Bohm, R.M. (Producer). (2018, January 02). Principles of criminal justice. [Unit 1, Outline #1]. Podcast retrieved from https://www.betheluniversityonline.net/cps/default.aspx?SectionID=6579&tabid=155#1
Gilchrist, G. M. (2016). Trial Bargaining. Iowa Law Review, 101(2), 609-656.
Everyone has the desire to co-exist among others behaving pleasantly. People do not always behave accordingly. The criminal justice system reacts to behaviors once the behavior is considered criminal (Bohm, 2018). For instance, cursing in school is an unpleasant behavior. The criminal justice system would not respond to this behavior. Even though, this type of behavior may be undesirable, it is not legally a crime to curse in school. There is a major …show more content…
These steps are as follows: the crime is reported or discovered by police, investigation, arrest and booking, prosecutor files charges, and court appearances (Bohm, 2018). These steps are not completed quickly. The whole criminal justice process takes a great deal of time. It could take weeks, months, or possibly years before the accused is acquitted or sentenced (Bohm, 2018). After a crime has been reported or discovered by the police, an investigation is started. The purpose of the investigation is to gather evidence of the crime. Sometimes, the suspect is known before an investigation starts. Other times, the suspect is figured out during the investigation. During an investigation, witnesses are questioned, physical and forensic evidence is collected, persons of interest are interviewed, etc. This process is done to figure out the possible suspect, or suspects, and to ensure their rightful conviction. When the investigation is complete, the accused is then arrested. Once he/she is in custody, he/she is booked into the jail. Booking is when the accused is finger printed, their mug shot taken, and other general information is collect about him/her (Bohm, 2018). After being booked, the accused is placed into a cell. The police files charges with the prosecutor, during this …show more content…
He/she will decide whether to charge, or not to charge, the accused (Bohm, 2018). If the prosecutor chooses not to charge the accused, he/she will be set free. If the DA chooses to charge the accused, he/she will have a summary trial (misdemeanor) or hearing (felony) (Bohm, 2018). Once the accused has charges filed against them, they become the defendant (Bohm, 2018). The judge will set a bail amount during the summary trial or hearing, if he/she sees fit. The defendant will also enter a plea during this process. If he/she pleads guilty, he/she will go through a process called plea bargaining. Much of the cases in the United States result in plea bargaining, instead of a trial (Gilchrist, 2016). In fact, about 95% of all cases are solved in this matter (Bohm, 2018). In a plea bargain, the defendant pleads guilty and receives a reduced sentence. The process of plea bargaining costs less than a trial (Gilchrist, 2016). If the defendant pleads not guilty, he/she will have a trial date