A municipal court is a court with restrictive jurisdiction over criminal charges and civil matters inside its location. These courts can be located at the county or city tier.
Pearl Municipal Court INformation
Court: Pearl Municipal Court
Address: “2561 Old Brandon Rd, Pearl, MS 39208”
Phone: 601-932-2262
City: Pearl
County: Rankin
State: Mississippi
What is the role of the Pearl Municipal Court?
Municipal Courts are routinely called “courts of limited jurisdiction.” This means that they handle minor crimes, civil disputes, and traffic violations. Courthouses like Pearl Municipal Court are the first level of court for this group of matters.
On the other hand, the purpose of a county court is to deal with a large number of civil disputes within the respective region. Most cases involve divorce or other family matters, personal injury, more serious criminal charges, or contract disputes.
County courts have the jurisdiction to deal with misdemeanors and civil actions that can’t exceed the amount of $15,000, while the circuits courts handle felonies and bigger civil matters.
TYPES OF Matters adjudicated IN A MUNICIPAL COURT in Pearl, Mississippi
Municipal courts are the entry level of courts in the U.S.. They are usually found within the jurisdiction where they are located, but some places share municipal courts with other municipalities.
This can be done to better serve their citizens or to save money on administrative costs. The cases that may be heard by a municipal court can change based on on the municipality, but typically include traffic matters, low level crimes and code infractions.
You will not see a set definition for what makes a misdemeanor versus a felony crime, but generally speaking felonies would require more time in jail than misdemeanors and fines may also be higher for felonies. Traffic violations usually result in points against your driver’s license as well
what is the procedure for cases in the municipal court in Pearl?
Judges manage hearings to determine:
- Probable cause for arrest
- Set bail amounts and the conditions of release
- Conduct arraignment hearings when charges are filed against suspects by police officers
- Distribute search warrants to law enforcement officers in order to seize evidence from crime locations
- Conduct preliminary inquiries to establish if there is enough evidence to issue a charge
The typical process of a Municipal Court matter
Step One: An Issuance of Summons
Step Two: Show Up before Judge or Magistrate
Municipal Court Penalties in Pearl, MS
Penalties change often, which is why it’s good to speak with licensed attorney near you. The information below represents common penalties, but may not be accurate for the Pearl Municipal Court.
A violation is a crime that has a penalty of $500 or less, while a misdemeanor crime can possess penalties up to $1,000.00 or one year in local jail. A person’s driving privileges may be suspended for six months if they receive three speeding tickets within 12 months.
The penalties for different charges in municipal courthouses vary depending on the severity of an crimes. For example, if you are caught with marijuana without having a medical prescription for it then you will be fined up to $2k or spend up to six months in jail.
Pearl Municipal Court Records
Municipal Court records from a municipal court may be difficult to find because they are not always stored in one location or system. The records that an individual might need to depend on the type of charge they have before the court, where it’s at in the process, and what kind of of information is required by law to be available.
FAQs ABOUT the Pearl Municipal Court
What is municipal court in Pearl, Mississippi?
In Mississippi, the municipal court is a lower court with civil and criminal matters within a city or municipality. Municipal courts have a small jurisdiction and have limited authority as well, dealing only with petty crimes and misdemeanors.
What does the municipal court handle in Pearl, Mississippi?
Depending on the area of the municipality, a municipal court can handle a civil division (cases with less than $15,000 at issue), a traffic/criminal division, or a housing and environmental division. Serious cases/crimes are deal with by higher authorities.
How many judges does the Pearl Municipal Court have?
The count of judges depends on the municipality’s population.
How are cases heard in municipal courts in Mississippi?
A municipal courthouse judge may be either elected or appointed to serve for a set duration or until they retire. Judges are commonly elected by precincts with each precinct’s results weighted according to population. Municipal magistrates are generally not lawyers but have some legal training and must finish many hours of continuing education every year to maintain their credentials.