What is the third stage of a criminal case, after the complaint and the investigation?
Group of answer choices
Resolution
Allegation
Prosecution
Negotiation
The third stage of a criminal case, after the complaint and the investigation, is the prosecution.
After the complaint and investigation, the third stage of a criminal case is prosecution.
The third stage of a criminal case, after the complaint and the investigation, is prosecution. To understand this, let's break down the stages of a criminal case.
1. Complaint: The first stage is when a complaint is filed by the victim or a witness, which brings attention to a potential crime.
2. Investigation: After a complaint is made, law enforcement agencies conduct an investigation to gather evidence, interview witnesses, and collect relevant facts about the alleged crime.
3. Prosecution: Once the investigation is complete, the evidence is provided to the prosecutor's office. The prosecutor reviews the evidence and decides whether to move forward with pressing charges. If they determine that there is enough evidence to support a conviction, they initiate the prosecution stage. During this stage, the prosecutor will present the case against the accused to a court.
4. Resolution: Following prosecution, the case proceeds to the resolution stage. This stage involves presenting the evidence and arguments from both sides in court to determine the guilt or innocence of the accused. If the accused is found guilty, they may face sentencing. If they are found not guilty, the case is resolved in favor of the accused.
5. Negotiation: While negotiation is a common aspect throughout various stages of a criminal case, it is often associated with plea bargaining. In this stage, the prosecution and the defense may negotiate a plea deal, in which the accused agrees to plead guilty to a lesser charge or agree to a specific sentence in exchange for a reduced sentence or some other benefit.
So, out of the given options, the correct answer would be "Prosecution" as the third stage of a criminal case after the complaint and the investigation.