{"jurisdiction": "us-ny", "code": "cpl", "section": "110.20", "citation": "CPL § 110.20", "heading": "Local criminal court or youth part of the superior court accusatory instruments; notice thereof to district attorney", "text": ["§ 110.20 Local criminal court or youth part of the superior court", "accusatory instruments; notice thereof to district attorney.", "When a criminal action in which a crime is charged is commenced in a local criminal court, or youth part of the superior court other than the criminal court of the city of New York, a copy of the accusatory instrument shall be promptly transmitted to the appropriate district attorney upon or prior to the arraignment of the defendant on the accusatory instrument. If a police officer or a peace officer is the complainant or the filer of a simplified information, or has arrested the defendant or brought him before the local criminal court or youth part of the superior court on behalf of an arresting person pursuant to subdivision one of section 140.20, such officer or his agency shall transmit the copy of the accusatory instrument to the appropriate district attorney. In all other cases, the clerk of the court in which the defendant is arraigned shall so transmit it."], "official_source": "https://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/110.20", "from_official_api": true, "plain_english": "When a criminal action **charging a crime** is commenced in a local criminal court (or youth part of the superior court) — **other than NYC Criminal Court** — a **copy of the accusatory instrument** must be **promptly transmitted to the appropriate district attorney**, **upon or before the defendant's arraignment**. ★\n\n**Who sends it:**\n- If a **police or peace officer** is the complainant, filed the simplified information, made the arrest, or brought the defendant in on behalf of an arresting person (per § 140.20(1)) → **that officer or the officer's agency** transmits the copy. ★\n- **In all other cases → the clerk of the court** where the defendant is arraigned transmits it. ★ (This is the court-clerk's duty.)\n\n---\n\n**★ Exam hits:**\n- Match the method to its article: **warrant of arrest → Art. 120**, **summons → Art. 130**, **warrantless arrest → Art. 140**, **appearance ticket → Art. 150**.\n- § 110.10 splits by whether the action is **already commenced** (warrant, summons, or attendance-securing articles 560/570/580/590/600) vs. **not yet commenced** (warrantless arrest or appearance ticket).\n- Articles **560/570/580/590/600** are for defendants **not at liberty within the state**.\n- § 110.20: a copy of the accusatory instrument goes to the DA **promptly, upon or before arraignment** — this rule excludes the **NYC Criminal Court**.\n- Who transmits: a **police/peace officer** (complainant, filer, or arresting officer) does it; **otherwise the clerk of the court** does. Know the clerk's default duty.\n\n\n---\n*Verbatim statute:* [[CPL - Article 110]]", "retrieved": "2026-09-27", "url": "https://elyphived.com/us-ny/cpl/110.20", "publisher": "Elyphived LLC"}