit -  Bail Bonds Active Agent Listing - Guest Applications - DFS Portal

Fines, Mandatory Surcharges and the Crime Victim Assistance Fee are paid according to the status of your case.

If you have an adjourned date to pay your fine or surcharge or crime victim assistance fee and you want to pay before the scheduled date, you can do so by going to the clerk's office of the part where your case is pending.

If you have an adjourned date to pay your fine or surcharge or crime victim assistance fee, you must return to court on that date even if you do not have the money.

If you have not been assigned a court date on which to pay your fine, surcharge, crime victim assistance fee or you failed to report on your assigned date, report to the central clerk's office.

If you paid the monies before your scheduled adjourned date, you do not have to return on that day.

Payments.nycourts.gov

It is best to pay bail at the correctional facility where the person is being held; however, bail may be paid at any of the following correctional facilities. For further information on inmates, bail, visiting hours, and travel directions call (718) 546-0700.

Bronx House of Detention
653 River Avenue, Bronx, NY 10451

Brooklyn House of Detention
275 Atlantic Avenue, Brooklyn, NY 11201

Manhattan House of Detention (The Tombs)
125 White Street, New York, NY 10013

Queens House of Detention
126-02 82nd Avenue, Queens, NY 11415

Riker's Island
11-11 Hazen Avenue, East Elmhurst, NY 11370

A defendant can be released from the courtroom, if you post bail when the person actually appears before the court. Notify the court clerk of your intention to pay bail. The clerk will direct you to the cashier's office in that county.