• domestic disputes
• neighborhood disputes
• thefts
• minor assaults
• domestic violence
• bad checks
• zoning and ordinance violations

Warrant Court prosecutors screen cases to determine which are misdemeanors* and should remain in district court, and which are felonies** for Jefferson Circuit Court. Cases are set for conference and a plea agreement is reached, or the case is set for a bench or jury trial. A bench trial is heard by a district court judge, a jury trial is heard by the judge and a sworn jury.

* crimes punishable by up to one year in the county jail.
** crimes punishable be one or more years in the state penitentiary.


How to file a Criminal Complaint

Felony/Misdemeanor Court
Felony/Misdemeanor Court adjudicates all misdemeanor crimes (punishable by up to one year in the county jail), and begins the felony adjudication process up to the preliminary hearing.

Cases are assigned to one of four courtrooms based upon the defendant's last name:

A-D 301
E-K 302
L-R 303
S-Z 304

Assistant county attornies in these four courtrooms prosecute a wide variety of charges, including:

• shoplifting
• drug possession
• burglary
• robbery
• assault
• domestic violence
• sexual assault
• gun crimes

The court has the authority to negotiate and resolve all midemeanor offenses. If the cases cannot be resolved, they are passed for a jury trial.

A felony charge cannot be resolved in district court unless the charge is amended to a misdemeanor or it is referred to Rocket Docket.

The defendant can waive a felony charge to the grand jury, or the court conducts a preliminary hearing to determine the probable cause that the crime was committed by the defendant.


Project Backfire
A coordinated program designed to provide the most effective prosecution of gun crimes in Metro Louisville/Jefferson County.

Driving Under the Influence (DUI)
Five full-time assistant county attorneys and two victim advocates prosecute about 4,000 DUI cases annually from start to finish, with a consistent conviction rate of 92%.

Truancy Prosecution
In partnership with the Jefferson County Public Schools, the Jefferson County Attorney’s Office prosecutes parents of habitually truant elementary students. School attendance is reported at a 12-year high.

Unified Juvenile Prosecution Unit
Assistant county attorneys prosecute violent juvenile crime cases from arraignment through sentencing.

Domestic Violence

Domestic Violence Intake Center -- County Attorney O'Connell provides major funding and staffing of this unit to provide essential services in one location to domestic violence victims.

Domestic Violence Victims’ Advocates -- Eight full-time Victim Advocates offer essential support and guidance for more than 5,000 victims of domestic violence annually.

Domestic Violence Detectives -- Two detectives assist with the investigation and preparation of domestic violence prosecutions.