Lancaster County Criminal Court

Lancaster County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Lancaster County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Lancaster County.

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 Lancaster County a public defender will be appointed by the judge if you cannot afford private representation.

Lancaster County Criminal Court hearings

Criminal hearings in Lancaster County will take place at the Lancaster County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Lancaster County Criminal Court Locations.

Lancaster County Criminal Court

Lancaster County Criminal Court

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 Lancaster County

In Lancaster 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.

Who can help me in Lancaster County?

For general information about your case the Lancaster 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.

Lancaster County Prosecutor

For criminal cases in Lancaster County, the prosecutor will be a representative of Lancaster County. The Lancaster 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.

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.

Jury Deliberation

In a jury trial in Lancaster 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.

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.

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.

What happens in Lancaster County at an arraignment?

In Lancaster 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.

Mandatory Appearances in Lancaster County Criminal Court

At a mandatory or required court appearance in Lancaster 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.

Lancaster County Criminal Court Locations

  • Lancaster County Circuit Court – 15th Judicial Circuit

    Address: 8265 Mary Ball Rd, PO Box 99, Lancaster VA 22503
    Phone: 804-462-5611 Fax: 804-462-9978

  • Lancaster County General District Court – 15th Judicial District

    Address: 8265 Mary Ball Rd, PO Box 129, Lancaster VA 22503
    Phone: 804-462-0012 Fax: 804-462-0371

  • Lancaster County Juvenile and Domestic Relations District Court

    Address: 8265 Mary Ball Rd, PO Box 70, Lancaster VA 22503
    Phone: 804-462-7250 Fax: 804-462-0308

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