New York Consolidated Law
Criminal Procedure Law
Article 210 - NY Criminal Procedure Law
PROCEEDINGS IN SUPERIOR COURT FROM FILING OF INDICTMENT TO PLEA
Section |
Description |
210.05 | Indictment and superior court information exclusive methods of prosecution. |
210.10 | Requirement of and methods of securing defendant's appearance for arraignment upon indictment. |
210.15 | Arraignment upon indictment; defendant`s rights, court's instructions and bail matters. |
210.16 | Requirement of HIV related testing in certain cases. |
210.20 | Motion to dismiss or reduce indictment. |
210.25 | Motion to dismiss indictment; as defective. |
210.30 | Motion to dismiss or reduce indictment on ground of insufficiency of grand jury evidence; motion to inspect grand jury minutes. |
210.35 | Motion to dismiss indictment; defective grand jury proceeding. |
210.40 | Motion to dismiss indictment; in furtherance of justice. |
210.43 | Motion to remove juvenile offender to family court. |
210.45 | Motion to dismiss indictment; procedure. |
210.46 | Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in marihuana cases in a superior court. |
210.47 | Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in misdemeanor cases in superior court. |
210.50 | Requirement of plea. |
S 210.05 Indictment and superior court information exclusive methods of
prosecution.
The only methods of prosecuting an offense in a superior court are by
an indictment filed therewith by a grand jury or by a superior court
information filed therewith by a district attorney.
S 210.10 Requirement of and methods of securing defendant's appearance
for arraignment upon indictment.
After an indictment has been filed with a superior court, the
defendant must be arraigned thereon. He must appear personally at such
arraignment, and his appearance may be secured as follows: 1. If the
defendant was previously held by a local criminal court for the action
of the grand jury, and if he is confined in the custody of the sheriff
pursuant to a previous court order issued in the same criminal action,
the superior court must direct the sheriff to produce the defendant for
arraignment on a specified date and the sheriff must comply with such
direction. The court must give at least two days notice of the time and
place of the arraignment to an attorney, if any, who has previously
filed a notice of appearance in behalf of the defendant with such
superior court, or if no such notice of appearance has been filed, to an
attorney, if any, who filed a notice of appearance in behalf of the
defendant with the local criminal court.
2. If a felony complaint against the defendant was pending in a local
criminal court or if the defendant was previously held by a local
criminal court for the action of the grand jury, and if the defendant is
at liberty on his or her own recognizance or on bail pursuant to a
previous court order issued in the same criminal action, the superior
court must, upon at least two days notice to the defendant and his or
her surety, to any person other than the defendant who posted cash bail
and to any attorney who would be entitled to notice under circumstances
prescribed in subdivision one, direct the defendant to appear before the
superior court for arraignment on a specified date. If the defendant
fails to appear on such date, the court may issue a bench warrant and,
in addition, may forfeit the bail, if any. Upon taking the defendant
into custody pursuant to such bench warrant, the executing police
officer must without unnecessary delay bring the defendant before such
superior court for arraignment. If such superior court is not available,
the executing police officer may bring the defendant to the local
correctional facility of the county in which such superior court sits,
to be detained there until not later than the commencement of the next
session of such court occurring on the next business day.
3. If the defendant has not previously been held by a local criminal
court for the action of the grand jury and the filing of the indictment
constituted the commencement of the criminal action, the superior court
must order the indictment to be filed as a sealed instrument until the
defendant is produced or appears for arraignment, and must issue a
superior court warrant of arrest. Upon the request of the district
attorney, in lieu of a superior court warrant of arrest, the court may
issue a summons if it is satisfied that the defendant will respond
thereto. Upon the request of the district attorney, in lieu of a warrant
of arrest or summons, the court may instead authorize the district
attorney to direct the defendant to appear for arraignment on a
designated date if it is satisfied that the defendant will so appear. A
superior court warrant of arrest is executable anywhere in the state.
