St. Lawrence County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in St. Lawrence County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in St. Lawrence County.
Who can help me in St. Lawrence County?
For general information about your case the St. Lawrence 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.
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.
St. Lawrence County Criminal Court
Arraignments in St. Lawrence County
During an arraignment in St. Lawrence 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 St. Lawrence 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 St. Lawrence County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
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 St. Lawrence County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
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.
Jury Deliberations in St. Lawrence County
In St. Lawrence 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.
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.
Who is the prosecutor for St. Lawrence County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for St. Lawrence County criminal cases will either be a representative of St. Lawrence 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.
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.
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.
Required Court Appearances in St. Lawrence County
Any required court appearances in St. Lawrence 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.
Where will St. Lawrence County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of St. Lawrence County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in St. Lawrence County.
St. Lawrence County Criminal Court Locations
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St. Lawrence County Surrogate’s Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-2217 Fax: 315-379-2372 -
St. Lawrence County Court
Address: 48 Court Street, Canton NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-2219 Fax: 315-379-2423 -
Ogdensburg City Court
Address: 330 Ford Street, Ogdensburg NY 13669
Phone: 315-393-3941 Fax: 315-393-6839 -
Brasher Town Court
Address: Main Street, PO Box 358, Brasher Falls NY 13613
Phone: 315-389-4223 Ext. 5 -
Canton Town Court
Address: 60 Main Street, Canton NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-9844 Fax: 315-386-4350 -
Canton Village Court
Address: 60 Main Street, Canton NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-9844 -
Clare Town Court
Address: 2396 County Route 27, Russell NY 13684
Phone: 315-386-3084 -
Clifton Town Court
Address: 7171 State Highway 3, PO Box 679, Cranberry Lake NY 12927
Phone: 315-848-5522 -
Colton Town Court
Address: 9 Sugar Bush Lane, PO Box 475, South Colton NY 13687
Phone: 315-262-2380 Fax: 315-262-2027 -
De Kalb Town Court
Address: 2907 County Route 17, PO Box 133, De Kalb Junction NY 13630
Phone: 315-347-2071 -
De Peyster Town Court
Address: 3999 County Route 10, PO Box 37, De Peyster NY 13633
Phone: 315-344-7259 -
Edwards Town Court
Address: 161 Main Street, PO Box 24, Edwards NY 13635
Phone: 315-562-8113 -
Fine Town Court
Address: 4078 State Highway 3, PO Box 455, Star Lake NY 13690
Phone: 315-848-3121 Ext. 102 Fax: 315-848-3152 -
Fowler Town Court
Address: 87 Little York Road, Gouverneur NY 13642
Phone: 315-287-9996 Fax: 315-287-0045 -
Gouverneur Town Court
Address: 33 Clinton Street, Gouveneur NY 13642
Phone: 315-287-4623 -
Hammond Town Court
Address: 17 North Main, PO Box 219, Hammond NY 13646
Phone: 315-324-5433 Ext. 15 Fax: 315-324-6963 -
Hermon Town Court
Address: 103 Maple Street, PO Box 28, Hermon NY 13652
Phone: 315-347-3606 -
Hopkinton Town Court
Address: 7 Church Street, Hopkinton NY 12965
Phone: 315-328-4211 -
Lawrence Town Court
Address: 11403 US Highway 11, North Lawrence NY 12967
Phone: 315-389-4487 -
Lisbon Town Court
Address: 6963 County Route 10, PO Box 8, Lisbon NY 13658
Phone: 315-393-0489 -
Louisville Town Court
Address: 14810 State Highway 37, Massena NY 13662
Phone: 315-764-1424 -
Macomb Town Court
Address: 6663 State Highway 58, Hammond NY 13646
Phone: 315-578-2212 -
Madrid Town Court
Address: 3529 County Road 14, Madrid NY 13660
Phone: 315-322-5760 -
Massena Town Court
Address: 60 Main Street, Massena NY 13662
Phone: 315-769-5431 Fax: 315-705-0938 -
Massena Village Court
Address: 60 Main Street, Massena NY 13662
Phone: 315-769-5431 -
Morristown Town Court
Address: 604 Main Street, PO Box 240, Morristown NY 13664
Phone: 315-375-4148 Fax: 315-375-6385 -
Norfolk Town Court
Address: 5 Main Street, PO Box 481, Norfolk NY 13667
Phone: 315-384-4721 -
Oswegatchie Town Court
Address: 51 State Street, PO Box 408, Heuvelton NY 13654
Phone: 315-344-7284 -
Parishville Town Court
Address: 1772 State Highway 72, PO Box 155, Parishville NY 13672
Phone: 315-265-2131 Ext. 5 -
Piercefield Town Court
Address: 48 Waller Street, PO Box 220, Piercefield NY 12973
Phone: 518-359-7544 -
Pierrepont Town Court
Address: 864 State Highway 68, Canton NY 13617
Phone: 315-379-0415 -
Pitcairn Town Court
Address: 10 Edwards Road, Harrisville NY 13648
Phone: 315-543-2111 -
Potsdam Town Court
Address: 35 Market Street, Potsdam NY 13676
Phone: 315-265-4318 -
Potsdam Village Court
Address: Park Street, Civic Center, PO Box 5168, Potsdam NY 13676
Phone: 315-265-5890 -
Rossie Town Court
Address: 908 County Route 3, Redwood NY 13679
Phone: 315-324-5166 Fax: 315-324-6870 -
Russell Town Court
Address: 4 Pestle Street, PO Box 628, Russell NY 13684
Phone: 315-347-4824 Fax: 315-347-4244 -
Stockholm Town Court
Address: PO Box 206, Winthrop NY 13697
Phone: 315-389-5171 Ext. 3 Fax: 315-389-4097 -
Waddington Village Court
Address: 46 Maple Street, PO Box 338, Waddington NY 13694
Phone: 315-388-4528 Fax: 315-388-5629