Penal Law Violation Offenses

In New York a "violation" means any offense, other than a traffic infraction, for which a sentence to a term of imprisonment in excess of 15 days cannot be imposed. 

Most Commonly Charged Offenses

Violations are most commonly charged in addition to misdemeanor crimes. It is rare, but not impossible, to be charged with only a violation. Some of the most commonly charged violations are:

• Disorderly Conduct (Penal Law 240.20)
• Harassment in the 2nd Degree (Penal Law 240.26)
• Trespass (Penal Law 140.05)

These are not the only violation offenses in New York, there are many others.

When a person is charged with a misdemeanor, often times a negotiated plea to the reduced charge of a violation is a something that the accused and the prosecutor agree to for a disposition (or end of the case). A violation is not a crime, and will not create a criminal record.

Our office represents those persons accused of a misdemeanor, violation, or traffic infraction. We aggressively fight these charges to obtain the best results possible for our clients.