Suffolk County District Court – Islip
Each city, town, village, and hamlet on Long Island either has a local court or shares a court with a larger town nearby. But what happens if you break the law outside the city limits? These cases are common and fall under the jurisdiction of the county in which the alleged offense took place. As a Suffolk and Nassau County attorney, I’ve spent much of my time in both county courthouses, but especially the busy Suffolk County District Court in Central Islip.
This court, for all practical purposes, functions like your town court, except that it has original jurisdiction over all criminal and civil matters that take place in the county, outside of any town or city limits. The Islip Courthouse is just one of 6 different locations for the Suffolk County District Court, but it is the only one that handles traffic and criminal matters. This means that if you’ve been charged with any kind of crime or traffic violation, you case will start here.
Location:
The Suffolk County District Court is part of the 10th Judicial District and spans 5 cities in Western Suffolk County. The Islip location is located in the Cohalan Court Complex at:
400 Carleton Ave.
Central Islip, NY 11722
(631) 853-7500
You can get directions from your home by clicking on the map below:
Parking is free in the lot near the complex and the entrance to the court building is across from the group of flag poles you’ll see at the end of the lot.
Inside the Courthouse:
The courthouse is a large, multistory building, but nearly all criminal cases start in one of the arraignment courtrooms. If you’ve been arrested and held by the police, you will be brought to Courtroom D-11 for your arraignment. If you were issued a Desk Appearance or Field Appearance ticket, you will be tried in one of the “street arraignment” courtrooms, whose number will be on your court summons. Remember that the first number in the courtroom tells you what floor it’s on. For example, D-11 is on the 1st floor. Trial courtroom D-51, however, is on the 5th floor.
Preparing For Your Court Date:
Before you appear in court for your arraignment, where you will formally hear the charges brought against you and have the opportunity to plead “guilty” or “not guilty” to the charges, you should secure a good lawyer. Even if you plan on pleading guilty, it’s important to have legal counsel with you at this stage, since a good attorney can help you determine what kind of plea is in your favor (sometimes a plea of “no contest” can be used instead of “not guilty) and whether or not to pursue or take a plea bargain.
If you’ve been arrested or received a court summons for any reason – whether it’s for first-degree murder, a felony or misdemeanor, or DWI or other traffic crimes, give me a call to see what I can do for you. Even small offenses not properly handled can have a profound effect on your life and future. Our consultations are always free and without obligation. So give us a call at (631) 472-3779.