Understanding the Criminal Justice System Procedure

School: Southern New Hampshire University - Course: CRIMINAL J 207 - Subject: Accounting

CJ 207 Project Two Lisa Davis CJ-207 The U.S. Judicial System Prof. Dennis Kurdek April 13, 2022 Moving Through the Criminal Justice System Once a crime and or investigation occurs the process of a defendant moving through the Criminal Justice System starts with the arrest. Once the police make the arrest and book the suspect at the police station. This usually includes, fingerprints, personal information, photographs, inventory or personal property. The next step is the arraignment. At the arraignment the defendant faces a judge and listens to the charges against them. The defendant is allowed counsel and have one appointed to them. The judge sets a tentative schedule for pretrial conferences, hearings and motions and the trial. Bail is reviewed and decided by the judge. The defendant is released on their own recognizance or a monetary value for bail. The pretrial hearing is next and involves a meeting between the Prosecutor, the Defense Attorney and the Judge. Issues like a plea agreement, motions, evidence and whether there is enough for a fair trial are discussed. The defendant next moves into a trial if no plea agreement is reached. The trial involves the Prosecutor, Defense Attorney, Defendant, and jury. The Prosecutor and the Defense Attorney present their case in opening remarks. Then Witnesses testify, evidence is presented and the defendant can also testify if they chose to. Once the trial concludes the case is handed to the jury for a verdict. If the verdict is not guilty the defendant is immediately released at the courthouse.

If the verdict is guilty, the defendant is taken back into custody to await the sentencing hearing and will receive an appropriate sentence (punishment) set by the judge according to the law and state sentencing guidelines.