This document outlines the process for individuals with cases in Benton County District Court, detailing steps from receiving a citation to potential trial. It emphasizes the importance of attending court dates, understanding plea options, and maintaining communication with a public defender. It is not intended as legal advice and encourages seeking professional counsel for specific cases.

1. WHAT WILL HAPPEN WITH MY
CASE IN
Benton County District Court?
Benton & Franklin Counties
A public service provided by
BENTON & FRANKLIN
OFFICE OF PUBLIC DEFENSE
7122 W. Okanogan Pl, Bldg A
Kennewick, WA 99336
509-222-3700
Bentonfranklindefense.org

2. So you got cited into court
Whether it was a traffic stop
or something else, the bottom
line is you now have a citation
ordering you to court. What
is going to happen? Will you
lose your job? Go to jail? Need
a lawyer?
This guide is designed to give
you a better idea of what will
happen to your case in Benton
County District Court.
Hopefully it can give you some peace of mind.
IMPORTANT: Nothing contained in this slide show is intended to be legal advice. You should speak
with your public defender or attorney if you have any questions about your specific case.

3. The #1 Most Important Thing You Must
Do…
GET TO COURT!!!
Show up in court at the date and time
indicated on your ticket
AND
Show up every other time as ordered
by the court.
If you don’t show up to court when
you’re supposed to, you increase your
chances of:
- More charges, including Bail Jumping
- Being held in jail on bail
- Getting a harsher plea offer from the prosecutor

4. OVERVIEW
Here are the basic steps each District Court Case takes
STEP 1: You Received a “ticket” from a police officer ordering
you to be in court on a certain date and time
STEP 2: Go to court for your first court date, called
Arraignment.
You may request a public defender here
You will get a new court date here
STEP 3: Go to your next court date, called Pretrial
Here, you will decide how to resolve your case
If you or your public defender needs more time then
you may end up with multiple Pretrials

5. OVERVIEW
Here are the basic steps each District Court Case takes
STEP 4: Sentencing or Trial Readiness
If you accept the prosecutor’s plea offer then you
will proceed directly to Sentencing
If you want a trial, then you will go to one last
hearing called Trial Readiness
STEP 5: Trial
This will take anywhere from a few hours to a few
days
Your public defender will work with you to make
sure everything is ready for your defense

6. STEP 1
You Received a criminal citation
from a police officer
If you receive a ticket that says
“criminal” at the top, like the one
to the left, then it is a criminal
citation.
With a criminal citation, you must
go to court on the date listed under
“Mandatory Court Appearance”

7. STEP 2
Your first Court date
This is called the arraignment
At your arraignment you will
Be read your rights and told what you
are charged with
Have the opportunity to request a public
defender
Sometimes have the chance to resolve
your case if the prosecutor makes you a
plea offer

8. STEP 3
Your Pretrial
Contact your Public Defender before this
date to talk about your case.
Show up to Court or risk getting a Warrant
for your arrest!
Here, your Public Defender should have a
“plea offer” from the Prosecutor.
You have 3 OPTIONS to resolve your case

9. Step 3 continued…
YOUR OPTIONS at Pretrial
OPTION 1: Continue your court date
OPTION 2: Accept the plea offer
- This will resolve your case.
OPTION 3: Go to Trial
- Your case will resolve after trial.

10. MORE ON YOUR OPTIONS AT
PRETRIAL
Option 1: Continue to another date & time
Here, you just push your court date out to another date
in the future so you and your public defender can take
more time to investigate your case, negotiate with the
prosecutor, talk to witnesses, etc.
You MUST appear at the next specified date and time
or risk getting a WARRANT for your arrest!
You will most likely be required to agree to a reset of
your “speedy trial” in order to continue your case

11. YOUR OPTIONS AT PRETRIAL:
Option 2: Accept plea offer
The plea offer may involve a guilty plea with
certain sentence recommendation, or a
Stipulated Order of Continuance or deferral
You should always take the time to discuss your
case with your public defender before accepting
a plea offer.
The acceptance of plea offers may have many
consequences that you may not have considered
including immigration consequences and
firearms rights consequences.

12. LAST PRETRIAL OPTION
Option 3: Set your case for Trial
Here you are telling the court that you want to force
the prosecutor to prove to a jury that you committed
the crime you are charged with.
You MUST appear at the next specified date and time
or face additional consequences with the court.
Keep in touch with your public defender.
If your public defender asks you for witness
names, phone numbers etc, make sure to provide this
as soon as possible so he/she can be ready for your
trial.

13. QUICK TIPS for a successful District Court
experience
1.Always show up to court on time! Even
just being late can get you a warrant!
2.Do NOT talk to anyone about your case
except your public defender! This includes
family and friends – unless you want them
to be forced to testify against you.
3.Keep in contact with your public defender.
4.Follow ALL court orders!

14. This has just been a basic overview of
what happens with the typical case in
Benton County District Court.
Talk to your Public Defender if you have
any more questions about your case or
this process!
Once again, nothing in this presentation
is intended to be legal advice. Only your
public defender (or other lawyer) can
give you legal advice.