Criminal Court

Types of Cases

Criminal Division conducts

  • Felony preliminary hearings
  • Misdemeanor trials
  1. Felonies
  2. Misdemeanors

Felonies

A felony is any offense punishable with death or confinement in a state correctional facility. All other offenses are misdemeanors.

  • Examples of felonies include murder, robbery, rape, burglary, grand larceny, forgery, credit card theft, malicious or unlawful wounding, felonious assault, possession of a controlled substance (such as cocaine, heroin, marijuana, etc.) with intent to distribute and possession of a controlled substance.

The District Court will conduct a preliminary hearing to determine if there is probable cause, sufficient evidence to justify holding the defendant for a grand jury hearing and trial in Chesterfield Circuit Court.