Hamilton County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Hamilton County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Hamilton County.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Hamilton County you may be able to enter into a plea agreement depending upon the severity of the charges. It is also dependant upon the prosecution willing to accept a plea agreement. You can ask your attorney to attempt to negotiate a plea agreement with the prosecution to avoid having a jury trial along with the potential for a more serious sentence. Approximately 9 out of 10 criminal cases usually end in a plea agreement.
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.
Hamilton County Criminal Court
Hamilton County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Hamilton County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Hamilton County. The Hamilton 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.
I need help for my Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Hamilton County, after both the prosecution and defense have rested, the judge will give instructions to the jury and jury deliberations will begin. The jury will convence in a private room to discuss and deliberate the innocence or guilt of the defendant. Once the jury arrives at a unimanous decision, they will inform the judge that they have reached a decision. They will return to the court and the verdict will be read aloud. If the jury cannot reach a unaminous decision, the jury is said to be deadlocked and a mistrial will be declared in the case.
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.
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.
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.
Sentencing in Hamilton County
In Hamilton 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.
Mandatory Appearances in Hamilton County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Hamilton 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.
Arraignments in Hamilton County
During an arraignment in Hamilton 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 Hamilton 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 Hamilton County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
Where will Hamilton County criminal case hearings take place?
Criminal cases will take place at the criminal courts of Hamilton County. See here for the location of the criminal courts in Hamilton County.
Hamilton County Criminal Court Locations
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Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas – Domestic Relations Division
Address: 800 Broadway, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-9150 Fax: 513-945-9164 -
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas – General Division
Address: 1000 Main St, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-5656 Fax: 513-946-5660 -
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas – Juvenile Court
Address: 800 Broadway St, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-9200 -
Hamilton County Court of Common Pleas – Probate Division
Address: 230 E Ninth St, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-3580 Fax: 513-946-3581 -
Hamilton County Municipal Court
Address: 1000 Main St, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-5700 (Civil) Fax: 513-946-5710 -
Hamilton County Municipal Court – Cheviot Area Court
Address: 3814 Harrison Ave, Cheviot OH 45211
Phone: 513-946-6041 -
Hamilton County Municipal Court – Justice Center
Address: 1000 Sycamore St, Cincinnati OH 45202
Phone: 513-946-6010 -
Hamilton County Municipal Court – Sharonville Area Court
Address: 10900 Reading Rd, Cincinnati OH 45241
Phone: 513-946-6041 -
Addyston Mayor’s Court
Address: Phone: 513-941-1313, x10
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Amberley Village Mayor’s Court
Address: 7149 Ridge Rd, Cincinnati OH 45237
Phone: 513-531-2040 Fax: 513-531-1680 -
Arlington Heights Mayor’s Court
Address: 601 Elliott Ave, Arlington Heights OH 45215
Phone: 513-821-2076 Fax: 513-821-0183 -
Blue Ash Mayor’s Court
Address: 4343 Cooper Rd, Blue Ash OH 45242
Phone: 513-745-8554 Fax: 513-745-8598 -
Cheviot Mayor’s Court
Address: 3814 Harrison Ave, Cheviot OH 45211
Phone: 513-661-2700 Fax: 513-661-2128 -
Cleves Mayor’s Court
Address: 101 N Miami Ave, Cleves OH 45002
Phone: 513-941-1212 -
Deer Park Mayor’s Court
Address: 777 Blue Ash Rd, Deer Park OH 45236
Phone: 513-791-8056 Fax: 513-794-8875 -
Elmwood Place Mayor’s Court
Address: 6118 Vine St, Elmwood Place OH 45216
Phone: 513-242-0563 Fax: 513-242-4578 -
Evendale Mayor’s Court
Address: 10500 Reading Rd, Evendale OH 45241
Phone: 513-956-2692 Fax: 513-563-8139 -
Fairfax Mayor’s Court
Address: 5903 Hawthorne Ave, Fairfax OH 45227
Phone: 513-271-7250 Fax: 513-271-7030 -
Forest Park Mayor’s Court
Address: 1203 W Kemper Rd, Forest Park OH 45240
Phone: 513-595-5224 Fax: 513-595-5290 -
Glendale Magistrate Court
Address: 301 E Sharon Rd, Glendale OH 45246
Phone: 513-771-7645 Fax: 513-771-7306 -
Golf Manor Mayor’s Court
Address: 6450 Wiehe Rd, Golf Manor OH 45237
Phone: 513-531-3108 Fax: 513-531-3129 -
Greenhills Mayor’s Court
Address: 11000 Winton Rd, Greenhills OH 45218
Phone: 513-825-2101 Fax: 513-589-3582 -
Harrison Mayor’s Court
Address: 311 Harrison Ave, Harrison OH 45030
Phone: 513-202-8456 Fax: 513-367-3713 -
Indian Hill Mayor’s Court
Address: 6525 Drake Rd, Indian Hill OH 45243
Phone: 513-561-6500 Fax: 513-561-8137 -
Lincoln Heights Mayor’s Court
Address: 513-733-5900, x9 Fax: 513-733-4190
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Lockland Mayor’s Court
Address: 101 N Cooper Ave, Lockland OH 45215
Phone: 513-761-1124 Fax: 513-761-4948 -
Madeira Mayor’s Court
Address: 7141 Miami Ave, Madeira OH 45243
Phone: 513-272-4212 Fax: 513-272-4211 -
Mariemont Mayor’s Court
Address: 6907 Wooster Pike, Mariemont OH 45227
Phone: 513-271-4089 -
Montgomery Mayor’s Court
Address: 10150 Montgomery Rd, Montgomery OH 45242
Phone: 513-985-1606 Fax: 513-985-0870 -
Mt. Healthy Mayor’s Court
Address: 7700 Perry St, Mt. Healthy OH 45231
Phone: 513-728-3183 Fax: 513-728-3189 -
Newtown Mayor’s Court
Address: Phone: 513-561-7697, x16 Fax: 513-561-7506
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North College Hill Mayor’s Court
Address: 1646 W Galbraith Rd, North College Hill OH 45239
Phone: 513-521-1594 Fax: 513-521-0423 -
Norwood Mayor’s Court
Address: 4701 Montgomery Rd, Norwood OH 45212
Phone: 513-458-4535 Fax: 513-458-4534 -
Reading Mayor’s Court
Address: 1000 Market Street, Reading OH 45215
Phone: 513-733-5768 Fax: 513-733-5226 -
Sharonville Mayor’s Court
Address: 10900 Reading Rd, Sharonville OH 45241
Phone: 513-563-1146 Fax: 513-563-7321 -
Silverton Mayor’s Court
Address: 6860 Plainfield Rd, Silverton OH 45236
Phone: 513-792-6561 Fax: 513-936-6247 -
Springdale Mayor’s Court
Address: 12105 Lawnview Ave, Springdale OH 45246
Phone: 513-346-5778 Fax: 513-346-5795 -
St. Bernard Mayor’s Court
Address: 110 Washington Ave, St. Bernard OH 45217
Phone: 513-242-7770 Fax: 513-641-1840 -
Terrace Park Mayor’s Court
Address: 428 Elm Ave, Terrace Park OH 45174
Phone: 513-831-2137 Fax: 513-831-9236 -
Woodlawn Mayor’s Court
Address: 10141 Woodlawn Blvd, Woodlawn OH 45215
Phone: 513-771-6130 -
Wyoming Mayor’s Court
Address: 600 Grove Ave, Wyoming OH 45215
Phone: 513-821-0141 Fax: 513-821-8609