Jefferson County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Jefferson County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Jefferson County.
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.
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.
Jefferson 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.
Mandatory Appearances in Jefferson County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Jefferson County, the defendant must appear before the court. In the event of a “Failure to Appear” the judge may issue a warrant for the arrest of the defendant. Note: not all criminal hearings are mandatory, in a non-mandatory hearing an attorney may appear on your behalf without you being in court.
Prosecutor in Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Jefferson County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent New York. For the most part, the prosecutor in Jefferson County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
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.
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.
Where will Jefferson County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Jefferson County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Jefferson County.
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.
Jury Deliberations in Jefferson County
In Jefferson County, 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.
What happens in Jefferson County at an arraignment?
In Jefferson 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.
Who can help me in Jefferson County?
For general information about your case the Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County Criminal Court Locations
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Jefferson County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 163 Arsenal Street, Watertown NY 13601
Phone: 315-785-3019 Fax: 315-785-5194 -
Jefferson County Court
Address: 163 Arsenal Street, Watertown NY 13601
Phone: 315-785-3044 Fax: 315-786-7409 -
Watertown City Court
Address: 245 Washington Street, Watertown NY 13601
Phone: 315-785-7785 Fax: 315-785-7856 -
Adams Town Justice Court
Address: 3 South Main Street, Adams NY 13605
Phone: 315-232-2467 Fax: 315-232-3596 -
Adams Village Court
Address: 3 South Main Street, Adams NY 13605
Phone: 315-232-3848 Ext. 1 -
Alexandria Bay Village Court
Address: 110 Walton Street, Alexandria Bay NY 13607
Phone: 315-482-4786 -
Alexandria Justice Court
Address: 46372 County Route 1, Alexandria Bay NY 13607
Phone: 315-482-9637 Fax: 315-482-8623 -
Antwerp Town Court
Address: 45 Main Street, Antwerp NY 13608
Phone: 315-659-8989 -
Brownville Town Court
Address: 16431 Star School House Road, Dexter NY 13634
Phone: 315-639-6266? Fax: 315-639-3951 -
Brownville Village Court
Address: 16431 Star School House Road, Dexter NY 13634
Phone: 315-639-6266? Fax: 315-639-3951 -
Cape Vincent Justice Court
Address: 1964 NYS Route 12E, PO Box 680, Cape Vincent NY 13618
Phone: 315-654-3883 Fax: 315-654-3366 -
Carthage Village Court
Address: 120 South Mechanic Street, Carthage NY 13619
Phone: 315-493-2890 -
Champion Justice Court
Address: 10 North Broad Street, West Carthage NY 13619
Phone: 315-493-2687 -
Clayton Town/Village Justice Court
Address: 401 Mary Street, Clayton NY 13624
Phone: 315-686-2427 Fax: 315-686-2427 -
Dexter Village Court
Address: 16431 Star School House Road, PO Box 92, Dexter NY 13634
Phone: 315-639-6693 -
Ellisburg Town Court
Address: 11574 South Main Street, PO Box 112, Ellisburg NY 13636
Phone: 315-846-9216 -
Glen Park Village Court
Address: 16431 Star School House Road, Dexter NY 13634
Phone: 315-639-6266 -
Henderson Town Court
Address: PO Box 259, Henderson NY 13650
Phone: 315-938-5542 Ext. 26 Fax: 315-938-9278 -
Hounsfield Town Court
Address: 411 West Washington Street, PO Box 306, Sackets Harbor NY 13685
Phone: 315-646-2767 Fax: 315-646-2749 -
LeRay Justice Court
Address: 8650 LeRay Street, Evans Mills NY 13637
Phone: 315-629-0228 Fax: 315-629-0433 -
Lorraine Town Court
Address: County Route 189, PO Box 52, Lorraine NY 13659
Phone: 315-232-2458 -
Lyme Town Court
Address: 12175 NYS Route 12-E, PO Box 66, Chaumont NY 13622
Phone: 315-649-2788 Fax: 315-649-2049 -
Orleans Town Court
Address: 20558 Sunrise Avenue, PO Box 206, Lafargeville NY 13656
Phone: 315-658-2272 Fax: 315-658-2065 -
Pamelia Town Court
Address: 25859 NYS Route 37, Watertown NY 13601
Phone: 315-785-9794 Fax: 315-785-9794 -
Philadelphia Town Court
Address: 33019 US Route 11, Philadelphia NY 13673
Phone: 315-642-3421 -
Philadelphia Village Court
Address: 56 Main Street, PO Box 70, Philadelphia NY 13673
Phone: 315-642-3452 -
Rodman Town Court
Address: PO Box 523, Rodman NY 13682
Phone: 315-232-2522? -
Rutland Town Court
Address: 28411 State Route 126, Black River NY 13612
Phone: 315-788-3440 -
Theresa Town Court
Address: 215 Riverside Avenue, PO Box 675, Theresa NY 13691
Phone: 315-628-5046 -
Theresa Village Court
Address: 124 Commercial Street, PO Box 299, Theresa NY 13691
Phone: 315-628-4425 -
Watertown Town Court
Address: 22869 County Route 67, Watertown NY 13601
Phone: 315-782-8248 -
West Carthage Justice Court
Address: 23 Franklin Street, West Carthage NY 13619
Phone: 315-493-6345 Fax: 315-493-1921 -
Wilna Justice Court
Address: 120 South Mechanic Street, Carthage NY 13619
Phone: 315-493-2890 -
Worth Town Court
Address: 24252 County Route 189, Lorraine NY 13659
Phone: 315-232-4647?