New York legal term
Bench warrant in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Bench warrant” is a term defined by statute rather than by its everyday meaning. Its statutory definition — quoted verbatim below — controls how the term is applied throughout the New York criminal code.
What does “Bench warrant” mean in New York criminal law?
"Bench warrant" means a process of a criminal court in which a criminal action is pending, directing a police officer, or a uniformed court officer, pursuant to paragraph b of subdivision two of section 530.70 of this chapter, to take into custody a defendant in such action who has previously been arraigned upon the accusatory instrument by which the action was commenced, and to bring him before such court. (N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 1.20)
Statutes defining or using this term
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.