Dothan Municipal Court

Dothan Municipal Court cases in Houston County, Dothan, AL

Dothan Municipal Court is a municipal court serving the City of Dothan, Alabama. It handles prosecutions for violations of Dothan's municipal ordinances occurring within the city limits and its police jurisdiction, including misdemeanor criminal offenses and traffic matters (such as DUI charged by ordinance, simple theft, disorderly conduct, and motor-vehicle violations). The court's role is limited to adjudicating these ordinance-based cases, issuing warrants, accepting pleas, assessing fines, and conducting bench trials. It does not hear civil disputes or family law cases, and it does not try felonies; felony charges are handled in state courts. Appeals from this court go to the Houston County Circuit Court for a trial de novo.

Dothan Municipal Court Contact and Location Information

Services and Case Types Handled in Dothan Municipal Court

Dothan Municipal Court serves the public by:
- Hearing municipal ordinance and adopted state-law misdemeanors within city limits (traffic, DUI, shoplifting, disorderly conduct, harassment, code/animal-control, parking).
- Managing filings and magistrate services: citizen complaints, warrants/summons, bonds, and scheduling.
- Holding hearings: arraignments, pleas, bench trials, probation/compliance/revocation, and payment-review.
- Processing fines, fees, and restitution; offering payment plans and referrals (e.g., driver safety or Court Referral Program) when ordered.
- Providing records: copies, case lookups, and certifications/clearances.
- Supporting victims and witnesses: subpoenas, restitution processing, and no-contact orders as bond conditions.
- Protective orders: Protection-from-Abuse petitions are filed in Houston County Circuit Court (not municipal court).
- Jury services: none; jury trials are available only by appeal to Circuit Court.