People who have never been arrested before might be incredibly nervous about what happens next. Being placed under arrest can be a stressful and scary experience, but it might help to know more about the process of a criminal case afterward.
What Happens After an Arrest?
A police officer will arrest you and take you to the police station, where you will be booked. Booking involves taking your fingerprints, giving law enforcement your name and personal information, and possibly issuing a citation if your offense was minor. If the crime wasn’t minor, you might be held in custody until granted bail.
Remember, once you’ve been placed under arrest and booked, you can request a legal representative. Ask to speak with your attorney and refuse to say anything else until your advocate is in the room with you. A skilled Norman criminal defense lawyer can represent you if the police need to ask you questions regarding the crime of which you’re accused. Without a legal representative, you might say something they can later use against you in court.
An attorney can also help you with the arraignment process. During an arraignment, a suspect will make his or her first court appearance. During this time, the judge reads the charges filed against the defendant, and the defendant can choose to plead “guilty,” “no contest,” or “not guilty.”
Following this, you can either face a preliminary hearing or a grand jury indictment, which establish the existence of probable cause. During this time, a judge or jury will look at the evidence available and determine whether there is enough proof to merit further prosecution. If they decide there is enough proof, both the prosecution and defense can then bring in pre-trial motions, which resolve final issues and establish what evidence and testimony will be admissible at trial.
The trial itself will follow. Both sides will get to present evidence and call up witnesses. After the evidence has been reviewed, a judge or jury will decide whether the defendant committed the crime. If found guilty, the judge will determine the sentence. If found not guilty, the defendant is free to go.
Our Attorneys are Ready to Help You
If you’re facing a criminal charge, don’t do it alone. Our skilled Norman criminal defense attorneys can help. We are dedicated to assisting people to defend their rights and freedom. Let us see what we can do for you.
Contact us at (866) 590-8173 or fill out our online form to schedule a free case consultation today.