Plea Bargaining, Arrest, Grand Jury Indictment, Initial Appearance, Arraignment, Preliminary Hearing, Booking
- There is enough evidence that someone has committed a crime serious enough to warrant being taken into custody (police detention).
- The individual is formally charged with a crime and appears before a judge for their initial appearance.
- The individual may have the option to enter into plea bargaining negotiations with the prosecution to potentially avoid a trial.
- A grand jury may review the evidence and decide whether there is enough probable cause to indict the individual and proceed to trial.
- The individual is formally informed of the charges against them and enters a plea of guilty or not guilty at their arraignment.
- If the case proceeds to a preliminary hearing, a judge will determine whether there is enough evidence for the case to go to trial.
- The individual is then booked into the jail or detention facility, where their personal information and fingerprints are recorded.