What are the different stages of a criminal trial?

A criminal trial in Hawaii generally has five stages. The first stage is the pre-trial stage, which includes the legal process of filing charges, deciding if the charges will be brought to trial, and the defendant being arraigned. The second stage is the trial itself. This is where the prosecution and defense present their evidence, witnesses, and arguments. The jury then deliberates and decides whether the defendant is guilty or not guilty. The third stage is sentencing. If the defendant is found guilty, the judge will sentence the defendant to jail time, a fine, or other penalties. The fourth stage is the appeal phase. The defendant and their attorney can appeal the ruling and sentence of the judge. The higher court will review the case and either uphold or reverse the original ruling. The fifth stage is post-conviction. This is when the defendant has served their sentence and is back in society. At this stage, it is up to the court to determine if the defendant will be put on probation, parole, or a supervised release. Depending on the type of crime the defendant was convicted of, there may be an additional punishment such as a ban from ever owning a gun or not being allowed to hold certain types of jobs.

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What are the different stages of a criminal trial?

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