MISDEMEANOR CASES  Crimes of a less serious nature that usually carry a maximum jail term of one year including traffic misdemeanors.   Misdemeanors are handled by the District Court where the offense occurred. Click here to view District Court Flow Chart.

NOTE:  Drunk driving is considered a criminal offense, not a traffic offense.

Some misdemeanors are punishable by more than 1 year but are processed in the same manner as felonies.  If the case involves a juvenile under 17 years of age, the case would be handled as a juvenile delinquency case in the Family Division of the Circuit Court.

FELONY CASES The most serious category of criminal offenses, punishable by more than 1 year in prison. 

Felonies involving persons 17 years or older, the District Court where the offense occurred typically handles the initial stages of arraignment on the complaint and preliminary examination.  If the District Court finds sufficient evidence, the case is bound over or transferred to Circuit Court.  The Circuit Court then typically handles the case after bindover including the arraignment on the information, pretrial, trial, plea/trial and sentencing.