Crime and Justice

This is purely educational.

Please do not take this as specific legal advice. Your teacher is NOT a lawyer and does not have a law degree!

An arrest is when police take a suspect into custody until he or she can be brought before the court. There must be probable cause for a suspect to be arrested. 

If you are arrested, remember your rights! (Think Miranda!)

Police investigate a crime to gather evidence to identify a suspect and support an arrest.

An indictment is a formal charge brought by a grand jury or filed by a prosecutor. An indictment is required for capital offenses.

The grand jury only hears evidence presented by the prosecutor.

The grand jury determines whether there is sufficient evidence to formally charge the defendant.

The accused and their defense counsel will make a brief appearance before a judge where a determination will be made as to whether or not the case should move forward to a trial.

An indictment, formal charges are brought against a defendant.

Plea bargains usually involve the defendant pleading guilty to a lesser charge, fewer charges than originally charged with in an indictment, or a reduced statement.

Plea bargaining helps both the prosecution and defense avoid a potentially long, expensive trial. 

A judge conducts arraignments; this occurs before trial.

The defendant makes his or her plea. The most common pleas are guilty or not guilty.

A trial is held before a judge or a jury. The defendant has the choice whether he or she wants a trial by a jury of peers or before a judge alone, called a bench trial.

Evidence is presented by both the prosecution and the defense

The verdict is a decision of guilt or innocence. 

If a defendant is found guilty, it must be ‘beyond a reasonable doubt’, meaning that the judge or jury is 100% certain that the evidence supports a verdict of guilty.