The many legal procedures associated with modern criminal trials have developed over centuries. States and the federal government follow a largely uniform set of procedures. Assuming that the criminal trial is carried out to completion, those procedures tend to include the following: Judge or Jury Trial. The defense often has the right to decide whether…

After a defendant is convicted or pleads guilty, a judge will decide on the appropriate punishment (or sentence) during the sentencing phase of a criminal case. Sentencing for criminal offenses can range from probation and community service to prison and even the death penalty. The following resources cover the various factors that influence sentencing, “three…

I have been practicing criminal law for 24 years and have seen a wide variety of reactions by people who are being arrested. Some of these reactions are unwise but understandable. Others are self defeating to the point of being bizarre. No one plans to be arrested, but it might help to think just once…

The many legal procedures associated with modern criminal trials have developed over centuries. States and the federal government follow a largely uniform set of procedures. Assuming that the criminal trial is carried out to completion, those procedures tend to include the following: Judge or Jury Trial. The defense often has the right to decide whether…

The single most important thing to remember if you are arrested is that you have the right to remain silent and the right to an attorney, but these rights protect you onlyif you use them! If you are arrested, the best thing that you can do for yourself is to keep quiet until you are represented…

How Criminal Cases Work In general, criminal cases have the following steps. Click on each step to learn more. The Arrest When the police arrest someone (the defendant), they take him or her to jail. Then, 1 of 3 things happens: • The defendant is released if the prosecutor (usually the district attorney or the…

Anyone can be arrested, and it could happen to you even if your only prior brush with the law is a traffic ticket. If you find yourself under arrest in the back of a squad car on the way to the police station, do you know what to do? Do you know what to expect?…

What Should I Know If I Am Arrested? What is an arrest? When you are arrested, you are taken into custody. This means that you are not free to leave the scene. Without being arrested, however, you still could be detained or held for questioning for a short time if a police officer or other…

Getting pulled over can make even the most law-abiding citizen’s heart race. You should understand what you can and can’t do. Most people know they don’t have to take a breathalyzer. But in 26 states, you don’t have to show an officer your ID during detention either. And refusing a search doesn’t serve as an…

When you’re stopped by the police, you run the risk of being arrested or hurt, or both. Most officers will not act improperly, but whether they act properly or not you still need to protect your rights and keep yourself safe. If you’re stopped or arrested, try to avoid conflict to keep the police calm….

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