Henry County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Henry County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Henry County.
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.
What happens in Henry County at an arraignment?
In Henry 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.
Henry County Criminal Court
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.
I need help for my Henry 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 Henry 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 Henry 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.
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.
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.
Prosecutor in Henry County
In Henry County, the prosecutor is an attorney representing Henry County. In some cases, the prosecutor may actually represent Tennessee. For the most part, the prosecutor in Henry County has discretion to both decide whether to file charges and also negotiate a potential plea deal with the defendant.
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.
Henry County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in Henry County will take place at the Henry County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Henry County Criminal Court Locations.
Henry County Required Court Appearances
In Henry 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.
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.
What is Jury Deliberation?
After both the prosecution and defense have presented their cases, the judge in the case will provide instructions to the jury about what they must decide. The jury will be dismissed to the jury room where they will deliberate about the guilt or innocence of the defendant. After reaching a unaminous decision, they return their decision to the court where it is read aloud in the courtroom. If the jury is unable to reach a unaminous decision, the jury is deadlocked, also known as a hung jury, in which a mistrial will be declared.
Henry County Criminal Court Locations
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Henry County Circuit Court
Address: 101 West Washington Street, PO Box 429, Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 731-642-0461 Fax: 731-642-1244 -
Henry County Chancery Court
Address: 100 Washington Street, PO Box 313, Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 731-642-4234 -
Henry County General Sessions Court
Address: PO Box 429, Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 731-642-0461 Fax: 731-642-1244 -
Henry County Juvenile Court
Address: 101 West Washington Street, PO Box 429, Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 731-642-0461 Fax: 731-642-1244 -
Henry City Court
Address: 1232 Pioneer Road, Henry, TN 38231
Phone: 731-243-4091 -
Paris City Court
Address: 100 North Caldwell, Paris, TN 38242
Phone: 731-641-1413 -
Puryear City Court
Address: 110 North Sycamore, Puryear, TN 38251
Phone: 731-247-5362