Spartanburg County Criminal Court handles all criminal cases that are filed in Spartanburg County. See below for more information about criminal cases in Spartanburg County.
Jury Deliberations in Spartanburg County
In Spartanburg 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.
Spartanburg County Required Court Appearances
In Spartanburg 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.
Spartanburg County Criminal Court
Where can I get help for my Spartanburg County criminal case?
The 6th amendment of the United States Constitution provides a criminal defendant with the right to an attorney. As read in the miranda rights, this means that if a defendant cannot afford to hire a private attorney a legal attorney will be appointed to the defendant to represent him at no cost to the defendant. This is often a public defender. In addition, the court clerk for Spartanburg County will also be able to provide general information about a specific criminal case. The clerk can only provide information and is not an attorney so they cannot provide legal advice, only a licensed attorney can provide legal advice about what the best options for are for your particular case.
Sentencing in Spartanburg County
In Spartanburg 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.
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.
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.
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 Spartanburg County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.
What happens in Spartanburg County at an arraignment?
In Spartanburg 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.
Prosecutor in Spartanburg County
In Spartanburg County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Spartanburg County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent South Carolina. For the most part, the prosecutor in Spartanburg County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
Spartanburg County Criminal Court locations
Criminal proceedings take place in the Spartanburg County Criminal Courts. A list of the criminal courts are located here.
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 Spartanburg 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.
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.
Spartanburg County Criminal Court Locations
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Spartanburg County Circuit Court
Address: 180 Magnolia Street, Suite 500, Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864-596-2591 Fax: 864-596-2259 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Boiling Springs
Address: 4224 Highway 9, Boiling Springs, SC 29316
Phone: 864-578-2885 Fax: 864-814-5848 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Chesnee
Address: 201 West Cherokee Street, Chesnee, SC 29323
Phone: 864-461-3402 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Courthouse
Address: 180 Magnolia Street, Spartanburg, SC 29306
Phone: 864-596-2564 (Criminal) Fax: 864-596-3622 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Detention Center
Address: 950 California Avenue, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Phone: 864-596-3424 Fax: 864-596-3426 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Greer
Address: Physical: 13465 East Wade Hampton Blvd, Suite 18, Greer, SC 29651
Phone: 864-879-0063 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Inman
Address: 10471 Asheville Hwy, Suite 12, Inman, SC 29349
Phone: 864-708-0048 Fax: 864-305-4294 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Landrum
Address: 104 East Tucker Street, Suite A, Landrum, SC 29356
Phone: 864-457-7245 Fax: 864-457-7245 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Pacolet
Address: 1425 Victor Drive, PO Box 416, Pacolet Mills, SC 29373
Phone: 864-474-0344 Fax: 864-474-4444 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Reidville
Address: 162 Leonard Drive, PO Box 124, Reidville, SC 29375
Phone: 864-433-9223 Fax: 864-433-9223 -
Spartanburg County Magistrate Court – Woodruff
Address: 110 North Main Street, Woodruff, SC 29388
Phone: 864-476-2281 Fax: 864-476-2281 -
Campobello Municipal Court
Address: 208 North Main Street, PO Box 8, Campobello, SC 29322
Phone: 864-468-4545 Fax: 864-472-4149 -
Central Pacolet Municipal Court
Address: 130 Turner Street, PO Box 700, Central Pacolet, SC 29372
Phone: 864-474-9504 Fax: 864-503-2417 -
Chesnee Municipal Court
Address: 201 West Cherokee Street, Chesnee, SC 29323
Phone: 864-461-2225 Fax: 864-461-2224 -
Cowpens Municipal Court
Address: 5332 Main Street, PO Box 1399, Cowpens, SC 29330
Phone: 864-463-3201 Fax: 864-463-8559 -
Duncan Municipal Court
Address: 50 Hughes Street, PO Box 188, Duncan, SC 29334
Phone: 864-439-2664 Fax: 864-439-5300 -
Inman Municipal Court
Address: 20 South Main Street, Inman, SC 29349
Phone: 864-472-6200 Fax: 864-472-3228 -
Landrum Municipal Court
Address: 100 North Shamrock Avenue, Landrum, SC 29356
Phone: 864-457-7281 Fax: 864-457-2702 -
Lyman Municipal Court
Address: 81 Groce Road, Lyman, SC 29365
Phone: 864-485-0206 -
Pacolet Municipal Court
Address: 180 Montgomery Avenue, PO Box 700, Pacolet, SC 29372
Phone: 864-474-9504 Fax: 864-474-9442 -
Reidville Municipal Court
Address: 7304 Reidville Rd, PO Box 307, Reidville, SC 29375
Phone: 864-486-9214 Fax: 864-486-9214 -
Spartanburg Municipal Court
Address: 145 West Broad Street, PO Box 1749, Spartanburg, SC 29304
Phone: 864-596-2038 Fax: 864-596-2113 -
Wellford Municipal Court
Address: 127 Syphrit Road, PO Box 99, Wellford, SC 29385
Phone: 864-439-4875 Fax: 864-439-2437 -
Woodruff Municipal Court
Address: 231 East Hayne Street, Woodruff, SC 29388
Phone: 864-476-8131 Fax: 864-476-6457