Criminal Lawyers & Procedure

Save $20 on Nolo's Online Will and $80 on Nolo's Online Living Trust

	home » rights & disputes » criminal law
	CRIMINAL LAWYERS & PROCEDURE

Criminal Procedure FAQ

How People Get Charged With Crimes

Bail: Getting Out of Jail After an Arrest

Criminal Defense Lawyer FAQ

Does Self-Representation in a Criminal Case Ever Make Sense?

Defendants' Incentives for Accepting Plea Bargains

When a Minor Commits a Crime

Traffic Tickets

Lawyer Directory

Find a Criminal Lawyer

Glossary

Nolo Podcasts

Email to a Friend

How People Get Charged With Crimes

To be "charged" with a crime means to be formally accused of that crime. Police officers usually start the charging process with an arrest or citation. The prosecutor then decides what charges to file, if any. The case can then go to a grand jury for an indictment or to a preliminary hearing where a judge decides if there is enouogh evidence to proceed.

> more

beyond a reasonable doubt

The burden of proof that the prosecution must carry in a criminal trial to obtain a guilty verdict. Reasonable doubt is sometimes explained as being convinced "to a moral certainty." The jury must be convinced that the defendant committed each element of the crime before returning a guilty verdict.

More Definitions

Can a 'no contest' plea bite you later in life?

I shoplifted some DVDs, and got caught and charged with a misdemeanor. If I plead "no contest" to a misdemeanor, will it go on my record -- and can I be charged in civil court for the same crime?

> more

Find a Lawyer

Criminal Law Handbook

Legal Research

Guide to Small Claims Court