Wayne County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Wayne County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Wayne County.
Wayne County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Wayne County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
I need help for my Wayne 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 Wayne 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 Wayne 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.
Wayne County Criminal Court
Arraignments in Wayne County
During an arraignment in Wayne County, 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 Wayne County, 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 Wayne County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
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.
Wayne County Required Court Appearances
In Wayne 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.
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.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Wayne 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.
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 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.
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.
Sentencing in Wayne County
In Wayne County if the defendant is found guilty (by trial or plea), the defendant will be sentenced. This sometimes occurrs immediately after being found guilty, but can also take place at a later date. In most instances, a judge will impose the sentence that is requested by the prosecution, but they also have the descretion to impose a different sentence.
Wayne County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Wayne County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Wayne County. The Wayne County 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.
Wayne County Criminal Court Locations
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3rd Circuit Court – Wayne – Civil and Family Domestic Divisions
Address: 2 Woodward Ave, Detroit MI 48226
Phone: 313-224-5510 -
3rd Circuit Court – Wayne – Criminal Division
Address: 1441 St. Antoine, Detroit MI 48226
Phone: 313-224-2503 Fax: 313-224-2786 -
3rd Circuit Court – Wayne – Family Juvenile Division
Address: 1025 E Forest, Detroit MI 48207
Phone: 313-833-4196 Fax: 313-833-4393 -
16th District Court – Livonia
Address: 32765 Five Mile Rd, Livonia MI 48154
Phone: 734-466-2500 -
17th District Court – Redford
Address: 15111 Beech Daly Rd, Redford MI 48239
Phone: 313-387-2790 -
18th District Court – Westland
Address: 36675 Ford Rd, Westland MI 48185
Phone: 734-595-8720 Fax: 734-595-0160 -
19th District Court – Dearborn
Address: 16077 Michigan Ave, Dearborn MI 48126
Phone: 313-943-2060 -
20th District Court – Dearborn Heights
Address: 25637 Michigan Ave, Dearborn Heights MI 48125
Phone: 313-277-7480 -
21st District Court – Garden City
Address: 6000 N Middlebelt Rd, Garden City MI 48135
Phone: 734-793-1680 -
22nd District Court – Inkster
Address: 27331 S River Park Dr, Inkster MI 48141
Phone: 313-277-8200 Fax: 313-277-8221 -
23rd District Court – Taylor
Address: 23365 Goddard Rd, Taylor MI 48180
Phone: 734-374-1334 Fax: 734-374-1303 -
24th District Court – Allen Park
Address: 6515 Roosevelt Rd, Allen Park MI 48101
Phone: 313-928-0535 Fax: 313-928-1860 -
25th District Court – Lincoln Park
Address: 1475 Cleophus, Lincoln Park, MI 48146
Phone: 313-382-8603 Fax: 313-382-9373 -
27th District Court – Wyandotte
Address: 2015 Biddle Ave, Wyandotte MI 48192
Phone: 734-324-4475 Fax: 734-324-4472 -
28th District Court – Southgate
Address: 14720 Reaume Pkwy, Southgate MI 48195
Phone: 734-258-3068 Fax: 734-246-1405 -
29th District Court – Wayne
Address: 34808 Sims Ave, Wayne MI 48184
Phone: 734-722-5220 Fax: 734-722-7003 -
30th District Court – Highland Park
Address: 12050 Woodward Ave, Highland Park MI 48203
Phone: 313-252-0300 Fax: 313-865-1115 -
31st District Court – Hamtramck
Address: 3401 Evaline Ave, Hamtramck MI 48212
Phone: 313-876-7710 -
32A District Court – Harper Woods
Address: 19617 Harper Ave, Harper Woods MI 48225
Phone: 313-343-2590 Fax: 313-343-2594 -
33rd District Court – Woodhaven
Address: 19000 Van Horn, Woodhaven, MI 48183
Phone: 734-671-0201 Fax: 734-671-0307 -
34th District Court – Romulus
Address: 11131 Wayne Rd, Romulus MI 48174
Phone: 734-941-4462 -
35th District Court – Plymouth
Address: 660 Plymouth Rd, Plymouth MI 48170
Phone: 734-459-4740 Fax: 734-454-9303 -
36th District Court – Detroit
Address: 421 Madison Ave, Detroit MI 48226
Phone: 313-965-2200 Fax: 313-965-3951 -
Grosse Pointe Farms Municipal Court
Address: 90 Kerby Rd, Grosse Pointe Farms MI 48236
Phone: 313-885-2104 Fax: 313-882-8340 -
Grosse Pointe Municipal Court
Address: 17147 Maumee Ave, Grosse Pointe MI 48230
Phone: 313-343-5262 Fax: 313-885-0820 -
Grosse Pointe Park Municipal Court
Address: 15115 E Jefferson Ave, Grosse Pointe Park MI 48230
Phone: 313-822-3535 Fax: 313-822-0016 -
Gross Pointe Shores Municipal Court
Address: 795 Lake Shore Road, Grosse Pointe Shores, MI 48236
Phone: 313-881-5503 Fax 313-640-1661 -
Gross Pointe Woods Municipal Court
Address: 20025 Mack Plaza Dr, Grosse Pointe Woods, MI 48236
Phone: 313-343-2455 Fax: 313-886-6284