9 Basic Steps of the Justice System
By: Kolton Schlichting
Investigation and Arrest or Citation
Depending on the crime the police may give you a warrant or they may arrest you.
Preliminary Hearing or Trial Information
To see if there is sufficent evidence to support the charges against the defendant
Arangement and Plea
The arraignment of the trial and weather or not the crime needs a trial. The right to a speedy trial.
Discovery and Plea Negotiations
If victim is not guilty, then the defense attorney has the right to discover the State's evidence in the case.
Trail
If plea negotions do not go well, then case goes to trail. Once jury is decided the trial occurs.
- Opening Statements (State's and then the Defense's)
- State's Witnesses and Evidence
- Defense's Witnesses and Evidence
- Closing Arguments
- Court's Instructions to the Jury
- Jury's Deliberation and Verdict
Sentencing
The decision made on the trial by the jury or judge. Some crimes result in fines, probation, jail time, or death penalty.
Appeal
In some situations or cases the victim has the right to appeal after sentencing. If they do not appeal then most likely they go to jail or they server their punishment.