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Felony ¨ Special Assault ¨ Misdemeanor ¨ Juvenile ¨ FAQs
Criminal:
The Criminal Teams are non-investigative entities that accept referrals for prosecution from police agencies within the county. The mission is broken down into the
Felony, Special Assault, Misdemeanor, and Juvenile Teams, and supported by the Victim Advocate Team. Cases are assigned to the teams depending on the type and level of the crime.The Felony Team handles assault, drug, fraud, and property crimes that fall under the jurisdiction of
Superior Court. The Team is located at the main courthouse complex, upstairs in building two. Click here for directions and a map.
Some cases may be eligible for pre-trial
Diversion as an alternative to prosecution.The following is the typical flow of events of superior court hearings. Any questions about time periods or case specific items should be referred to the defense attorney handling the matter.
- Preliminary Hearing - within 48 hours of arrest-Determines applicable bail amounts to allow for defendant's release.
- Arraignment - within 14 days of Preliminary Hearing-Defendant enters a plea (guilty/not guilty), if a defense attorney from the Office of Assigned Counsel is to be appointed, it will occur at this appearance
- Pre-Trial/Omnibus - Attorneys ensure all discovery has been exchanged and set a date for trial.
- Trial.
- Change of Plea-in lieu of a Trial - defendant chooses to enter a plea of guilty.
- Sentencing - Establishes terms and conditions of punishment.
Felony Team
2000 Lakeridge Dr SW, Olympia, WA 98502
Voice: 360-786-5540 FAX; 360-754-3358
The Special Victim's Team was created in 1998 to prosecute special circumstance cases such as Rape, and Child Abuse. It was designed to place a greater degree of emphasis on such cases in order to offer greater legal expertise and better handle the issues of the victims. The calendar of events will closely follow that of cases in the same court of jurisdiction.
Click here for a list of available resources on the Victim's Advocate page:
Special
Victim's Team
2000 Lakeridge Dr. S.W., Building 2, Olympia, WA. 98502
Voice: 360-754-2899 FAX: 360-407-1088
The Misdemeanor Team is responsible for Misdemeanor, Gross Misdemeanor, and Infraction cases generated by the Sheriff's Office, state agencies and the Evergreen State College Police. These crimes fall under the jurisdiction of the District Court. Except for special circumstances, the Misdemeanor Team is not responsible for such cases generated from incorporated cities. These are handled through the separate Municipal Courts. The Team is located in a satellite office, click here for
directions and a map. Some cases may be eligible for pre-trial Diversion as an alternative to prosecution.Misdemeanor
Team
926 24th Way SW, Suite 100, Olympia, WA 98502
Voice: 360-786-5270 voice FAX: 360/754-3349
The Juvenile Team handles all cases involving defendants under 18 years of age. The exception to this is if the crime warrants the youth be tried as an adult, in which case it would be referred to the
Felony Team. The Team is located at the Thurston County Family and Juvenile Court Building.Some cases may be eligible for pre-trial
Diversion as an alternative to prosecution.Information concerning Juvenile Domestic Violence.
The following is a typical schedule of events of superior court hearings. Any questions about time periods or case specific items should be referred to the defense attorney handling the matter:
- Detention Hearing
- Charge
- Arraignment
- Pre-Trial Conference
- Status Conference
- Trial
- Status Conference
- Disposition
- Restitution Hearing (if not ordered at the disposition hearing)
Juvenile Team
2801 32nd Ave SW, Tumwater, WA 98512
Voice: 360-709-3230 FAX: 360-709-3242
How can I get bail money back?
Bail is paid to allow a defendant to reside outside of custody during the court proceedings, it is a monetary "promise" that the defendant will return for subsequent hearings. The money posted is returned to the person who paid it when the proceedings are completed, or the defendant is returned to the jail. The Defense Attorney in the case will need to make the necessary arrangements to have it returned.
If a person posts bail and is released from custody, the Prosecutor's Office has 72 hours from the time of arrest to charge the case in Superior Court or the money can be returned. If this occurs, the person that paid the bail will need to fill out a request form available at the Prosecutor's Office.
Can I get a Defense Attorney appointed to my case?
All Felony cases and some Misdemeanor cases can have an attorney appointed, if the defendant meets certain requirements. Once a case has been charged by the Prosecutor's Office, defendants who are unable to afford an attorney may be eligible. The defendant needs to make an appointment with Pretrial Services to set up an interview. The office is in building #3, and the telephone number is 360-754-2946.
Whom do I talk with about my case?
Defendants and their families need to refer all questions and comments to the Defense Attorney handling the case. The exception to this is if the family member is the victim of the crime, in which case the Victim Advocate is the point of contact.
What is Drug Court?
See
Diversion is an alternative to prosecution in certain cases. Defendants selected to participate must meet eligibility criteria. The program usually involves community service and payment of restitution, as well as no subsequent violations during a determined length of time. Violations of the agreement can result in the case being returned to the courts and fully prosecuted.