Such warrant may be addressed to any police officer whose geographical
area of employment embraces either the place where the offense charged
was allegedly committed or the locality of the court by which the
warrant is issued. It must be executed in the same manner as an
ordinary warrant of arrest, as provided in section 120.80, and following
the arrest the executing police officer must without unnecessary delay
perform all recording, fingerprinting, photographing and other
preliminary police duties required in the particular case, and bring the
defendant before the superior court. If such superior court is not
available, the executing police officer may bring the defendant to the
local correctional facility of the county in which such superior court
sits, to be detained there until not later than the commencement of the
next session of such court occurring on the next business day.
4. A superior court warrant of arrest may be executed by (a) any
police officer to whom it is addressed or (b) any other police officer
delegated to execute it under circumstances prescribed in subdivisions
five and six.
5. The issuing court may authorize the delegation of such warrant.
Where the issuing court has so authorized, a police officer to whom a
superior court warrant of arrest is addressed may delegate another
police officer to whom it is not addressed to execute such warrant as
his agent when:
(a) He has reasonable cause to believe that the defendant is in a
particular county other than the one in which the warrant is returnable;
and
(b) The geographical area of employment of the delegated police
officer embraces the locality where the arrest is to be made.
6. Under circumstances specified in subdivision five, the police
officer to whom the warrant is addressed may inform the delegated
officer, by telecommunication, mail or any other means, of the issuance
of the warrant, of the offense charged in the underlying accusatory
instrument and of all other pertinent details, and may request such
officer to act as his or her agent in arresting the defendant pursuant
to such warrant. Upon such request, the delegated police officer is to
the same extent as the delegating officer, authorized to make such
arrest pursuant to the warrant within the geographical area of such
delegated officer`s employment. Upon so arresting the defendant, he or
she must without unnecessary delay deliver the defendant or cause the
defendant to be delivered to the custody of the police officer by whom
he or she was so delegated, and the latter must then without unnecessary
delay bring the defendant before a court in which such warrant is
returnable. If such court is not available, the delegating officer may
bring the defendant to the local correctional facility of the county in
which such court sits, to be detained there until not later than the
commencement of the next session of such court occurring on the next
business day.
S 210.15 Arraignment upon indictment; defendant's rights, court`s
instructions and bail matters.
1. Upon the defendant`s arraignment before a superior court upon an
indictment, the court must immediately inform him, or cause him to be
informed in its presence, of the charge or charges against him, and the
district attorney must cause him to be furnished with a copy of the
indictment.
2. The defendant has a right to the aid of counsel at the arraignment
and at every subsequent stage of the action, and, if he appears upon
such arraignment without counsel, has the following rights:
(a) To an adjournment for the purpose of obtaining counsel; and
(b) To communicate, free of charge, by letter or by telephone, for
the purposes of obtaining counsel and informing a relative or friend
that he has been charged with an offense; and
(c) To have counsel assigned by the court in any case where he is
financially unable to obtain the same.
3. The court must inform the defendant of all rights specified in
subdivision two. The court must accord the defendant opportunity to
exercise such rights and must itself take such affirmative action as is
necessary to effectuate them.
5. If the defendant desires to proceed without the aid of counsel,
the court must permit him to do so if it is satisfied that he made such
decision with knowledge of the significance thereof, but if it is not so
satisfied it may not proceed until the defendant is provided with
counsel, either of his own choosing or by assignment. A defendant who
proceeds at the arraignment without counsel does not waive his right to
counsel, and the court must inform him that he continues to have such
right as well as all the rights specified in subdivision two which are
necessary to effectuate it, and that he may exercise such rights at any
stage of the action.
6. Upon the arraignment, the court, unless it intends to make a final
disposition of the action immediately thereafter, must, as provided in
section 530.40, issue a securing order, releasing the defendant on his
own recognizance or fixing bail or committing him to the custody of the
sheriff for his future appearance in such action.
S 210.16 Requirement of HIV related testing in certain cases.
