What Happens When You Are Charged with a Crime
Being charged with a crime can make you panic now that you don’t know what will happen at the end. The person who is aware of the court procedures when charged with a crime will have an easy time to adapt to the situation than someone who has no idea of what is going to happen. The other important things that you need to know is the laws that are related to your case. Continue reading this page if you are interested to know what will happen to you if you are charged with a criminal case.
You will start by being charged and booking. The crime you have done will determine whether you will get arrested immediately or later. The judge is the one to produce your arrest warrant so that the officers will start searching for you whether physically or manually. Although the officers may not have a copy of a warrant for your charges to you should take one from the court so that you will be enlightened on what you are expected to answer in the court. Then, after that you will be taken to a local police department or jail where your fingerprints and mugshot will be taken. The next procedure involves a magistrate who is going to give you a bond or allow you to go fir until your next court hearing. What you need to know is that if you have to be released on the bond it must be paid before you are set free. If you commit a serious crime you might not be given the bond option and therefore you will stay in jail until u your next hearing.
The court hearings is the other step that you will go to when you are charged with a criminal offense. During that day when the judge will say you come back for hearing s/he will read your criminal charges and you as the defendant you are answerable to that. Once your case is read the possible responses that you can have include being guilty, not guilty or no content. However, it’s good to involve a criminal lawyer who will advise you and explain to you the possible steps that the judge will take for either of your responses. When you have enough evidence you can plead to be non-guilty and if it’s proved beyond doubt then you will be released for free.
If you are not able to convince the court you are guilty the next step is to be sentenced. Before the judge mentions about your sentence, s/he will have to investigate on your criminal records. You will be given a light sentence if you have clean records with the court.