Hinds County Criminal Court

Hinds County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Hinds County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Hinds County.

Who can help me in Hinds County?

For general information about your case the Hinds 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.

Hinds County Criminal Court locations

Criminal proceedings take place in the Hinds County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.

Hinds County Criminal Court

Hinds County Criminal Court

The Right to Counsel

The Fifth and Sixth Amendments to the U.s. Constitution give defendants in criminal cases the right to counsel/attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney one will be appointed to represent you. Like other rights a defendant has, this one can be waived as well and alternatively you can choose to represent yourself.

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 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.

Required Court Appearances in Hinds County

Any required court appearances in Hinds 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.

Appealing a Criminal Conviciton

A defendant may appeal a criminal conviction to an appellate court. In an appeal, the actual trial is not redone, but the appellate court hears arguments that the criminal case was not handled in a legal manner at the original criminal court. The appellate court can either uphold the conviction, or determine that errors were made and may request a retrial, a resentencing of the defendant or that the charges be dismissed.

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.

Sentencing in Hinds County

In Hinds 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.

Prosecutor in Hinds County

In Hinds County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Hinds County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Mississippi. For the most part, the prosecutor in Hinds County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.

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.

Arraignments in Hinds County

During an arraignment in Hinds 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 Hinds 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 Hinds County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.

Hinds County Criminal Court Locations

  • Hinds County Circuit Court – 1st District

    Address: 407 E Pascagoula, PO Box 327, Jackson MS 39205
    Phone: 601-968-6628 Fax: 601-973-5547

  • Hinds County Circuit Court – 2nd District

    Address: 127 W Main St, PO Box 999, Raymond MS 39154
    Phone: 601-857-8038 Fax: 601-857-0535

  • Hinds County Chancery Court – 1st District

    Address: 316 S President St, PO Box 686, Jackson MS 39205
    Phone: 601-968-6540 Fax: 601-968-5535

  • Hinds County Chancery Court – 2nd District

    Address: 127 W Main St, PO Box 88, Raymond MS 39154
    Phone: 601-857-8055 Fax: 601-857-4953

  • County Court of Hinds County

    Address: 407 E Pascagoula St, Jackson MS 39205
    Phone: 601-968-6628 Fax: 601-973-5547

  • Hinds County Courthouse

    Address: 407 E Pascagoula, PO Box 327, Jackson MS 39205
    Phone: 601-968-6628 Fax: 601-973-5547

  • Hinds County Justice Court

    Address: 407 E Pascagoula St, PO Box 3490, Jackson MS 39207
    Phone: 601-965-8800 Fax: 601-973-5532

  • Bolton Municipal Court

    Address: 202 Raymond Bolton Rd, PO Box 7, Bolton MS 39041
    Phone: 601-866-2221 Fax: 601-866-4374

  • Byram Municipal Court

    Address: 5901 Terry Rd, PO Box 720222, Byram MS 39272
    Phone: 601-500-7010 Fax: 601-372-7748

  • Clinton Municipal Court

    Address: 305 Monroe St, Clinton MS 39056
    Phone: 601-924-4411 Fax: 601-925-1018

  • Edwards Municipal Court

    Address: 310 Front St, PO Box 215, Edwards MS 39066
    Phone: 601-852-5461 Fax: 601-852-8521

  • Jackson Municipal Court

    Address: 327 E Pascagoula St, Jackson MS 39201
    Phone: 601-960-1938 Fax: 601-960-1939

  • Raymond Municipal Court

    Address: 110 Courtyard Sq, PO Box 10, Raymond MS 39154
    Phone: 601-857-0072 Fax: 601-857-0105

  • Terry Municipal Court

    Address: 315 W Cunningham Ave, PO Box 327, Terry MS 39170
    Phone: 601-878-5521 Fax: 601-878-5535

  • Utica Municipal Court

    Address: 110 White Oak St, PO Box 335, Utica MS 39175
    Phone: 601-885-8718 Fax: 601-885-2807

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