New York legal term
Defendant in New York Criminal Law
Current through 2026 New York legislative session
In New York criminal law, “Defendant” 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 “Defendant” mean in New York criminal law?
"Defendant" means a person who has been charged by an accusatory instrument with the commission of an offense. 2. (N.Y. Criminal Procedure Law § 710.10)
Statutes defining or using this term
Charges using this term
- Aggravated criminal contempt
- Aggravated criminally negligent homicide
- Aggravated family offense
- Aggravated manslaughter in the first degree
- Aggravated manslaughter in the second degree
- Aggravated murder
- Arson in the first degree
- Arson in the fourth degree
- Arson in the second degree
- Arson in the third degree
- Compounding a crime
- Crime of terrorism
Related terms in the same statutes
This reference is informational and is not legal advice.