Where will I be arraigned after a Long Island arrest?
01
Nassau County arrests are arraigned at the District Court at 99 Main Street in Hempstead - virtually every arrest in the county goes through that one courthouse, seven days a week starting at 9:30 AM. In Suffolk, arrests from the five western towns are arraigned in Courtroom D-11 at 400 Carleton Avenue in Central Islip, every day of the year. Arrests by East End town and village police - Riverhead, Southampton, East Hampton, Southold, Shelter Island - are arraigned in the local town or village justice court.
How long can they hold me before arraignment on Long Island?
02
Neither Nassau nor Suffolk runs night arraignments, so someone arrested in the evening typically spends the night at the precinct and sees a judge the next morning - in practice, within about 24 hours. That overnight window is exactly when a retained lawyer matters: we prepare the bail application, contact the DA's office, and stand next to you at the first appearance.
Will bail be set in my case?
03
For most misdemeanors and non-violent felonies, New York law requires release without cash bail - the judge sets conditions instead. Bail can still be set on qualifying offenses: most violent felonies, sex offenses, order-of-protection violations, certain gun and repeat-offense cases. Since 2023 judges have wider discretion on those charges, which makes the arraignment argument matter more, not less.
What is a desk appearance ticket, and do I need a lawyer for it?
04
A DAT means you were arrested, processed, and released with a date to appear for arraignment in Hempstead or Central Islip. The charge is exactly as real as if you had been held overnight - a criminal conviction, a record, and jail exposure are all still on the table. Yes, you need a lawyer, and the time to involve one is before the return date, not after.
How fast does the DA have to turn over the evidence?
05
Under CPL Article 245, the prosecution's initial discovery is due 20 calendar days after arraignment if you are in custody, 35 days if you are out - body-camera footage, 911 audio, lab reports, witness statements. The law was amended effective August 2025, and compliance fights are now more technical - which rewards defense lawyers who actually litigate them.
I was arrested for DWI on Long Island. What happens to my license?
06
If your BAC was .08 or higher, the court suspends your license at arraignment - before any conviction. We ask for a hardship privilege the same day, which covers essential driving, and about 30 days into the suspension most drivers qualify for a conditional license through the DMV's Impaired Driver Program. A refusal is different: it triggers a separate DMV hearing and a one-year revocation with no hardship privilege, which is why what you say roadside matters so much.
Is a first-offense DWI a felony in New York?
07
A first offense under VTL 1192(2) or (3) is a misdemeanor - up to a year in jail, a $500 to $1,000 fine, a six-month revocation, and a mandatory ignition interlock. It becomes a felony when there is a prior DWI conviction within ten years, or immediately under Leandra's Law if a child 15 or younger was in the vehicle.
What is the mandatory minimum for a gun charge on Long Island?
08
Criminal possession of a weapon in the second degree - a loaded firearm outside your home or business - is a C violent felony carrying a mandatory minimum of 3.5 years in state prison and up to 15, with higher minimums for predicate felons. Out-of-state carry permits do not transfer to New York. These cases turn on the stop and the search, which is why the suppression hearing is usually the whole fight.
Who prosecutes criminal cases on Long Island?
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The Nassau County District Attorney's office in Mineola and the Suffolk County District Attorney's office in Riverhead - each with specialized bureaus for homicide, vehicular crime, narcotics, gangs, financial crime, and domestic violence. Federal cases go to the U.S. Attorney for the Eastern District of New York, with Long Island cases heard at the federal courthouse in Central Islip. We defend against all three.
Can I testify before the grand jury in my felony case?
10
Yes. CPL 190.50 gives you a statutory right to testify before the grand jury that is considering your indictment, on written notice to the DA. It is a high-stakes decision - testimony can end a case before indictment, or hand the prosecution a preview of the defense. If the DA violates that right, the indictment can be dismissed on a motion made within five days of arraignment on it.
My child was arrested on Long Island. Do they go to adult court?
11
Under Raise the Age, 16- and 17-year-olds charged with felonies are Adolescent Offenders arraigned in a dedicated Youth Part, with a presumption that non-violent cases move to Family Court. Misdemeanors go directly to Family Court, and minors are not housed in adult jails. Youthful Offender treatment can also replace a conviction and seal the record for defendants up to age 19 - protecting college, licensing, and immigration futures.
How long will my Long Island criminal case take?
12
The People must be ready for trial within six months on a felony, 90 days on an A misdemeanor, and 60 days on a B misdemeanor under CPL 30.30 - and if you are held on a felony, CPL 180.80 forces indictment or release within about five days. Real-world timelines depend on the court and the case: a DAT misdemeanor can resolve in a few appearances, while an indicted felony with suppression hearings typically runs months longer.
Will a conviction stay on my record forever?
13
Not necessarily. Under New York's Clean Slate Act, effective November 2024, eligible misdemeanor convictions seal automatically three years after sentencing or release, and eligible felonies after eight - provided you have no pending charges and are off supervision. Sex offenses and non-drug class A felonies never seal. Petition-based sealing under CPL 160.59 also remains available. Better than either: we fight to keep the conviction from happening at all.
Where is Spodek Law Group P.C. located, and do you actually appear in Nassau and Suffolk courts?
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Yes. We have locations throughout NYC and Long Island, including Nassau and Suffolk County - and we appear in the District Courts in Hempstead and Central Islip, County Court in Mineola and Riverhead, the East End justice courts, and the federal courthouse in Central Islip. Regardless of which courtroom your case is in, we can be there.
