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New York legal term

Pattern of criminal activity in New York Criminal Law

Current through 2026 New York legislative session

In New York criminal law, “Pattern of criminal activity” 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 “Pattern of criminal activity” mean in New York criminal law?

"Pattern of criminal activity" means conduct engaged in by persons charged in an enterprise corruption count constituting three or more criminal acts that: (a) were committed within ten years of the commencement of the criminal action; (b) are neither isolated incidents, nor so closely related and connected in point of time or circumstance of commission as to constitute a criminal offense or criminal transaction, as those terms are defined in section 40.10 of the criminal procedure law; and (c) are either: (i) related to one another through a common scheme or plan or (ii) were committed, so (N.Y. Penal Law § 460.10)

Statutes defining or using this term

Charges using this term

Related terms in the same statutes

This reference is informational and is not legal advice.