Chenango County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Chenango County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Chenango County.
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 Chenango County 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.
Where will Chenango County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Chenango County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Chenango County.
Chenango County Criminal Court
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.
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.
Chenango County Required Court Appearances
In Chenango 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.
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.
Who is the prosecutor for Chenango County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Chenango County criminal cases will either be a representative of Chenango County or a representative from New York. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
What happens in Chenango County at an arraignment?
In Chenango County the defendant is brought into court and informed by the judge of the charges that have been filed against them along with informing them of their rights. At this time, the defendant can plead guilty, not guilty or no contest. If the defendant pleads guilty or no contest, there will be no trial and the defendant may be sentenced immediately or at a later date. If the defendant pleads not guilty a trial date is set.
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.
I need help for my Chenango 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 Chenango 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 Chenango 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.
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.
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.
Chenango County Criminal Court Locations
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Chenango County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 5 Court Street, Norwich NY 13815
Phone: 607-337-1827 Fax: 607-337-1834 -
Chenango County Court
Address: 5 Court Street, Norwich NY 13815
Phone: 607-337-1835 Fax: 917-522-3477 -
Norwich City Court
Address: 1 Court Plaza, Norwich NY 13815
Phone: 607-334-1224 Fax: 607-334-8494 -
Afton Town Court
Address: 19 Court Street, PO Box 108, Afton NY 13730
Phone: 607-639-2505 Fax: 607-639-1617 -
Afton Village Court
Address: 19 Court Street, PO Box 402, Afton NY 13730
Phone: 607-639-2505 Fax: 607-639-1617 -
Bainbridge Town Court
Address: 15 North Main Street, Bainbridge NY 13733
Phone: 607-967-7465 Fax: 607-967-4506 -
Columbus Town Court
Address: 4340 State Highway 80, PO Box 916, Sherburne NY 13460
Phone: 607-847-9970 Fax: 607-847-6419 -
Coventry Town Court
Address: 1839 State Highway 235, Greene NY 13778
Phone: 607-656-8602 Fax: 607-656-7017 -
Earlville Village Court
Address: 8 North Main Street, PO Box 88, Earlville NY 13332
Phone: 315-691-6020 -
German Town Court
Address: 352 County Route 5, PO Box 75, McDonough NY 13801
Phone: 607-647-5739 -
Greene Town Court
Address: 51 Genesee Street, PO Box 129, Greene NY 13778
Phone: 607-656-4333 Fax: 607-656-4333 -
Greene Village Court
Address: 49 Genesee Street, PO Box 207, Greene NY 13778
Phone: 607-656-4544 Fax: 607-656-5682 -
Guilford Town Court
Address: 223 Marble Road, Guilford NY 13780
Phone: 607-895-6831 Fax: 607-895-6832 -
Lincklaen Town Court
Address: 1675 County Route 12, DeRuyter NY 13052
Phone: 315-852-6043 Fax: 315-852-6043 -
McDonough Town Court
Address: PO Box 75, McDonough NY 13801
Phone: 607-647-5739 Fax: 607-647-9702 -
New Berlin Town Court
Address: 30 North Main Street, PO Box 308, New Berlin NY 13411
Phone: 607-847-8962 Fax: 607-847-9734 -
North Norwich Town Court
Address: 188 County Route 23, PO Box 176, North Norwich NY 13814
Phone: 607-334-5994 Fax: 607-336-5944 -
Norwich Town Court
Address: 157 County Road 32A, Norwich NY 13815
Phone: 607-337-2305 Fax: 607-336-4814 -
Otselic Town Court
Address: 133 County Road 13, South Otselic NY 13155
Phone: 315-653-7201 Fax: 315-653-7596 -
Oxford Town Court
Address: 20 Lafayette Park, PO Box 1224, Oxford NY 13830
Phone: 607-843-9772 Fax: 607-843-9755 -
Oxford Village Court
Address: 20 Main Street, PO Box 1203, Oxford NY 13830
Phone: 607-843-9772 -
Pharsalia Town Court
Address: 1040 County Road 8, PO Box 39, East Pharsalia NY 13758
Phone: 607-647-5604 -
Pitcher Town Court
Address: 145 Town Hall Road, PO Box 97, Pitcher NY 13136
Phone: 607-863-4350 Fax: 863-4508 -
Plymouth Town Court
Address: 3461 State Highway 23, PO Box 27, Plymouth NY 13832
Phone: 607-334-3938 Fax: 607-334-5388 -
Preston Town Court
Address: 387 County Road 10A, Norwich NY 13815
Phone: 607-334-9334 Fax: 607-334-9334 -
Sherburne Town Court
Address: 1 Canal Street, PO Box 860, Sherburne NY 13460
Phone: 607-674-4827 Fax: 607-674-4827 -
Sherburne Village Court
Address: 1 Canal Street, PO Box 860, Sherburne NY 13460
Phone: 607-674-4827 Fax: 607-674-4827 -
Smithville Town Court
Address: 5285 State Hwy 41, PO Box 217, Smithville NY 13841
Phone: 607-656-7969 Fax: 607-656-8667 -
Smyrna Town Justice Court
Address: 103 Quaker Hill Road, Smyrna NY 13464
Phone: 607-627-6828