Being charged with a crime can make you panic now that you don’t know what will happen at the end. Understanding the process of criminal charges can help you to contain yourself when charged. 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.
Being charged and booking of your arrest is the first things that you will come across. 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. You need to get a copy of warrant from the court since the officers are likely not to have it so that you can have an idea of what are your criminal charges. The next thing that will follow you is to be booked in the local police department or jail where you will have your picture was taken and also your fingerprints. 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. If you are given a bond option then you have to make sure that you pay the bond as soon as possible since you cannot be released before you have paid it. For those that are charged with complicates cases will have no bond hence they will not be able to go anywhere until their case hearing date.
Secondly you will be taken for the court hearing. When your court hearing is mentioned you should expect the judge to read your charges and you should defend yourself. After the reading of your charges you can plead to be guilty, not guilty or no contest. You are allowed to hire a criminal attorney who will be assisting you when taking a plea. If you didn’t commit the crime and you can prove it before the judge then you should plead not guilty and if it proved that you are not guilty then you will be charged less or nothing.
If you are not able to convince the court you are guilty the next step is to be sentenced. You history has to be considered before you are sentenced. You sentence will be cheap if you have never been charged before.
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