What Is the Meaning of 'Criminal Case'?
A criminal case takes place when a person is arrested for committing a crime. That person, the offender or defendant, is moved through the three components of the criminal justice system: law enforcement or police, the judicial process and the correctional department.
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Criminal Justice System
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The criminal justice system is the collection of institutions that someone accused of a crime goes through until the accusations are dismissed or punishment for the crime is served. If you have ever watched an episode of "Law and Order," you have been introduced to two parts of the system: "In the Criminal Justice System the people are represented by two separate, but equally important groups. The police, who investigate crime, and the district attorneys, who prosecute the offenders." But there is a third component of the criminal justice system that not everyone thinks about. After the police investigate a crime and make an arrest, the offender goes through the judicial process, with judges, district attorneys and defense lawyers, and at the conclusion of the judicial process, if the offender receives any sentence for his crime, he takes part in the final part of the criminal justice system, the corrections system, including prison officials, parole officers and probation officers.
Criminal Case
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The definition of a criminal case is the prosecution or trial of a person who has committed a crime. Criminal cases differ from civil because, where in civil cases the remedy for a wrong is most often monetary, the remedy for a criminal wrong is punishment, jail or prison time or probation.
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Before a Criminal Trial
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A criminal case begins after a person is arrested for committing a crime. The next step is arraignment, when a judge informs the person of the specific charges against her and determines whether bail should be set. The judge has three options in determining bail: releasing the person on her own recognizance; setting bail, which must be paid for the person to be released from jail; or remanding to jail until trial, which is most often the case in serious or violent offenses.
While some grand juries are called before an arrest is made, most district attorneys request a grand jury after arraignment. The district attorney presents the state's evidence and an indictment is issued, stating the formal charges being brought against the offender. Once an indictment is issued, the offender has an option to plea-bargain, meaning she pleads guilty to the charges in exchange for a more lenient sentence.
The Stages of a Criminal Trial
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If an offender maintains his innocence and does not plea-bargain, the criminal trial begins. The stages of a criminal trial are as follows:
Jury selection; opening statements; district attorney's case, where the district attorney presents evidence and witnesses and the defendant has the opportunity to cross-examine those witnesses; defendant's case, where the defense presents its evidence and witnesses; and the district attorney has the opportunity to cross-examine witnesses; a charge conference, where the district attorney and the defense meet with the judge to determine the specific charges and instructions that will be given to the jury before the jury does into deliberation; and closing arguments, where both parties have one last chance to put forth their theory of the crime to the jury.
After the Trial
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At the conclusion of closing arguments, the judge gives instructions to the jury. Instructions include the charges against the defendant and the law the jury must look to in rendering its decision. The jury is then sequestered in the jury room and begins its deliberations, reviewing all the evidence presented at trial. Once the jury reaches a decision, the jury is brought back into the courtroom with the judge, the district attorney and the defense. The jury presents its decision, or verdict, to the judge for review, and the verdict is returned to the jury foreperson, to read allowed. If the defendant is found guilty, the last step is sentencing, determined by the judge. The defendant is then transitioned to the final component of the criminal justice system, the corrections department.
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