1. (a) In a case where an indictment or a superior court information
has been filed with a superior court which charges the defendant with a
felony offense enumerated in any section of article one hundred thirty
of the penal law where an act of "sexual intercourse", "oral sexual
conduct" or "anal sexual conduct," as those terms are defined in section
130.00 of the penal law, is required as an essential element for the
commission thereof, the court shall, upon a request of the victim within
six months of the date of the crimes charged, order that the defendant
submit to human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) related testing. Testing of
a defendant shall be ordered when the result would provide medical
benefit to the victim or a psychological benefit to the victim. Medical
benefit shall be found when the following elements are satisfied: (i) a
decision is pending about beginning, continuing, or discontinuing a
medical intervention for the victim; and (ii) the result of an HIV test
of the accused could affect that decision, and could provide relevant
information beyond that which would be provided by an HIV test of the
victim. If testing the defendant would provide medical benefit to the
victim or a psychological benefit to the victim, then the testing is to
be conducted by a state, county, or local public health officer
designated by the order. Test results, which shall not be disclosed to
the court, shall be communicated to the defendant and the victim named
in the order in accordance with the provisions of section twenty-seven
hundred eighty-five-a of the public health law.
(b) For the purposes of this section, the terms "victim" and
"applicant" mean the person with whom the defendant is charged to have
engaged in an act of "sexual intercourse", "oral sexual conduct" or
"anal sexual conduct", as those terms are defined in section 130.00 of
the penal law, where such conduct with such victim was the basis for
charging the defendant with an offense specified in paragraph (a) of
this subdivision.
2. Any request made by the victim pursuant to this section must be in
writing, filed with the court within six months of the date of the
crimes charged, and provided by the court to the defendant or his or her
counsel. The request must be filed with the court prior to or within
forty-eight hours after the indictment or superior court information has
been filed with the superior court; provided however that, for good
cause shown, the court may permit such request to be filed at a later
stage of the action within six months of the date of the crimes charged.
3. At any stage in the action within six months of the date of the
crimes charged, prior to the final disposition of the indictment or
superior court information and while the defendant is charged with an
offense specified in paragraph (a) of subdivision one of this section,
the victim may request that the defendant submit to a follow-up HIV
related test. Such request must be in writing, filed with the court and
provided by the court to the defendant or his or her counsel. Upon a
finding that the follow-up HIV related test is medically appropriate the
court must order that the defendant submit to such test. The court shall
not make such finding of medical appropriateness unless the follow-up
HIV related test is to be administered a sufficient time after the
charged offense to be consistent with guidelines that may be issued by
the commissioner of health. There shall be no more than one follow-up
HIV related test absent a showing of extraordinary circumstances.
4. Any requests, related papers and orders made or filed pursuant to
this section, together with any papers or proceedings related thereto,
shall be sealed by the court and not made available for any purpose,
except as may be necessary for the conduct of judicial proceedings
directly related to the provisions of this section. All proceedings on
such requests shall be held in camera.
5. The application for an order to compel a defendant to undergo an
HIV related test may be made by the victim but, if the victim is an
infant or incompetent person, the application may also be made by a
representative as defined in section twelve hundred one of the civil
practice law and rules. The application must state that: (a) the
applicant was the victim of the offense enumerated in paragraph (a) of
subdivision one of this section of which the defendant is charged; and
(b) the applicant has been offered pre-HIV test counseling and post-HIV
test counseling by a public health officer in accordance with article
twenty-seven-F of the public health law and has been advised, in
accordance with any guidelines that may be issued by the commissioner of
health, of (i) the limitations on the information to be obtained through
an HIV test on the proposed subject; (ii) current scientific assessments
of the risk of transmission of HIV from the exposure he or she may have
experienced; and (iii) the need for the applicant to undergo HIV related
testing to definitively determine his or her HIV status.
6. The court shall conduct a hearing only if necessary to determine if
the applicant is the victim of the offense of which the defendant is
charged or to determine whether a follow-up test is medically
appropriate. The court ordered test must be performed within forty-eight
hours of the date on which the court ordered the test, provided,
however, that whenever the defendant is not tested within the period
prescribed by the court, the court must again order that the defendant
undergo an HIV related test. The defendant shall be advised of
information as to HIV testing and medical treatment in accordance with
any guidelines that may be issued by the commissioner of health.
7. (a) Test results shall be disclosed subject to the following
limitations, which shall be specified in any order issued pursuant to
this section:
(i) disclosure of confidential HIV related information shall be
limited to that information which is necessary to fulfill the purpose
for which the order is granted; and
(ii) disclosure of confidential HIV related information shall be made
to the defendant upon his or her request, and disclosure to a person
other than the defendant shall be limited to the person making the
application; redisclosure shall be permitted only to the victim, the
victim's immediate family, guardian, physicians, attorneys, medical or
mental health providers and to his or her past and future contacts to
whom there was or is a reasonable risk of HIV transmission and shall not
be permitted to any other person or the court.
