West Baton Rouge Parish Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in West Baton Rouge Parish. See below for more information about criminal cases in West Baton Rouge 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.
Jury Deliberations in West Baton Rouge Parish
In West Baton Rouge 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.
West Baton Rouge Parish Criminal Court
Who can help me in West Baton Rouge Parish?
For general information about your case the West Baton Rouge Parish 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.
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.
Arraignments in West Baton Rouge Parish
During an arraignment in West Baton Rouge Parish, a defendant appears before the court and the judge reads the charges that have been filed against the accused and also informs the defendant of his/her rights. During the arraignment in West Baton Rouge Parish, the defendant can choose to plead one of the following 1) Guilty 2) Not Guilty or 3) No Contest. If the defendant enters a plea of Not Guilty, a date for trial is set. In the event of a Guilty or No Contest Plea in West Baton Rouge Parish the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
West Baton Rouge Parish Required Court Appearances
In West Baton Rouge 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.
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.
What is the Burden of Proof?
The term “Burden of Proof” means that the prosecutor is required to prove the guilt of the defendant beyond a reasonable doubt. If the prosecutor cannot provide proof of the defendants guilt, then the judge or jury in a trial must find the defendant not guilty. In the United States the principle innocent until proven guilty derives from this that the defendant is assumed innocent and the prosecution has the burden of proving beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty.
West Baton Rouge Parish Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the West Baton Rouge Parish Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
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 West Baton Rouge 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.
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 West Baton Rouge Parish a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Prosecutor in West Baton Rouge Parish
In West Baton Rouge Parish, the prosecutor is an attorney representing West Baton Rouge Parish. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Louisiana. For the most part, the prosecutor in West Baton Rouge Parish has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
West Baton Rouge Parish Criminal Court Locations
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West Baton Rouge 18th Judicial District Court
Address: 850 8th Street, PO Box 107, Port Allen LA 70767
Phone: 225-383-0378 Fax: 225-383-3694 -
Port Allen City Court
Address: 330 South Alexander Avenue, PO Box 93, Port Allen LA 70767
Phone: 225-346-4702 Fax: 225-379-3266 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 1
Address: 7656 South River Road, Addis LA 70710
Phone: 225-749-2035 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 2
Address: 1826 Allene Street, Brusly LA 70719
Phone: 225-276-1733 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 4
Address: PO Box 1052, Port Allen LA 70767
Phone: 225-975-2534 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 5
Address: 6111 Nolan David Road, Port Allen LA 70767
Phone: 225-383-7909 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 6
Address: 9243 Burnside Road, Erwinville LA 70729
Phone: 225-627-5771 -
Justice of the Peace Ward 7
Address: PO Box 172, Erwinville LA 70729
Phone: 225-439-6059 -
Addis Mayor’s Court
Address: 7818 LA Hwy 1 South, PO Box 237, Addis, LA 70710
Phone: 225-687-4844 -
Brusly Mayor’s Court
Address: 601 South Vaughan Street, PO Box 510, Brusly, LA 70719
Phone: 225-749-2909 Fax: 225-749-3874