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1. What are my constitutional rights?

All persons accused of any crime or traffic offense that might result in a jail sentence have the following rights:
- To have a lawyer present with you at all hearings.
- To have a lawyer appointed at public expense if you cannot afford to hire one to represent you.
- To represent yourself without a lawyer.
- To a speedy and public trial by a judge or a jury in the county where the crime is alleged to have been committed.
- To remain silent before and during trial, and to refuse to testify against yourself.
- To hear and question the witnesses who testify against you.
- To have witnesses testify for you. These witnesses can be made to appear at no expense to you.
- To be presumed innocent until the charge is proven beyond a reasonable doubt or you enter a plea of guilty.
- To appeal a determination of guilt after a trial.

2. Should I talk to a lawyer before entering a plea?

In many cases this is a good idea. The judge, at your request, will continue the arraignment. If you wish to plead not guilty at this time, the judge will request that you have your lawyer put in a Notice of Appearance within 7 days. If you fail to appear at any hearing, your bond or bail will be forfeited and the judge will issue a warrant for your arrest.

3. How do I obtain a lawyer if I cannot afford one?

There are Public Defender applications available at the clerks window. If you intend to ask the court to appoint a lawyer to represent you, you will need to fill out one of these forms. You will also need to provide proof of income & your financial situation. At arraignment, if you tell the judge that you cannot afford to hire a lawyer, the court will provide you with an application.

If appointed you will be given the business card of your attorneys office and advised to contact them ASAP. They will not contact you.

4. If I plead guilty, what happens?

If you plead guilty it means you admit the charge and the elements to prove the charge. By pleading guilty you waive your constitutional rights and in most cases you will be sentenced immediately. Before announcing the sentence, the judge will ask if you have anything to say on your behalf. The judge will have reviewed the police report, if available. In some cases the judge will refer you to a probation officer for a pre-sentence investigation. In such a case the sentencing will be continued until the probation officer’s report is ready.

5. What happens if I plead not guilty?

A not guilty plea denies the charge and none of your constitutional rights are waived unless you expressly wish to do so. The next hearing will be a pre-trial hearing where the prosecutor will be present. You and your lawyer, if you have one, are required to be present. At this hearing all motions are heard and a jury trial date is set or confirmed if already set. Information about the evidence and witnesses in the case are exchanged. You are presumed innocent and the prosecution must prove your guilt beyond a reasonable doubt at a trial.

6. What alternatives are there for serving a jail sentence?

Please contact your attorney or ask the court at your hearing about any alternatives to serving jail time.

7. What must I do if I can't pay my fine today?

All fines, costs and fees are due in full at the time of sentencing unless you are given the option to sign a payment agreement with the court. The court clerk will set up a payment plan in writing and give you a copy. Payments can be mailed in or delivered in person at the court office. There are also options to pay online or over the phone by contacting NCourt at 1-877-793-8935 or visiting www.jeffersonwatix.com. Please have your case/citation number & your personal information ready prior to contacting the court or NCourt. Payment by cash, check or money order is acceptable at the clerks window. It is recommended that you do not send cash by mail.

8. What is a suspended sentence?

Often a judge will suspend imposition of a portion, or all, of a jail sentence on the condition of timely complying with various orders. If the conditions are satisfied the jail sentence is never served. If any condition is violated then you may be required to return to court for a hearing and possible serving of the jail sentence. In many cases the District Court Probation Department will supervise your compliance with sentence conditions. Probation may also assist with arrangements for education or treatment programs.

9. What if I have a change of address?

Notify the court immediately if your address changes at any time. If you are represented by a attorney, please also notify them immediately. The clerks office can be reached at (360) 385-9135.

10. How do I know what court to go to?

Start by reading the entire ticket, both front and back. The court’s name, address and telephone number should be printed on your copy. Instructions explaining how to respond are also included. If you have lost your copy of the citation or infraction ("ticket"), contact the nearest county district court office to where the incident occurred. Most courts now have computer access to an index of cases filed in most limited jurisdiction courts in the state. Even if you contact the wrong court office, court staff should be able, in most cases, to direct you to the correct court.

11. What is the address of District Court?

Physical- 1820 Jefferson St Port Townsend, WA 98368
Mailing - PO Box 1220 Port Townsend, WA 98368