Criminal Lawyers & Procedure

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	CRIMINAL LAWYERS & PROCEDURE

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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

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 (though it is possible to be charged with a crime without being arrested). They send copies of their arrest reports to a prosecutor's office that is staffed by government lawyers, who evaluate the reports and decide how to proceed.

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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?

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Criminal Law Handbook

Legal Research