CPL § 20.50

Geographical jurisdiction of offenses; jurisdiction of cities, towns and villages · as in force on May 31, 2026

§ 20.50 Geographical jurisdiction of offenses; jurisdiction of cities,

towns and villages.

1. The principles prescribed in section 20.40, governing geographical jurisdiction over offenses as between counties of this state, are, where appropriate, applicable to the determination of geographical jurisdiction over offenses as between cities, towns and villages within a particular county unless a different determination is required by the provisions of some other express provision of statute.

2. Where an offense prosecutable in a local criminal court is committed in a city other than New York City, or in a town or village, but within one hundred yards of any other such political subdivision, it may be prosecuted in either such political subdivision.

Official sourcehttps://www.nysenate.gov/legislation/laws/CPL/20.50

In plain English

(1) Unless another statute expressly says otherwise, the county-jurisdiction rules in § 20.40 also decide venue among cities, towns, and villages within one county when appropriate. ★
(2) A local-court offense committed in a city outside New York City, or in a town or village, within 100 yards of another such municipality may be prosecuted in either municipality. ★

Marked in the text: penalties, time limits, sums of money. Editorial emphasis added by this edition; it does not appear in the statute as enacted.

In print

This provision appears in Volume 1 — The Court Officer in Plain English; Volume 2 — The Court Officer: Criminal Procedure Law; Volume 2 — Your Career: Criminal Procedure in Plain English.