There are District Courts in Nassau County and the five western towns of Suffolk County. District Courts have criminal jurisdiction over misdemeanors and lesser offenses, and civil jurisdiction over claims of up to $15,000. The District Courts are the "local criminal court" and the "local civil court" for the municipalities they serve. The Suffolk County District Court became operational in January 1964. Prior to its creation, each of the five western towns of the county (Babylon, Huntington, Smithtown, Islip and Brookhaven) had what would now be considered a town justice court (as the five eastern towns of Suffolk County still operate). The Uniform District Court Act transferred the authority of the five western town courts to the newly established District Court and provided for a courthouse in each of the five districts and a central location referred to as the First District.