Where Do You Go to Court for a Misdemeanor Charge in New York City?
In New York City, there are dozens of courthouses. This can be extremely confusing for defendants to figure out where they are supposed to go for their hearings and trials – especially for first-time defendants. Luckily, for those accused of misdemeanors, their entire case should be handled at one courthouse.
If you or a loved one has been charged with a misdemeanor in New York City, this guide can help you figure out which courthouse you are supposed to go to, and where it is located. If you have been charged with a crime, it is not too late to hire an attorney to help you with your case. The lawyers at Sullivan and Galleshaw help defendants throughout New York City fight their cases in court.
New York City Criminal Courts for Misdemeanor Charges
The general structure of most state court systems in the United States have three tiers: “trial courts,” “appellate courts,” and a single “supreme court.” Instead of calling the highest court the supreme court, New York actually calls its trial courts “Supreme Courts.” Because New York City has so many criminal cases each year, it divides things further to help it handle the caseload.
Instead of sending every case to trial at the Supreme Courts, New York only holds trials for felony cases at these courts. For misdemeanor charges, cases with a maximum sentence of one year in jail, trials are held at a different court. In different parts of New York, these have different names – but in New York City, they are called “Criminal Courts.”
Every county has its own Criminal Court, where misdemeanor and lower violations are all heard. These courts also handle preliminary hearings for felony cases. There is one other type of court in New York City, called a Summons Court. Each county has at least one Summons Court, where they handle traffic and local violations.
No matter what, when you are charged with a crime that could lead to imprisonment, you are entitled to a trial. New York merely separates their cases into different courts based on whether they are a misdemeanor or a felony, but the trial procedures, proof requirements, and evidence rules are the same for either case, and either courthouse. This means that, even if you are charged with a misdemeanor and sent to a different courthouse, you are still entitled to a fair trial and an attorney who can help with your case.
New York City Misdemeanor Courthouse Locations
If you have been charged with a crime, it is extremely important to find out exactly where you are supposed to go. These addresses are merely a reference, and you should check with your attorney about where your hearings and trials are scheduled. It is vital to make sure you arrive at the correct place at the correct time, since failing to appear at court could mean facing re-arrest and additional charges.
For misdemeanor charges, these addresses will likely be where your trial and any other hearings are held. If you are facing felony charges, then the following will be where your preliminary hearings are held – but you should check our felony court guide for the address of the felony trial courts. In any case, it is important to remember to go to the courthouse where you were charged with committing a crime, not necessarily the court where you live. Though this might mean traveling quite some distance, it is vital to a good defense strategy.
Each county in New York City (meaning each borough), has at least one Criminal Court for misdemeanor charges. These are the addresses and phone numbers for those courthouses:
Bronx
The Bronx has two Criminal Courts, located at:
215 East 161st St.
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2460
and
265 East 161st St.
Bronx, NY 10451
Phone: (718) 618-2460
King’s County/Brooklyn
Brooklyn has three Criminal Courts, one of which is the Red Hook Community Justice Center:
Red Hook Community Justice Center
88-94 Visitation Place
Brooklyn, NY 11231
Phone: (718) 923-8271
120 Schermerhorn St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (347) 404-9400
and
320 Jay St.
Brooklyn, NY 11201
Phone: (646) 386-4600
Note that this last court is located in the same building as the Kings County Supreme Court.
New York County/Manhattan
Manhattan has a few different Criminal Courts, with different names and services:
Midtown Community Court
314 West 54th St.
New York, NY 10019
Phone: (646) 264-1320
Citywide Summons Court
1 Centre St.
16th Floor
New York, NY 10007
Phone: (646) 386-4937
100 Centre St.
New York, NY 10013
Phone: (646) 386-4520
The last of these is the one you would use for most misdemeanor cases, and is located in one of the buildings for the Manhattan Supreme Court.
Queens
125-01 Queens Blvd.
Kew Gardens, NY 11415
Phone: (718) 298-0786
Note that this court is located in the same building as the Queens Supreme Court.
Richmond County/Staten Island
26 Central Ave.
Staten Island, NY 10301
Phone: (718) 390-8742
Note that this court is located in the same building as the Staten Island Supreme Court.
New York City Misdemeanor Attorneys
If you or a loved one has been charged with a misdemeanor in New York City, it is not too late to hire an attorney. The criminal defense attorneys at Sullivan and Galleshaw are available to represent defendants charged with all types of misdemeanors. For a free consultation with our attorneys, call (800) 730-0135 today.