Court Process
CRIMINAL LAW PROCESS: What To Expect
Initial Arrest And Booking
The criminal justice process typically begins when a police officer places a person under arrest. After an arrest, a suspect is taken into police custody and “booked.”
Held or Released on Bond
Next you will have a bail hearing, the Magistrate Judge informs a defendant of their charges and sets a bond amount. A suspect may pay the bail amount or work with a bondsman in exchange for his/her release.
Retain BCP Criminal Defense Attorneys
Finding the right Criminal Defense Firm for your legal matter can make all the difference in the outcome of your case.
Pre-Court Issues
We will begin evaluating your case and discussing defense and mitigation plans. Note that courts are often backed-up with old cases and this stage may last awhile.
Arraignment/ First Court Date
The Prosecutor’s Office will turn over evidence to your Attorney and the judge will then reset the case for future dates. Note that most times a case is not (and should not) be resolved on its first court date.
Pre-Trial Hearings/Subsequent Court Dates
Court Cases often require multiple court appearances to achieve a desired outcome.
PreTrial Agreement with Prosecutors, Dismissal or Trial
The final decision on how to resolve cases rests with the client. The vast majority of Criminal Cases are resolved without a Trial.