Serving on a Jury: How to Respond to a New York County Jury Questionnaire If You Have a Felony Conviction

A person charged with a crime is entitled to be tried by a “jury of their peers.” Serving on a jury is a vital way for you to participate in the administration of the law. You can help make the process fairer. And you get paid $40 per day.

But New York State bars people with felony convictions from serving on a jury unless they have a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or a Certificate of Good Conduct.

Even so, people with felony convictions will still get jury questionnaires in the mail from New York County. What should you do if you get one? First, don’t ignore it. Responding to jury questionnaires is required by law, and, even though it’s unlikely, you might have to pay a fine or serve jail time if you don’t respond. Then:

1. When the questionnaire asks if you have ever been convicted of a felony, answer yes.
2. Get a certificate of disposition for your felony, which you can get at the clerk’s office of the court where you were convicted.
3. If you have a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or a Certificate of Good Conduct, submit it: It allows you to serve on a jury despite your felony. If you don’t have a copy, you can get one from the place that issued it, which will either be the court or DOCCS.
4. Mail back the completed questionnaire, along with copies (not originals) of your certificate(s).
    

What happens next?

• If you have a felony conviction but no Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or Certificate of Good Conduct, the court clerk should mail you back a notice saying you cannot serve on a jury.
• If you do have a Certificate of Relief from Disabilities or Certificate of Good Conduct, you should receive a jury summons at some point in the future.

If you have questions about any of the above, please call 1-800-695-8767 [1-800-NYJUROR] or the Community Service Society at (212) 614-5441.