Bolivar County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Bolivar County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Bolivar County.
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 Bolivar County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
Where can I get help for my Bolivar County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Bolivar County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
Bolivar County Criminal Court
The Right to Trial by Jury
The Sixth Amendment of the United States Constitution guarantees the right to a trial by a jury. This is applicable for when the crime can carry a sentence of 6 months in jail OR a $500 fine, these are known as “Serious Crimes”. The defendant can also waive their right to a speedy and public trial.
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 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.
Bolivar County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Bolivar County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Bolivar County. The Bolivar 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.
Bolivar County Arraignments
An arraignment is a court hearing. In Bolivar County this is the first thing that will happen in a criminal case. The defendant will be brought before a judge in Bolivar 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 Bolivar 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.
Required Court Appearances in Bolivar County
Any required court appearances in Bolivar 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.
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.
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.
Where will Bolivar County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Bolivar County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Bolivar County.
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.
Bolivar County Criminal Court Locations
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Bolivar County Circuit Court – 1st District
Address: 801 Main St, PO Box 205, Rosedale MS 38769
Phone: 662-759-6521 Fax: 662-759-3717 -
Bolivar County Circuit Court – 2nd District
Address: 200 S Court St, PO Box 670, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-2061 Fax: 662-846-2943 -
Bolivar County Chancery Court – 1st District
Address: PO Box 238, Rosedale, MS 38769
Phone: 662-759-3762 Fax: 662-759-3467 -
Bolivar County Chancery Court – 2nd District
Address: PO Box 789, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-2071 Fax: 662-846-2940 -
County Court of Bolivar County – 1st District
Address: 801 Main St, PO Box 205, Rosedale MS 38769
Phone: 662-759-6521 Fax: 662-759-3717 -
County Court of Bolivar County – 2nd District
Address: 200 S Court St, PO Box 670, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-2061 Fax: 662-846-2943 -
Bolivar County Youth Court – 1st District
Address: 801 Main St, PO Box 205, Rosedale MS 38769
Phone: 662-759-6521 Fax: 662-759-3717 -
Bolivar County Youth Court – 2nd District
Address: 200 S Court St, PO Box 670, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-2061 Fax: 662-846-2943 -
Bolivar County Justice Court
Address: 404 N Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Dr, PO Box 1507, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-4008 Fax: 662-846-6783 -
Benoit Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 66, Benoit MS 38725
Phone: 662-742-3751 Fax: 662-742-3758 -
Beulah Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 68, Beulah MS 38726
Phone: 662-759-3758 -
Boyle Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 367, Boyle MS 38730
Phone: 662-843-4661 -
Cleveland Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 58, Cleveland MS 38732
Phone: 662-843-7346 Fax: 662-843-8955 -
Duncan Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 106, Duncan MS 38740
Phone: 662-395-2263 -
Gunnison Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 278, Gunnison MS 38746
Phone: 662-747-2213 Fax: 662-747-2263 -
Merigold Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 348, Merigold MS 38759
Phone: 662-748-2765 Fax: 662-748-2670 -
Mound Bayou Municipal Court
Address: 106 Green St W, PO Box 680, Mound Bayou MS 38762
Phone: 662-741-2194 Fax: 662-741-2195 -
Pace Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 216, Pace MS 38764
Phone: 662-723-6292 Fax: 662-723-6198 -
Rosedale Municipal Court
Address: 304 Court St, PO Box 370, Rosedale MS 38769
Phone: 662-759-6813 Fax: 662-759-6731 -
Shaw Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 679, Shaw MS 38773
Phone: 662-754-3131 Fax: 662-754-5744 -
Shelby Municipal Court
Address: PO Box 463, Shelby MS 38774
Phone: 662-588-8737 Fax: 662-398-7812