51 criminal & juvenile court

Criminal Procedure-adversarial nature Prosecution-Defense-misdemeanor-felony

Arrest-Rights Read-Booked & Charged with crime-Attorney contacted

Preliminary Hearing-Charges are read-Bail can be issued

Indictment-A Grand Jury decides if formal charges will be filed

Arraignment-Suspect will plead innocent or guilty-Trial Date is set -Court Docket

Plea Bargaining-Some suspects plead guilty before a trial if they are given a lighter punishment

Trial-(Petit)Jury is selected-Opening Statements-Prosecution’s evidence

Trial-Cross-Examination-Defense’s Case-Closing Statements-Jury Instructions

Jury-Follow Instructions given by the judge-Elect a Foreperson-Must make unanimous decision-Hung Jury

Verdict-Must be unanimous decision-Jury may be polled-Jury issues verdict-Guilty or Not-guilty (acquittal)-Judge issues sentence

Juveniles-Court System treats youth offenders very differently-A Juvenile is someone considered underage-Usually 16 to 18

Juvenile Delinquency-Juvenile Delinquents are youths who have broken the law-Should youth offenders be treated differently???

Juvenile Courts-Goal of Juvenile Courts-Cases deal with neglect by parents, abuse, or delinquency

Juvenile Arrest-Juveniles are handled differently when arrested-Parents notified-Usually released to parents-Court date is set

Juvenile Court-Private Court Room setting-No jury trial-More of a hearing than a trial-Attorneys may be used

Juvenile Protections-Identity is secret and private-Juvenile records are sealed at age 18-Usually Lighter punishments

Juvenile Punishments-Lectures-Reformatory Schools-Foster Care-Institutional Placement-Probation-Community Service

by Kevin A