(b) Unless inconsistent with this section, the court's order shall
direct compliance with and conform to the provisions of article
twenty-seven-F of the public health law. Such order shall include
measures to protect against disclosure to others of the identity and HIV
status of the applicant and of the person tested and may include such
other measures as the court deems necessary to protect confidential
information.
8. Any failure to comply with the provisions of this section or
section twenty-seven hundred eighty-five-a of the public health law
shall not impair or affect the validity of any proceeding upon the
indictment or superior court information.
9. No information obtained as a result of a consent, hearing or court
order for testing issued pursuant to this section nor any information
derived therefrom may be used as evidence in any criminal or civil
proceeding against the defendant which relates to events that were the
basis for charging the defendant with an offense enumerated in paragraph
(a) of subdivision one of this section, provided however that nothing in
this section shall prevent prosecution of a witness testifying in any
court hearing held pursuant to this section for perjury pursuant to
article two hundred ten of the penal law.
S 210.20 Motion to dismiss or reduce indictment.
1. After arraignment upon an indictment, the superior court may, upon
motion of the defendant, dismiss such indictment or any count thereof
upon the ground that:
(a) Such indictment or count is defective, within the meaning of
section 210.25; or
(b) The evidence before the grand jury was not legally sufficient to
establish the offense charged or any lesser included offense; or
(c) The grand jury proceeding was defective, within the meaning of
section 210.35; or
(d) The defendant has immunity with respect to the offense charged,
pursuant to section 50.20 or 190.40; or
(e) The prosecution is barred by reason of a previous prosecution,
pursuant to section 40.20; or
(f) The prosecution is untimely, pursuant to section 30.10; or
(g) The defendant has been denied the right to a speedy trial; or
(h) There exists some other jurisdictional or legal impediment to
conviction of the defendant for the offense charged; or
(i) Dismissal is required in the interest of justice, pursuant to
section 210.40.
1-a. After arraignment upon an indictment, if the superior court, upon
motion of the defendant pursuant to this subdivision or paragraph b of
subdivision one of this section challenging the legal sufficiency of the
evidence before the grand jury, finds that the evidence before the grand
jury was not legally sufficient to establish the commission by the
defendant of the offense charged in any count contained within the
indictment, but was legally sufficient to establish the commission of a
lesser included offense, it shall order the count or counts of the
indictment with respect to which the finding is made reduced to allege
the most serious lesser included offense with respect to which the
evidence before the grand jury was sufficient, except that where the
most serious lesser included offense thus found is a petty offense, and
the court does not find evidence of the commission of any crime in any
other count of the indictment, it shall order the indictment dismissed
and a prosecutor`s information charging the petty offense filed in the
appropriate local criminal court. The motion to dismiss or reduce any
count of an indictment based on legal insufficiency to establish the
offense charged shall be made in accordance with the procedure set forth
in subdivisions one through seven of section 210.45, provided however,
the court shall state on the record the basis for its determination.
Upon entering an order pursuant to this subdivision, the court shall
consider the appropriateness of any securing order issued pursuant to
article 510 of this chapter.
2. A motion pursuant to this section, except a motion pursuant to
paragraph (g) of subdivision one, should be made within the period
provided in section 255.20. A motion made pursuant to paragraph (g) of
subdivision one must be made prior to the commencement of trial or entry
of a plea of guilty.
3. Upon the motion, a defendant who is in a position adequately to
raise more than one ground in support thereof should raise every such
ground upon which he intends to challenge the indictment. A subsequent
motion based upon any such ground not so raised may be summarily denied,
although the court, in the interest of justice and for good cause shown,
may in its discretion entertain and dispose of such a motion on the
merits notwithstanding.
