Sabine Parish Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Sabine Parish. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Sabine Parish.
Sabine Parish Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Sabine Parish, the prosecutor will be a representative of Sabine Parish. The Sabine Parish prosecutor reviews all evidence and ultimately decides whether to file or dismiss charges in the case. Most of the time, the prosecutor has leeway in plea negotiations and determines how the case will be prosecuted.
Right to an attorney
The US Constitution’s Sixth Amendment ensures the right to an attorney regardless of whether or not you can afford one. In Sabine Parish a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Sabine Parish Criminal Court
I need help for my Sabine Parish 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 Sabine Parish 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 Sabine Parish 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.
Sabine Parish Required Court Appearances
In Sabine Parish, 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.
If guilty, who sentences the defendant?
If the defendant is found guilty after the trial, the defendent will be sentenced. In some cases, this can occur at the same hearing the defendant is found guilty in court, in other cases a separate hearing will be required. Often the prosecution will request a particular sentence for the defendant and the judge will determine whether to enforce this sentence or impose a different sentence for the defendant.
Plea Agreements
A Plea Agreement, sometimes known as a Plea Bargain is an agreement between the prosecution and the defendant, where the defendant pleads guilty or no contest often in exchange for a lesser charge or lighter recommended sentence. A large majority of criminal cases end in a plea agreement. In Sabine Parish you can inform your attorney to negotiate with the prosecution to attempt to come to a plea agreement, but this is dependent upon the charge severity and also the prosecutors willingness to accept a plea deal.
Sabine Parish Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Sabine Parish this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Sabine Parish 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 Sabine Parish 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.
Jury Deliberations in Sabine Parish
In Sabine Parish, jury deliberations will take place in a jury trial after the prosecution and defense have presented their cases and rested. At this point, the judge will provide a list of instructions to the jury about what they are allowed and not allowed to do and what verdict options are available for them to decide. The jury will be sent to a private room to discuss the evidence presented in the case and attempt to reach a unaminous decision. When a unaminous decision is reached, the jury will inform the judge that they have reached a verdict and will return to the courtroom for the verdict to be read allowed. In the event that the jury cannot reach a unanimous verdict, the jury results in a deadlock and a mistrial is declared.
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.
Where will Sabine Parish criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Sabine Parish. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Sabine Parish.
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.
Right to Jury Trial
For “Serious Crimes”, those that can have a potential penalty of 6 months in jail OR a minimum $500 penalty, the US Constitution guarantees a right to trial by jury. This is guaranteed by Article III of the Constitution and the 6th Amendment. The accused has the ability to waive their right to trial by jury.
Sabine Parish Criminal Court Locations
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Sabine 11th Judicial District Court
Address: 400 South Capitol Street, Room 102, PO Box 419, Many LA 71449
Phone: 318-256-6223 Fax: 318-256-9037 -
Justice of the Peace District 1
Address: 12487 Hwy 118, Florien LA 71429
Phone: 318-586-3898 -
Justice of the Peace District 2
Address: 75 Tarver Drive, Many LA 71449
Phone: 318-256-2182 -
Justice of the Peace District 3
Address: 24037 Hwy 191, Zwolle LA 71449
Phone: 318-645-4648 -
Justice of the Peace District 4
Address: 3617 Ryals Road, Converse LA 71419
Phone: 318-567-2210 -
Justice of the Peace District 5
Address: PO Box 308, Pleasant Hill LA 71065
Phone: 318-315-1072 -
Converse Mayor’s Court
Address: 209 West Port Arthur Avenue, PO Box 40, Converse LA 71419
Phone: 318-567-3312 Fax: 318-567-3315 -
Fisher Mayor’s Court
Address: 679 Four L Drive, PO Box 7, Fisher LA 71426
Phone: 318-256-2001 -
Florien Mayor’s Court
Address: 237 West Port Arthur, PO Box 68, Florien LA 71429
Phone: 318-586-7286 Fax: 318-586-7310 -
Many Mayor’s Court
Address: 965 San Antonio Avenue, PO Box 1330, Many LA 71449
Phone: 318-256-3651 Fax: 318-256-4013 -
Noble Mayor’s Court
Address: 423 Hwy 1218, PO Box 129, Noble LA 71462
Phone: 318-645-6900 -
Pleasant Hill Mayor’s Court
Address: 8336 Pearl Street, PO Box 125, Pleasant Hill LA 71065
Phone: 318-796-3680 Fax: 318-796-3366 -
Zwolle Mayor’s Court
Address: 952 South Main Street, PO Box 1038, Zwolle LA 71486
Phone: 318-645-6141 Fax: 318-645-9191