Tulare County Criminal Court

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

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.

Tulare County Arraignments

An arraignment is a court hearing. In Tulare County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Tulare County Criminal Court and the judge will read the charges that were filed against the defendant. The judge will also read the rights the defendant has and ask the defendant if they understand both the charges filed against them and their rights as a defendant in the case. In Tulare County a plea of Guilty, Not Guilty or No Contest may be entered. In a guilty or no contest plea the sentencing of the defendant may take place at the same arraignment hearing or a later date may be scheduled for sentencing. For a not guilty plea, a date will be set for a trial.

Tulare County Criminal Court

Tulare County Criminal Court

Who can help me in Tulare County?

For general information about your case the Tulare County court clerk will be able to provide legal information about your specific criminal case. Legal information is not legal advice though, the court clerk will only be able to provide information about your case, like date/time of hearings what will occur at the hearing and what you may be required to do in the hearing. They cannot provide advice about what you should do or what the best legal options may be for your particular case. Only an attorney can provide legal advice and this is your best place for information about your specific criminal proceeding. If you cannot afford to hire a private attorney to represent you, a judge will appoint an attorney to represent you, this is most often a public defender.

Prosecutor in Tulare County

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

Tulare County Criminal Court hearings

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

What is Jury Deliberation?

After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.

Can I request a Plea Agreement?

In Tulare County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.

Required Court Appearances in Tulare County

Any required court appearances in Tulare County Criminal Court must be attended by the defendant. Failure to appear in court at your required date and time may result in the judge issuing an arrest warrant.

Can I appeal a guilty verdict?

If found guilty, a defendant may decide to appeal his case to an appelate court. The appellate court will not retry the case, they will examine the proceedings in the lower court to make sure they were done in a legal manner. The appellate court can either uphold the original conviction, or determine that due to errors made in the original trial, that there must be a retrial, resentencing or a complete dismissal of the charges.

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 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.

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.

Tulare County Criminal Court Locations

  • Tulare County Superior Court – Dinuba

    Address: 640 South Alta Avenue, Dinuba CA 93618
    Phone: 559-595-6400

  • Tulare County Superior Court – Juvenile Justice Facility

    Address: 11200 Avenue 368, Room 201, Visalia CA 93291
    Phone: 559-738-2300

  • Tulare County Superior Court – Porterville

    Address: 300 East Olive, Porterville CA 93257
    Phone: 559-782-3700

  • Tulare County Superior Court – Visalia

    Address: 221 South Mooney Boulevard, Visalia CA 93291
    Phone: 559-730-5000

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