4. Upon dismissing an indictment or a count thereof upon any of the
grounds specified in paragraphs (a), (b), (c) and (i) of subdivision
one, or, upon dismissing a superior court information or a count thereof
upon any of the grounds specified in paragraphs (a) or (i) of
subdivision one, the court may, upon application of the people, in its
discretion authorize the people to submit the charge or charges to the
same or another grand jury. When the dismissal is based upon some other
ground, such authorization may not be granted. In the absence of
authorization to submit or resubmit, the order of dismissal constitutes
a bar to any further prosecution of such charge or charges, by
indictment or otherwise, in any criminal court within the county.
5. If the court dismisses one or more counts of an indictment, against
a defendant who was under the age of sixteen at the time of the
commission of the crime and who did not lack criminal responsibility for
such crime by reason of infancy, and one or more other counts of the
indictment having been joined in the indictment solely with the
dismissed count pursuant to subdivision six of section 200.20 is not
dismissed, the court must direct that such count be removed to the
family court in accordance with article seven hundred twenty-five of
this chapter.
6. The effectiveness of an order reducing a count or counts of an
indictment or dismissing an indictment and directing the filing of a
prosecutor`s information or dismissing a count or counts of an
indictment charging murder in the first degree shall be stayed for
thirty days following the entry of such order unless such stay is
otherwise waived by the people. On or before the conclusion of such
thirty-day period, the people shall exercise one of the following
options:
(a) Accept the court`s order by filing a reduced indictment, by
dismissing the indictment and filing a prosecutor`s information, or by
filing an indictment containing any count or counts remaining after
dismissal of the count or counts charging murder in the first degree, as
appropriate;
(b) Resubmit the subject count or counts to the same or a different
grand jury within thirty days of the entry of the order or such
additional time as the court may permit upon a showing of good cause;
provided, however, that if in such case an order is again entered with
respect to such count or counts pursuant to subdivision one-a of this
section, such count or counts may not again be submitted to a grand
jury. Where the people exercise this option, the effectiveness of the
order further shall be stayed pending a determination by the grand jury
and the filing of a new indictment, if voted, charging the resubmitted
count or counts;
(c) Appeal the order pursuant to subdivision one or one-a of section
450.20. Where the people exercise this option, the effectiveness of the
order further shall be stayed in accordance with the provisions of
subdivision two of section 460.40.
If the people fail to exercise one of the foregoing options, the
court`s order shall take effect and the people shall comply with
paragraph (a) of this subdivision.
S 210.25 Motion to dismiss indictment; as defective.
An indictment or a count thereof is defective within the meaning of
paragraph (a) of subdivision one of section 210.20 when:
1. It does not substantially conform to the requirements stated in
article two hundred; provided that an indictment may not be dismissed as
defective, but must instead be amended, where the defect or irregularity
is of a kind that may be cured by amendment, pursuant to section 200.70,
and where the people move to so amend; or
2. The allegations demonstrate that the court does not have
jurisdiction of the offense charged; or
3. The statute defining the offense charged is unconstitutional or
otherwise invalid.
S 210.30 Motion to dismiss or reduce indictment on ground of insufficiency
of grand jury evidence; motion to inspect grand jury minutes.
1. A motion to dismiss an indictment or a count thereof pursuant to
paragraph (b) of subdivision one of section 210.20 or a motion to reduce
a count or counts of an indictment pursuant to subdivision one-a of
section 210.20 must be preceded or accompanied by a motion to inspect
the grand jury minutes, as prescribed in subdivision two of this
section.
2. A motion to inspect grand jury minutes is a motion by a defendant
requesting an examination by the court and the defendant of the
stenographic minutes of a grand jury proceeding resulting in an
indictment for the purpose of determining whether the evidence before
the grand jury was legally sufficient to support the charges or a charge
contained in such indictment.
3. Unless good cause exists to deny the motion to inspect the grand
jury minutes, the court must grant the motion. It must then proceed to
examine the minutes and to determine the motion to dismiss or reduce the
indictment. If the court, after examining the minutes, finds that
release of the minutes, or certain portions thereof, to the parties is
necessary to assist the court in making its determination on the motion,
it may release the minutes or such portions thereof to the parties.
Provided, however, such release shall be limited to that grand jury
testimony which is relevant to a determination of whether the evidence
before the grand jury was legally sufficient to support a charge or
charges contained in such indictment. Prior to such release the district
attorney shall be given an opportunity to present argument to the court
that the release of the minutes, or any portion thereof, would not be in
the public interest. For purposes of this section, the minutes shall
include any materials submitted to the grand jury pursuant to
subdivision eight of section 190.30 of this chapter.
