Criminal Justice System
The nine basic steps
Crime Occurs
An action that constitutes an offense that may be prosecuted by the state and is punishable by law, leading to arrest and an appearance before a judge.
Investigation and Arrest or Citation
If the suspect was not arrested at the time the crime was committed, the police may continue with the investigation until they feel they have enough evidence to charge the suspect. If they have enough evidence and cannot locate the suspect, a warrant may be issued for his/her arrest.