Informational Articals - Witness Protection Program - Criminal Trials
A criminal trial takes place after enough evidence by the prosecution has been collected to move forward with official charges. The person who is charged should have their own attorney working with them on a defense. Should the person charged by willing to accept a plea bargain then there will never be a criminal trial. It only takes place when any plea offers have been rejected or when none have been placed on the table. Less than 10% of all criminal cases are brought to trial.
Each person convicted of a crime has the right to a criminal trial. It is not the duty of the defense to provide evidence that their client did not commit the crime. The do work hard to establish reasonable doubt in regards to the case offered by the prosecution. If there is any doubt about what took place then the jury will have a hard time convicting the individual.
Criminal trials often take place at least one year after the charges have been filed. This is due to the amount of time it takes to get the case ready to present and to the full dockets of the courts. Selecting the jury to preside over the case takes time as well. Both the defense and the prosecution get a say in who is on the jury. The members are selected from a jury poll that shows up for the opening of the criminal trial.
Most of the time the trial will begin immediately after the jury selection process has been completed. A criminal trial can be over with in a day or two while others last for weeks. It depends on the amount of evidence to be presented, the witnesses to testify, and the information the defense wants to present.
Any individual found guilty at a criminal trial will then be sentenced by the judge. Under the laws of the Federal courts anyone who is found guilty of such crimes has the right to appeal. This means a new hearing can be scheduled but in the mean time the sentence will be imposed. Anyone who is found innocent at a criminal trial can’t be tried for that same crime again.
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