4. If the court determines that there is not reasonable cause to
believe that the evidence before the grand jury may have been legally
insufficient, it may in its discretion either (a) deny both the motion
to inspect and the motion to dismiss or reduce, or (b) grant the motion
to inspect notwithstanding and proceed to examine the minutes and to
determine the motion to dismiss or reduce.
5. In any case, the court must place on the record its ruling upon the
motion to inspect.
6. The validity of an order denying any motion made pursuant to this
section is not reviewable upon an appeal from an ensuing judgment of
conviction based upon legally sufficient trial evidence.
7. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, where the indictment is
filed against a juvenile offender, the court shall dismiss the
indictment or count thereof where the evidence before the grand jury was
not legally sufficient to establish the offense charged or any lesser
included offense for which the defendant is criminally responsible. Upon
such dismissal, unless the court shall authorize the people to resubmit
the charge to a subsequent grand jury, and upon a finding that there was
sufficient evidence to believe defendant is a juvenile delinquent as
defined in subdivision (a) of section seven hundred twelve of the family
court act and upon specifying the act or acts it found sufficient
evidence to believe defendant committed, the court may direct that such
matter be removed to family court in accordance with the provisions of
article seven hundred twenty-five of this chapter.
S 210.35 Motion to dismiss indictment; defective grand jury proceeding.
A grand jury proceeding is defective within the meaning of paragraph
(c) of subdivision one of section 210.20 when:
1. The grand jury was illegally constituted; or
2. The proceeding is conducted before fewer than sixteen grand
jurors; or
3. Fewer than twelve grand jurors concur in the finding of the
indictment; or
4. The defendant is not accorded an opportunity to appear and testify
before the grand jury in accordance with the provisions of section
190.50; or
5. The proceeding otherwise fails to conform to the requirements of
article one hundred ninety to such degree that the integrity thereof is
impaired and prejudice to the defendant may result.
S 210.40 Motion to dismiss indictment; in furtherance of justice.
1. An indictment or any count thereof may be dismissed in furtherance
of justice, as provided in paragraph (i) of subdivision one of section
210.20, when, even though there may be no basis for dismissal as a
matter of law upon any ground specified in paragraphs (a) through (h) of
said subdivision one of section 210.20, such dismissal is required as a
matter of judicial discretion by the existence of some compelling
factor, consideration or circumstance clearly demonstrating that
conviction or prosecution of the defendant upon such indictment or count
would constitute or result in injustice. In determining whether such
compelling factor, consideration, or circumstance exists, the court
must, to the extent applicable, examine and consider, individually and
collectively, the following:
(a) the seriousness and circumstances of the offense;
(b) the extent of harm caused by the offense;
(c) the evidence of guilt, whether admissible or inadmissible at
trial;
(d) the history, character and condition of the defendant;
(e) any exceptionally serious misconduct of law enforcement personnel
in the investigation, arrest and prosecution of the defendant;
(f) the purpose and effect of imposing upon the defendant a sentence
authorized for the offense;
(g) the impact of a dismissal upon the confidence of the public in
the criminal justice system;
(h) the impact of a dismissal on the safety or welfare of the
community;
(i) where the court deems it appropriate, the attitude of the
complainant or victim with respect to the motion;
(j) any other relevant fact indicating that a judgment of conviction
would serve no useful purpose.
2. In addition to the grounds specified in subdivision one of this
section, a count alleging enterprise corruption in violation of article
four hundred sixty of the penal law may be dismissed in the interest of
justice where prosecution of that count is inconsistent with the stated
legislative findings in said article. Upon a motion pursuant to this
section, the court must inspect the evidence before the grand jury and
such other evidence or information as it may deem proper.
3. An order dismissing an indictment in the interest of justice may
be issued upon motion of the people or of the court itself as well as
upon that of the defendant. Upon issuing such an order, the court must
set forth its reasons therefor upon the record.
S 210.43 Motion to remove juvenile offender to family court.
