Barron County Criminal Court hears all criminal cases in Barron County. Below you will find specific information about criminal cases and how they are handled in Barron County.
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.
Sentencing in Barron County
In Barron 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 is the prosecutor for Barron County?
Depending upon the case, the prosecutor for Barron County criminal cases will either be a representative of Barron County or a representative from Wisconsin. After reviewing evidence it is the prosecutor’s decision whether to file charges or drop a case. Most prosecutors have the ability to negotiate plea bargains, and determine how the case will be prosecuted.
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 Barron 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.
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.
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.
Burden of Proof Requirement
In a criminal case in the United States, the burden of proof always requires the prosecutor to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that the defendant is guilty. This is a high threshold that must be met by the prosecution when presenting evidence in a case. If the prosecution fails in it’s burden to prove guilt beyond a reasonable doubt the judge must find the defendant not guilty. In a jury trial, the judge will inform the jury what this burden is and their obligation to find the defendant not guilty if they feel the prosecution did prove the defendant’s guilt beyond a reasonable doubt.
Jury Deliberation
In a jury trial in Barron 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.
Barron County Criminal Court hearings
Criminal hearings in Barron County will take place at the Barron County Criminal Courts. Please see here for a list of the Barron County Criminal Court Locations.
Where can I get help for my Barron 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 Barron 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.
What happens in Barron County at an arraignment?
In Barron 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.
Barron County Required Court Appearances
In Barron 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.
Barron County Criminal Court Locations
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Barron County Circuit Court
Address: 1420 State Highway 25 North, Room 2201, Barron WI 54812
Phone: 715-537-6265 Fax: 715-537-6269 -
City of Barron Municipal Court
Address: 1456 East LaSalle Avenue, PO Box 156, Barron WI 54812
Phone: 715-537-5631 Fax: 715-537-9209 -
City of Chetek Municipal Court
Address: 101 Moore Street, PO Box 537, Chetek WI 54728
Phone: 715-925-1051 Fax: 715-924-2855 -
City of Cumberland Municipal Court
Address: 1356 2nd Avenue, PO Box 155, Cumberland WI 54829
Phone: 715-822-3646 Fax: 715-822-3799 -
City of Rice Lake Municipal Court
Address: 30 East Eau Claire Street, Rice Lake WI 54868
Phone: 715-234-8043 Fax: 715-234-6829 -
Village of Cameron Municipal Court
Address: 300 North 1st Street, PO Box 387, Cameron WI 54822
Phone: 715-458-2117 Fax: 715-458-4235 -
Village of Turtle Lake Municipal Court
Address: 114 Martin Avenue East, PO Box 11, Turtle Lake WI 54889
Phone: 715-986-2241 Ext. 3 Fax: 715-986-4252