What is the process of a criminal trial?

A criminal trial is the process by which a person accused of a crime is brought before a court of law to determine whether they are guilty or not. In California, criminal trials follow a particular process that is dictated by law. First, a prosecutor will file criminal charges against the defendant in the form of an indictment or information. This indicates what crime the person is being accused of committing. The defendant will then have their initial court hearing, in which the judge will read out the charges, inform the defendant of their rights, and determine if the defendant can be released on defendant will appear in court when required.">bail. Next comes the trial itself. This begins with the selection of a jury, which is a group of people from the community who will be called upon to serve as impartial judges of the facts in the case. After the jury is chosen, both the prosecution and defense will present their arguments and evidence in order to prove the guilt or innocence of the defendant. The jury will then deliberate and make their final decision. If the jury finds the defendant guilty, the judge will then impose a sentence. Depending on the severity of the crime, this can range from probation or community service, to incarceration in a county or state prison. If the jury acquits the defendant, they will be released from all criminal charges and be found “not guilty”.

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