Before A Fair Trial Is Not Guilty

The criminal justice system ensures the safety and protection of society from criminal offenders. The process of the criminal justice system begins when a criminal offense is reported to law enforcement officials. If required, an investigation begins, leading to a warrant and arrest. Following the arrest, bail is set and a preliminary hearing is scheduled. If the defendant is indicted, a trial date is set. Providing the defendant does not waive the right to a jury trial, a

Following the arraignment of the accused, and where a plea of not guilty is entered, the accused is open to be tried by a jury made up of his peers. At this point it is said that he is put in their charge where he remains until such time as he chooses to change his plea to guilty, or until a final determination of his guilt or innocence is returned by the verdict of the jury.

Every day people are convicted of crimes or arrested for other reasons. Once they are convicted they are summoned to court, this begins the jury process. Citizens are randomly chosen to serve on jury duty. The citizens on the jury will use the jury system to determine if the person being accused is guilty or innocent. Trials can become very long or they can be short it just depends on the topic and how long it takes to decide on what the consequences will be. The jury system is the main trial and the main decision of whether or not someone is right or wrong.

In America we have an Adversary System of Justice, which means that criminal trials proceed under the adversary theory of justice to arrive at the truth in a given case. One characteristic of this system is intensive cross-examination of both defense and prosecution witnesses. In a jury trial, it is for the jury, which observes these witnesses, to weigh the evidence and make the ultimate decision in every case—guilty or not guilty. However, not every case makes it to trial in fact, about 80% of defendants plead guilty allowing them to just be sentenced and not have to go through the whole process of a trial. Other cases are dropped, or dismissed if the prosecutor, or in some cases a grand jury, feels that there is insufficient evidence to carry on. Some defendants are sent to diversion programs, these individuals are often sent here because an official involved in the case believes that there is a better way to deal with a defendant than to prosecute them.

The preliminary hearing is then held which determines if the prosecution obtained enough evidence and has enough probable cause to hold a trial (Schmalleger, 2008). Discovery, which refers to the first time the defense is allowed to view the evidence against the accused occurs at this stage (Schmalleger, 2008). The next step is arraignment; this is the first time the defendant is seen by a judge with enough authority to hold a trial (Schmalleger, 2008). At arraignment, the indictment against the accused is read; the accused enters a plea of either guilty, not guilty or no contest (Schmalleger, 2008). The last step involving the court is adjudication, which plainly means a trial by jury (Schmalleger, 2008). The trial then proceeds until both sides have presented their case and the jury reaches a decision (Schmalleger, 2008). If the jury cannot reach a decision the judge can declare a mistrial and the case can be retried (Schmalleger, 2008). If the accused waives the right to a trial by jury, the court will hold a bench trial which is a trial conducted and decided upon by the judge (Schmalleger, 2008).

There are six steps in the trial process; these steps include jury selection, opening statements, evidence presentation, closing arguments, charging of the jury and deliberation of jury. Throughout this six step process, it is vital that the rights of all parties involved and respected and protected by

The criminal trial process is an interesting process that takes place in Courtrooms all across the United States and throughout the globe. This study intends to set out the various steps in the criminal trial process in the American justice system. A trial is described as a "legal forum for resolving individual disputes, and in the case of a criminal charge, it is a means for establishing whether an accused person is legally guilty of an offense. The trial process varies with respect to whether the matter at issue is civil in nature or criminal. In either case, a jury acts as a fact-finding body for the court in assessing information and evidence that is presented by the respective parties in a case. A judge presides over the court and addresses all the legal issues that arise during the trial. A judge also instructs the jury how to apply the facts to the laws that will govern in a given case." (3rd Judicial District, 2012)

During the jury trial, the accused person will be represented either by a paid lawyer of his or her choice or by a court-appointed one. During the trial it is solely upon the prosecution to prove the guilt of the accused person, and it is up to the accused person and his representation to rebut the information the prosecution presents. When the jury has heard all of the evidence against the accused person, they will decide on whether the person is guilty or not guilty. If the accused person is found guilty by the jury, he or she will be sentenced according to the law. If the accused person is found not guilty by the jury, he or she will be able to return back into society as a free person.

The trial process begins with the selection of the jury. After the jury is selected the next stage is the opening statements. Since the prosecution has the burden of proof as to the defendant 's guilt, the prosecutor 's opening statement is given first. An

Contrary to what may be a common public perception, jury trials are a dying breed in America. Jury trials have been declining steadily for the past thirty years. “If the trend continues, within the foreseeable future, civil jury trials in America may eventually become…extinct.” This may seem surprising because the U.S. Constitution ensures the right to a jury trial in criminal trials under the 6th Amendment and in civil trials through the 7th Amendment. The reality, however, is that parties are finding more effective, faster, and more cost-effective means of adjudicating legal disputes through alternative dispute resolution

The preparation phase of the trial can lasts for months - much longer than the trial itself. Preparation includes scheduling witnesses, planning a case strategy, creating presentations, and the filing of various pretrial motions and briefs. The trial proceeds from there with examination and cross-examination of witnesses and the presentation of evidence to the court. After both sides are heard, after a final argument before the judge or jury, a verdict is reached that is binding on both

The court trial can be slow as information will have to be repeated and explained to the jury members so that they understand.

Courtroom procedures begin before the day of the trial arrives. In a criminal case, the pre-trial proceedings vary based on the severity of the crime. With a simple misdemeanor case, which could only result in minor jail time or a fine, the pre-trial procedures are short and simple. Usually, the defendant is called to a pre-trial hearing where they are read the charges pressed against them and are asked to give either their plea of guilty and be given a sentencing date, not guilty and be given a trial date and bail amount, or to plead no contest (American Bar Association). However, in a felony case that could lead to a serious incarceration sentence, the procedure becomes more complex. There is a first hearing that is similar to that of a misdemeanor, except that a plea is not given. This is done at the second preliminary hearing to determine if there is actually enough evidence to charge the defendant with a crime. If there isn’t enough, the charges are dropped, but if there is, the case moves along in the process (American Bar Association).

Enid W. LANGBERT, ESQ letting people know about fair trail It is a key role of any government to maintain law and order on behalf of the whole society to hold people to account for crimes they have committed and to ensure that justice is done and seen to be done. But this carries with it a grave responsibility, because convicting someone of a criminal offence and potentially taking away a person’s liberty is one of the most serious steps any government can take against an individual. This step can only be justified after the person has been given a Fair Trial. The Right to a Fair Trial means that people can be sure that

During the arrest, your Miranda Rights must be read to you by the detective. This starts off with, “You have the right to remain silent…” This is protected under the Fifth Amendment. It goes on to state, that you have the right to an attorney and if you cannot afford one, one will be provided for you. If you ask for an attorney, detectives are not allowed to interview you and must get your attorney. The next step to a criminal case is booking and bail. Booking is the processing of the person into police custody. Bail is a determination of their eligibility for release from custody in exchange for the posting of a set amount of money. The third step is arraignment. Arraignment is the defendant’s first appearance in court. The judge asks how the defendant pleads to the criminal charge they are indicted for. It is where bail amount is altered and the announcement of the future dates in the proceedings of the case. A preliminary hearing, where a judge determines whether there is enough evidence to support a trial, is next. Pre-trial motions establish whether a trial should take place and what the boundaries at trial will be. After the pre-trial is the trial. During a trial, a jury, a group of peers, will consider whether the evidence proves the defendant's guilt "beyond a reasonable doubt”. If