Unit 4: Lesson 3- Justice Process

Justice
Process

Unit 4: Lesson 3

What happens when a crime is
suspected?

There are specific steps to follow if a crime is suspected of happening.

This is called the Criminal Justice Process

● The rights from the amendments we

investigated earlier are embedded into this
process.

● If the rights are not upheld, it can void the entire

process.

6

4th, 5th, 6th, 8th

Criminal Justice Process: Step
Definitions

Rewrite the descriptions of the steps as you go through the slides.

7

Step 1:
Investigation

8

Gathering evidence to
identify a suspect
and support an
arrest.

Multiple Choice

Evidence is used to

• Identify suspect and support an arrest

• Help determine the amount for bail

• Deciding the severity of the sentence

9

Step 2:

Arrest

taking a person

suspected of

committing a crime

into custody

Probable Cause

is required for

ARREST

Multiple Choice

What is required for an arrest

• A guess

• Probable Cause

• Suspicion

10

Step 3:
Indictment

a formal charge brought by
a grand jury or filed by a
prosecutor

Grand Jury: Felonies/capitol
charges

Prosecutor: misdemeanors

A charge is the crime
someone is officially

accused of

Multiple Choice

Charge

• The crime someone is officially accused of

• The amount of money needed to to prove the defendant will come back for trial

• Evidence to identify a suspect and support an arrest

Multiple Choice

With felonies and capital charges who brings the formal charges (indictment)?

• Grand jury

• Prosecutor

Multiple Choice

When formal charges (indictment) is filed for a misdemeanors who brings the charges?

• Prosecutors

• Grand Jury

11

Step 4:

Bail

Bail is money or property that

a defendant puts forth as

security to make sure

they will show up
for further criminal

proceedings such as trial and

sentencing.

Whoever puts up

bail/bonds money is
responsible for the
accused making it to

court

Multiple Choice

Who is responsible for making sure the accused shows up to court?

• The Defendant (person accused of the crime)

• The Police

• The person who put the money up for bail.

Step 5:
Arraignment

A judge conducts arraignments;
this occurs before trial.

The defendant makes his
or her plea, or states if they
committed the crime they are
accused of or not

The most common pleas are guilty
or not guilty.

Multiple Choice

The arraignment takes place before or after the trial?

• Before

• After

Multiple Choice

The most common pleas are:

• Yes/No

• Guilty/Not Guilty

• Innocent/Guilty

Step 6:

Plea Bargain

“I’m guilty! Can we make a deal?”

Plea bargains usually involves the defendant pleading
guilty to a lesser charge, fewer charges than originally
charged with in an indictment, fora reduced statement.

Plea bargaininghelps both the prosecution and defense
avoid a potentially long, expensive trial.

Multiple Choice

Why would someone accept a Plea Bargain?

• Because trials are boring

• Because they pulled a go directly to jail card in Monopoly

• To have a reduced sentence

14

Step 7:

Trial

A trial is held before a judge or a jury.

The defendant has the choice whether he or she
wants a trial by a jury of peers or before a judge
alone, called a bench trial.

Witnesses are questioned

Evidence is presented

Attorneys make arguments

Multiple Choice

What happens during a trial

• Witnesses are questioned, evidence is presented, attorneys make arguments

• Witnesses can decided not to answer questions, random facts are presented, attorneys break out into song

Step 8:

Verdict

The verdict is a decision of guilt or innocence either
by the jury or the judge.

If a defendant is found guilty, it must be
‘beyond a reasonable doubt’, meaning that the judge or jury is
100% certain that the evidence supports a verdict of guilty.

If there are multiple charges, the judge or jury may find the
defendant guilty on all or some of the charges or may find the
defendant guilty of a lesser charge.

Multiple Choice

What percentage of the jury has to agree on the verdict

• 75%

• 80%

• 90%

• 100%

Step 9:

Sentencing

Sentencing = Punishment for guilty parties
The sentencing is determined by the judge.

Possible sentences include: a fine, community service,
probation, or a period of incarceration in a jail or prison,
or a combination of the above.

Multiple Choice

Who determines the sentencing of someone found guilty?

• Jury

• Judge

• Ballif

17

A defendant found guilty of

charges has the right to
appeal the verdict to an

appellate court.

The defendant files an appeal
in the hopes that he or she
will have the verdict reversed

or be granted a new trial.

Step 10:

Appeal

Multiple Choice

Why would someone appeal after their trial?

• They want to get a nicer jail cell

• They want to get sent to a jail closer to their family

• they want their verdict or get a new trial