Dispositions of Adult Arrests

Five years of data detailing the court dispositions (outcomes) of misdemeanor and felony arrests of individuals 18 and older. Arrests are reported by the police agency that made the arrest and disposition information is provided by the state Office of Court Administration.

Dispositions of Adult Arrests by County / Region

Dispositions of Adult Arrests by Race/Ethnicity and County/Region
 

Notes

Race/ethnicity information is recorded by police and transmitted to DCJS as part of the fingerprint transaction.

Four categories of race/ethnicity are displayed: White, Black, Hispanic, and Other. 

All arrestees of Hispanic ethnicity, regardless of race, are included in the Hispanic category. The White, Black, and Other categories include only persons of non-Hispanic origin.

The attached disposition data is derived from the Division of Criminal Justice Services (DCJS) Computerized Criminal History (CCH) system. CCH contains arrests and dispositions for offenses where fingerprints are required to be taken (Criminal Procedure Law 160.10). Arrest information is submitted by police agencies via a fingerprint transaction and disposition information is electronically transmitted to DCJS by the state Office of Court Administration. Dispositions of arrests shown involve individuals who were 18 or older when the crime was committed.

Dispositions are categorized by the most serious charge reported at the time of arrest. For example, if an individual was charged with a felony and a misdemeanor in connection with the same crime, a single disposition outcome would be displayed and would be categorized as a felony. Outcomes are shown only for arrests that have reached a final disposition. Arrests with no disposition, an interim disposition, or a conviction without a sentence are not considered fully disposed and are not displayed. Disposed arrests are categorized by the following arrest types:

• Felony: Offenses for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than one year may be imposed (Penal Law Article 10.05).
• Misdemeanor: Offenses, other than traffic infractions, for which a sentence of imprisonment of more than 15 days but no more than one year can be imposed (Penal Law Article 10.04).

If an arrest resulted in a conviction, the table notes whether the conviction charge was a felony, misdemeanor, or non-criminal offense. Convictions maybe the result of a plea bargain or a trial and may be for offenses other than what was charged at arrest. For example, felony arrests can result in conviction to a misdemeanor or violation, and misdemeanor arrest charges can be upgraded to a felony charge at arraignment and result in a felony conviction. 

There is a small percentage of cases (less than 1 percent) where Youthful Offender status was granted to someone who was 18 when the crime was committed. These cases are included in the Adult Convictions category but not shown separately. Data is displayed according to the year in which the final disposition occurred, regardless of when the arrest occurred (i.e., an arrest from 2018 that was disposed in 2019 would be displayed in2019). For arrest events with multiple charges, the disposition shown is the most serious disposition. 

The following are final disposition types:

• DA Declined to Prosecute: Cases where the District Attorney declined to bring formal charges against the arrested individual.Note: This disposition primarily occurs in the five counties/boroughs of New York City.
• Dismissed-Not Adjourned in Contemplation of Dismissal (ACD): Cases that were dismissed based on merit or procedure.
• Dismissed-ACD: Cases dismissed after a period of adjournment under CPL 170.55.
• Diverted and Dismissed: Cases dismissed after successful completion of a treatment/diversion program pursuant to CPL 400.10(04). Note: Not all 'Diverted and dismissed' dispositions are reported to DCJS.
• Acquitted: Cases where the defendant was found not guilty after trial.
• Other Favorable: Other dispositions that did not result in a conviction, including cases where it was determined that New York State did not have jurisdiction, and cases abated by the defendant's death.
• Covered by Another Case: Cases resolved by a disposition (usually a guilty plea) in a separate case.
• Convicted-Sentenced: Cases resulting in a conviction, either by plea or trial, where a sentence has been imposed.

Sentences to prison, jail, and probation represent the number of sentences imposed by the court following conviction, not unique individuals.

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted courts to close and modify operations in 2020. Fewer cases were disposed, and a greater proportion of cases show decline to prosecute and dismissal dispositions. Caution should be used when comparing case outcomes that occurred in 2020 with other years.

Note: All percentages, even in the sentence type section of the tables, represent the percentage/proportion of total disposed arrests for the year.