General Information
IMPORTANT NOTE:
The New York State Court System does not ask jurors for financial information (such as credit cards and bank accounts) or personal information (such as the names and ages of your family members). Do not provide such information to anyone claiming to represent the court system, and contact our office immediately if you receive such a request.
PETIT JURY:
Generally, petit jury service is ONE DAY/ONE TRIAL during a one week term. Trials may start any day that week, and may extend beyond the week. You must check the jury message each evening for instructions (by Jury ID): to report at a specified time the next day; to check the jury message during the next day about reporting later that day; or to continue checking the jury message each evening that week.
GRAND JURY:
Generally, grand jury is Tuesdays and Thursdays for eight weeks. Additional days may be scheduled, the term may be extended for unfinished business, and you may miss occasional days for business or personal reasons.
TOWN AND VILLAGE COURTS:
Generally, jurors are summoned for a specific trial. You must contact the town or village court directly for an excuse.
PARKING:
You may park at the municipal lots indicated on the website map. Parking is at your own expense.
INCLEMENT WEATHER:
After 8:00am, the Jury Message will include cancellations or delays for cases in the Dutchess County Courts (does not include serving grand jurors, or jurors summoned for town and village courts).
ABSENCE/EMERGENCY:
If an illness or emergency prevents you from reporting, contact our office as soon as possible after 9:00am.
COURT HOURS:
The Dutchess County Courts are open from 9:00am thru 5:00pm, Monday thru Friday, except State holidays.
COURT SECURITY:
Persons entering the courthouse must pass through a metal detector. No weapons, defensive sprays, knives, edged metal items, or recording devices are allowed.
MEALS:
There are numerous eateries in the vicinity, or you may bring your lunch to the Central Jury Room. Food and drink are not allowed in courtrooms.
PHONE ACCESS:
Pay phones are not available. If you need access to a phone, notify jury staff in the Central Jury Room, or a Uniformed Court Officer in the Courthouse.
ATTENDANCE VERIFICATION:
When first reporting, you must complete and bring the ATTENDANCE CERTIFICATE on your summons, and Proof of Attendance will be provided. If you are available but are not instructed to report, then you must follow instructions on the Jury Message for good service credit. Only eligible reporting jurors receive the per diem.
dutchess.nyjuror.gov
