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ACD & Dismissal · New York

ACD in New York: The Path to Dismissal, Explained

New York builds a second-chance path into its courts: complete a period of good behavior with conditions, and an eligible case ends in dismissal and sealing. Here's how an ACD works — and how to arrive as the strongest candidate.

What an ACD Is

An adjournment in contemplation of dismissal (CPL 170.55, and 170.55 / 530.12-adjacent for domestic matters) adjourns your case for a set period — typically six months, or up to a year for domestic-violence-related matters — during which you stay out of trouble and meet any conditions the court sets. Complete it, and the case is dismissed and sealed. It is not a guilty plea and not an admission. Whether you're eligible depends on the charge, your history, and the prosecutor's and judge's discretion — your attorney's question.

6 mo
typical ACD period (up to a year for DV-related)
Dismissed
& sealed on successful completion
Not a plea
an ACD is not an admission of guilt
A Gift With Conditions
A new arrest or missed condition during the ACD period can pull you out and put the original charge right back on the table. Treat every condition as non-negotiable.

Where Anger Management Fits

An ACD involves the court's judgment that you'll stay out of trouble — and documented voluntary steps are evidence you already are. Enrollment before the request, with a same-day letter, gives your attorney exactly that. Where anger management becomes a condition of the ACD — common in conflict-based matters — a live, graded, documented program satisfies it in the form courts respect. The strong version is enrolling proactively, before the request is even made.

from $675 · live remote

Court-accepted live remote program. Private and direct — no insurance, no diagnosis on file, no third parties. Same-day enrollment letter, graded and documented, accelerated pacing available. Flat rate set at enrollment by program length.

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Questions People Ask

Is an ACD a conviction?
No — an ACD is not a plea, not an admission, and not a conviction. On successful completion the case is dismissed and the record sealed. Your attorney can explain what that means for your situation.
Who qualifies for an ACD?
It depends on the charge, your record, the complainant's position, and prosecutorial and judicial discretion — first-time, lower-level matters are the most common candidates. Only your attorney can assess your case.
Does anger management help me get an ACD?
Documented voluntary steps support the court's confidence that you'll stay out of trouble, which is the heart of an ACD. No program guarantees one, but it strengthens the request — and often becomes a condition anyway.
What if I violate an ACD condition?
The court can restore the case to the calendar and resume prosecution — you lose the dismissal. Documented, verifiable program completion is part of what protects you. Live remote, private, from $675.