Составьте топик по тексту

CRIMINAL JUSTICE PROCESS IN THE USA

Basically, the steps in the criminal court processes are as follows: arrest and booking,

arraignment, trial and appeals (if any).

A person who comes into contact with the criminal courts must initially be arrested. The arrest may take place with or without using a warrant (e.g. when an offense takes place in the presence of the officer, or when there is probable or reasonable cause to believe that a felony or misdemeanor has been committed. A felony is a serious offense punishable by death or imprisonment. A misdemeanor is a less serious offense punishable by a fine or up to one year in jail, or both. Even after an alrest the suspect may be released without being prosecuted for a variety of reasons: mistaken identity. lack of proper evidence, etc.

After the arrest is made the suspect is booked. The booking card of the law enforcement agency contains information such as the date and time of arrest, the charge or crime for which the person was arrested, the name of the arrested person. the name of the arresting officer. Here the accused is photographed, fingerprinted, and temporarily released on bail, if possible. The record or booking card is permanently kept in the files of the police department. On important cases. the prosecutor may be present at the booking, but usually he will enter the case during the arraignment or initial appearance of the suspect before a magistrate or other judicial officer.

Before tuming to the prosecution of the suspect, it must be remembered that the investigative work of the police may continue even though the accused is involved with the prosecution or court phases of the criminal justice system.

At arraignment, summary trials can be held for petty offenses without further processing. During the initial appearance before a magistrate, judge or justice of the peace, the accused is to answer the charges against him. During the arraignment procedure, the charge may be dismissed by the court for a legal reason or the prosecutor may request to have the charges dropped. The initial appearance may also serve as the trial for minor offenses that have payment of a fine or a relatively short time in jail as punishment: Once the judge finds a verdict of guilt, the accused is sentenced to a jail or payment of a fine. The defendant may also be placed on probation for a specified length of time. If sentenced to jail, he may be granted parole.

The purpose of preliminary hearing in the lower court is to determine whether there is reasonable cause to believe that a felony was committed and whether there is reasonable cause to believe that the accused committed the crime. It is here that a preliminary testing of the evidence takes place. As a result the accused may be released because of having been arrested not for probable cause, or he may be placed on bail or moved back to jail until his case is tried by the higher count.

If there is a reasonable belief that a crime has been committed by the accused, the prosecutor is given statutorily defined number of days to file formal charges against the defendant. The charge is filed on the basis of information from citizen complaints and police mvestigations. Then another arraignment is held. If the defendant pleads guilty a date for him to be sentenced is set by the judge. If the defendant pleads not guilty, he may request to have a jury trial or be tried by the cout without a jury. At the trial if the defendant is convicted, a date for sentencing is set.

Before imposing the actual sentence ah investigation by the probation officer takes place to assist the judge in deciding on a penalty. The defendant may be fined, sentenced to jail, or placed on probation. During this period the defendant can appeal his conviction. As a rule, the appeal stays the execution of the sentence. If the appeal is unsuccessful or the defendant decides not to appeal, the penalty is imposed

The defendant is then involved in the corections of the criminal justice system. It is here that rehabilitation of offenders is supposed to occur. This is the purpose of cortectional establishments.

To reduce the risk of convicting an innocent person. there are checks and reviews at all

stages of the criminal justice system.

(Law Enforcement in a Democratic Society. E.Beckman)

Criminal Justice Process in the USA: Key Stages

The criminal justice system in the United States involves several crucial steps, designed to establish guilt or innocence and, if guilty, to impose appropriate punishment.

 * Arrest and Booking:

  * An arrest can occur with or without a warrant, based on probable cause.

  * Distinction between felonies (serious crimes) and misdemeanors (less serious offenses).

  * Booking involves recording the arrest, photographing, and fingerprinting the suspect.

  * Possible release if evidence is insufficient.

 * Arraignment/Initial Appearance:

  * The suspect appears before a magistrate or judge.

  * Charges are presented.

  * Possible dismissal of charges or plea entry.

  * Trials for minor offenses may occur here.

 * Preliminary Hearing:

  * Determines if there is probable cause for felony charges.

  * Preliminary examination of evidence.

  * Possible release or setting of bail.

 * Filing Formal Charges and Second Arraignment:

  * The prosecutor files formal charges.

  * The defendant pleads guilty or not guilty.

  * Guilty plea leads to sentencing; not guilty plea leads to a trial.

 * Trial:

  * Jury trial or bench trial (judge only).

  * Verdict of guilty or not guilty.

  * Guilty verdict leads to sentencing.

 * Sentencing:

  * Pre-sentence investigation by a probation officer.

  * Imposition of sentence: fines, imprisonment, probation.

 * Appeals:

  * The defendant may appeal the conviction.

  * Sentence execution is typically stayed during the appeal.

 * Corrections:

  * Rehabilitation in correctional facilities.

  * Possible parole.

 * Checks and Reviews:

  * Mechanisms at each stage to prevent wrongful convictions.

This process ensures due process and protects the rights of the accused within the U.S. criminal justice system.

Ключевые моменты, которые можно подчеркнуть при ответе:

 * Различия между фелониями и мисдиминорами.

 * Роль прокурора и судьи на различных этапах.

 * Права обвиняемого, включая право на апелляцию.

 * Цель исправительной системы.

 * Важность сдержек и противовесов в системе уголовного правосудия.

Надеюсь это поможет.