Initial Contact & Arrest
Defined as an illegal action or activity for which a person can be punished by law.
What is a crime?
This formal documentation process takes place after a suspect has been arrested, involving fingerprinting, mug shots, and personal information recording.
What is booking?
In a preliminary hearing, the prosecutor must demonstrate to the court that this legal standard exists.
What is probable cause?
This is the next major step in the criminal justice process right after a preliminary hearing finds enough evidence or a grand jury issues an indictment.
What is arraignment?
The primary purpose of this phase is to examine the facts through witness testimony and evidence to determine whether the suspect committed the crime.
What is the trial?
These are the two primary ways police typically become aware that a crime has occurred.
What are proactive and reactive policing?
This full search is performed during booking specifically to locate any of these two things before a suspect is placed in a cell.
What are weapons or contraband?
Instead of a preliminary hearing, some jurisdictions use this collection of citizens to hear evidence and decide if a case should go to trial.
What is a grand jury?
During the arraignment, the charges against the suspect are read and the suspect enters one of these.
What is a plea?
During a trial, the suspect is legally presumed to have this status.
What is innocent?
Once police are aware of a crime, they will usually either issue this court summon or make an arrest.
What is a citation?
A suspect will typically see a judge for this first appearance within this timeframe after their arrest.
What is 24 hours?
If a grand jury decides there is enough evidence to go to trial, they will issue this formal document.
What is an indictment?
This specific plea means the defendant does not admit they committed the crime, but they do not deny it either.
What is no contest?
To secure a guilty verdict, the prosecutor must prove the suspect is guilty to this high legal standard.
What is beyond a reasonable doubt?
During this police action, a suspect is taken into physical custody for the purpose of charging them with a criminal offense.
What is an arrest?
During the first appearance, the judge sets this financial amount that the suspect can pay to be released from jail until their court date.
What is bail?
During a preliminary hearing, the judge hears testimony from witnesses representing both of these sides.
Who are the prosecution and the defense?
If a suspect enters a plea of guilty or no contest at the arraignment, the judge skips the trial and directly sets this date.
What is a sentencing date?
In a standard case, the judge makes the final determination during sentencing, but in this specific type of case, sentencing is up to a jury.
What is a death penalty case?
When a citation is issued instead of an arrest, the suspect either pays a fine or is given one of these.
What is a court date?
If a suspect cannot afford a lawyer during their first appearance, the court has the power to do this.
What is appoint an attorney for them?
Courts use either a preliminary hearing or a grand jury because they serve the exact same purpose, meaning courts typically use this many of them.
What is not both (only one)?
If a suspect enters a plea of not guilty at the arraignment, the judge sets this date instead.
What is a trial date?
Once a suspect completes their assigned sentence handed down by corrections agencies, they are released from this.
What is the criminal justice system?