General District Manual - Chapter 3

General District COURT Manual CRIMINAL CASE PROCEDURES PAGE 3-1 Office of the Executive Secretary Department of Judicial Services Rev: 7/17 Chapter 3 - CRIMINAL CASE PROCEDURES I. INTRODUCTION Criminal cases are proceedings brought by the Commonwealth (or a locality) for offenses violating state law or local ordinances. The two categories of crimes are felonies and misdemeanors. Felonies, which can only be tried in circuit court, are punishable by fine or imprisonment in a penitentiary for one year or more or both a fine and term of imprisonment. Examples of felonies include murder, malicious or unlawful wounding (felonious assault), grand larceny, and rape. The District courts do not have jurisdiction to adjudicate felony cases, but they do have jurisdiction to conduct preliminary hearings in felony cases, in order to determine whether there is sufficient evidence to justify holding the defendant for a grand jury hearing and trial in circuit court.

GENERAL DISTRICT COURT MANUAL Chapter 3 Page 3 Office of the Executive Secretary Department of Judicial Services Rev: 7/17 or, in misdemeanor cases, a DC-319, SUMMONS is issued by the magistrate, who then proceeds to set the date for the first court appearance.

Loading..

Tags:

  General, Chapter, Chapter 3

Information

Related search queries