If you or someone you know is facing a legal trial, it can be a difficult process. However, knowing the stages of a criminal trial is of the utmost importance. This allows you to better navigate the legal proceedings.
You should consult a defense attorney to ensure you get the best representation that you or your loved ones deserve. Still, it’s always empowering to understand more about the different steps of a criminal trial. Therefore, in this blog post, we’ll explore the 8 stages of a criminal trial.
Related Reading: How To Find A Good Criminal Defense Lawyer
The Stages Of A Criminal Trial
Here are the stages of a criminal case:
1. Arrest
The first stage of any legal proceeding is the arrest. Both felonies and misdemeanors involve the person accused of the crime being arrested.
2. Bail
Bail occurs when someone is temporarily released with the approval of the court. Not everyone can receive bail.
However, if the defendant is granted bail, they are able to temporarily leave jail under a few different conditions. This depends on the nature of the crime and sometimes the judge in the case. An expert Minneapolis criminal defense lawyer can help you understand this process in greater detail.
3. Arraignment
During an arraignment, a court date is set during bail for the first court appearance of the defendant. Once accused, an arraignment is scheduled right away.
The arraignment covers various points, such as informing the defendant of the charges against them, allowing them to plead to the charges, and allowing the judge to debate matters regarding the bail and court dates, as well as the trial.
4. Preliminary Hearing
The preliminary hearing is where a judge determines if the case is dismissed or if there is the existence of a probable crime. If the judge determines that there is indeed probable cause, then the case will resume to trial.
5. Pretrial Conference
Your criminal defense attorney, the judge, and the prosecutor will meet to discuss plea bargain possibilities. The attorneys will discuss resolutions that they believe are fair, as well as the seriousness of the crime.
6. Jury Trial
A jury trial will occur if the case does go to court. This is more informally known as simply the trial. It involves cross-examinations, case presentations, allowance or dismissal of evidence, and other standard procedures.
7. Sentencing
The jury will return to provide sentencing. The jury will return their verdict. From this point forward, the judge will determine the sentence.
The judge does this by considering the facts related to the case, the history of the defendant, and other circumstances that they deem relevant.
8. Appeal
The last of the phases of a criminal trial is an appeal. If a defendant is not satisfied with the results of the trial, they can appeal the decision.
This process can be difficult and time-consuming. That’s why it’s important to have someone on your side who is an expert in navigating the process.
Hire A Criminal Defense Lawyer In Minneapolis Today
Lynn Torgensen has several decades of experience defending people just like you. If you or a loved one is facing any kind of charges, reach out to the offices of Lynn Torgensen today. You deserve the best legal representation that you can get.