Criminal courts are usually trial courts with the authority to hear only matters relating to criminal prosecutions—and are said to have exclusive jurisdiction of criminal matters within the county, for example. And in some states there are appellate courts with exclusive jurisdiction over criminal appeals. For example, in Texas, the intermediate courts of appeals hear both civil and criminal cases, but the Texas Court of Criminal Appeals is the court of last resort for criminal matters, and hears appeals of criminal matters from the intermediate courts of appeal.

In South Carolina, criminal courts are primarily structured to handle the adjudication of offenses against state criminal laws. The state's criminal court system is tiered, with Magistrate and Municipal Courts handling minor criminal offenses, such as misdemeanors and traffic violations. The Court of General Sessions, which is part of the Circuit Court, has jurisdiction over more serious crimes, including felonies. These trial courts have the authority to hear and decide criminal cases within their respective counties. For criminal appeals, South Carolina has an intermediate appellate court known as the Court of Appeals, which reviews decisions from the lower courts. The South Carolina Supreme Court is the highest court in the state and serves as the court of last resort for criminal appeals. It has the authority to review decisions made by the Court of Appeals, ensuring the proper application and interpretation of the law in criminal matters.