Arrest to Apeals
AJ Dougherty
Crime occurs
Investigation and Arrest or Citation
- Arrest made by police
- Citation to appear in court is issued
Initial Appearance
- Assures individuality was properly charged
- Attorney appointed to defendant
- Date is set for a preliminary hearing
- Bail is set (if applicable)
Preliminary Hearing or Trail Information
- Determine whether evidence can support charges against defendant
Arraignment and Plea
- Plea not guilty trail date will be set
- Plea guilty lost to jury trail and settlement will be reached
Discovery and Plea Negotiations
- If defendant pleas not guilty then it includes viewing documents, interviews under oath, victims and witnesses contacted
Trail
- Plea negotiations not successful case goes to trial
- Steps to trial
- Opening statements
- State's witnesses and evidence
- Defense's witness and evidence
- Closing argument
- Courts instruction to jury
- Jury deliberation and verdict
Sentencing
- Punishment in criminal case
- Range from fine, community service, or imprisonment
- Sentence is chosen by judge
Victim Impact Statements
- Statement made to let court know effect crime has had on defendant and defendants family