Understanding the Initial Stages of the Judicial Process

2126 Words5 Pages

The first stage of the judicial process is a person has to commit a crime or be suspected of committing a crime. This is any violation of the law. There are crimes such as a ticket violation that do not require an arrest, but a person will just get a warning or a fine. After a crime is committed or suspected of committing a police officer will make an arrest. Arrest is physically taking someone into custody who was suspected of committing a crime. (Fradella & Neubauer, 2011). They will go through the process of being booked. Fingerprints will be taken and their photograph will be captured to place on file. This is an important part of the judicial process, because police have to make sure they follow every rule, or a case can be dismissed because …show more content…

This is the arraignment process. “Some states require arraignments in all felony and misdemeanor cases – any case in which the defendant faces possible incarceration, whether in jail or prison. Some states require arraignments only in felony cases” (Baldwin, 2016). This is done through an information or an indictment. The defendant is also informed of the specifics in the process and the criminal actions. The defendant must enter a plea, which usually means stating guilty or not guilty. Typically, defendants plead not guilty and a trial date is established (Fradella & Neubauer). The arraignment pretty much means that the defendant, more than likely, is …show more content…

The appellant or the losing side of the case puts in a notice of appeal. This is the request to review a case. The appellate court must hear the case but they can decide to accept it or reject the appeal. The case it brought up again and the Appellate court can decide to affirm it, which is agreeing with the lower court decision, they can remand it, which means to send it back to the lower court to relook at specific issues, or it can be reversed, which means the lower court’s decision is set aside and further proceedings are held (Fradella & Neubauer, 2011). If the case is appealed and is heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, then they have to take whatever sentence they get. They cannot appeal it again. This the final part of the process. Whatever is deliberated here is what

More about Understanding the Initial Stages of the Judicial Process

Open Document