What is the process of a jury trial in criminal cases?

A jury trial is a process in which a person accused of a crime is judged by a jury of his or her peers. In Rhode Island, a criminal case that is to be decided by a jury trial typically begins with a grand jury indictment. A grand jury is composed of citizens that are chosen by the court and tasked with examining the evidence presented by the prosecution to determine if there is probable cause to believe that a crime has been committed. If they determine that there is sufficient cause to move forward with a trial, an indictment will be issued. The next step in the jury trial process is the arraignment, which is the first time when the accused will appear before a judge. At this hearing, the accused will be informed of the charges against them and will enter a plea of guilty or not guilty. Once a plea is entered, a trial date is set and the jury selection process begins. The jury selection process is used to select an impartial jury to hear the evidence in a criminal case and to make a decision about the guilt or innocence of the accused. Both the prosecution and defense will have the opportunity to question potential jurors, and they may also challenge any potential jurors if they have good reason to believe that the person may be biased. Once the jury is selected, the trial will begin with the prosecution presenting its case and the defense presenting its case. The jury will then be allowed to ask questions to clarify any points that they may not understand. After both sides have presented their cases, the jury will go into deliberation to determine the verdict. After the verdict is reached, the judge will either accept or reject the jury’s decision. If found guilty by a jury, the judge will sentence the accused accordingly.

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What is the process of a jury trial in criminal cases?

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