What are the steps in the Texas criminal justice process?

Asked by: Ms. Amelia Yundt III  |  Last update: July 27, 2025
Score: 5/5 (54 votes)

  • Arrest or Notice to Appear in Texas Court. The Texas criminal process begins when an individual is arrested or given a notice to appear in court. ...
  • First Court Appearance. ...
  • Preliminary Hearing. ...
  • Pretrial Negotiations/Plea Bargaining. ...
  • Pretrial Motions and Hearings. ...
  • Criminal Trial in Austin.

What are the 7 steps in the criminal justice process?

Steps of The Criminal Justice System
  • Arrest. An arrest is made by the Police/Sheriff Department or a citation to appear in Court is issued. ...
  • Initial Appearance. ...
  • Preliminary Hearing or Trial Information. ...
  • Arraignment. ...
  • Pleas. ...
  • Jury Selection. ...
  • Trial. ...
  • A trial usually consists of the following steps:

What are the steps in a criminal case in Texas?

The steps of a criminal trial in Texas include:
  1. Arrest. After an arrest, it is essential to remain silent until you speak with a criminal attorney. ...
  2. Initial Appearance. ...
  3. Arraignment. ...
  4. Preliminary Hearing (Felony Cases) ...
  5. Discovery. ...
  6. Plea Negotiations. ...
  7. Pre-Trial Motions and Trial.

What are the steps in the Texas criminal justice process quizlet?

  • police investigation.
  • arrest.
  • booking.
  • initial appearance.
  • preliminary hearing.
  • information filed —-> case bound to court of common pleas.
  • final arraignment.
  • trial.

What are the 5 stages of the criminal justice system?

Criminal court
  • Charges are filed. Typically, the prosecutor files a Complaint. ...
  • Arraignment. The defendant goes to court. ...
  • Pretrial activities. ...
  • Trial. ...
  • Sentencing. ...
  • After sentencing.

Procedural Steps in Texas Criminal Justice Process

30 related questions found

How many steps are in the criminal justice process?

The following are the basic steps: investigation, arrest, prosecution, indictment / information, arraignment, pretrial detention / bail, plea bargaining, trial, sentencing, appeals, punishment / rehabilitation.

What are the 5 W's in criminal justice?

Does it adequately answer the 5 W and one H questions: what, where, when, who, why, and how? These same questions structure Barry Poyner's method of crime analysis by breaking up a larger problem into its constituent parts.

How does the Texas criminal justice system work?

Jury Trial: Every defendant has a right to trial by jury in Texas, for both for Guilt/Innocence and Punishment phases. Trial by Judge: A defendant may waive his right to jury trial, if the State agrees, and have the judge determine guilt/innocence and then assess punishment.

What are the 5 steps of crime scene processing?

This protocol should be used in all crime scenes. Whether the crime scene is a recovered stolen vehicle or a multiple homicide where several crime scenes are involved the basic protocol is the same: INTERVIEW, EXAMINE, PHOTOGRAPH, SKETCH and PROCESS.

What are the steps involved in Texas civil court processes?

Understanding the Steps of Civil Litigation in a Texas Case
  • Complaint. The first step begins when a plaintiff files a complaint with the court, and a copy of the lawsuit is served to the defendant.
  • Answer. ...
  • Discovery. ...
  • Motions. ...
  • Mediation. ...
  • Trial. ...
  • Judgment.

What stage of the criminal justice process in Texas is when a charge is explained and bail is set?

Arraignment is when a defendant is formally charged and made aware of their rights. After this the defendant may receive bail, although bail is not guaranteed (Texas Constitution Article 1, Section 11 & 11a-b).

What is the rule 5 of Criminal Procedure?

(a) In General. (1) Appearance Upon an Arrest. (A) A person making an arrest within the United States must take the defendant without unnecessary delay before a magistrate judge, or before a state or local judicial officer as Rule 5(c) provides, unless a statute provides otherwise.

What are the first 7 steps of the criminal justice highway?

The Criminal Process In California
  • The Investigation and Initiation. ...
  • The Actual Arrest. ...
  • The Criminal Arraignment. ...
  • The Preliminary Hearing. ...
  • The Post-Preliminary Hearing Arraignment and Pretrial Conferences. ...
  • The Criminal Jury Trial. ...
  • The Sentencing Hearing. ...
  • Post-Conviction Appeals and Motions for New Trials.

Can I sue after being found not guilty?

If you are accused of a crime and acquitted or otherwise found not guilty of the offense, you can still face a civil lawsuit for the same incident. The Double Jeopardy clause only protects you from subsequent criminal prosecution in the legal system.

What are the 12 steps of crime scene processing?

The steps include: (1) approach scene; (2) secure an protect scene; (3) preliminary survey; (4) narrative description; (5) photograph scene; (6) sketch scene; (7) evaluate latent fingerprint evidence; (8) evaluate physical evidence; (9) detailed search; (10) collect, record, mark, and preserve evidence; (11) final ...

What are the 7 steps of a crime scene?

7 Steps of a Crime Scene Investigation
  • Identify Scene Dimensions. Locate the focal point of the scene. ...
  • Establish Security. Tape around the perimeter. ...
  • Create a Plan & Communicate. Determine the type of crime that occurred. ...
  • Conduct Primary Survey. ...
  • Document and Process Scene. ...
  • Conduct Secondary Survey. ...
  • Record and Preserve Evidence.

What are the 6 stages of committing a crime?

Here's how California's criminal justice process works, in layman's terms:
  • Arrest. Police will arrest you for an alleged wrongdoing. ...
  • Arraignment. ...
  • Preliminary Hearing. ...
  • Pre-Trial Conference. ...
  • Trial. ...
  • Sentencing and Appeals.

What happens if the chain of custody is broken?

If the chain of custody has been broken or tampered with, evidence can be ruled as inadmissible, meaning it cannot be presented or believed to be authentic in a court of law and therefore cannot be used to convict a defendant.

Who decides sentencing in Texas?

In Texas, the judge is the default choice to decide the sentence. However, a defendant has a right to have a jury decide the sentence.

What is the Texas Department of Criminal Justice do?

Texas Department of Criminal Justice (TDCJ) manages the overall operation of the state's prison system, parole, and state jail systems. It also provides funding, training, and certain oversight of parole. TDCJ is the largest state agency in Texas.

What is the first time offender felony charge act in Texas?

Additionally, Texas has the “First Time Offender Felony Charge Act.” This law pertains to first-time felony drug offenders that have no prior convictions in Texas. It allows the offender to avoid the maximum sentence by complying with alternative sentencing guidelines ordered by the court.

What are the three C's in criminal justice?

We will spend time exploring the three main components of the criminal justice system, or an easy way to remember this is the three main C's: cops, courts, and corrections.

What are the 5 elements of justice?

The five main principles of social justice include access to resources, equity, participation, diversity, and human rights.

What is 5w and 1H in investigation?

What is the 5W1H Method? The 5W1H is a questioning approach and a problem-solving method that answers all the basic elements within a problem which are what, who, when, where, why, and how. It aims to view ideas from various perspectives and gain n an in-depth understanding of a specific situation.