Pretrial Activities and Criminal Trials

The release of an accused person from custody, for all or part of the time before or during prosecution on his or her promise to appear in court when required.

An appearance before a magistrate during which the legality of the defendant's arrest is initially assessed and the defendant is informed of the charges of which he or she is being held.

A document guaranteeing the appearance of a defendant in court as required and recording the pledge of money or property to be paid to the court if he or she does not appear, which is signed by the person to be released and anyone else acting on his or her behalf.

The setting of bail in the form of land, houses, stocks, or other tangible property.

A law intended to prevent the pretrial release of a criminal defendant judged to represent a danger to others in the community.

The process of negotiating an agreement among the defendants, the prosecutor, and the court as to an appropriate plea and associated sentence in a given case.

In criminal proceedings, the defendant's formal answer in court to the charge contained in any complaint, information, or indictment that he or she is guilty of the offense charged, is not guilty of the offense charged, or does not contest the charge.

Court rules that govern the admissibility of evidence at a criminal hearing and trials.

Federal law requiring that proceedings against a defendant in a federal criminal case begin within a specified period of time, such as 70 working days after indictment.

A jury that is isolated from the public during the course of a trial and throughout the deliberation process.

The process whereby, according to law and precedent, members of a jury are chosen.

Oral evidence offered by a sworn witness on the witness stand during a criminal trial.

Anything useful to a judge or jury in deciding the facts of a case.

Evidence that consists of physical material or traces of physical activity.

Evidence, if believed, directly proves a fact.