Manhattan Criminal Court at 100 Centre Street: A Practical Guide to Arraignments and Your Case

If you or someone you love has been arrested in Manhattan, the odds are overwhelming that the case will begin at Manhattan Criminal Court, 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013. This building is where arraignments happen, where bail is set or release is ordered, and where the majority of misdemeanor cases in the borough are resolved. Understanding how the building works — and how a case moves through it — can make an intimidating process far more manageable. This guide explains what the court handles, how to get there, what happens at each stage, and the practical details an experienced criminal defense lawyer uses every day.

General information (NYC Criminal Court): 646-386-4511

What Manhattan Criminal Court Handles

The Criminal Court of the City of New York is a court of limited jurisdiction. At 100 Centre Street, it handles:

• Arraignments on all criminal charges arising in Manhattan — both misdemeanors and felonies begin here, even though felonies are ultimately prosecuted in Supreme Court, Criminal Term.
• Misdemeanor and violation-level prosecutions from start to finish, including trials.
• Preliminary felony proceedings, including felony hearings and release determinations under Criminal Procedure Law (CPL) § 180.80 before a case is presented to a grand jury.
• Desk Appearance Ticket (DAT) arraignments for people who were released at the precinct with a date to appear, pursuant to CPL § 150.10.

In short: whether the charge is a low-level violation, a misdemeanor such as criminal possession of a controlled substance, or a serious felony, the very first court appearance takes place in this building.

Location and How to Get There

The courthouse is located at 100 Centre Street, New York, NY 10013, in lower Manhattan. Public transit is by far the easiest way to arrive:

• Subway: Take the 4, 5, 6, J, Z, N, Q, R, or W trains to Canal Street, or the 1 train to Franklin Street, and walk to the courthouse.

Plan to arrive early. Everyone entering the building — defendants, family members, witnesses, and attorneys without secure passes — must clear magnetometer screening, and the security line in the morning can be long. Leave anything that could be considered a weapon at home, budget at least 20–30 extra minutes before any scheduled appearance, and dress as you would for an important professional meeting.

Arraignments: The First — and Most Important — Appearance

Arraignment is the formal start of a criminal case: the accusatory instrument is filed, the charges are read or waived, defense counsel is assigned or appears, and the judge decides whether the defendant will be released or held. At 100 Centre Street, arraignments run in day and evening sessions, seven days a week, which reflects the enormous volume of arrests processed in Manhattan.

New York law imposes strict timing rules. Under CPL § 140.20, a person arrested without a warrant must be brought before a court "without unnecessary delay," and the Court of Appeals has held in People ex rel. Maxian v. Brown, 77 N.Y.2d 422 (1991), that a delay beyond 24 hours from arrest to arraignment is presumptively unreasonable. In practice, this means most people arrested in Manhattan see a judge within a day — often at an evening session.

What Happens at the Arraignment

1. Notices are served. The prosecution typically serves statement and identification notices under CPL § 710.30 and may serve grand jury notice on felonies.
2. Release or bail is decided. Under CPL § 510.10, the court must select the least restrictive condition that will reasonably assure the defendant's return to court. Many misdemeanors and non-violent felonies are not bail-eligible under current law, but for qualifying offenses the judge may set bail or, in serious cases, order remand.
3. Orders of protection may be issued in cases involving an identified complainant — a detail with immediate real-world consequences for where a defendant can live and whom they can contact.
4. The next date is set, or in some misdemeanor cases the matter is resolved on the spot with a plea or dismissal.

Because release conditions, protective orders, and early plea offers are all decided in minutes, having counsel who knows this courthouse present at arraignment matters enormously. For a deeper look at this stage, see our guide to the New York criminal court arraignment process.

How a Case Moves Through 100 Centre Street

Misdemeanor Cases

After arraignment, a misdemeanor case is adjourned to an all-purpose part for conversion of the complaint to an information, discovery compliance under CPL Article 245, motion practice, and plea negotiations. Two statutory clocks protect defendants:

• CPL § 170.70: A defendant held in custody on a misdemeanor complaint must generally be released if the complaint is not converted to an information within five days (not counting Sunday).
• CPL § 30.30: The prosecution must be ready for trial within 90 days on a class A misdemeanor (60 days on a class B misdemeanor), or the case is subject to dismissal on speedy-trial grounds.

Most misdemeanors resolve short of trial — through dismissal, an adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (CPL § 170.55), a violation plea, or a negotiated misdemeanor disposition. Understanding the realistic range of outcomes is essential; our overview of plea bargaining in New York criminal cases explains how these negotiations actually work.

Felony Cases

Felonies begin at 100 Centre Street but cannot be tried there. After arraignment on a felony complaint, an in-custody defendant has powerful leverage under CPL § 180.80: if the prosecution does not obtain an indictment or conduct a felony hearing within roughly 120 hours (144 hours if a weekend or holiday intervenes), the defendant must be released. Defendants also have the right, under CPL § 190.50, to testify before the grand jury if timely notice is served — a strategic decision that must be made quickly with counsel. Once indicted, the case moves to Supreme Court for all further proceedings.

Practical Tips From Practitioners Who Work This Building

• Arrive early and clear security. The magnetometer line is longest at the start of the morning session. Missing a calendar call because you were stuck in line is avoidable — build in a cushion.
• Know your part and your date. Cases are called from a calendar; if you arrive after your case is called, the judge may issue a bench warrant. If you are unsure of your courtroom or date, check the court system's official website or confirm with your attorney before the appearance.
• Family should come to arraignments. Judges deciding release conditions want to see community ties. A family member present in the audience — with proof of address, employment information, or the ability to sign for a partially secured bond — can materially change a bail outcome.
• Bring documents that help your lawyer. Proof of employment, school enrollment, treatment participation, or immigration status can shape both bail arguments and plea negotiations.
• Never discuss the facts in hallways or holding areas. Conversations in and around the courthouse are not private. Speak about your case only with your attorney.
• Filing and paperwork. Motions, certificates of relief applications, and other papers are filed with the clerk's office; confirm current windows and hours on the court's official website before making a trip.

Common Mistakes That Damage Cases at 100 Centre Street

• Missing a court date. Failure to appear leads to a bench warrant, can add a new charge of bail jumping, and destroys the credibility a defendant needs for favorable release conditions later.
• Ignoring a Desk Appearance Ticket. A DAT is a real criminal case. Skipping the arraignment date turns a manageable misdemeanor into a warrant.
• Talking to prosecutors or police without counsel. Statements made "to clear things up" are served as CPL § 710.30 notice and used against defendants at trial.
• Violating an order of protection. Even contact invited by the protected party can result in a new criminal contempt charge and revocation of release.
• Taking a quick plea without understanding consequences. A conviction can affect immigration status, employment, licensing, and housing. Before accepting any disposition, understand whether the case could instead end in dismissal and eventual relief such as record sealing under CPL § 160.59.

Why Local Experience at This Courthouse Matters

Manhattan Criminal Court is one of the busiest criminal courthouses in the state. Outcomes turn not just on the law, but on knowing how arraignment parts operate, what dispositions particular bureaus of the District Attorney's office will realistically offer, how to leverage CPL §§ 30.30, 170.70, and 180.80 deadlines, and how to present a client persuasively in the compressed minutes of a calendar call. That institutional knowledge is precisely what a defense lawyer who regularly appears at 100 Centre Street brings to your case from the first hour after arrest.

You can contact us by phone at 212-233-1233 or by email at [email protected].