Lonoke County Criminal Court

Lonoke County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Lonoke County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Lonoke County.

Lonoke County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in Lonoke County will take place at the Lonoke County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Lonoke County Criminal Court Locations.

Defendant Sentencing

At a sentence hearing the judge will inform the defendant of the sentence that will be imposed. This sometimes occurs at the same hearing in which the defendant is found guilty (either by trial or plea agreement). In can also occur at a later date, most often this is due to the complexity of the case where more time is needed to determine the appropriate sentence.

Lonoke County Criminal Court

Lonoke County Criminal Court

Jury by Trial Right

The US Constitution (Article 3 along with the 6th Amendment) ensures an accused defendant the right to a jury trial. This applies to crimes that have a $500 fine or a potential sentence of six months in jail (aka Serious Crimes). This right to trial by jury can also be waived by a defendant.

What is a Plea Agreement?

A plea agreement is a deal made between the prosecution and the defendant in a case, where the defendant agrees to plea guilty to a particular charge in exchange for some concession from the prosecutor. In practice, more than 90% of criminal cases end with a plea agreement.

I need help for my Lonoke County criminal case

The best place to get information about your criminal case is from an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, the court will appoint one to represent you which will assist in your case. For general information about your case the Lonoke County court clerk is able to provide general information about your specific case (e.g. date/time hearings, mandatory appearance, what will take place and what you will be required to do). The court clerk for Lonoke County will NOT be able to provide legal advice for your case, only an attorney can provide legal advice. The court clerk can provide legal information (like the information found on this website) about your case but cannot provide advice about what you should do in your legal manner.

What happens in Lonoke County at an arraignment?

In Lonoke County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.

Jury Deliberation

In a jury trial in Lonoke County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.

Burden of Proof Requirement

In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.

Lonoke County Required Court Appearances

In Lonoke County, there are both required and non-required court appearances for the defendant. At a required or mandatory appearance hearing, the defendant is required to appear in person before the court. Failing to appear at your required hearing may result in a bench warrant being issued for your arrest by the judge.

Appealing a guilty verdict

A defendant may appeal a guilty verdict to an appellate court. This is not a request to have another trial, but a request for an appellate court to review the case and determine that it was handled in a correct legal manner. There are a number of outcomes in an appeal including an upholding of the conviction, a finding that errors were made resulting in a retrial or resentencing or possibly a complete disimissal of all charges.

What if I can’t afford an attorney?

The 6th Amendment guarantees you the right to an attorney whether or not you can afford one. If you cannot afford one, a public defender will be appointed by the court to represent you.

Prosecutor in Lonoke County

In Lonoke County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Lonoke County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Arkansas. For the most part, the prosecutor in Lonoke County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.

Lonoke County Criminal Court Locations

  • Lonoke County Circuit Court

    Address: 301 N Center St, Lonoke AR 72086
    Phone: 501-676-2316 Fax: 501-676-3014

  • Lonoke County District Court – Lonoke

    Address: 107 W 2nd St, Lonoke AR 72086
    Phone: 501-676-3585 Fax: 501-676-2500

  • Lonoke County District Court – Cabot

    Address: 208 N 1st, Cabot AR 72023
    Phone: 501-843-8908 Fax: 501-843-8168

  • Lonoke County District Court – Carlisle

    Address: 120 W Main St, PO Box 49, Carlisle AR 72024
    Phone: 870-552-3436 Fax: 870-552-1188

  • Lonoke County District Court – England

    Address: PO Box 249, England AR 72046
    Phone: 501-842-3904 Fax: 501-842-1936

  • Lonoke County District Court – Ward

    Address: PO Box 237, Ward AR 72176
    Phone: 501-605-0339 Fax: 501-941-4699

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