(a) Actions cognizable before a justice of the peace, instituted by summons or warrant, shall be brought before a justice of the peace in the township wherein the defendant resides or is found. If there are defendants in different townships, then the action shall be brought in the township where any one of the defendants resides or is found.
(b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this section, in a township having a population of less than three thousand (3,000) as shown by the most recent federal census, actions by attachment, actions for the recovery of personal property, actions for provisional remedy, and all criminal actions and proceedings may be brought before any justice of the peace in the county, although in counties where there is a municipal court having countywide or districtwide jurisdiction, actions by attachment, actions for the recovery of personal property, actions for provisional remedy, and all criminal actions, unless brought in, or transferred to, the municipal court, shall be tried before a justice of the peace in the township where any defendant to the action resides, or in the township where the property or money involved is found.