PLEAS
NAME THE PLEA YOU ENTER IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE INNOCENT
NOT GUILTY IS THE PLEA YOU ENTER IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE INNOCENT
WHO IS THE BOSS OF THE COURTROOM?
THE JUDGE IS THE BOSS OF THE COURTROOM
WHAT DOES CONTEMPT OF COURT MEAN?
CONTEMPT OF COURT IS WHEN SOMEONE DOES NOT FOLLOW THE JUDGE'S ORDER.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE ON A JURY?
12 PEOPLE ARE ON A JURY
WHICH IS MORE SERIOUS A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR?
A FELONY IS MORE SERIOUS THAN A MISDEANOR
WHAT DOES NGRI STAND FOR AND WHAT DOES THIS PLEA MEAN?
NGRI STANDS FOR NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY. IF YOU PLEAD THIS YOU ARE SAYING YOU BELIEVE YOU WERE NOT IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME
WHAT IS THE JOB OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER/DEFENSE ATTORNEY?
THE JOB OF A PUBLIC DEFENDER/DEFENSE ATTORNEY IS TO DEFEND THEIR CLIENT. THEY ARE ON YOUR SIDE IN COURT.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN FOR A WITNESS TO TAKE OATH IN COURT?
WHEN A WITNESS TAKES AN OATH IN COURT IT MEANS THEY SWEAR (PROMISE) TO TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
HOW MANY PEOPLE ON A JURY HAVE TO AGREE FOR A VERDICT TO BE REACHED?
ALL 12 PEOPLE ON A JURY HAVE TO AGREE FOR A VERDICT TO BE REACHED.
WHAT IS THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR A MISDEMEANOR?
THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR A MISDEMEANOR IS 1 YEAR.
WHAT DOES A GUILTY PLEA MEAN?
IF YOU PLEAD GUILTY, YOU ARE ADMITTING THAT YOU DID THE CRIME YOU ARE CHARGED WITH.
WHAT IS THE JOB OF THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (DA)/PROSECUTOR?
THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (DA)/PROSECUTOR REPRESENTS THE STATE. THEY ARE AGAINST YOU (NOT ON YOUR SIDE). THEIR GOAL IS TO CONVICT YOU.
WHAT IS EVIDENCE? GIVE TWO EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE.
EVIDENCE IN COURT IS ANYTHING PRESENTED IN COURT TO HELP DETERMINE THE TRUTH IN THE CASE. SOME EXAMPLES OF EVIDENCE INCLUDE: PHOTOGRAPHS/VIDEO, FINGERPRINTS, DNA, WEAPONS, TESTIMONY
WHO IS AN EYEWITNESS OR FACT WITNESS?
AN EYEWITNESS OR FACT WITNESS IS SOMEONE WHO SAW THE CRIME, WAS THE VICTIM OF THE CRIME, OR CAN PROVIDE DETAILS ABOUT THE CRIME
WHAT DOES BEING SENTENCED TO PROBATION MEAN?
PROBATION IS WHEN AN OFFENDER IS ABLE TO SERVE THEIR SENTENCE OUTSIDE OF JAIL/PRISON BUT UNDER SUPERVISION
WHAT DOES NOLO STAND FOR AND WHAT DOES THIS PLEA MEAN?
NO CONTEST. YOU ARE NOT SAYING YOU DID THE CRIME AND YOU ARE NOT SAYING YOU DID NOT DO THE CRIME.
WHAT DOES A JURY DO?
THE JURY DELIBERATES TO REACH A VERDICT (DECIDE IF YOU ARE GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY).
WHAT DOES PERJURY MEAN?
PERJURY IS WHEN SOMEONE INTENTIONALLY LIES UNDER OATH.
WHAT IS AN EXPERT WITNESS (AND GIVE AN EXAMPLE)?
AN EXPERT WITNESS IS A PROFESSIONAL WHO CAN PROVIDE THEIR OPINION AND ANSWER QUESTIONS ABOUT A SPECIFIC AREA RELEVANT TO A CASE. EXAMPLES: PSYCHIATRISTS, PSYCHOLOGISTS, MEDICAL EXAMINER, AND MORE.
WHAT IS A PLEA BARGAIN, WHO IS A PLEA BARGAIN MADE BETWEEN, AND WHAT PLEA MUST BE ENTERED?
A PLEA BARGAIN IS A DEAL MADE BETWEEN THE DISTRICT ATTORNEY (PROSECUTOR) AND DEFENDANT WHERE THE DEFENDANT PLEADS GUILTY IN EXCHANGE FOR A REDUCED SENTENCE
WHAT IS AN ALFORD PLEA?
THE ALFORD PLEA ALLOWS YOU TO ASSERT YOU ARE INNOCENT BUT ALLOWS FOR SENTENCING WITHOUT TRIAL.
NAME THE THREE TYPES OF WITNESSES
THE THREE TYPES OF WITNESSES ARE:
1) FACT WITNESS/EYEWITNESS
2) EXPERT WITNESS
3) CHARACTER WITNESS
WHAT IS A BENCH TRIAL?
A BENCH TRIAL IS WHERE THE JUDGE, RATHER THAN A JURY, LISTENS TO THE FACTS OF A CASE AND DECIDES A VERDICT
WHAT DOES A CHARACTER WITNESS DO?
A CHARACTER WITNESS TESTIFIES ABOUT THE PERSON ON TRIAL, KNOWS THE PERSON WELL, AND TYPICALLY SPEAKS ABOUT THE PERSONS REPUTATION, PERSONALITY, OR BEHAVIOR.
NAME FOUR POSSIBLE VERDICTS, WHAT EACH VERDICT MEANS, AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN AFTER EACH VERDICT
1) GUILTY- BELIEF THE CHARGES ARE TRUE- SENTENCED
2) NOT GUILTY- BELIEF THERE IS NOT ENOUGH EVIDENCE TO PROOVE BEYOND A REASONABLE- FREE DOUBT THAT THE DEFENDANT COMMITTED THE CRIME
3) NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY- BELIEF THE DEFENDANT COMMITTED THE CRIME BUT WAS NOT IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME- PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL
4) GUILTY BUT MENTALLY ILL- BELIEF THE CHARGES ARE TRUE AND THE DEFENDANT KNEW RIGHT FROM WRONG AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME- PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITAL