Early Stages of a Criminal Case
In many ways, an arrest is just beginning of the legal process. There are other procedures that determine not only whether there will be a conviction, but whether the case will even get to the plea-bargain or trial stage. Look here for information on those procedures, and on general information that can help you handle criminal court.
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All About Preliminary Hearings, or "Prelims"
Preliminary hearings, often referred to as "prelims," require the prosecutor to show enough credible evidence to a judge to convince that judge to send the case on to trial.
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The Difference Between a Preliminary Hearing and a Trial
Preliminary hearings differ from trials in many important respects:
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People who have been arrested—particularly those who haven’t bailed out of jail or been released on their own recognizance—want to know when they’ll get in front of a judge.
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How Should I Plead at Arraignment?
At some point in the early stages of criminal proceedings, whether at the first court appearance or a later arraignment, judges ask defendants how they choose to plead.
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Criminal Charges: How Cases Get Started
A criminal case usually gets started with a police arrest report. The prosecutor then decides what criminal charges to file, if any.
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How Innocent Defendants Handle Criminal Charges
Even the most well-intentioned prosecutors file charges against innocent suspects occasionally. Regardless of the reason charges were filed, innocent defendants want to know what they—or preferably, their lawyers—can do to avoid a conviction. So, other than going to trial, how can defendants avoid a guilty plea or verdict?
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A grand jury is a group of citizens that hears evidence presented by the prosecutor and decides whether there's probable cause to believe that a crime occurred and the defendant committed it.
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Why Prosecutors Choose Grand Juries Instead of Preliminary Hearings
The grand jury process is prosecutor-friendly.
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The way you appear and behave in the courtroom can affect how others see you. The opinion of some of these others, such as the judge and jury, will be crucial.
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Just about everything that happens in a courtroom can seem confusing to someone who hasn’t experienced the justice system firsthand. Even the courtroom itself can be confounding.
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