1. After a motion by a juvenile offender, pursuant to subdivision
five of section 180.75 of this chapter, or after arraignment of a
juvenile offender upon an indictment, the superior court may, on motion
of any party or on its own motion:
(a) except as otherwise provided by paragraph (b), order removal of
the action to the family court pursuant to the provisions of article
seven hundred twenty-five of this chapter, if, after consideration of
the factors set forth in subdivision two of this section, the court
determines that to do so would be in the interests of justice; or
(b) with the consent of the district attorney, order removal of an
action involving an indictment charging a juvenile offender with murder
in the second degree as defined in section 125.25 of the penal law; rape
in the first degree, as defined in subdivision one of section 130.35 of
the penal law; criminal sexual act in the first degree, as defined in
subdivision one of section 130.50 of the penal law; or an armed felony
as defined in paragraph (a) of subdivision forty-one of section 1.20, to
the family court pursuant to the provisions of article seven hundred
twenty-five of this chapter if the court finds one or more of the
following factors: (i) mitigating circumstances that bear directly upon
the manner in which the crime was committed; (ii) where the defendant
was not the sole participant in the crime, the defendant's participation
was relatively minor although not so minor as to constitute a defense to
the prosecution; or (iii) possible deficiencies in the proof of the
crime, and, after consideration of the factors set forth in subdivision
two of this section, the court determined that removal of the action to
the family court would be in the interests of justice.
2. In making its determination pursuant to subdivision one of this
section the court shall, to the extent applicable, examine individually
and collectively, the following:
(a) the seriousness and circumstances of the offense;
(b) the extent of harm caused by the offense;
(c) the evidence of guilt, whether admissible or inadmissible at
trial;
(d) the history, character and condition of the defendant;
(e) the purpose and effect of imposing upon the defendant a sentence
authorized for the offense;
(f) the impact of a removal of the case to the family court on the
safety or welfare of the community;
(g) the impact of a removal of the case to the family court upon the
confidence of the public in the criminal justice system;
(h) where the court deems it appropriate, the attitude of the
complainant or victim with respect to the motion; and
(i) any other relevant fact indicating that a judgment of conviction
in the criminal court would serve no useful purpose.
3. The procedure for bringing on a motion pursuant to subdivision one
of this section, shall accord with the procedure prescribed in
subdivisions one and two of section 210.45 of this article. After all
papers of both parties have been filed and after all documentary
evidence, if any, has been submitted, the court must consider the same
for the purpose of determining whether the motion is determinable on the
motion papers submitted and, if not, may make such inquiry as it deems
necessary for the purpose of making a determination.
4. For the purpose of making a determination pursuant to this
section, any evidence which is not legally privileged may be introduced.
If the defendant testifies, his testimony may not be introduced against
him in any future proceeding, except to impeach his testimony at such
future proceeding as inconsistent prior testimony.
5. a. If the court orders removal of the action to family court, it
shall state on the record the factor or factors upon which its
determination is based, and, the court shall give its reasons for
removal in detail and not in conclusory terms.
b. The district attorney shall state upon the record the reasons for
his consent to removal of the action to the family court. The reasons
shall be stated in detail and not in conclusory terms.
S 210.45 Motion to dismiss indictment; procedure.
1. A motion to dismiss an indictment pursuant to section 210.20 must
be made in writing and upon reasonable notice to the people. If the
motion is based upon the existence or occurrence of facts, the motion
papers must contain sworn allegations thereof, whether by the defendant
or by another person or persons. Such sworn allegations may be based
upon personal knowledge of the affiant or upon information and belief,
provided that in the latter event the affiant must state the sources of
such information and the grounds of such belief. The defendant may
further submit documentary evidence supporting or tending to support the
allegations of the moving papers.
2. The people may file with the court, and in such case must serve a
copy thereof upon the defendant or his counsel, an answer denying or
admitting any or all of the allegations of the moving papers, and may
further submit documentary evidence refuting or tending to refute such
allegations.
3. After all papers of both parties have been filed, and after all
documentary evidence, if any, has been submitted, the court must
consider the same for the purpose of determining whether the motion is
determinable without a hearing to resolve questions of fact.
