The Criminal Justice Process

Negotiations between the prosecutor, defendant and defendant's attorney. The defendant pleads guilty to a lesser charge.

• plea bargain

• bind over

• booking

• arrest

A grand jury's formal charge or accusation of criminal action

• indictment

• arrest

• pre-trial hearing

• plea bargain

A group that hears preliminary evidence to decide if there is reason to formally charge someone with a crime

• pre-trial diversion

• Grand Jury

• Booking

• arrest

To take a person suspected of a crime into custody

• booking

• arrest

• pre-trial diversion

• plea bargain

The formal process of making a police record of an arrest.

• arrest

• booking

• pre-trial motion

• plea bargain

A court session at which a defendant is charged and enters a plea

• grand jury

• pre-trial motion

• arrest

• arraignment

Non-violent offenders may have charges dismissed if they abide by certain rules. Original charges will be filed if they break the rules

• arraignment

• plea bargain

• pre-trial diversion

• booking

money or property put up by the accused to allow release from jail before trial

• bail

• arrest

• pre-trial diversion

• arraignment

Release from legal custody based on a defendant's promise to show up for trial.

• personal recognizance

• pretrial detention

• arrest

• pre-trial diversion

Which is the better of the options below?

• pre-trial diversion

• bail

• pre-trial detention

• plea bargain