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TRAFFIC
& CRIMINAL DIVISION
The
District Court of Greene County has jurisdiction over traffic
violations and criminal misdemeanor cases arising within the
boundaries of Greene County. Felony first appearance cases
are also heard in District Court at which time the Court determines
probable cause and sets bonds for the pre-trial release of
felony defendants.
Who
Must Appear in Traffic and Criminal Division
If
you are charged with a routine traffic violation, such as
speeding, failure to yield, running a stop sign and other
minor violations and you wish to plead guilty you may inquire
as to the proper procedure at the Paragould Police Department
870.236.7621 if you were ticketed within the city limits
of Paragould, or at the Greene County Sheriff's Office 870.236.7612
if the arrest was made within the county. You will be allowed
to pay the fine and costs (posting a bond) without having
to appear in Court, however the fine and costs must be paid
in full.
If
you wish to plead guilty to a traffic offense and you cannot
pay your fine and court costs, in full, by your Court date,
you may qualify to pay your fines and costs in installments
and still avoid appearing in Court as follows:
1.
you must not already be paying an old fine or costs to the
City or the County;
2. you must pay at least 25% of your fines and costs;
and
3. you must make a minimum payment of $50.00 per month
towards paying your fines and costs.
You
can avoid appearing in Court by filling out a form at the
District Court Clerk's office at any time during normal office
hours on, or before, your scheduled Court date.
If
you wish to plead not guilty to the traffic offense of if
you are charged with a "must appear" offense (i.e.
a more serious misdemeanor charge such as a Liability Insurance
Violation, DWI, DUI, Possession of a Controlled Substance,
Assault, Domestic Abuse, etc.) you MUST appear in Court on
the date and time noted on your ticket (citation or summons).
Your ticket will generally contain information as to whether
you "must appear" in Court. If you have a question
about this you should contact the respective City Police,
County Sheriff or Court Clerk's office.
If you fail to appear, an alias warrant for your arrest will
be issued and your driver's license may be suspended due to
your failure to appear. Failure to Appear is a serious offense
which carries a substantial fine and jail time.
What
Occurs on Your First Court Appearance
Your
case will be called in alphabetical order from the docket
and the Judge will make sure you understand your rights. You
will then be asked to enter a plea to the charge. The available
pleas are:
1.
"Not Guilty",
2. "Guilty", or
3. "No Contest".
If
you enter a plea of not guilty, your trial will be conducted
on that date, or it could be scheduled for a later date depending
on the availability of witnesses, etc. If you desire an attorney
it is your responsibility to obtain one. If you cannot afford
an attorney you may request that the Court conduct an indigency
determination to see if you qualify for the services of the
Public Defender. If you plead guilty or no contest, the Judge
will set your punishment accordingly. In any event, you will
be allowed to make a statement to the Court.
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