4. The court must grant the motion without conducting a hearing if:
(a) The moving papers allege a ground constituting legal basis for
the motion pursuant to subdivision one of section 210.20; and
(b) Such ground, if based upon the existence or occurrence of facts,
is supported by sworn allegations of all facts essential to support the
motion; and
(c) The sworn allegations of fact essential to support the motion are
either conceded by the people to be true or are conclusively
substantiated by unquestionable documentary proof.
5. The court may deny the motion without conducting a hearing if:
(a) The moving papers do not allege any ground constituting legal
basis for the motion pursuant to subdivision one of section 210.20; or
(b) The motion is based upon the existence or occurrence of facts,
and the moving papers do not contain sworn allegations supporting all
the essential facts; or
(c) An allegation of fact essential to support the motion is
conclusively refuted by unquestionable documentary proof.
6. If the court does not determine the motion pursuant to subdivision
four or five, it must conduct a hearing and make findings of fact
essential to the determination thereof. The defendant has a right to be
present in person at such hearing but may waive such right.
7. Upon such a hearing, the defendant has the burden of proving by a
preponderance of the evidence every fact essential to support the
motion.
8. When the court dismisses the entire indictment without authorizing
resubmission of the charge or charges to a grand jury, it must order
that the defendant be discharged from custody if he is in the custody of
the sheriff, or if he is at liberty on bail it must exonerate the bail.
9. When the court dismisses the entire indictment but authorizes
resubmission of the charge or charges to a grand jury, such
authorization is, for purposes of this subdivision, deemed to constitute
an order holding the defendant for the action of a grand jury with
respect to such charge or charges. Such order must be accompanied by a
securing order either releasing the defendant on his own recognizance or
fixing bail or committing him to the custody of the sheriff pending
resubmission of the case to the grand jury and the grand jury`s
disposition thereof. Such securing order remains in effect until the
first to occur of any of the following:
(a) A statement to the court by the people that they do not intend to
resubmit the case to a grand jury;
(b) Arraignment of the defendant upon an indictment or prosecutor`s
information filed as a result of resubmission of the case to a grand
jury. Upon such arraignment, the arraigning court must issue a new
securing order;
(c) The filing with the court of a grand jury dismissal of the case
following resubmission thereof;
(d) The expiration of a period of forty-five days from the date of
issuance of the order; provided that such period may, for good cause
shown, be extended by the court to a designated subsequent date if such
be necessary to accord the people reasonable opportunity to resubmit the
case to a grand jury.
Upon the termination of the effectiveness of the securing order
pursuant to paragraph (a), (c) or (d), the court must immediately order
that the defendant be discharged from custody if he is in the custody of
the sheriff, or if he is at liberty on bail it must exonerate the bail.
Although expiration of the period of time specified in paragraph (d)
without any resubmission or grand jury disposition of the case
terminates the effectiveness of the securing order, it does not
terminate the effectiveness of the order authorizing resubmission.
S 210.46 Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in marihuana cases
in a superior court.
Upon or after arraignment in a superior court upon an indictment where
the sole remaining count or counts charge a violation or violations of
section 221.05, 221.10, 221.15, 221.35 or 221.40 of the penal law and
before the entry of a plea of guilty thereto or commencement of a trial
thereof, the court, upon motion of a defendant, may order that all
proceedings be suspended and the action adjourned in contemplation of
dismissal or may dismiss the indictment in furtherance of justice, in
accordance with the provisions of section 170.56 of this chapter.
S 210.47 Adjournment in contemplation of dismissal in misdemeanor cases
in superior court.
Upon or after the arraignment in a superior court upon an indictment
where the sole remaining count or counts charge a misdemeanor offense,
and before the entry of a plea of guilty thereto or commencement of a
trial thereof, the court, upon motion of the people or the defendant and
with the consent of the other party, or upon the court`s own motion with
the consent of both the people and the defendant, may order that all
proceedings be suspended and the action adjourned in contemplation of
dismissal, in accordance with the provisions of section 170.55 of this
chapter.
S 210.50 Requirement of plea.
Unless an indictment is dismissed or the criminal action thereon
terminated or abated pursuant to the provisions of this article or some
other provision of law, the defendant must be required to enter a plea
thereto.
Top of Page
Criminal Procedure Law - Table of Contents