Select the correct step in Georgia's Criminal Justice System (hint: the
steps are listed in order).
Remember: this is an OPEN NOTE Quiz!
(14 points)
Pretrial
1. ________-There is enough evidence that someone has
committed a crime serious enough to warrant being taken into custody (police
detention).
2. ___________- Law enforcement officers make an official arrest
report and hold the suspect in the local jail.
3. __________-The suspect (a person thought to be guilty of a
crime) appears before a magistrate court judge to have the charges brought
against them explained and to determine if they are to be released on bail
(the temporary release of a prisoner in exchange for security given for the
prisoner's appearance at a later hearing).
4. ___________- The magistrate judge determines if there was a
crime committed and if there is probable cause (a reasonable ground for
supposing that a charge is well-founded) that the suspect was involved with
5.__________- A group of citizens, called a grand jury, examines
the evidence in order to determine if the suspect should be charged with a
crime. If they do decide there is enough evidence, they issue what is called
an indictment (a formal charge of a serious crime).
6._________ Superior court judge reads charges and accused
pleads guilty or not guilty
7.__________ The suspect has the opportunity to plead guilty. If
they plead guilty to the charge, the judge will sentence the individual and the
case does not go to trial. The suspect also has the choice of plea bargaining
and admitting guilt to a lesser offense. If the prosecutor agrees to the plea
bargain, the suspect is sentenced for the lesser offense and the case will also
not go to trial.
1. Probable Cause
2. Arrest
3. First Appearance
4. Preliminary Hearing
5. Grand Jury
6. Arraignment
7. Plea Offer/ Trial