The formal criminal justice process

Question 1

There are 15 steps involved in the Criminal Justice Process :

Answer 1

• initial contact
• investigation
• arrest
• custody
• charging
• preliminary hearing/grand jury
• arraignment
• bail/detention
• plea bargaining
• trial/adjudication
• sentencing/disposition
• appeal/post-conviction remedies
• correctional treatment
• release
• post-release

Question 2

Initial contact is

Answer 2

It is the step in which the police takes some action against the victim. The police contacts the victim and informs him about the violation he or she has committed

Question 3

Investigation is

Answer 3

This step is carried out in order to gather more evidence about the suspect. The supportive evidence against the crime is conducted so that a legal arrest or action could be taken

Question 4

Arrest is

Answer 4

seizing someone by legal authority and taking them into custody

Question 5

Custody is

Answer 5

Custody is taken when the suspect has been detained. The suspect also comes in custody when he or she is going to be questioned

Question 6

Charging is

Answer 6

A formal accusation of criminal activity. The prosecuting attorney decides on the charges, after reviewing police reports, witness statements, and any other evidence of wrongdoing. Formal charges are announced at an arrested person’s arraignment

Question 7

Preliminary hearing

Answer 7

It is also called grand jury which plays the role of a buffer for protecting the citizen from false prosecutions. In this hearing, the probable cause is discussed and then the judge makes the decision.

Question 8

Arraignment

Answer 8

the defendant is brought to the court for the case’s hearing. The formal charges are explained, the defendant gets to know about his rights and trial date and considerations for the bail are decided

Question 9

Bail

Answer 9

is the money a defendant pays as a guarantee that he or she will show up in court at a later date. For most serious crimes a judge or magistrate sets bail during an arraignment, or in federal court at a detention hearing

Question 10

Plea bargaining

Answer 10

an arrangement between a prosecutor and a defendant whereby the defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge in the expectation of leniency

Question 11

Trial/adjudication

Answer 11

structured process where the facts of a case are presented to a jury, and they decide if the defendant is guilty or not guilty of the charge offered. During trial, the prosecutor uses witnesses and evidence to prove to the jury that the defendant committed the crime

Question 12

Sentencing/disposition

Answer 12

formal judgment of a convicted defendant in a criminal case setting the punishment to be meted out. In civil cases the terms decision, award, and judgment are used.

Question 13

Appeal/post-conviction remedies

Answer 13

is the process in which cases are reviewed by a higher authority, where parties request a formal change to an official decision

Question 14

Correctional treatment

Answer 14

programs to prevent recidivism :
1) treatment provided to offenders who are at higher risk to reoffend is more effective than treatment provided to lower risk offenders; 2) treatment programs that target those needs associated with criminal behaviour