1. Steps of the Criminal Justice System

2. The Report of a Crime - Call 911 or Flag Down Officer - Official police report - Immediate action of police

3. Investigation - Research the case - Find leads & probable cause to make the arrest

4. Arrest - Physical taking into custody - Non-custodial arrests: Traffic Stops

5. Booking & Incarceration - Formal charge with a crime - Putting suspects into “the system” - Confined in local jail

6. Initial Hearing - Formal review of (a) charge(s) in front of a judge - First court appearance

7. Preliminary Hearing - Determines if probable cause warrants the arrest (is the arrest valid) - Accused goes in front of the judge

8. Accusation or Indictment - Formal charging document & entered before the court

9. Arraignment - Accused is taken before a judge, read the charges against him/her and the accused enters a plea (guilty or not guilty)

10. Trial or Plea - Bench Trial: Judge Only - Jury Trial: Jury of Peers Or Enters a plea bargain

11. Sentencing - Punishment = Retribution or Rehabilitation

12. Parole, Probation or Time - Only “paroled” from prison - Probation is released early from jail or can be assigned in stead of jail time - Time: Incarceration (Jail or Prison)

13. Appeal - Convictions go to a higher court seeking the ruling to be overturned - Not automatically