Laurens County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Laurens County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Laurens County.
Prosecutor in Laurens County
In Laurens County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Laurens County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Georgia. For the most part, the prosecutor in Laurens County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Laurens County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Laurens County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Laurens County Criminal Court
What happens in Laurens County at an arraignment?
In Laurens 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.
Burden of Proof
The burden of proof is always on the prosecution in a criminal trial. In other words, the prosecution has to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant committed the crime. The defense must only prove that there is a reasonable possibility that the defendant did NOT commit the crime. If the prosecution cannot prove that the defendant committed the crime beyond a reasonable doubt, the jury will be instructed to find the defendant not-guilty.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Laurens 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.
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.
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.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Laurens 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.
Laurens County Required Court Appearances
In Laurens 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.
Who can help me in Laurens County?
For general information about your case the Laurens 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.
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.
Laurens County Criminal Court Locations
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Laurens County Superior Court
Address: 101 North Jefferson Street, PO Box 2028, Dublin GA 31040
Phone: 478-272-3210 Fax: 478-275-2595 -
Laurens County Magistrate Court
Address: PO Box 1676, Dublin GA 31040
Phone: 478-272-5010 Fax: 478-275-0035 -
Laurens County Juvenile Court
Address: 101 North Jefferson Street, Dublin GA 31021
Phone: 478-272-8623 -
Municipal Court of Dublin
Address: PO Box 690, Dublin GA 31040
Phone: 478-277-5088 -
Municipal Court of East Dublin
Address: 119 Soperton Avenue, East Dublin GA 31027
Phone: 478-272-6883