Yamhill County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Yamhill County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Yamhill County.
I need help for my Yamhill 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 Yamhill 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 Yamhill 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.
Yamhill County Prosecutor
For criminal cases in Yamhill County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Yamhill County. The Yamhill 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.
Yamhill County Criminal Court
Arraignments in Yamhill County
During an arraignment in Yamhill 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 Yamhill 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 Yamhill County the defendant may be sentenced at that time or the sentencing may take place at a later date.
Yamhill County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Yamhill County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
Can I request a Plea Agreement?
In Yamhill 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.
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.
Mandatory Appearances in Yamhill County Criminal Court
At a mandatory or required court appearance in Yamhill 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.
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.
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.
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 Yamhill County
In Yamhill 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 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.
Yamhill County Criminal Court Locations
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Yamhill County Circuit Court
Address: 535 NE 5th Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
Phone: 503-434-7530 Fax: 503-472-5805 -
Amity Municipal Court
Address: 109 Maddox Avenue, PO Box 159, Amity, OR 97101
Phone: 503-835-3711 -
Carlton Municipal Court
Address: 191 East Main Street, PO Box 458, Carlton, OR 97111
Phone: 503-852-7575 -
Dayton Municipal Court
Address: 416 Ferry Street, PO Box 339, Dayton, OR 97114
Phone: 503-864-2221 -
Dundee Municipal Court
Address: 620 SW 5th Street, PO Box 220, Dundee, OR 97115
Phone: 503-538-3922 -
Lafayette Municipal Court
Address: 486 3rd Street, PO Box 55, Lafayette, OR 97127
Phone: 503-864-2451 -
McMinnville Municipal Court
Address: 230 NE 2nd Street, McMinnville, OR 97128
Phone: 503-434-7402 -
Newberg Municipal Court
Address: 401 East 3rd Street, PO Box 970, Newberg, OR 97132
Phone: 503-537-1241 -
Sheridan Municipal Court
Address: 120 SW Mill Street, Sheridan, OR 97378
Phone: 503-843-2347 -
Willamina Municipal Court
Address: 411 NE C Street, PO Box 629, Willamina, OR 97396
Phone: 503-876-2242 -
Yamhill Municipal Court
Address: 205 South Maple Street, PO Box 9, Yamhill, OR 97148
Phone: 503-662-3511 Fax: 503-662-4589