PLEAS
NAME THE PLEA YOU ENTER IF YOU BELIEVE YOU ARE INNOCENT
NOT GUILTY
WHO IS THE RUNS THE COURTROOM?
THE JUDGE
IT MEANS TO SHARE INFORMATION THAT YOU KNOW REGARDING THE CASE
IF SOMEONE PLEAS NOT GUILTY, WHAT IS THE LEGAL PROCESS? STEP BY STEP AFTER LEAVING THIS PROGRAM
COMPETENCY HEARING
ARRIAGNMENT
PRELIMINARY HEARING
PRE TRIAL CONFERENCE
TRIAL
FOUND GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY
WHICH IS MORE SERIOUS A FELONY OR MISDEMEANOR?
A FELONY IS MORE SERIOUS THAN A MISDEANOR
WHICH PLEA IS THIS?
YOU ARE SAYING YOU BELIEVE YOU WERE NOT IN THE RIGHT STATE OF MIND AT THE TIME OF THE CRIME
NOT GUILTY BY REASON OF INSANITY.
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?
IT MEANS THEY SWEAR (PROMISE) TO TELL THE WHOLE TRUTH AND NOTHING BUT THE TRUTH.
IF YOU ARE FOUND GUILTY, WHAT HAPPENS NECT AND WHAT ARE THE POSSIBLE SENTENCING OUTCOMES?
YOU ATTEND A SENTENCING HEARING
CAN BE SENTENCED TO JAIL, PRISON OR PROBATION
ARE YOU GUARANTEED THE MAXIMUM SENTENCE FOR A CHARGE?
NO, THE JUDGE WILL DECIDE THE SENTENCE BASED THE CRIME, YOUR HISTORY, THE LAW, THE HARM CAUSED AND ANY OTHER FACTOR THAT MAY CONTRIBUTE TO THE GRAVITY OF THE CRIME.
WHAT IS A PLEA BARGAIN?
IT IS A DEAL THAT CAN GET ME A LOWER SENTENCE AND/OR CHARGE BUT I HAVE TO PLEA GUILTY OR NO CONTEST IF I ACCEPT IT
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? AND WHAT ARE IS THE EVIDENCE IN YOUR CASE ACCORDING TO THE POLICE REPORT
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
IF SOMEONE PLEAS GUILTY OR NO CONTEST, WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?
DO THEY GO TO TRIAL? WHY OR WHY NOT
THEY ATTEND A SENTENCING HEARING AND GET SENTENCED.
NO TRIAL BECAUSE THEY ADMITTED FAULT AND AGREE TO DO THEIR TIME
ANSWERS MAY VARY
WHICH PLEA IS THIS?
YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING THE CHARGES BUT YOU WILL DO THE SENTENCE TIME
NO CONTEST
WHAT IS THE ROLE OF THE JURY? AND HOW MANY PEOPLE ARE IN A JURY?
THE JURY DELIBERATES TO REACH A VERDICT (DECIDE IF YOU ARE GUILTY OR NOT GUILTY).
12 PEOPLE ARE PART OF A JURY
WHAT DOES DEFENSE STRATEGY MEAN?
DEFENSE STRATEGY MEANS - WHAT IS YOUR PLAN TO DEFENSE YOURSELF AND WHAT WILL YOU PLEA IN COURT?
WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO KNOW THE DETAILS OF YOUR CASE, INCLUDING THE EVIDENCE?
BECAUSE KNOWING YOUR CASE'S AND EVIDENCE SHOWS YOU CAN UNDERSTAND THE SITUATION, WORK WITH YOUR LAWYER AND MAKE DECIDENCE ABOUT YOUR DEFENSE.
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
HOW DO YOU PLAN TO PLEA AND WHY?
SAYING "JUST BECAUSE" OR "BECAUSE I DIDN'T DO IT WILL NOT GET YOU POINTS
YOU MUST INCORPORATE DETAILS OF YOUR CASE TO YOUR DEFENSE
NAME ALL THE PARTICIPANTS THAT MAY BE IN THE COURTROOM AND EXPLAIN WHAT THEIR ROLE IS
JURY, COURT CLERK, COURT REPORTER, JUDGE, WITNESS, INTERPRETER, BALIFF, DISTRICT ATTORNEY, PUBLIC DEFENDER, DEFANDANT
WHAT IS A BENCH TRIAL AND A JURY TRIAL?
A BENCH TRIAL IS WHERE THE JUDGE, RATHER THAN A JURY, LISTENS TO THE FACTS OF A CASE AND DECIDES A VERDICT.
A JURY TRIAL IS WHEN A JURY LISTENS TO THE FACTS OF A CASE AND DECIDES A VERDICT.
CAN SOMEONE BE FOUND INCOMPETENT AND BE SENT TO THE STATE HOSPITAL MORE THAN ONCE?
YES
NAME FOUR POSSIBLE VERDICTS (PLEAS) AND WHAT THEY MEAN
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) NO CONTEST- YOU ARE NOT FIGHTING THE CHARGES BUT WILL ACCEPT THE TIME