Charged with a crime in Barry County? Start with the court, the stage of the case and the exact charge
A criminal charge in Barry County, whether it comes from Hastings, Middleville, Delton, Nashville or anywhere else in the county, starts in the 56B District Court in Hastings. A misdemeanor stays there. A felony starts there and, if it is bound over after the preliminary examination, moves to the 5th Circuit Court, which sits in the Barry County Courthouse. The county lists a Sobriety Court in the 56-B District Court and an Adult Drug Court in the 5th Circuit.
The short answer. Barry County has one district court, the 56B, and one circuit court, the 5th, both in Hastings. Misdemeanors are handled in the 56B. A felony starts there with an arraignment, a probable cause conference 7 to 14 days later and a preliminary examination 5 to 7 days after that, and it moves to the 5th Circuit Court if the judge binds it over (MCL 766.4(1); MCL 766.13). Do not explain yourself to police before you talk to a lawyer.
I am Mitchell Bisson, a Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyer. I have litigated for over 15 years. I serve Barry County from my office in Grand Rapids. I do not have an office in Barry County, and I go to the courthouse where your case is set. I ask early for the reports, the video, the recordings and the lab results, because decisions about your case should rest on what the evidence shows. I do not promise outcomes.
This page covers the courts and where they sit, who prosecutes, where the jail is, what happens at arraignment and how a felony moves from district court to circuit court in Barry County. It is a county guide, so it sets out the court structure and the steps that apply to every charge. The addresses below come from the county’s own court pages and the state court directory and were checked in October 2026. Call the court before you go, because locations and hours change. Nothing here predicts how your case will end.
Where your Barry County criminal case will be heard
| Court or office | Address | What it does |
|---|---|---|
| 56B District Court | Barry County Courts and Law Building, 206 West Court Street, Suite 202, Hastings, MI 49058 | Misdemeanors, and the start of every felony. The county lists hours of Monday through Friday, 8:00 am to 4:45 pm, with the office closed for lunch from 12:30 to 1:30 |
| 5th Circuit Court | Barry County Courthouse, 220 West State Street, Hastings, MI 49058 (the county lists the second floor) | Felonies after bindover |
| Prosecuting Attorney | Barry County Courts and Law Building, 206 West Court Street, Suite 201, Hastings, MI 49058 | Prosecutes criminal cases for the people of the state and acts as civil counsel for the county |
| Barry County Jail (Sheriff’s Office) | 1212 West State Street, Hastings, MI 49058 | County jail |
Sources: 56-B District Court, 5th Circuit Court, Prosecuting Attorney, Jail and Corrections, and the state court directory.
One district for the whole county. The county’s court pages and the state court directory list the 56B District Court for Barry County, which shows the split of the old 56th district took place. The statute provides that, if Barry and Eaton counties approved that split, the fifty-sixth-b district consists of the county of Barry and is a district of the first class. MCL 600.8126(2)(b). In a district of the first class, venue in a criminal action for a violation of state law is the county where the violation took place. MCL 600.8312(1). The statute makes the county the venue, so the town where the offense happened does not decide which court hears it.
The circuit court. The state court directory lists the 5th Circuit Court at the Barry County Courthouse. MCL 600.506 sets out the fifth judicial circuit. A felony is arraigned in the circuit court after bindover, and sentencing for a felony is conducted by a circuit judge. MCL 600.8311(f).
The prosecutor. The county says the Prosecutor represents the People of the State of Michigan in criminal prosecution and acts as civil counsel for the county and its agencies.
The jail. The county lists the Barry County Jail at 1212 West State Street in Hastings, under the Sheriff’s Office. If you or someone in your family is in custody, I can find out where the person is held and when the first appearance is set.
Arraignment, bond and the first weeks of a Barry County case
The first appearance. The 56-B District Court’s criminal division page says an arraignment is a court proceeding at the beginning of the criminal process, and that the court advises you of your rights, the charges against you and the penalties if you plead or are found guilty. The court rule says the court at arraignment must inform you of the nature of the offense and its maximum possible prison sentence, advise you of the right to a lawyer at all court proceedings, set dates for the probable cause conference and the preliminary examination, and decide what form of pretrial release is appropriate, and that the court may not question you about the alleged offense or ask you to enter a plea. MCR 6.104(E). Whether a plea can be entered at the first hearing depends on the charge and the court. Some county court pages say a plea may be entered at arraignment on a misdemeanor, so I confirm with the court how your hearing will run before you appear.
A lawyer at arraignment. An arrested person is entitled to the assistance of an attorney at arraignment unless the person makes an informed waiver of counsel or the court issues a personal bond and will not accept a plea at arraignment. MCR 6.104(A). If you cannot afford a lawyer, the court rule says the local indigent criminal defense system will appoint one for a person who is not represented. MCR 6.104(E)(2). Call me before the arraignment if you can, because what the court hears about you at that hearing shapes the bond decision.
Bond. At arraignment the court must order that you be held in custody in the narrow cases the rule allows, released on your personal recognizance or an unsecured appearance bond, or released on conditions with or without money bail. MCR 6.106(A). Read any bond conditions closely and follow them exactly, because a violation can create a new problem in addition to the original charge.
The first weeks of a felony. For a felony, the magistrate sets a probable cause conference 7 to 14 days after the arraignment and a preliminary examination 5 to 7 days after the conference. The conference covers possible plea agreements, bail and the chance to ask for a bond modification, stipulations and procedural matters. MCL 766.4(1). If the magistrate finds a felony was committed and there is probable cause, the defendant is bound over to appear within 14 days for arraignment before the circuit court of that county, or the magistrate may conduct the circuit arraignment as court rule provides. MCL 766.13. A district judge has the authority to accept a felony plea, but a circuit judge conducts sentencing for a felony, and that judge’s name must be available before the plea is taken. MCL 766.4(3). I ask who will sentence you before I discuss a plea.
Misdemeanors. The district court has jurisdiction over misdemeanors punishable by a fine or imprisonment not exceeding 1 year, and over arraignments, the fixing of bail and the accepting of bonds. MCL 600.8311(a), (c). A misdemeanor case does not go to circuit court.
Specialty courts in Barry County
The county’s courts page lists three programs: a 56-B District Sobriety Court, a 5th Circuit Adult Drug Court and a 5th Circuit Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. Admission is never automatic, and I cannot promise acceptance. I have not found published eligibility rules for these programs on the county’s site, so I ask the court for the current rules and read them with your record before I advise you whether to apply.
Other cases in Barry County
The same county courts hear civil cases. The district court has exclusive jurisdiction in civil actions when the amount in controversy does not exceed $25,000. MCL 600.8301(1). I handle other kinds of cases in the 5th Circuit Court, the 56B District Court and the other courts that sit in Barry County as well:
- Operating while intoxicated (OWI) charges and license consequences
- Personal injury claims after a crash or injury
- Civil litigation, for plaintiffs and defendants
- Business litigation and contract disputes
- Real estate disputes for homeowners
Why people hire me as their Barry County criminal defense lawyer
You deal with the lawyer handling your case from the first call to the last day. I give you the strengths and weaknesses of the case straight, including what a conviction would mean for your freedom, your job, your housing and your record. I build the case the facts support, and then we decide together how to proceed. My office is in Grand Rapids, at 2828 Kraft Ave SE, Suite 295. I appear at the courthouse where your case is set.
Fees depend on the charge, its complexity and whether the case is likely to go to trial. I explain my fee arrangement at the consultation, before you decide whether to hire me.
Questions I hear from people charged with a crime in Barry County
Which court will hear my criminal case in Barry County?
The 56B District Court in Hastings hears misdemeanors and starts every felony. A felony moves to the 5th Circuit Court, which sits in the Barry County Courthouse, if the district judge binds it over. Your paperwork or court notice shows the courtroom and the date.
What happens at an arraignment in Barry County?
The court tells you the charge and the maximum possible prison sentence, advises you of your right to a lawyer, decides pretrial release and, for a felony, sets the dates for the probable cause conference and the preliminary examination. The court rule says the court may not question the accused about the alleged offense or request a plea at that hearing. Whether a plea can be taken at the first hearing on a misdemeanor depends on the court, so it is checked before you appear.
Does Barry County have a drug or sobriety court?
The county’s courts page lists a 56-B District Sobriety Court, a 5th Circuit Adult Drug Court and a 5th Circuit Swift and Sure Sanctions Probation Program. Eligibility rules for them are not stated here. The current rules are confirmed with the court before any advice is given.
Do I need a lawyer at my arraignment?
You are entitled to a lawyer at arraignment unless you knowingly waive the right, or the court releases you on a personal bond and does not take a plea. If you cannot afford one, the local indigent criminal defense system appoints a lawyer for a person who is not represented. Call a lawyer before the hearing if you can.
Related Michigan pages
- Grand Rapids criminal defense lawyer
- West Michigan counties I serve
- Felony defense
- Misdemeanor defense
- What happens after an arrest
- Michigan OWI lawyer
- Michigan legal FAQs
- Kent County criminal defense lawyer
- Ottawa County criminal defense lawyer
- Muskegon County criminal defense lawyer
- Allegan County criminal defense lawyer
- Ionia County criminal defense lawyer
- Montcalm County criminal defense lawyer
- Newaygo County criminal defense lawyer
I defend people charged with crimes in Barry County and across West Michigan. Contact me 24/7 by phone or email. Your Rights, My Fight! Call for a free initial consultation.
Big-Firm Power. Street-Level Grit.
Law Offices of Mitchell S. Bisson, 2828 Kraft Ave SE, Suite 295, Grand Rapids, MI 49512, serving Barry County and West Michigan.
This page provides general information about Michigan law and is not legal advice. Reading it does not create an attorney-client relationship. Laws change and every case turns on its own facts. Consult a licensed attorney about your specific situation.