1. Steps After a Crime Investigation and Arrest Booking Nolle Prosequi-
Arrest warrant
Booking
Nolle Prosequi-
Discretion-

2. Steps After a Crime Lower Court Initial Appearance/ Arraignment
Preliminary Hearing OR Grand Jury
Depends on the state

3. Arraignment/ Initial Appearance
Misdemeanor
Read charges
Informed of rights- trial/ lawyer (appointed)
Enter plea-
Innocent- set trial date and set bail/ bond
Guilty- Most often, misdemeanor charges lead to guilty pleas and sentencing here
Bench trial
nolo contendre

4. Arraignment/ Initial Appearances
8th Amendment- right to bail
Purpose (bail)-
Considerations- crime, priors, family, ties, etc (Remand- kept in custody/ jail)
Types
ROR
Cash bond
Property bond
Bail bondsmen

5. Prelim. Hearing/ Grand Jury
Felony-- depends on state
Like misdemeanors, but adds one step
Arraignment
Read charges
Right to trial/ consul
Bail/ bond review
Prelim. Hearing/ Grand Jury scheduled
Results: charges could be dismissed or suspect could be bound over for trial
The trial date would be set

6. Prelim. Hearing/ Grand Jury
Preliminary Hearing:
to est. probable cause
Judge determines if there is enough evidence to support the charges/ for a trial
Grand Jury- to est. probable cause
Not public/ in secret
Required in FEDERAL felony cases
Indictments-
true bill- yes, we found probable cause and there’s enough evidence to go to trial

7. Steps After a Crime Trial Court Plea bargaining Pre-trial motions
Ex: motion to suppress evidence motion to dismiss to case
Subponeas-

8. Plea Bargaining Purpose (plea): Dominant activity of criminal courts
Saves time and money by avoiding a trial
In most cases there is little doubt about the defendants legal guilt
95% of all felony convictions result from guilty pleas

9. Steps After a Crime
Trial (Lap 4)
Sentencing (Lap 5)
Appeal (Lap 6)